ODA Webinar Wednesday

Presented By International Guest - Elaine Grisdale BSc.(Hons) FBDO FAAO FEAOO

Director of Development for the International Opticians Association (IOA) and Head of Professional Services & International Development for the Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO)

Topic: "Initial steps to becoming a sustainable practice"

The world has woken up to the challenge of climate change. In 2015, the UN set 17 sustainability goals. The WHO has stated that climate change affects the social and environmental determinants of health. In 2021, The Lancet Commission on Global Eye Health added planetary health as a key component to improving quality of eyecare.

The WWF report that on average, Australians use 130kg of plastic per person each year. Less than 12% of that is recycled. More frightening still, up to 130,000 tonnes of plastic will find its way into Australian waterways and into the ocean destroying marine life. The optical sector is guilty of contributing to this statistic through our abundant use of frames, contact lenses, cases and cloths, and excessive packaging solutions including sleeves on frame sides and polythene bags.

This webinar will explore how you can transform your optical practice to make it more sustainable. In particular, it will discuss assessing the viability of such a project and give advice on practical steps to take to make the transformation.

ODA Paid Plan Members are granted free access to this CPD Event and will gain 1 CPD Point. Login to your account before purchasing your ticket for the discount to be automatically applied at checkout.

About the Speaker: Elaine Grisdale BSc.(Hons) FBDO FAAO FEAOO

Elaine is Head of Professional Services and International Development for ABDO and is the Director of Development for the International Opticians’ Association whose role is “to enhance and develop the optical profession around the world”.

She has had a varied and international career in technical , professional relations, sales , marketing and teaching roles. She has lectured extensively around the world for the past 35 years on a variety of topics. In her role as International Professional Relations Manager for Essilor International, she was responsible for the initiation and follow-up of external clinical studies for existing and new products for the Essilor Group. Elaine was co-director and founder of the successful Varilux University in Paris , the first international continuing education centre dedicated to the teaching of topics related to presbyopia and the ageing eye.

She qualified as a dispensing optician and first registered with the General Optical Council in 1985. She is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers, a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and a Fellow of the European Academy of Optometry and Optics.

She serves as Secretary for the Public Affairs and Economic Committee for the European Council of Optometry and Optics and sits on their Executive Board. She is also a Trustee of the Board for the European Academy of Optometry and Optics. A fluent French speaker, Elaine is a Scientific Committee Member of the Silmo Academy in France and a member of the Jury Vision for Silmo.

She recently obtained a First Class Honours degree in Vision Science and is now studying for a Masters degree in Dementia.