About the presenters:
Tim Morgan, WGOS National Clinical Lead
Tim Morgan is a Wales General Ophthalmic Services' National Clinical Lead, alongside Rebecca John and Mike George. This role is employed by NHS Wales to support all 7 Health Boards.
Additionally, he is an Optometrist performer and contractor with his own practice in North East Wales.
UCAN Productions
UCAN Productions (Unique Creative Arts Network) is an award-winning cooperative founded in 2005 to address the lack of performance and creative opportunities for blind and partially sighted children, young people and adults in Wales. Since then, the organisation has grown to over 700 visually impaired members of all ages.
UCAN Productions develops specialised drama workshops and theatrical performances that challenge the perceptions of the sighted world. By improving physical and vocal confidence and raising the aspirations of its members, UCAN has proved, many times, that visual impairment is no barrier to success in the world of performing arts and beyond.
Delyth Jewell MS, Deputy Minister for Social Care, Mental Health and Women’s Health in the Welsh Government.
Jewell was born in Caerphilly, grew up in Ystrad Mynach, and went to school in Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni in Bargoed, before going on to study in the University of Oxford, where she graduated with a Degree in English Language and Literature and a Masters in Celtic Studies. In 2014, she won the Researcher of the Year Award for her work in paving the way for legislation on stalking and domestic violence. She later worked for Citizens’ Advice and Action Aid. On 13 May 2026 Delyth Jewell was appointed Deputy Minister for Social Care, Mental Health and Women’s Health in the Welsh Government.
Rhianon Reynolds
Rhianon Perrott-Reynolds qualified as an Optometrist with a degree from Cardiff University in 1997. Following a pre-registration year in Community optometry she undertook a full time PhD at Cardiff investigating ocular blood flow in patients with type 2 Diabetes. During this time she decided to start a medical career and graduated with honours from Cardiff University medical school. Her training in Ophthalmology started in the Wales Deanery in 2010 and after completion of training and a fellowship in Medical Retina and Uveitis at Bristol eye hospital Rhianon took up a consultant post with Aneurin Bevan at the start of 2020 where she is now clinical lead. Her main clinical interest is Medical retina, Retinal imaging, Uveitis and cataract surgery.
During training Rhianon maintained a strong interest in research. She has been investigator on many clinical trials and She is part of the Welsh Eyecare Pathway Research Network who recently won am RfPPB grant to look at the impact of the changes to legislation allowing low vision optometrists to register people as sight impaired. Rhianon is also a senior lecturer in the Department of Optometry and Vision Science at Cardiff University on projects including imaging in Age related macular degeneration.
David O'Sullivan OBE, Chief Optometric Advisor to Welsh Government
David qualified as an optometrist with a First-Class Honours degree from Glasgow Caledonian University in 1996 before completing his training in Leeds general infirmary. Following a short spell in Yorkshire he relocated to Wales in 1998 where he became a practice owner expanding from one practice to a small group of practices within Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.
He became accredited to provide Welsh Eye Care Services (Eye Health Examination and Low Vision Service Wales) in the first cohort of practitioners for both services and has subsequently undertaken further postgraduate qualifications in glaucoma management and ocular therapeutics.
In 2001 he became the Optometric Development Officer for Carmarthenshire Local Health group, which has subsequently developed into Hywel Dda University Health Board. This was the first position of its kind in Wales and provided a link between primary and secondary care providing the platform for developing services in the community.
In 2015 he became the Optometric Adviser for Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan University Health Board and in July 2017 became the Chief Optometric Adviser for Wales, leading on the NHS Wales Future Approach for Optometry and clinical reforms for eye care in Wales”.
David was recognised in the 2024 Kings New Years Honours List, becoming an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for “Services to Eye Care in Wales”.
Rebecca John, National Clinical Lead, Wales General Ophthalmic Services
Rebecca studied at Cardiff University and qualified as an Optometrist in 2005. Since then she has worked in a variety of optometric practices to include independent practice, the hospital eye service and a year practising in Trinidad. She has also spent time in research, and teaching undergraduate and postgraduate optometry.
Rebecca is now National Clinical Lead for Wales General Ophthalmic Services and alongside this is currently undertaking two research projects with Wales Council of the Blind.
Edward Oloidi
Richard Bowers
Richard has worked for Wales Council of the Blind for over 30 years. He developed WCB's Perspectif database initially for internal use, but it is in use currently and most productively as a resource in the Wales Vision Forum Signposting Service.
Last year Richard's other life as an artist crossed over into his day job with the AHRC-funded installation Eight Voices in Darkness - a collaboration with Dr. Claire Nollett. The project won the Public Involvement Award from Health and Care Research Wales this year.
Sharon Beatty
Sharon graduated from Cardiff University in 1994 and has been an optometrist for over 30 years. She was a practice director of two optometry practices in South Wales for 16 years and returned to Cardiff University in 2018 as a lecturer where she continues to teach and assess part-time on optometry postgraduate higher qualification courses. Sharon has held the position of chairperson of the charity Bridgend Visual Impairment Society (Bridge VIS) for 11 years.
Martha Rees
Martha qualified as a teacher in 1994 and worked in the secondary and special school sectors for over 10 years. In 2008 she completed the Mandatory Postgraduate Qualification for Teachers of Children and Young People with Vision Impairment from the University of Wales, followed by a MA in Special Educational Needs (VI) in 2013. She has worked as a Qualified Teacher of Vision Impairment (QTVI) in Neath Port Talbot and Powys, supporting children and young people across the age and ability range. Since September 2025 she has held the position of Inclusion Manager of Powys Sensory Service, managing the team of QTVIs, Qualified Teachers of the Deaf, along with a Habilitation Specialist.
Charlotte Robson
Charlotte is a 15 year old pupil from south Powys who attends a mainstream high school. She has been supported by Powys Sensory Service from the age of 3.
Vince Barnard
Vince is a qualified teacher of children with vision impairment (QTVI)
He is an experienced teacher with over 18 years in education, including 15 years specialising in teaching children and young people with vision impairments in Powys, Mid Wales. He is passionate about working in a person-centred way, ensuring that each child or young person remains at the heart of everything he does. He strives to understand individual needs, recognise strengths and empower all CYP to grow, thrive and achieve their own goals in their own way.
Outside of work, Vince enjoys an active and varied lifestyle, with interests including running, golf, water sports, ballroom dancing and yoga.
Dr. Pippa Anderson
Pippa is a health economist in the School of Optometry and Vision Science at Cardiff University and is the lead for Health Economics Research and Innovation at Swansea Centre for Health Economics at Swansea University. Through her career her research has informed and supported a wide range health and care services. Her focus over the past decade has been to utilise health economic thinking and methods in the context of interdisciplinary research that provides evidence to support the implementation of more efficient and cost-effective services, especially so in supporting people with vision impairment and diabetes.
Dr. Keith Reid
Becky Burn
Becky is the Training and Engagement officer for Wales for Glaucoma UK, having spent twenty years working in education. She works closely with eye health professionals, delivering training, and raising awareness of the condition, particularly among groups at higher risk.
Glaucoma UK has recently completed the UK's largest-ever glaucoma patient voices survey. Becky will be sharing insights from this landmark project, presenting on its aims, methodology, and reach, and explore how patient experiences can help shape future glaucoma care.
Dr. Henry Stennett
Dr Henry Stennett is Senior Research Coordinator at Retina UK, the national charity funding research into inherited sight loss conditions and supporting those affected by them. With a background in biochemistry, science communication, and public engagement, he works to bridge the gap between the laboratory and everyday life, helping people understand how advances in research may translate into future treatments. His work includes tracking developments in inherited retinal disease research, communicating scientific progress to diverse audiences, and supporting meaningful engagement between researchers and the sight loss community.
Dan Kent
Melvin Cua
Andrew Evans
William Oliver, MSc, BA (HONS), FInSTR, MIHSCM
Will is currently Assistant Director for Planned Care in NHS Wales Performance and Improvement. He leads on Ophthalmology, Urology, Anaesthetics / Peri-Operative Care and Outpatient Services transformation across Wales. His NHS Wales career spans 25 years in a variety of roles, across several organisations including Assistant General Manager for Surgery, Assistant Director of Planning and Performance and Assistant Director for Contact Tracing. Outside of work, Will has been a Non-Executive Director of several Housing Associations and Care organisations in South Wales for over 15 years. He is also an experienced search and rescue professional with close to 15 years of operational, tactical, and strategic leadership in mountain, search, water and flood rescue environments. He is Deputy Team Leader for the Western Beacons Mountain Rescue Team and holds several national operational and strategic roles within UK search and rescue, including being National Water and Flood Rescue Officer for Mountain Rescue England and Wales (MREW).
Mike George
Owen Williams
Owen was appointed as the Director of Wales Council of the Blind (WCB) in 2012 and has over 30 years' experience of working within the sight loss sector in Wales. Owen is the past Chair of Visionary and was a trustee for them for 9 years. Owen has Nystagmus and is partially sighted, and this enables him to bring a unique service-user perspective.
Owen Chairs the Wales Vision Forum, a forum comprising local, regional, and national sight loss charities in Wales. He is also the Chair of the Welsh Government Patient Advisory Group and Chair of the SENCOM Advisory Group.
He has a background in access technology and providing specialist assessments and advice including the provision of technical assessments through the Access to Work and Disability Student Allowance (DSA) schemes. Owen has also worked on several projects within health and social care, most recently highlighting the scarcity of Vision Rehabilitation Specialists in Wales.
Exhibitors
Sight Loss Council Cymru
Our vision is simple - to ensure that blind and partially sighted people across Wales have a strong voice, are listened to, and are involved in creating the changes that affect their everyday lives.
We have representatives across all seven regions of Wales, Local Action Groups bringing people together locally, and partnerships that are helping us influence change.
Wales Vision Forum
The purpose of the Forum is for organisations representing people with sight loss to come together to share, discuss and outline work programmes and priorities to enhance joint working and reduce duplication to maximise our collective reach and impact.
The Forum is a platform for sharing information, sharing good practice and expertise, consulting and identifying opportunities to support service and campaign planning.
The group will also focus on the work of relevant work-streams in the sight loss sector. Task and finish groups will be established for specific areas of work, as agreed at meetings or via email by a majority.
http://wcb-ccd.org.uk/wales-vision-forum
Optometry Wales
Optometry Wales is the professional umbrella organisation for the primary care eye health profession in Wales. We represent and work on behalf of all community optometrists, opticians and dispensing opticians across Wales.
We are funded by contributions from each of the Regional Optical Committees in Wales, and from the UK optical bodies.
Our key working partners are Welsh Government, the Welsh Optometric Postgraduate Education Centre (WOPEC), NHS Wales, the voluntary sector and the Welsh Optometric Committee (WOC).
Working in partnership with all of these organisations and bodies we are committed to excellence in eye care in Wales.