A bit about me

I am currently the Head Orthoptist at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, I qualified as an Orthoptist in 1995 from the University of Liverpool, early in my career I also completed the Vision and Strabismus MMedSci with the University of Sheffield; both fabulous universities located within the fabulous North of England.

Throughout my career I have gained extensive experience across various subspecialties of orthoptics and ophthalmology along with additional training in such areas as Leadership and Management, Population Health, and Continuous Improvement but have never lost sight of the importance of maintaining our core orthoptic skills and knowledge.

I grew up in the North West of England and whilst I have worked in various departments across England and abroad, I ultimately returned to my roots in Lancashire. With over 30 years of experience as an Orthoptist, I am standing for election as the BIOS North of England Trustee, I believe strongly in the future direction of our profession and the importance of being visible, being connected, and being forward thinking.

Why I am campaigning to be the next North of England Trustee

Throughout my career I have been committed to developing high quality, patient centred orthoptic services and supporting the professional growth of colleagues at all stages. The BIOS Strategy highlights the need for strong professional identity, improved workforce sustainability, and proactive leadership, these priorities align with my own values and experience embedded into my own department. I am passionate about helping BIOS deliver on these strategic goals across the North of England, ensuring that our members feel informed, supported, and represented.

What I would like to achieve

I am particularly focused on strengthening communication and visibility, members deserve a Trustee who is approachable, engaged, and actively present within the region. If elected, I will prioritise:

• Clear, consistent communication with members about BIOS activities, opportunities, and decisions.
• Raising the visibility of BIOS and our profession at local, regional, and national levels.
• Creating stronger connections between clinical teams, educators, service leads, and new entrants to the profession, including the sharing of knowledge and skills between departments.
• Delivering quality CPD by working collaboratively with LOOP and Heads of Services to ensure high quality study days within the region, I am motivated to facilitate inclusive, equitable and relevant CPD events which represent the members’ clinical interests and emerging service needs.

My pledge to you

I have always been a strong advocate for collaboration, innovation, and high standards of clinical practice. As Trustee, I will work to ensure that the North of England remains a vibrant, influential, and well connected part of BIOS, one where every member feels heard and valued.

I believe clear and transparent communication is essential to this role and I would therefore prioritise timely reporting back following Trustee meetings, ensuring members remain informed about national developments, strategic decisions and opportunities that affect their professional practice. I would actively seek members’ views through face-to-face engagement, digital communication and structured surveys to ensure their voices are heard.

As the BIOS Professional Development Framework continues to evolve, I will champion its implementation to ensure orthoptists across the region have access to meaningful development opportunities, recognition of advanced practice roles, and pathways that reflect the breadth of our profession. My background as both a clinician and a service manager gives me a deep understanding of workforce challenges, service demands, and the importance of supporting staff to progress confidently within the framework.

I would be honoured to represent you and to contribute my experience, energy, and longstanding commitment to the future of orthoptics.

Thank you for considering my nomination.

Claire Critchley

My name is Krishan Parmar, and I am applying for the role of Northern Trustee for the British and Irish Orthoptic Society (BIOS).

I have 18 years of post-graduate high level orthoptic experience as a clinician, manager, and leader. I currently work at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital as Principal Orthoptist for Education, Research, Training and Development and hospital Clinical Lead for Clinical Effectiveness. Integrity, compassion, and teamwork are my core values, which I use to underpin my leadership style and passion for orthoptic education, workforce development and orthoptic professional development. Away from work I am happily married and a dad to two beautiful (and loud) children. I enjoy a chippy tea, watching any sports and playing darts!

I am applying for the Northern Trustee role, as I want to use the skills and knowledge that I have developed in two ways. Firstly, to support and advocate for every member of the Northern Orthoptic workforce, to ensure that their voice is heard and listened to. Raising concerns and queries with the Board in a two-way transparent conversation, and contributing to the sharing of knowledge, learning, and experiences. The focus of which is to allow each Northern BIOS member to understand that they are vital to the sustainability and development of the profession. Secondly, as a Board member, I want to use my skills to safeguard and grow the profession, ensuring the role remains a vital part of the eye specialty team, and can be practiced and enjoyed by future generations. I will ensure that I uphold the integrity of the role, make sound governance related professional decisions and advocate for the best interest of BIOS, by being curious, working effectively with fellow Board members and drawing on my own expertise and that of the Northern orthoptic workforce.

My attributes to being an effective trustee include:

• Strong governance awareness and strategic oversight
• Organizational insight
• Previous Chair of the Leads Of the Orthoptic Profession (LOOP) from 2021 -2024. Within that capacity, I brought together senior orthoptic leaders nationally to drive consistency in service delivery, influence policy discussions, and strengthen professional collaboration
• Commitment to equality, diversity, and professional inclusion
• Ability to challenge constructively while maintaining collective responsibility
• Clear communication and stakeholder engagement skills
• A passion for staff wellbeing
• Commitment to patient care

My core values: integrity, compassion, teamwork, visibility, and respect.

The principal areas where I would like to focus my time as Northern Trustee would be:

• Embed a greater sharing of knowledge and experience facilitating orthoptic departments supporting each other
• Safeguarding BIOS, by developing leaders within the workforce
• Promote the role of the Orthoptic Professional Advocate. Ensuring the wellbeing, resilience, and growth of members

Thank you for taking the time to read my campaign note and I hope that it has encouraged you to vote for me, to be your next Northern BIOS Trustee.

Trust Krishan Parmar for BIOS Northern Trustee. Where action meets integrity.