The General Optical Council (GOC) has today announced that its chief executive and registrar, Samantha Peters, will leave the organisation after six years next summer to focus on studying.
Samantha’s last day will be 13 June 2017. She intends to take a significant break from her career, particularly to focus on her PhD in kindness, compassion and altruism. Her PhD research, at Bath University, has a particularly strong focus on the failings in care at Mid-Staffs which prompted the Francis Inquiry.
GOC Chair, Gareth Hadley, said: “We will be sad to see Samantha go but it is a very exciting time for her as she focuses on her studies. The same thoughtful and strategic approach that she took to her role at the GOC will undoubtedly stand her in good stead as she tackles a fascinating, but also highly complex, research project. I look forward to seeing the outcome published; it will make a seminal contribution to future thinking on healthcare. Her achievements in six years at the GOC are significant. She has overseen the transformation of CET, the introduction of new standards which the professions are really embracing, and great improvements both in our stakeholder engagement and in the efficiency with which we carry out our core regulatory functions. She has also overseen the modernisation of the organisation, including the move to our new fit for purpose office. During her time here, Samantha spearheaded development of the Council’s values – being responsible, principled and forward thinking. She has embedded those values into how we work as well, leading by example by personifying those values in all she does. We wish Samantha all the best for the future – her successor will have a lot to live up to.”
Samantha Peters said, “It is with great sadness that I will say goodbye to the GOC next summer. I am confident though that the organisation is in a great place to meet the significant challenges caused by the rapid pace of technological change in the sector and the need to modernise the education of optical professionals. Although my plans for my career break are exciting I will look back on my time at the GOC extremely fondly. In particular it has been a pleasure to work with such a committed team and I wish everyone all the best for the future.”
The GOC will announce a plan to recruit Samantha’s successor in the New Year.