Optician Awards 2015: Optometrist of the Year

Teamwork, teamwork, teamwork,’ is Austin Roberts’ mantra. ‘I spend a lot of time communicating with the staff so everyone is aware of what is going on and how well we are doing.’

Roberts’ emphasis on leadership and communication and his drive to ‘see things through’, is rooted in his first career as a Royal Marine Commando. He decided on optometry as his second career on the advice of his wife, Judith, also an optometrist, whom he met at City University. Judith lends her name to the business the two of them run in the Mumbles, Swansea.

‘When I left the Royal Marines she persuaded me that it would be a good thing for us to be in the same profession and have our own business. I am so glad I listened to her.’ And being a family business does make a difference, he says. ‘Today I discovered we have let a patient down by poor administration; I was angry, mortified and embarrassed. You can only feel those things if you have “ownership” and it really matters to you. I will correct this matter personally and use it as a business opportunity and training example.’