Our People

With an enthusiastic and inclusive approach, Janice utilises her extensive communications and relationship management skills to establish partnerships, stakeholder engagement and affiliations at local, regional, and national levels with NHS/public bodies, charities, and private providers.

During more than 20 years of operating in politically charged environments, Janice’s career has traversed private, public, and non-for-profit businesses and organisations with complex structures, extensive scrutiny, and regular reform. With extensive lived experience in strategy development, change management, negotiation, coaching, and leadership; empowering others and making a difference is at the heart of all she does.

Janice is a strong advocate for membership organisations and primary care in the widest sense, and the important role both play in making a difference to the quality-of-life people experience across the UK. Having joined LOCSU following 13 years dedicated to general practice, Janice maintains her interest in wider primary care and utilises her mentoring and guidance skills in supporting Plexus Support Services Ltd as their Chair.

Continuing with her passion for helping others, beyond the working day, Janice is also an accredited mediator. Though she loves travelling her roots remain in her hometown of Darlington. Sport has always been a passion, partaking and supporting, so working on the London 2012 Olympics was a career highlight. Never one to rest on her laurels, Janice continually seeks opportunities for personal and professional improvement.

Contact: jfoster@locsu.co.uk

This includes the innovative urgent eye care service CUES, developed in response to the pandemic, and the Optometry First framework, a comprehensive optometry service designed to support eye care recovery and continue to manage growing demand in a sustainable way.

With 25 years’ experience in independent practice she believes primary care optometry has more to offer than sight testing and opportunistic case-finding.

She has previously worked as a Local Eye Health Network Chair and NHS Optometric Adviser promoting the role of Optometry locally.

She joined LOCSU in 2011 to pursue her interest in service pathway development, and is leading a programme of work to continue to develop the Clinical Service Pathways Framework, extending the range of eye conditions which can be managed in optometric practice.

Most recently, Zoe provided clinical leadership for pathway improvement within NHS England’s National Eye Care Recovery and Transformation programme.

Through her role as clinical director for LOCSU, Zoe provides clinical leadership to a team of advancement leads supporting Local Optical Committees within England.

Recently re-elected Vice-chair of the Clinical Council for Eye Health Commissioning, Zoe works with eye health leaders to support the national agenda to improve eye health and eye care provision across England.

Contact: zrichmond@locsu.co.uk

Fionnuala has a keen interest in training and development. She enjoys working with pre-regs and newly qualified practitioners and encouraging them to get involved with their LOC.

Contact: fkidd@locsu.co.uk

Louise has held management and leadership roles at the British Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP), the General Medical Council (GMC), and the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). In 2018-2019, she led the GMC’s ‘Professional Behaviours and Patient Safety’ project, adapting a successful U.S. model to the UK healthcare environment.

Since September 2023, Louise has worked for LOCSU as Business and Operational Development Lead, delivering a Listening Exercise with LOCs to inform the review of the model constitution and associated governance framework. In addition to her role at LOCSU, Louise is a freelance trainer on professional standards and is engaged in local government.

Contact: lrobinson@locsu.co.uk

Kizzy started her career in Southend NHS Foundation Hospital Trust in 2003, working in the Projects Department, Occupational Health Department, Patient Advice and Liaison Services, and as Office Manager for the Dietetic Department.

Outside of work, Kizzy enjoys travelling, experiencing different cultures and spending time with her family, including her husband, three kids, two dogs, two cats, tortoise and a crested gecko.

Contact: kdonaldson@locsu.co.uk

Danielle sits as a registrant member on the General Optical Council’s Fitness to Practise Committee and also serves as the vice-chair of the North Central London Local Optical Committee.

Contact: dellis@locsu.co.uk

Graduating in 2016 with a degree in journalism, Chessie has developed a broad range of expertise across the communications and marketing mix, including digital communications for social media, working with the media and graphic design. She has undertaken several communication roles within healthcare, including working in large acute hospitals and leading recruitment marketing campaigns across the south west region. She is passionate about the importance of creating clear, compelling communications to support healthcare campaigns and achieve measurable results.

Chessie enjoys walking on the moors and coast of the Devon countryside with her dog Toby and husband James. When she isn’t out in the fresh air or spending time with friends, you’ll find her planning her next trip away.

Contact: fgeorge@locsu.co.uk

He is passionate about Low Vision and the pivotal role of Dispensing Opticians in delivering exceptional patient care.

Sid is an active member of the Gloucestershire LOC, where he leads communication efforts and co-organises events and CPD programs for the county.

Throughout his career, Sid has held various leadership and management positions across multiple-practice settings, domiciliary services and has in depth knowledge of high-end boutique practices, brands and supplier networks.

Outside of his professional life, Sid is multilingual and enjoys music and exploring different cultures through travel.

Contact: smaher@locsu.co.uk

Simone is a dispensing optician with more than 25 years’ experience and a member of Solihull LOC where she is a co-opted DO. She has gained the WOPEC post graduate certificate in eyecare governance and is a co-module lead on the WOPEC 20-credit PGT module – Leadership for Optical Professionals delivered remotely via Cardiff University. Simone is an advocate for dispensing opticians to be part of LOCs.

Simone is a dispensing optician with more than 25 years’ experience and a member of Solihull LOC where she is a co-opted vice-secretary. She has gained the WOPEC post graduate certificate in eyecare governance.

Simone is also ABDO local lead for the Midlands and is an advocate for dispensing opticians to be part of LOCs.

Contact: smason@locsu.co.uk

Prior to this, she has worked for a range of not-for-profit organisations under many guises including grant administration, event management and business support.

Contact: lstonham@locsu.co.uk

Prior to joining the LOCSU team, Trisha has worked in several administration roles over the years. This includes The Permanent Mission of Indonesia to the United Nations, the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland for 13 years,  Thyssenkrupp AG in North Yorkshire, and at the North Yorkshire Council.

After living in Switzerland for 20 years, Trisha and her husband moved to the UK with their daughter for a change of scenery and to be closer to her husband’s family in North Yorkshire. Trisha is multilingual and has a passion for travelling, loves exploring and finding authentic food. Enjoys walks with her family and her 5 year old Beagle in ‘God’s own country’.

Contact: tdinsdale@locsu.co.uk