Former GOC chair Gareth Hadley has died

Gareth Hadley was chair of the General Optical Council (GOC) until February 2021

Gareth Hadley, chair of the General Optical Council (GOC) until February 2021, has died after a short illness.

Gareth was chair of council from February 2013 and steered projects such as the education strategic review, reforms to continuing professional development and the first ever set of professional standards for registrants. He was also chair of the Prison Opticians Trust and a liveryman at the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers.

Former chief executive, Lesley Longstone, said: “Gareth will be sorely missed for his absolute focus on strategic reform of our regulatory functions, and ultimately his contribution to eyecare safety. But I will miss him for his warm friendship and enduring support through massive periods of change, not least during the early stages of the pandemic.”

GOC chief executive, Leonie Milliner, added: “Gareth was a spirited, kind and generous chair, and he will be much missed by staff, council and members. His support and encouragement for the GOC, even beyond his tenure as chair, was exemplary and he was well-respected both in the optical sector and amongst healthcare regulators. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time.”