Elaine Grisdale is ABDO's head of professional services and international development.  She qualified as a dispensing optician and first registered with the General Optical Council in 1985. She became a liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers in 2000, a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry in 2009 and a fellow of the European Academy of Optometry and Optics in 2018. She is a trustee of the board for the European Academy of Optometry and Optics, secretary for the public affairs and economic committee for ECOO where she also sits on the executive board. She is a scientific committee member of the Silmo Academy in France and a member of the jury verres for Silmo. Elaine is also the director of development for the International Opticians Association whose role is to enhance and develop the optical profession around the world.