New faces at the GOC

An accountant and an engineer are among four new appointments to the General Optical Council (GOC).

Two registrant members and two lay members have been appointed to the optical regulator, and will take up their posts on 1 April.

Josie Forte and Roshni Samra are the new registrant members, while chartered accountant, Clare Minchington, and professional engineer, Mike Galvin, are the new lay members.

Ms Forte is a lead assessor for the Welsh Optometric Postgraduate Education Centre. She is also a Specsavers Optical and Audiology Joint Venture Partner.

Ms Samra, who has experience as a refractive surgery optometrist, is the professional clinic manager for City Sight, City, University of London.

Ms Minchington works as a strategic consultant for professional bodies and universities while Mr Galvin has experience working at board level in technology research and telecommunications innovation.

GOC chair, Gareth Hadley, told OT the new members had joined the council at a crucial time, as work was being done on the education strategic review.

“I am confident that the experience our new members possess will allow them to make an invaluable contribution to this important project,” Mr Hadley emphasised.

“I look forward to working closely with all new members to ensure that the council’s work continues to protect and promote the public’s health and safety,” he highlighted.

The new appointments were confirmed by the Privy Council after the Professional Standards Authority confirmed that the GOC’s recruitment process was appropriate.