IOA announces President and Vice President for 2018-2020

Former ABDO president, Dispensing Optician and practice owner Fiona Anderson BSc(Hons) FBDO R FEAOO SMC(Tech) has been re-elected as president of the International Opticians Association. Donald Crichton FBDO, President of ADONZ (The Association of Dispensing Opticians of New Zealand) has been appointed as Vice President.

Fiona continues her work to transform the IOA into the leading association dedicated to the enhancement and development of the optical profession around the world. The IOA also acts as a forum for optician practitioners, industry partners and educators to come together and discuss topics which have an impact on the development of the profession and the delivery of world class eye care and quality vision.

Fiona says, “I am delighted to be continuing in the role of President at this exciting time for the IOA. The whole association has been revamped and is attracting new members on a scale never witnessed before. I hope to be able to build on the solid relationships of the past 18 months and attract new members and sponsors as we seek to develop a truly international association which seeks to promote the science and art of opticianry worldwide.”

Donald says, “I am surprised and delighted to have been voted in as Vice President for IOA. This is a time of great potential growth for the association with momentum starting to build from relationships forged over the past years. I’m looking forward to welcoming new members from different countries with whom we can share ideas and strengthen our professional reputation.”

Sir Antony Garrett, ABDO CEO and Secretary to the IOA comments, “Fiona Anderson has done a great job along with Elaine Grisdale in setting the IOA on a new and exciting course and I am delighted that she has been re-elected for another two years by her colleagues to see through the reform process she has started. Fiona will be supported by Donald Crichton FBDO who is currently President of ADONZ and who is originally from Scotland. The IOA is entering an exciting period of growth and development and opening up to more opticians in an increasing number of countries. The ABDO Board is pleased at the progress made over the past two years and has confirmed its support for the work being undertaken by Elaine and other colleagues to promote IOA activity.”