Our Board

Rt Hon Dame Janet Paraskeva

Chair

Dame Janet Paraskeva has a wealth of experience in leading organisations across a variety of sectors which she now brings to the Primary Eyecare board. Dame Janet was Chief Executive of the Law Society from Society from 2000 to 2006, preparing it for the advent of the Legal Services Act 2007 by establishing the separate regulatory functions for the SRA and the OLC from its representative functions. She has since served as First Civil Service Commissioner, been an independent member of the Consumer Council for Water, a non-executive director of the Serious and Organised Crime Agency, Chair of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission and is currently Chair of the Appointments Commission for the States of Jersey, the Council for Licenced Conveyancers and the Standards and Regulation Board for the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). She also serves as trustee of the charity Contemporary Applied Arts (CAA). Dame Janet has also previously served on the board of an NHS Foundation Trust. Dame Janet was made a Privy Councillor to assist in her role as a member of the Detainee Inquiry established by the Prime Minister in 2010. In addition to chairing our board, Janet is chair of the Primary Eyecare Appointments committee.

Stephen McAndrew

Director

Stephen is a Healthcare industry professional with 36 years’ experience in a variety of roles principally in business development and risk management. Currently, he is Director of NHS Services for Specsavers group and Partner and Company Secretary of Haroula LLP. Stephen has served as an NHS Non-Executive Director and charitable Trustee and consults on risk, governance and leadership with UK and international clients across public, charitable and for-profit sectors. In addition, Stephen has previously served on the LOC Central support Unit (LOCSU) board. Stephen is also chair of the Primary Eyecare Audit Committee.

Fionnuala Stott

Director

Fionnuala is a qualified Optometrist based in the Cheshire area. She has a wealth of knowledge having worked in hospital, multiples, and independent practices. She has also run her own business for over ten years with a particular interest in working with vulnerable groups. Fionnuala has been a member of the Cheshire LOC for several years. She is actively involved in the Cheshire and Merseyside ICS forum and passionate about the Optometry First model and keen to ensure Optometry is well represented locally and Nationally. Fionnuala is Primary Eyecare’s board Safeguarding Lead.

Charles Barlow

Director

Charles is an Optometrist and a longstanding supporter of LOCs. His varied career has included being an LOC Company director, a LOCSU lead, director of a national group and an independent practice owner. Through his LOC work he has been at the forefront of advancing optometry within primary care and involved in numerous NHS service tenders and the launch of multiple enhanced services across the Midlands.

Kristy Jackson

Director

Kristy qualified as an optometrist in 2007. She has in depth knowledge of compliance and clinical governance from her experience in optical compliance roles for the last 7 years. She is currently Deputy Superintendent Optometrist at Asda Opticians and within this position she has led the roll out of enhanced optical services across Asda, bringing with her experience of how services are integrated and delivered in a multiple setting.

Karen Bass

Director

Karen is a chartered accountant who has cross-sector experience in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, charity, education and professional services.  Karen has extensive experience of governance, gained from operating both as a member of the executive and as a trustee. Karen is an established leader who has led cross-functional teams including finance, business development, operations, procurement, commercial, legal, governance, project management, real estate, facilities and organisational change. Karen has lived and worked in and around Greater Manchester for most of her career.

Claire Jenkinson

Director

Claire Jenkinson has over 25 years’ experience in commercial and general management roles in B2B businesses, primarily with Reed Elsevier, Emap and CRU International. Claire has held a number of senior roles, including Sales Development Director for Emap’s B2B division. She was Group Publishing Director of Nursing Times and Health Service Journal and then became Managing Director of Emap’s conference business, responsible for over 350 events. Claire joined Reed Business Information in 2009 to head up two divisions, operating in global markets. Before moving to a non-executive career, Claire was Sales and Marketing Director for CRU International, delivering significant transformational change and market leading growth for the business. Now, as a non-executive director, Claire has worked with three organisations in addition to Primary Eyecare Services: HCL in the school catering sector, Triathlon England and the National Residential Landlords Association, all with a commercial focus.