Who we are

Devon LOC consists of a committee of up to  12 members elected from local practitioners and contractors by Devon practitioners and contractors. We hold elections for places on the committee at our Annual General Meeting every year in May.  Vacant positions are advertised on the website and via the LOC update.  If you are interested in learning more about and are consider joining the committee please get in touch via admin@devonloc.co.uk.

Meet the Committee

	Luisa Simo, Chair – chair@devonloc.co.uk
	Max Halford, Vice-Chair – max@devonloc.co.uk “I have Extended Services Contact Lens Optician having qualified originally as a dispensing optician in 1996. I have been a LOC committee member since 2009, was Chair from 2016 to 2022 and now hold the Vice Chair position. I have worked within multiple optician practices as a clinician and practice manager in the past and still deliver clinics in the area. I am Clinical Lead for the Association of British Dispensing Opticians and an Optical Lead for the Local Optical Committee Support Unit looking after LOCs across the South and East of England. I am a director of Primary Eyecare Devon, the not-for-profit LOC company that delivers eyecare service across the county and support the minor eye conditions service as its clinical governance and performance lead.”
	Daniel Tabb, Treasurer treasurer@devonloc.co.uk "I am an Optometrist & Dispensing Optician who has worked in Devon & East Cornwall for over 25 years and have been involved in the LOC for more than 10 years. I work for a multiple, both as a performer & a contractor. I engage in all aspects of daily practice & am actively involved in all enhanced schemes where available."
	Charles Bill – Committee Member Charles Bill is an Optometrist having graduated from Glasgow Caledonian University in 1996 and Qualifying in 1997. He has been an active member of the LOC since 2008 was Chairman 2011-16. He is presently director of Bill optical limited, an independent opticians which has 7 optical practices across Devon and the managing director of The Medical Eye clinic which is a surgical eye unit providing a range of surgical options for all eye conditions. He is also the finance director of Primary Eyecare Devon and a board member of LOCSU. He has 15 years’ experience at Torbay Eye Hospital where he has specialised in paediatric.
	Ian Berry, Committee Member "I am an Independent Prescribing Optometrist working at Noakes, Habermehl & Kerr Opticians in Plymouth and surrounding areas. I am also a qualified Dispensing Optician with experience in both independent and multiple practices. I am a pre-registration supervisor and am accredited for all the local enhanced services. I also provide a variety of specialist clinics including myopia control, dry eye management and complex contact lens fitting."
	Jenny Cooper, Committee Member ”I am an Independent prescribing Optometrist, working in independent practice in the South Hams, and the Royal Eye Infirmary in Plymouth. Enjoys all aspects of Optometry, but is particularly passionate about retinal disorders and glaucoma.”
	Ian Holten, Committee Member "I am a locum optometrist working in the multiple sector. Prior to the COVID pandemic I also worked as a glaucoma practitioner in the East Devon Glaucoma Service. Although this service has now been discontinued I maintain a keen interest in optometry led glaucoma services."
	Steve McCluskey, Committee Member “I am an Independent Prescribing Optometrist based in Dawlish working in an Independent Practice. I am a performer and contractor with a passion for Primary Care Optometry and keen to promote and expand the roles Optometrists’ can undertake in Local Eye Health. I’ve lived in Devon since 2012 and love the wide scope for outdoor activities it allows on our doorstep.”
	Peter Noakes, Committee Member “I am an independent optometrist qualifying at Aston in 1976 and starting independent practice in 1979 with one practice and now with six practices and two codirectors. He has been on the LOC since 1978 and a Primary Eyecare Devon director since its inception. I have done a clinic session at the Royal Eye Infirmary in Plymouth from 1978 until the department no longer required my services in 2018. I initiated the diabetic retinal screening programme in Optometric practices in 2005 and the Peninsula Optometrist Community Glaucoma scheme in 2007 whilst chairman of the LOC. I am also managing director of Iris Visioncare a subscription programme being rolled out across optometric practices throughout the country.”
	Leanne Smewing, Committee Member “I am the Clinical Lead Optometrist at the University of Plymouth where I lecture and lead the clinics for third year optometry students. My research area is accelerated ageing and glaucoma.”
	Sophie Withers, Committee Member "I am an optometrist and business owner based in Exeter. After spending the last few years of my career in education and professional services, I opened my own practice in December 2020. My previous roles include Head of Education for Nidek UK (Birmingham Optical group), Clinical teacher at Cardiff University and Professional Services Optometrist for Luxottica."
	Simon Brooks, Committee Member "I am an optometrist employed by a large multiple and have c. 30 years experience including independent practice, working as a locum optometrist. I have an interest in development of enhanced services and provision of shared care and also inclusive accessibility of eyecare provision."
	The LOC is supported in its administration and day to day functions by: Administrative Support – Carole Chesterton