This year saw the baton of the presidency of the International Opticians Association (IOA) handed from Fiona Anderson to Donald Crichton BSc (Hons) FBDO. The association’s new president took the opportunity to address members at the SILMO Academy by IOA, which was held in Singapore from 12 to 14 April.
Donald Crichton says, “The IOA has strong relationships with well-established associations and is able to assist with the growth of new professional groups in places not traditionally serviced by a formal board representing dispensing opticians. I look forward to assisting in these areas. With so many opportunities to engage and work with our membership it is an exciting time to work collaboratively and grow the association.”
Donald began his career in optics in 1986 in Edinburgh, Scotland as a glazing technician. He then qualified as a dispensing optician through the Association of British Dispensing Opticians in 1993. Dispensing opticians were on the skills shortage list in 2004, affording him the opportunity to move to New Zealand at that time, securing a job in the Auckland suburb of Takapuna.
He has since spent time working at the University of Auckland School of Optometry as a supervisor to final year optometry students, coaching them in the art of dispensing and has recently returned on a part-time basis. In the last few years, Donald has completed an honours degree in Vision Science.
Donald is a member of the Association of British Dispensing Opticians in the UK, and the Association of Dispensing Opticians New Zealand of which he is a past President. He first became a freeman of the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers in 1994.
Find out more about the IOA and read Donald’s full speech at www.ioassn.org.
