When and where...

Date: Thursday 6th November 2025

Time: 10 - 15.45 (Registration from 9)

Venue: Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, CF11 9XR

 

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Programme

Speakers' biogs are available here: https://wcb-ccd.org.uk/conference/speakers

10:00 – 10:05  Chair's welcome and introduction  

Gwyn Williams, Consultant Ophthalmologist, Swansea Bay University Health Board 

10:05 - 10:15  Unique Creative Arts Network (UCAN) Performance  

[Title of sketch to follow] 

10:15 - 10:30  Setting the scene 

David O'Sullivan, Chief Optometric Advisor, Welsh Government  

10:30 – 10:45 Roll out of the Certificate of Vision Impairment in Primary Care 

National Clinical Leads  

10:45 – 11:00 The role of the Eye Care Liaison Officer (ECLO) 

Ruth Rhydderch, ECLO, University Hospital of Wales [to be confirmed] 

11:00 – 11:15 Burnout to balance: Through resilience and recovery 

Sandy Davies, Chair of the Welsh Rehabilitation Officers Forum 

11:15 – 11:30 Emotional and practical support for the whole family  

Royal Society for Blind Children 

11:30 - 12:00  BREAK, EXHIBITION STANDS 

12:00 – 12:15 Reflecting on Care: An art installation to raise awareness about supporting the mental wellbeing of individuals with vision impairment 

Dr. Claire Nollett 

Richard Bowers 

12:15 – 12:30 Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) 

[provisionally confirmed] 

12:30 – 12:35 Launch of the Centre for Vision Services Research 

Prof. Barbara Ryan, Cardiff University 

12:35 – 12:45 Unique Creative Arts Network (UCAN) Productions  

Sketch: ‘What makes me happy’. 

12:45 – 13:00 Ministerial Speech 

Jeremy Miles, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care  

13:00 - 13:45  LUNCH and NETWORKING

13:45 - 14:00 Lived experience 

Anna Tylor, Chair of RNIB

14:00 – 14:15 Counselling and the importance of peer support 

Nia Greer, North Wales Services Manager, Vision Support member of the Wales Vision Forum   

14:15 – 14:30 LVSW practitioners’ approaches to their patients’ loneliness and isolation

Rebecca John, WCB Researcher  

14:30 – 14:45 Positive mental and general health: Importance of both 

Isabelle Oliver, Chief Medical Officer 

14:45 - 15:00 The positive impact of sport and leisure 

Gareth Davies, RNIB 

James Ledger, Para Athlete  

15:00 – 15:15 Looking after the Professionals 

Michael Bradbury, Optometry Wales 

15:15 – 15:30 Identifying depression  

National Clinical Leads 

15:30 - 15:55 Panel questions  

15:55 – 16.00  Closing remarks 

Gwyn Williams, Consultant Ophthalmologist, Swansea Bay University Health Board