GOC seeks new lay members for council

The General Optical Council (GOC) is recruiting for two new lay members to join its council. 

The appointed members would hold the positions from either October this year or April 2025, replacing Sinead Burns and Michael Galvin, who finish their eight-year tenures as lay members in September this year and March 2025 respectively.

The role of those on GOC Council is to set the strategic direction, the GOC explained in a statement, highlighting that the new members would “contribute to council by exercising oversight, ensuring effective corporate governance and making high-level policy decisions.”

As the GOC begins consultations on its next five-year strategic plan, which will run from 2025 to 2030, it emphasised that its council members will play a key role in the plan’s delivery.

Describing potential applicants, the GOC said: “Applicants should be able to operate strategically and impartially; listen, communicate, and influence effectively; and inspire confidence and support amongst the GOC’s stakeholders. They may have experience as a charity trustee, or as a non-executive in a public body or private company.”

The role of a GOC lay council member requires successful applicants to commit between two and three days a month, for which they will be remunerated. More information is available on the GOC’s website. The deadline for applications is 14 April.

Read OT’s April/May cover story on career progression, featuring two GOC council associates, optometrists Rukaiya Anwar and Harry Singh Bhakar.