European Academy is launched

The European Academy of Optometry and Optics (EAOO) was officially launched on Saturday May 16 at the Olympic museum in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Dr Feike Grit was appointed as inaugural president of the Academy and will serve a two-year term before being succeeded by the inaugural vice-president Professor Roger Crelier. Bryony Pawinska chief executive of the College of Optometrists was appointed company secretary. Dr Rob Hogan, president of the College was appointed to the Academy's board during its start-up phase.

Board members represent European educational institutions, European Council of Optometry and Optics (ECOO) member organisations, individual educationalists and practitioners.

Commenting on the need for the European Academy, Dr Grit said: 'To meet the requirements of a modern profession, ECOO needed a far greater input from the profession across Europe. A different framework was essential to enable us to optimise the cooperation between different stakeholders, leaders of optometry, practitioners, educators and scientists. The Academy will provide this new framework.'