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Paul Cottrell (Chair)

Optometrist since 2007, LOC member since 2012, elected Chairman in 2014.  My early career was spent in hospital practice in Birmingham, where I still return one day each week.  Having worked in multiple and independent practice, then as a partner in a small chain for almost 10 years, I now find myself working in an independent practice in Shrewsbury, acting as an adviser to Powys Teaching Health Board and assessing for the College of Optometrists.  The LOC provides me an opportunity to positively affect the optometric landscape for the benefit of patients and practice staff across Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin.  When I’m not in a test room or at my computer I can often be found out gigging in a Shrewsbury based soul band or throwing coal into a fire on a narrow gauge railway in scenic mid Wales.

Ellen Windsor-Crewe (Secretary)

I’ve been on the LOC committee since 2009 and I have worked in optics since 1996, I qualified as a Dispensing Optician in 2005 and became a partner in an independent practice where I live in 2006. In 2016 I became the sole owner of the practice, juggling work and family life can be hectic but it is great being part of a friendly local community both for work and home life.

Kelly Nixon (Education co-ordinator)

I have worked in optics since 2003 and been a qualified DO since 2018. I have worked for Jane Smellie Opticians, Whitchurch since 2007. My current role in the practice is DO and Business Manager.  I have been a member of the LOC for over 2 years. My current role for the LOC is arranging CET and Education events.  In my spare time I enjoy live music and spinning.

Rizwan Makda (Treasurer)

I qualified as a CLO in 2009 in Leicester and moved to the West Midlands/Shropshire region in 2014 to become a partner at Specsavers Telford, later opening a second store in Newport Shropshire. I enjoy all aspects of running 2 busy practises in particular the supervision and development of trainee Optometrists, DOs and CLOS. I am also an ABDO examiner.

In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family and following Leicester City football club. 

I have been on the LOC for a few years and am keen on contributing further in years to come from a contractor, franchisee and DO/CLO point of view.

Ian Milne (Vice Chair)

I have  been a member of the LOC since 2016, and I’m currently vice-chair.  I am an optometrist and resident partner at Ellerker Opticians in Shrewsbury. As a GOS performer and latterly also a contractor I have gained 15 years’ experience in primary NHS eye-care.  I joined the LOC in no small part to try and strengthen the link between primary and secondary eye-care and to work towards proper recognition of the role primary care optometry has in a modern health service. In my spare time I enjoy cycling and walking our dog, Sydney (the one on the left).

Nav Kohli (Member)

I qualified as an Optometrist in 2005 and have worked at the Glasshouse Opticians in Newport, Shropshire since 2010. I took on the practice in full in 2018 and I have enjoyed every aspect of running a fun, family orientated small independent practice.

I have been a member of the LOC for 2 years and have thoroughly enjoyed working with this fantastic enthusiastic team, trying to deliver guidance and advice.

Family time is what keeps me sane, as following Wolves FC can be traumatic.

Satinder Sidhu (Member)

Following studies at Manchester, I qualified as an Optometrist in 2011. Upon returning to Shropshire, I spent the following 5yrs building my experience and knowledge in community optometry. Following this I joined on as Optom partner at my practice and have continued to learn more about all aspects of Optometric practice. Having attended many great Shropshire LOC events over the past decade, I decided to join as general committee member in 2020. It’s been very rewarding helping give a little back to optics, seeing the hard work of all the LOC members has been humbling!

Jagdeep Singh (Member)

I qualified as an Optometrist in 2016 and have been working in Shropshire since 2015 initially as a Resident Optometrist and now as a Locum. I am a Specialist Optometrist at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and am involved in Medical Retina, Intravitreal Injection, YAG Laser and Urgent Eye clinics. I also work as a Medical Retina Optometrist for SpaMedica, across various sites in the UK. In addition, to this I am a Clinical Governance and Performance Lead for Primary Eyecare Services in Staffordshire and Cheshire and Merseyside. I am also a Council Member for the College of Optometrists in the West Midlands. I am passionate about extended services in primary care and have completed higher qualifications in Glaucoma, Medical Retina and Independent Prescribing.

Amelia Latham (Member)

I qualified as an Optometrist in 2021, this was delayed due to the pandemic. In my very short time as a qualified Optometrist I have taken my medical retina exams, qualified in school vision/visual stress,  become EHEW/MECS/CUES and WOPEC glaucoma accredited and am now looking to start my IP qualification in the very near future. I have also recently started carrying out virtual Glaucoma clinics for the Wrexham Maelor hospital. I am very enthusiastic about my career and the profession as a whole. I believe that there is so much happening in Optometry now, and I am very I am keen to get involved with present and future opportunities and hopefully have a small influence on any local decisions.

Sophie Wragg (Member)

Qualified as an optometrist in 2017, I have worked as both a resident and locum in multiple and independent practices in Shropshire and Staffordshire, with further qualifications in MECS and Cataract services. I am now a director at my current practice. I joined the LOC in 2022 to understand more about optometric provisions throughout Shropshire, and to help shape the modernisation of optometry in our county.

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