ABDO announces new Board member

ABDO announces new Board member

The Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO) has announced the appointment of Davinia Hadley to the ABDO Board.

Davinia will join the ABDO Board on 1 November 2025 after being elected to the role unopposed.

A qualified dispensing optician (DO) since achieving her FBDO diploma from Anglia Ruskin University in 2012, Davinia is the practice manager at Specsavers in Dorking, Surrey.

Looking after 19 staff, Davinia works alongside three other DOs, while jointly supervising a trainee DO on the ABDO FBDO apprenticeship programme.

She has also supervised four other colleagues through their FBDO examinations.

Davinia is part of the Specsavers Dispensing Optician User Group, representing the South East of England and London, a role that includes trialling new ophthalmic lenses to improve dispensing services within the company and promoting the DO role. Davinia is also currently studying for the ABDO professional certificate in paediatric eyecare.

Davina commented, “I am delighted to be joining the ABDO Board this November, and am very grateful to be given this opportunity to learn and hopefully make a positive impact on the Association and the membership.

“Having been a member of ABDO since 2008, and a qualified DO since 2012, I have witnessed many exciting developments in community eyecare practice – including advances in fundus and retinal imaging, myopia management and minor eye conditions services to name but a few.

“I feel passionately that the role of the DO can be promoted much more across many different settings, and I hope to be able to help achieve this on behalf of members.”

Davinia will replace Lorraine Bleasdale on the ABDO Board, as she completes her two terms in office.

ABDO president Kevin Gutsell said, “Many congratulations to Davinia on her successful nomination to the ABDO Board. I look forward to working with her alongside Board and staff member colleagues, and listening to the fresh insights that she will undoubtedly bring.”

Alistair Bridge, ABDO chief executive, commented, “ABDO Board members have an important role to play and I look forward to hearing Davinia’s perspectives on a wide range of issues affecting our members today, including professional recognition, education and training, and developments in technology.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Lorraine Bleasdale for her dedicated service as an ABDO Board member over the past six years. Lorraine is a passionate advocate for dispensing opticians, and as a Board member has provided extremely valuable insights into the issues faced by members in practice. I wish her every success in her future career.”