New ABDO regional leads for North of England

Lynda Matthias

ABDO has welcomed two new regional leads for the North of England.

Lynda Matthias FBDO has been a dispensing optician (DO) for 20 years, having worked in management roles at Asda Opticians and Specsavers. She currently works as a locum DO across Yorkshire, and for the past six months has been representing DOs on Leeds Local Optical Committee to ensure they have a voice within primary eye health care.

Daniel Green

Delivering CPD is “a great passion” for Lynda; she has been involved with in-person local events and now supports the ABDO professional development team as as an online facilitator. Lynda is also training to be an ABDO examiner.

Lynda said: “I love being a dispensing optician and it has a positive impact on my life. I find it an honour to be given this opportunity to support the ABDO members of Yorkshire and the North East of England – working to ensure that our profession develops and adapts to the ongoing changes in eyecare within the region.”

Daniel Green FBDO qualified as a DO in 2018 and has since developed a career spanning clinical practice, education and professional training. He currently works as senior dispensing and contact lens training manager at Specsavers, supporting student DOs and qualified DOs in their ongoing professional development.

As part of this role, he is the course lead for the BTEC Level 4 Certificate in Optical Dispensing, overseeing programme delivery and learner development. Daniel is also an Education Committee panel member for the General Optical Council and has previously worked as an optometry clinical tutor at the University of Manchester.

Daniel said: “I’m delighted to have the opportunity to represent dispensing opticians across the North West and to champion a profession that has given me so many opportunities. Dispensing optics is a rewarding career with a passionate community of DOs, with ABDO at its heart. As regional lead, I hope to share my experience and insight with the region and, more importantly, to listen to, learn from, and support fellow dispensing opticians.”

Commenting on the appointments, Max Halford, ABDO clinical and policy director, said, “ABDO is delighted to welcome Daniel and Lynda to the regional lead team. Both bring a strong, patient-focused ethos and a long-standing commitment to supporting dispensing opticians at every stage of their careers.

“Daniel’s extensive involvement in training and professional development, alongside Lynda’s sustained engagement through her LOC work, reflect a shared dedication to high-quality, accessible eyecare and to championing the role of dispensing opticians in local systems.

“Their appointments further strengthen an already experienced regional lead team, bringing additional skills, perspectives and expertise that will support members, students and ABDO’s wider strategic ambitions across the regions,” Max added.

ABDO regional leads play a vital role within the clinical and policy team, helping to deliver the organisation’s strategy around the evolving roles of DOs in UK practices. They also contribute to the ongoing development and support of members throughout every stage of their careers. By offering a local point of contact, regional leads are uniquely positioned to understand and respond to the needs of members across different localities and nations, ensuring tailored support and guidance where it’s needed most.

Find out who your ABDO regional lead is, and how to contact them.