AOP appoints new Councillors

The AOP has announced the appointment of six new Councillors to designated posts on its Council.

This follows an application process that ran between March and April, with the final decision made by the AOP Appointments Committee.

Welcoming the newly appointed Council members, Adam Sampson, chief executive of the AOP, said: “Their diverse expertise and insights will be invaluable in shaping our policy work and enhancing the support we provide to our members. We look forward to collaborating closely with the new Councillors to collectively drive progress within optometry.”

Judith Tate has been appointed Councillor representing optometrists in Northern Ireland.

Speaking to OT about the role, Tate said: “I am delighted to have been elected to the Council to represent colleagues from Northern Ireland. I look forward to meeting my fellow Councillors and working alongside them to champion our profession and help shape optometry’s future.

Rebecca Donelly

Rebecca Donelly

Rebecca Donnelly will become franchisee and joint venture partner Councillor, and Parminder Kaur will represent domiciliary care optometrists.

Donelly told OT: “I applied for the AOP Council because I’m passionate about representing the voice of optometry and contributing to the future of our profession. I believe that optometrists should have a strong, united voice, especially in shaping policies, improving patient care, and supporting colleagues across all modes of practice.”

Explaining that she is “excited to contribute in a meaningful way,” Donnelly said: “To me, being on the AOP Council means having a real opportunity to influence meaningful change, from supporting early career optometrists, to championing clinical excellence and advocating for the future of community eye care. It’s a chance to listen, to represent, and to help steer the profession in a direction that benefits both patients and practitioners.”

Niall Hynes

Niall Hynes

Niall Hynes has been named as academic optometrist Councillor. Explaining his reasons for applying for the position, he said: “I believe that input from organisations like the AOP is incredibly valuable in ensuring what the sector needs from optometric education and to safeguard the quality of education for optometry students.

“At a time when optometric education is going through substantial change, I am looking forward to being a voice for academic optometrists at the AOP,” he added.

Ki Yan Lam takes on the position of Councillor representing newly-qualified optometrists, and told OT: “I am honoured to be appointed the newly-qualified and early career Councillor. I look forward to continuing my journey with the AOP. Having served as the Student Councillor and representative, I’ve seen the importance of strong peer support and two-way communication.”

Will Amlot

“Newly-qualified optometrists face unique challenges – from adjusting to clinical independence to navigating evolving healthcare systems – and I’m committed to representing their views, sharing resources, and promoting wellbeing and professional growth during this vital early stage of their careers,” she added.

Deepali Poojara has been named pre-registration optometrist Councillor, telling OT: “I applied to be an AOP Councillor after enjoying my experience as a student representative, especially networking with professionals at 100% Optical.”

Poojara shared that the “simple” application process enabled her to “share my ideas and highlight my passions within the optical industry.”

She continued: “I’m excited to work with fellow Councillors to ensure the correct support is provided for pre-reg students in balancing training, work, and personal life."

Deepali Poojara

Deepali Poojara

The AOP Council is made up of 14 elected members, representing geographical areas across the UK, and 20 Councillors with designated positions representing membership groups.

Emma Spofforth, AOP chairman of the Board and Council, said: “We extend our gratitude to all those excellent candidates who applied for the positions in this year’s appointment process, and we commend your commitment to representing the profession.”

“We are delighted to welcome our new Councillors, whose perspectives and expertise will support us in embracing new opportunities for the future and we look forward to working together for the benefit of our members,” she added.

The undergraduate student position is yet to be confirmed, with the AOP noting that additional details will be shared shortly.

The new Councillors will take up their positions at the annual general meeting in June.