All change at the GOC

Leonie Milliner

Commenting on the upcoming departure of its director of strategy, Alistair Bridge, the General Optical Council (GOC) has praised his substantial contribution to the GOC’s work over the past seven years.

Alistair will leave the GOC in February to become head of strategy at ABDO.

During his seven years as a member of the GOC’s senior management team, Alistair led the organisation’s policy, standards, communications, research and governance functions and led the development of new Standards of Practice for Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians and new Standards for Optical Businesses, stated the regulator.

At the same time, the GOC has welcomed Leonie Milliner as senior education adviser to ensure delivery of its strategic education reforms and provide advice and support in relation to broader education matters.

The GOC said that Leonie brought to the role “extensive education experience”, having been a lay member and team leader (chair) of the General Pharmaceutical Council’s Accreditation Panel, a lay member of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives’ Qualification Committee, director of education at the Royal Institute of British Architects, a member of the Office for Students Teaching Excellence Framework main board, and chief executive of the Association for Nutrition, where she oversaw the expansion of nutrition qualifications.

Commenting on the changes, GOC chief executive and registrar, Lesley Longstone, said: “I would like to thank Alistair for his substantial contribution to the GOC’s work over the last seven years. His regulatory expertise and understanding of the optical sector have been invaluable to the organisation and I wish him every success in his new role at ABDO.”

She added: “I am delighted to be welcoming Leonie to the GOC to lead our crucially important education reforms. She brings a wealth of education experience from a range of sectors and I am looking forward to working with her, and all of our stakeholders, to make sure the education and training of optometrists and dispensing opticians is fit for the roles of the future.”

The GOC added that as senior education advisor, Leonie’s immediate focus would be on delivery of the current stage of the Education Strategic Review (ESR) by summer 2020, including the development of learning outcomes for students, a common assessment framework, education standards for providers and a quality assurance framework to evaluate performance against these standards. Leonie would also support cross-sector dialogue to explore the practical barriers to implementation of the ESR and lead preparations for the next stage of the project, beginning in summer 2020.

Dr Subo Shanmuganathan has stepped down from her role as interim director of education, having led the GOC’s ESR and CET Review over the last year. Following Council sign-off of the ESR implementation plan and approval of a fourth director position with responsibility for leading its ongoing education work, Subo decided that now was the right time to move on, the GOC stated.

Lesley Longstone commented: “I’m extremely grateful for all the work, personal energy and commitment Subo has invested in our education work during her time with us as interim and wish her well in whatever she chooses to do next.”