British Contact Lens Association

19 June 2012

The British Contact Lens Association (BCLA) has welcomed four new members onto Council.

At the Association’s 2012 AGM, held at the ICC Birmingham on 25 May during the 36th BCLA Clinical Conference and Exhibition, Maxine Green, Iain May, Sheetal Patel and Dr Siobhan Wren were appointed as directors of the BCLA. Katherine Reed, who had already served a three-year term as a lay member director, was voted on for a further three years.

Immediate Past President, Shelly Bansal, thanked the following retiring Council members for their services to the BCLA: Marc Bennett, Honorary Treasurer and Lay Member; Michel Guillon, Optometric Representative; Vinod Kumar, Medical Representative; Keith Cavaye, Contact Lens Optician Representative; and William Thomas, Past President.

The composition of the 2012-13 BCLA Council is as follows: Dr Catharine Chisholm, President; Shelly Bansal, Immediate Past President; Andy Yorke, President Elect; Susan Bowers, Optometric Representative; Maxine Green, Technical Representative; Iain May, Contact Lens Optician Representative; Katherine Reed, Lay Member; Keith Tempany, Contact Lens Optician Representative; Sheetal Patel, Optometric Representative (pictured receiving a bottle of champagne from Shelly after being quickest off the draw in the conference shootout competition); Brian Tompkins, Optometric Representative; Michael Wilkinson, Technical Representative; Dr Ursula Vogt, Medical Representative; and Dr Siobhan Wren, Medical Representative.

Speaking about what she hoped to achieve in her new role, BCLA Council member (Technical Representative) Maxine Green said: “Simply put – I hope to continue the great work of the BCLA. Ensuring that everyone involved in contact lenses and anterior eye understands what the BCLA stands for; how it supports, leads, researches and communicates the wonderful benefits of contact lens wear. Additionally, I hope to help promote how BCLA members drive improvement, safety and medical, clinical and product research for the benefit of the end user – the public,” added Maxine.

BCLA President, Dr Catharine Chisholm, said: “I am delighted to welcome our new members on Council. Iain, Maxine, Sheetal and Siobhan each bring with them a breadth of experience and knowledge that will ensure the Council remains well placed to address the needs of members. Above all, they share a passion for contact lenses which lies at the heart of the organisation and its membership.”