GOC welcomes committee members

^{Lisa Cole and Ashley Francis}

Contact lens optician Lisa Cole and dispensing optician Ashley Francis joined the GOC Committee on January 15 to help ‘protect the public’ at the fitness to practise investigations stage.

Cole and Francis would consider allegations that a registrant may not be fit to practise, where case examiners cannot agree, and review registrants’ health or performance.

Mecs-accredited Cole currently supervised and assessed undergraduate optometry students at the University of the West of England and has over 33 years’ optical sector experience, including several in practice management.

Francis worked across North Wales and Northwest England, beginning his career as an optical assistant, later training in an optical lab as a glazing technician and then becoming a trainer in the same practice.