Interview: Sir Anthony Garrett CBE HonFBDO

Tony Garrett has led the Association for more than 20 years

ABDO general secretary, Sir Anthony Garrett, will retire at the end of this year after 23 years at the helm. He tells Dispensing Optics editor Nicky Collinson about his proudest achievements and hopes for the future of the Association and profession.

NC: What successes or accomplishments are you most proud of having led?

AG: There are a number of stand-out items including establishing ABDO College, which was a new concept and not without some opposition. However, after more than 20 successful years, and nearly half of the profession having passed through its doors, it would be unthinkable not to have it. Also, the creation of the National Resource Centre, our sector-leading facility which has set the marker for our future advancement. Above all, the development of ABDO’s outstanding executive team. When I joined in 1999, there was not one dispensing optician (DO) on the staff; now it is normal for us to recruit outstanding, experienced DOs. Having professional staff who understand, and have experienced, practice life should give members great confidence that their interests are being looked after.

NC: What have been the greatest challenges?

AG: Getting the profession to believe that it was a profession and to act accordingly. When I started at ABDO, I was told the DO profession would go nowhere as it was not a degree level one. After six hard years, we finally got Ofqual accreditation at Level 6 for the FBDO qualification – but it took a further 15 years for the General Optical Council (GOC) to agree. Gaining Level 6 was the springboard for so many of the developments we have made in education. Over the years, that sense of professionalism has just grown and grown. It has been a challenge over the years to ensure the GOC understands the role of DOs and how they are educated, but they have been open to us doing seminars for staff recently and have recognised the problem. Our other great challenge has been riding the economic storms of the day. The financial crisis of 2007/8 was tough and we had to suspend some activity. That was replicated, and became even worse, with the arrival of Covid-19. It has been a tough two years, and it looks like we will be living with the outcome of the pandemic for another couple of years at least.

NC: What has changed most about the profession and industry during your tenure?

AG: ABDO is now a much bigger, better and more capable organisation. The late Michael Potter gave both ABDO and ABDO College very professional corporate identities, which we have continued to develop. This set the tone for a very professional approach to everything we do and have done. We were a small and modest body; we are now very much part of the decision-making process within the sector. More generally, there has been a contraction in the independent sector, but a significant growth in the size of the profession. There are now far more DOs in lots more practices than in 2000. There has also been significant changes and contraction in the manufacturing sector, not all of it beneficial to the retail market. However, things do change and innovation is still very apparent in many areas.

NC: What are your hopes for the Association and its members?

AG: ABDO has been on a steady path of growth. I hope that will continue as we move into more clinical areas and our academic development begins to flourish, building upon the outstanding work being done by Dr Alicia Thompson. There are now a lot more opportunities for our members to build their careers, and I think we are just at the beginning of that process.

NC: What advice do you have for the future generation of dispensing opticians?

AG: Be confident in your profession and your own skills and capabilities. Take every opportunity to progress, and be proud of your qualifications and skills.

NC: How will you be keeping busy after handing over the reins?

AG: To start with, I will be staying on for a while with ABDO College. I’ll be watching a lot more cricket and walking my two labradors. Of course, I’ll also be able to spend more time with my grandchildren and my wife Jane, who has been a fantastic support to me over my working life. The one thing I do know is that I will miss it all very much, especially my colleagues, but it is time to go – and I wish my excellent successor every success.

Alistair Bridge, currently ABDO head of strategy, will become CEO of the Association on 1 January 2023. Read our interview with Alistair in the January 2023 issue of Dispensing Optics.