Mr Naresh Joshi is a Consultant Oculoplastic Surgeon based in London. He completed a Corneal Fellowship at the Proctor Foundation in San Francisco, followed by an Oculoplastic Fellowship at Moorfields Eye Hospital. He co-founded the Cranio-Orbital Service at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.

He is a founding member and past President of the British Oculoplastic Surgery Society, the UK representative and an Executive Member of the European Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and the Founder and Chairman of the World Society of Ophthalmic Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery.

Judith Potts is a former actor, acting and presentation coach, working under her stage name – Judith Fielding.  She founded Act One, a company that offered drama classes for children and presentation coaching for adults.

From 2010 to 2019, she wrote a health column for The Telegraph, drawing on her personal experiences — including her own journey with breast cancer — to highlight the work of the health charities. When her mother, Esme, developed Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS), this became a feature of the Column.

In 2015 she launched Esme’s Umbrella — first as an Awareness Campaign and then, in 2021, this became a fully-registered charity— to raise awareness of CBS, offer support to adults and children who develop CBS, and inspire vitally-needed research.

Judith has written widely on CBS in academic and clinical contexts, contributing to journals, conferences, podcasts, webinars and public events.

In recognition of her work, she received a Times Sternberg Active Life Award in 2025, honouring her “tireless, unpaid work to raise awareness of Charles Bonnet Syndrome.”

Deborah Laing is a skilled professional in the charity sector, with fifteen years’ experience at local and national charities. Deborah is passionate about inclusion, mentorship, and promoting excellence within the profession.

Professor Flavia Senkubuge is a South African physician, professor of public health medicine, an advocate of global public health and the immediate past President of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa. At age 39, she was the college’s youngest ever president and the first Black woman to hold the position.

After undertaking a PhD in Neurobiology, Candy held a British Heart Foundation Basic Science Lectureship at University College London before joining Wellcome in 1996. Previous roles at Wellcome include leadership of the personal award schemes for basic scientists in the UK – from PhD Programmes through to the suite of research fellowship schemes and Investigator Awards. More recently, she focussed on providing expert support and guidance to Wellcome grant holders, as well as those seeking funding. As Head of Science Transition, Candy looked after a diverse portfolio of activities that were established before the launch of Wellcome’s current strategy to ensure their success and impact was maximised.

Dr Martina Wicklein is Associate Professor (Teaching) and Head of Teaching in the Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology at UCL.

Since joining UCL in 2015 as a Senior Teaching Fellow, she has played a key role in undergraduate neuroscience education, combining teaching, academic leadership, and student support. Her responsibilities include leading the departmental teaching team, acting as first-year tutor for the neuroscience programme, serving as personal tutor to students, and chairing the EC panel.

She is module lead for Introduction to Neuroscience (NEUR0004) and Foundations of Neurobiology (NEUR0005), and contributes teaching across a range of neuroscience and medical school modules.

She became a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy in 2017 and was awarded Senior Fellowship in 2025. She is also active as an assessor and mentor within ARENA.

Professor Dame Carrie MacEwan is Chair of the GMC, appointed in May 2022.

Carrie has been a member of Council since January 2021 and served as Acting Chair from August 2021 to May 2022.

Carrie is a consultant ophthalmologist for NHS Tayside and Honorary Professor at the University of Dundee. She served as Chair of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges until 2020 and is Past-President of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists.

Carrie was specialty ophthalmology advisor to the Scottish Chief Medical Officer for over a decade and led the Scottish Eyecare Workstream, ceasing this role in June 2022. She was the clinical co-lead for the ophthalmology ‘Getting It Right First Time’ programme and the Eye Care Recovery and Transformation Programme for NHS England/Improvement. She was Associate Dean for Less than Full Time Training for East Scotland from 2007 to 2022 and a member of the medical team for Scotland during the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

Dr Amit Patel is a best-selling author, broadcaster, award-winning DEI consultant, and disability rights campaigner. His work spans media, advocacy, inclusive design, and healthcare.

Before losing his sight to keratoconus in 2013, he worked as a trauma doctor specialising in emergency medicine and major incident response. His clinical background and lived experience of sight loss continue to shape his work in accessibility, equity, and inclusion.

Inspired by his partnership with his guide dog Kika (now retired), he wrote the acclaimed memoir Kika & Me, combining personal storytelling with advocacy for greater representation of disabled people.

Through his writing, broadcasting, consultancy, and public speaking, he challenges perceptions, champions inclusion, and helps organisations create more accessible and equitable environments.

Professor Mala Rao is a distinguished public health expert with extensive experience in health policy, global health, and epidemiology. She has advised governments and international organisations on public health strategy, health equity, and workforce planning, with a particular focus on improving health outcomes for underserved communities. Professor Rao is committed to mentoring the next generation of health professionals and promoting leadership, inclusion, and evidence-based practice across health systems.

Lola Solebo is a Clinician Scientist and Consultant Paediatric Ophthalmologist. Her work investigates the characterisation on the natural history and the determinants of outcome for children with treatable eye disorders, particularly uveitis and cataract, and how best to translate those findings into changes in practice and policy. She currently plays a role in supporting WVUK members interested in clinical academia.

Professor Majlinda Lako is an accomplished researcher and academic specializing in stem cell biology, regenerative medicine, and translational research. She is committed to advancing scientific knowledge, mentoring emerging scientists, and promoting collaboration across research and clinical communities. Professor Lako is passionate about innovation, inclusion, and fostering opportunities for the next generation of researchers in biomedical science.

Marsha De Cordova is a British politician and advocate for equality and inclusion. She has served as a Member of Parliament and held roles championing education, disability rights, and social justice. Marsha is passionate about empowering underrepresented communities, promoting accessibility, and driving positive change through policy, advocacy, and public engagement.

Luminita Paraoan is a Professor with a distinguished career in higher education, recognised for leading world-class research and building strong national and international collaborations.

With expertise in molecular and cell biology, she has extensive experience in research leadership, research-led teaching, postgraduate supervision, and research governance. Her work also spans academic leadership, health and safety governance, internationalisation, external examining, and equality, diversity and inclusion in higher education.

She has held senior leadership roles within major international professional bodies, including the Executive Board of the International Society for Eye Research and as Vice-President International, and is a Gold Fellow of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.

Shee currently chairs the Cancer Discovery Panel for North West Cancer Research and the Research Advisory Board for Sight Research UK, and also contributes to grant review panels for Fight for Sight and Retina UK, supporting the development of impactful translational research.

Mrs Sabrina Shah-Desai is a highly experienced eye and facial rejuvenation specialist with over two decades of surgical and non-surgical practice in the UK.

She is listed on the Royal College of Surgeons of England register of Board-Certified Cosmetic Surgeons, reflecting her expertise, commitment to high clinical standards, and the trust she has earned from both patients and peers.

Her work has been consistently recognised in the Tatler Top Doctors Guide as a leading expert in eye treatments for six consecutive years (2019–2024). She has also received multiple industry awards, including Best Aesthetic Doctor (Safety in Beauty Diamond Award 2023) and Consultant Surgeon of the Year (Aesthetic Awards 2021), alongside recognition for surgical excellence and medical aesthetics.

In 2019, she was named among the Global 100 Most Influential Aesthetic Practitioners by MyFaceMyBody.

Known for combining technical expertise with a patient-centred and empathetic approach, she is widely regarded as a trusted specialist in her field.

Professor Rachel Pilling specialises in paediatric ophthalmology, including squint surgery and retinopathy of prematurity screening and treatment. She is part of a team which provides visual assessments to children with developmental delay and special needs in eye clinic and when visiting special schools.

She also provides a specialist service for adults with learning disability, working closely with the Learning Disability Health Facilitation Team.

Dr Ruth Windscheffel is Head of Teaching and Learning Enhancement at York St John University, where she leads a central team supporting institutional teaching, learning, and staff development.

With over 20 years’ experience in UK higher education, she trained to doctoral level in Modern British History at the University of Oxford, Royal Holloway, University of London, and the University of Liverpool, and has worked as a teacher, researcher, and educational developer throughout her career.

Her leadership experience spans the Open University, the University of Essex, and City, University of London, before returning to Yorkshire to take up her current role.

She oversees professional development and recognition pathways, including Advance HE-accredited Fellowship routes, and contributes to strategic initiatives, quality enhancement, and institutional reporting. She is also actively involved in staff networks, mentoring, and wellbeing initiatives across the university.

She is a Senior Fellow of Advance HE and an alumna of the Aurora leadership programme, with a strong commitment to inclusive education, staff development, and enhancing the student learning experience.

Dawn A. Sim, FRCOphth, currently works as a Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at Moorfields Eye Hospital, United Kingdom, specializing in Medical Retina & Cataract. Dr Sim obtained her medical degree from St George’s Hospital, University of London, and did her PhD research at the Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London. Dr Sim’s primary areas of interest include retinal imaging, teleophthalmology, and the potential use of regenerative medicine in the treatment of diabetic eye disease.

Dr Tamsin Callaghan is an experienced clinician and researcher in the field of vision and eye care. She is committed to advancing clinical practice, fostering professional development, and supporting evidence-based research to improve patient outcomes. Dr Callaghan is passionate about mentoring emerging professionals and promoting inclusion, collaboration, and excellence across the vision and ophthalmology community.

Professor Alice Roberts is a distinguished academic, anatomist, and public educator, renowned for her work in anatomy, human evolution, and archaeology. She combines research, teaching, and media engagement to inspire public interest in science and medicine. Professor Roberts is passionate about education, mentorship, and promoting diversity and inclusion in scientific and academic communities.

Professor Clare Gilbert worked as a clinical ophthalmologist in the UK for 10 years before working on international eye health. She joined LSHTM in 2002 where her work focuses on eye diseases in low- and middle-income countries.

Clare has several awards for her work including from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the International Council of Ophthalmology and an Honorary Fellowship from the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, UK. She was in the 2021 Power List of the Top 100 Women in Ophthalmology