New GOC chair appointed

Dr Anne Wright has been named chair of the General Optical Council after Gareth Hadley stepped down after eight years in the role.

She most recently held the position of member and lay-vice chair of the Nursery and Midwifery Council and would take up the role at the optical regulator on February 18.

Wright was chair of the National Lottery Commission for eight years until 2013 and was a member of the Bar Standards Board between 2012 and 2017.

The former vice-chancellor of the University of Sunderland was awarded a CBE in 1997 for her services to higher education.

Wright said: ‘I am delighted to have been appointed as the chair of the GOC. With transformative projects such as the Education Strategic Review and the introduction of a new Continuing Professional Development model as well as future legislative reform, it is an exciting time to be joining the Council. I look forward to working with my fellow Council members, staff and stakeholders to deliver the highest standards of public protection.’