Search

BIOS Awards 2026

Full list of nominees and winners

Awards 2026

BIOS Annual Awards winners 2026

Click through the slider below for details on our winners from the 2026 Awards, recognised at our Annual Awards Dinner in Glasgow on June 18th 2026.

SI & I Ciara
Oustanding Leadership Claire
Champion - Lindsay
Research Vijay
SW Anya
SW Anya

Service Improvement and Innovative Practice Award

Ciara McAtamney
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust

Ciara was recognised for her initiative expanding Advanced Orthoptists’ roles into consenting, theatre assistance and post‑operative reviews, easing Ophthalmology workforce pressures and improving patient flow. Orthoptic‑led clinics, robust training and multidisciplinary collaboration dramatically reduced waiting times, released consultant capacity and prevented theatre cancellations. Strong patient feedback and regional adoption demonstrate its impact.

Outstanding Leadership Award

Claire Critchley
Lancashire Eye Centre – Lancashire Teaching Hospitals

Claire has been the unwavering driving force behind her orthoptic service for over 15 years, transforming it from a small part‑time team into a dynamic workforce of 17 across eight specialist areas. Her inclusive, ethical and resilient leadership has guided the department through major challenges, strengthened professional development, improved multidisciplinary working and significantly reduced waiting times through advanced‑practice roles and virtual clinics. By staying closely connected to clinical care, she has ensured better access, faster diagnosis and consistently high‑quality patient experience.

Champions Award

Laura Lindsay
NHS Ayrshire and Arran

Laura won the Champions Award for delivering two high‑impact public‑health initiatives: a new falls vision‑screening pathway using the Look Out tool and a national child‑friendly See4School video. These projects strengthen early intervention, improve collaboration, and enhance preschool screening engagement. Their wide adoption and excellent feedback highlight Laura’s leadership, innovation and patient‑centred practice.

Clinical Research/Audit Award

Vijay Tailor-Hamblin
Moorfields & UCL

Vijay won his award for his paediatric and strabismus research at Moorfields Eye Hospital, advancing understanding across amblyopia, nystagmus and, most recently, intermittent exotropia. As Principal Investigator, he refines clinical subtypes, links symptoms to outcomes and shapes future priorities through extensive patient involvement. His leadership, collaborative networks and commitment to rapid knowledge transfer have strengthened clinical decision‑making, expanded research capacity and engaged families.

Excellence in a Support Role

Anya Graham
NHS Dumfries & Galloway

Anya earned the Rising Star Award for her enthusiasm, community insight and for her transformative leadership of the pre‑school vision‑screening programme. She improved attendance through community hub clinics, developed patient information and referral pathways, and tailored assessments for children with additional needs. Her commitment to learning and service improvement made her the first assistant in Scotland to run a vision‑only screening service.

Rising Star Award

Louise Rossiter
East Sussex Healthcare Trust

Louise is an exceptional early‑career orthoptist whose kindness, clinical skill and infectious enthusiasm have made her a standout member of the team in under five years. She supports colleagues across sites, excels as a tutor who creates a safe and engaging learning environment for students, delivers high‑quality care as an AMD injector, and is already contributing to service improvement through a consultant‑commissioned audit. All while inspiring both peers and future orthoptists with her energy, professionalism and commitment to the profession.

Full list of winners and nominees

Service Improvement and Innovative Practice Award

For members of the orthoptic workforce who have tackled new or longstanding problems in creative ways.

Summaries of the entries below can be found here.

Winner:

Ciara McAtamney
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust

Nominees:

Katrina Farmer & Hannah Stewart
Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust

Briony Spenceley
Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn

Mark Dearing, Kerry Low, Sophie Rowbottom, Helen Downey
County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Judith Gray
Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust

Julie Parker
University Hospitals Bristol and Weston Foundation Trust

Safiah Casooji
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Helga Dallimore
NHS Ayrshire and Arran

Roddy MacEwan
NHS Fife

Educator of the Year Award

For excellence in a clinical tutor or educator role within an HEI or clinical placement environment.

Winner:

Courtney Healey
Moorfields Eye Hospital / UCL

Nominees:

Kate Taylor
Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Excellence in a Support Role

For non-registered support workers or assistants working within orthoptics, making a positive contribution to patient outcomes and the teams they work in.

Winner:

Anya Graham
NHS Dumfries & Galloway

Nominees:

Kirsty Austin
Moorfields Eye Hospital

Laura Todd
NHS Fife

Rising Star Award

For excellence in an early career environment.

Winner:

Louise Rossiter
East Sussex Healthcare Trust

Nominees:

Ciara McCormick
Portsmouth University Hospitals NHS Trust

Lucy Ball
Newcastle Upon Tyne NHS Foundation Trust

Emily Judge
Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Aimee Cecil
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Champions Award

For services to BIOS within the wider scope of our public work.

Winner:

Laura Lindsay
NHS Ayrshire and Arran

Nominees:

Sue Elliott
BIOS Apprenticeship and Support Workforce Projects

Dr Lawrence Brown
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS FT

Dr Lauren Hepworth & Dr Claire Howard
DVLA Honorary Medical Advisory Panel on Driving and Visual Disorders

Clinical Research/Audit Award

For contributions to the profession through research and audit.

Winner:

Vijay Tailor-Hamblin
Moorfields & UCL

Nominees:

Jennifer Smedley
Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust

Daisy Mackeith & Joanne Adeoye
Cambridge University NHS Trust

Outstanding Leadership Award

For orthoptists at any stage in their career who demonstrate effective clinical leadership in their role and the ability to inspire, improving patient care through their leadership.

Winner:

Claire Critchley
Lancashire Eye Centre – Lancashire Teaching Hospitals

Nominees:

Steffi Poonoli
Barts Health NHS Trust

Fiona Bush
Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, and BIOS (Public Health Lead)

Joe McQuillan
Barts Health NHS Trust

Joanne Forster
NHS Borders

Laura Wilson
NHS Fife

BOSTU Rep of the Year Award

Recognising the outstanding contribution of a local, regional or national British Orthoptic Society Trade Union (BOSTU) representative.

Winner:

John McBride
BOSTU Northern Lead

Nominees:

Jennifer Earl
Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

John McBride
BOSTU Northern Lead

Explore other areas

About BIOS

Strategic Plan

BIOS has a clear vision of what we want to achieve over the next few years, which is set out in our Strategic Plan.

Read more
Enhanced practice (projects)

Projects

Find out more about some of the work we’re doing to support the orthoptic profession.

Read more
Orthoptist giving eye drops to patient

Policy & campaigns

Find out about our work representing the orthoptic profession and campaigning on the issues that mean the most to our members.

Read more