Safia Akbar

Patient-focused Optometrist with 20 years across clinical, leadership, and commercial roles in major high-street practices. Proven in driving practice performance, mentoring students, and delivering exceptional eye care outcomes.

Locum Optometrist - Various Practices

• Deliver high-quality eye examinations across diverse clinical settings, adapting rapidly to varied systems
• Maintain consistently high patient satisfaction and clinical accuracy across all locum placements
• Build immediate rapport with multidisciplinary teams, ensuring seamless integration into practice workflows

University Clinic Supervisor

(2024-09)

• Supervise and mentor optometry students in live clinical environments from Sep 2024
• Deliver structured, evidence-based feedback to accelerate student competency development
• Ensure safe, high-standard patient care is maintained throughout all supervised consultations

Optician Director - Specsavers (Sheffield The Moor & Archer Road) - Sheffield

(2022-09 - 2024-11)

• Led clinical, operational, and commercial performance across two Specsavers stores simultaneously
• Drove staff recruitment, development, and KPI achievement, improving overall practice profitability
• Oversaw budgeting, pre-reg supervision, and service optimisation to sustain business growth

Optometrist & Supervisor - Specsavers (Bradford) - Bradford

(2013-03 - 2022-08)

• Delivered full-time clinical excellence across 9 years, mentoring pre-reg optometrists and dispensing opticians while contributing to consistent store sales growth

Pre‑Registration Optometrist - Optical Express (Hull) - Hull

(2012-10 - 2012-10)

• Completed initial competency assessments and early pre-registration milestones at Optical Express prior to store closure

Locum Dispensing Optician - Various Practices

(2009 - 2010)

• Provided high-quality dispensing and patient care across multiple practices, maintaining strong sales performance and satisfaction

Store Manager - Boots Opticians (Bolton) - Bolton

(2007 - 2009)

• Turned a deficit Boots Opticians store to profitability through strategic planning, team leadership, and operational restructuring

Dispensing Optician & Trainee CLO - Specsavers (Leeds) - Leeds

(2006 - 2007)

• Dispensed complex prescriptions and ran weekly contact lens clinics, gaining hands-on test room and CLO experience

Dispensing Optician - Specsavers (Bradford) - Bradford

(2001 - 2006)

• Qualified FBDO while working full-time, supervising the contact lens department and performing pre-testing, dispensing, and lab work

BSc - Optometry (Career Progression) - University of Bradford (2011 - 2012)

Qualified Optometrist (2014-03)

Contact Lens Optician - Theory Passed - Canterbury, Kent (2006 - 2008)

ABDO Ophthalmic Dispensing Optician (FBDO) - Bradford & Ilkley College (2001 - 2006)

AQA Advanced Science - Dixons CTC (1991 - 2001)

GCSEs - Dixons CTC (1994 - 1999)