LOCSU Welcomes New Board Members
25 April 2023
LOCSU has appointed four new clinical Board Directors.
Jagdeep Singh; Roma Malik; Millie Fellows; and Sofia Fazal have joined after a recruitment campaign held earlier this year.
The appointments commenced 1 April 2023 and will be for terms of two or three years, to stagger future director appointments and retain organisational memory.
Dr Joy Tweed, LOCSU Chair said:
“I’m delighted to welcome Jagdeep, Roma, Millie, and Sofia to the LOCSU board. They bring a rich diversity of experience and background which will help inform Board discussions and decisions, as we support LOCs to develop and improve eye care within England.”
Meet The New Board Members
Jagdeep Singh
Jagdeep is an independent prescribing optometrist with Professional Certificates in Glaucoma, Medical Retina and Low Vision. He currently works a Specialist Optometrist at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and as Head of New Clinical Services and Pathway Development at Specsavers. He’s been an active member of Shropshire LOC since 2019 and was elected a College of Optometrists Council Member in 2021.
He said: “I believe that the existing primary eye care workforce is well placed in helping to reduce the burden on ophthalmic services within secondary care. The post-pandemic changes across optometry and ophthalmology have given rise to many opportunities for further development, learning new skills and building partnerships but these bring new challenges and requirements that LOCSU will be pivotal in helping to navigate.”
Roma Malik
Roma is an optometrist working in community practice and is also Chair of Nottinghamshire LOC. She’s been an Optometric Advisor to the General Optical Council (GOC) since 2016 and has over 14 years of experience working in various roles within the field of optometry including teaching, training, compliance, governance, and regulation.
She said: “I am excited about the prospect of bringing forward views and knowledge gained from LOCs in England to inform Board discussions and decisions to help LOCSU have the confidence of LOCs and ensure that the decisions made by the board align with the best interests of patients and the wider healthcare sector.”
Millie Fellows
Millie is a dispensing optician from Oxfordshire, Secretary for her LOC, and experienced Practice Leader of over 25 years. Millie held many roles in a large multiple before moving to independent practice in the last 4 years, she also recently qualified as an Assoc CIPD in Human Resource Management.
She said: “Being a member of my LOC has introduced me to a side of Optics that is completely new, so the chance to represent our practitioners, colleagues, and the Dispensing Optician profession whilst contributing and learning is very appealing to me. I want to help facilitate meaningful change that supports LOCS to deliver for their practitioners. Innovation, consistency, and pathways that ultimately means better patient care.”
Sofia Fazal
Sofia is an optometrist who has worked across various sectors of optometry, providing eyecare and professional services across the UK and globally. She has experience of working as an educator, experienced lecturer, and leading projects for clinical and commercial initiatives.
She said: “I was really impressed at the NOC last year, my first experience with LOCSU events. I felt they had achieved so much and there was so much to still do. From the NOC event I have wanted to focus on delivering support and collaboration for the growth of our sector. I feel LOCSU does so much and can potentially be doing so much more.”