ABDO appoints new regional lead

Ruth Shelton is also a landscape gardener

ABDO has welcomed Ruth Shelton as its new regional lead for the South of England.

A qualified dispensing optician (DO) since 1995, Ruth has been involved with Oxfordshire Local Optical Committee (LOC) for four years, and was a local lead in her area for ABDO.

ABDO regional leads are an integral part of the policy team, helping to deliver ABDO’s objectives to maintain high level DO services and develop them further to provide extended services locally.

Ruth said: “ABDO has made large strides over the past few years, promoting its members with extended services including minor eye conditions services pathways. I am looking forward to helping local leads influence these advancements for the wider benefit of all ABDO members.

“I’m pretty sure I’m the only FBDO in the country who is also a chartered member of the Landscape Institute. There are lots of similarities between the worlds of landscape and optics, and there are also lots of differences. I’ve found over the years that my experiences in one professional setting often help in the other.”

As well as now being an ABDO regional lead, Ruth is a member of the ABDO sustainability working group, and sustainability champion and interim treasurer of Oxfordshire LOC.

Commenting on the appointment, Debbie McGill, ABDO head of policy and public affairs, said: “Ruth brings a wealth of experience and knowledge, which is an asset to us and our members – and will enable her to provide support and assist with development going forwards.”