“The overarching constant has been the desire of the profession to expand its skill set and potential”

Mackie Consultants Ltd is celebrating 30 years of providing continuing professional development (CPD).

Drs Scott and Roisin Mackie ran their first course, Eyecare 3000, in their final year of postgraduate study at Glasgow Caledonian University in 1995.

Following graduation and the establishment of Mackie Opticians, the pair ran courses in Glasgow, London, Cardiff, Belfast, and Dublin, for a further 20 years, before selling the events to Peter Charlesworth, who set up the Eyecare brand.

The Mackies set up the Scottish Optical Conference in Glasgow four years later, providing CPD for independent eye care professionals.

The one-day event has three education tracks, 60 exhibitors, and more than 350 delegates.

Speaking to OT about the three decades of offering further development for optometrists, Dr Scott Mackie said: “Over the 30 years of running CPD we have seen many changes in the format, such as mandatory peer review and – more recently, the change to four domains of education with a mix of provider-led and self-directed learning.”

“However, the overarching constant has been the desire of the profession to expand its skill set and potential and work more closely with stakeholders to provide world class care in the community and hospital settings,” he added.

Bookings have opened for the 2025 event with education across all four CPD domains.

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