The Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO) is welcoming two new regional leads for the North of England.
Lynda Matthias FBDO has been a dispensing optician for 20 years and works as a locum dispensing across Yorkshire. Over the past six months Lynda has been representing dispensing opticians on the Leeds Local Optical Committee to ensure dispensing opticians have a voice within Primary Eye Health Care.
Over the last 20 years, Lynda has worked in management for both ASDA and Specsavers. During that time, she has seen challenges and the landscape of optics change.
Providing CPD has been a great passion for Lynda, and she has been involved with delivering CPD, both in person with local events and now as an online facilitator for ABDO. Lynda is also training to be an ABDO examiner.
Lynda says, “I love being a dispensing optician and it has a positive impact on my life. I find it an honour to be given this opportunity to support the ABDO members of Yorkshire and the North East of England. Working to ensure that our profession develops and adapts to the ongoing changes of eyecare within the region.”
Daniel Green FBDO qualified as a dispensing optician in 2018 and has since developed a career spanning clinical practice, education, and professional training. He currently works as senior dispensing and contact lens training manager at Specsavers, supporting student dispensing opticians and qualified dispensing opticians in their ongoing professional development. As part of this role, he is the course lead for the BTEC Level 4 Certificate in Optical Dispensing, overseeing programme delivery and learner development. Daniel is also an Education Committee panel member for the General Optical Council and has previously worked as an optometry clinical tutor at the University of Manchester.
Daniel says, “I’m delighted to have the opportunity to represent dispensing opticians across the North West and to champion a profession that has given me so many opportunities. Dispensing optics is a rewarding career with a passionate community of DOs, with ABDO at its heart. As regional lead, I hope to share my experience and insight with the region and, more importantly, to listen to, learn from, and support fellow dispensing opticians.”
The ABDO regional leads play a vital role within the clinical and policy team, helping to deliver the organisation’s strategy around the evolving roles of dispensing opticians in UK practices.
They also contribute to the ongoing development and support of members throughout every stage of their careers. By offering a local point of contact, regional leads are uniquely positioned to understand and respond to the needs of members across different localities and nations, ensuring tailored support and guidance where it’s needed most.
Commenting on the appointments, Max Halford, ABDO clinical and policy director, said, “ABDO is delighted to welcome Daniel and Lynda to the regional lead team. Both bring a strong, patient-focused ethos and a long-standing commitment to supporting dispensing opticians at every stage of their careers. Daniel’s extensive involvement in training and professional development, alongside Lynda’s sustained engagement through her LOC work, reflect a shared dedication to high-quality, accessible eye care and to championing the role of dispensing opticians in local systems.
“Their appointments further strengthen an already experienced regional lead team, bringing additional skills, perspectives and expertise that will support members, students and ABDO’s wider strategic ambitions across the regions.”
