The organiser of November’s National Eyecare Group (NEG) and Independents Day conferences has released further details of its speaker line up for its November. Supporting MD of JoJo Maman Bebe, Laura Tenison MBE, will be entrepreneur frame designer and manufacturer Jason Kirk, Leightons CEO Ryan Leighton and 2016 optometrist of the year Lynne Fernades.

As supporting keynote, Kirk will be looking at optical retail best practice and where UK optical retail environments compare with the US and Europe. Leighton will show how the ‘voice of the customer’ shaped the new identity for Leightons Opticians. A winner of Optician magazine Optometrist of the Year, Fernandes will share how she runs three highly successful, but quite different, optical practices.

As previously reported iDay is to be held on Monday 6th November following the NEG Conference at the Ricoh Arena outside Coventry. NEG has also announced its speaker highlights with Professor Mo Jalie and Ian Cameron respectively opening and closing proceedings on Sunday 5th November. There will also be hands-on CET workshops on subjects including dispensing problems, OCT and scleral and toric contact lens fitting.

Programme coordinator Nick Atkins commented, “I’m delighted at the quality of the speakers we’ve secured at this years event. Following the success of last years ‘Retail Champion’ theme, delegate feedback was to delve a bit deeper into some of the subjects covered. With the vast majority of independents relying on the bulk of their income being derived by retail product sales, we wanted to continue to delve into how to be a successful independent optical retailer in today’s marketplace.”