ABOUT

Rebecca Thompson FBDO is an eyewear stylist and commercial strategist with more than 20 years experience across the optical industry. She is recognised for her expertise in frame styling, range building and stock, and how a brand’s story travels from supplier to practice to wearer. She works with frame brands and practices so the right frames are on display and sell through repeatedly. Rebecca writes Eye Style, a weekly journal on the parts of the industry rarely talked about and the behavioural science behind how eyewear is chosen. An experimenter who tests ideas in real practices, she is also an awards judge and speaker, and runs Eyestyle Studio as a yearly styling residency.

Natalie Edwards is co-founder of House of Spectacles, an award-winning independent practice built on a passion for craftsmanship, design and exceptional eye care. With a strong belief in the importance of independent optical retail, she has helped create a destination renowned for its carefully curated eyewear collections and personalised service. Natalie champions authentic customer experiences, supporting clients in discovering eyewear that combines individuality, quality and lasting confidence. 

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Dr Pretty Basra BSc (Hons) PhD is an award-winning optometrist, business owner and passionate advocate for independent eye care. As owner of Edwards & Walker Opticians, she has been recognised four times as one of the UK's top optometrists and is renowned for her expertise in children's vision, community eye health and patient care. Combining clinical excellence with a deeply personal approach, Pretty has built one of the most respected independent optical practices in the country.

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Luis Fonseca is co-founder of Eyewear Ltd and a driving force behind the revival of British eyewear manufacturing. Having grown up in optics and worked across the industry, he recognised the decline of UK frame production and set out to build a new model from East London. Today, he supports independent brands, opticians and designers through local manufacturing expertise, helping bring ideas to life while championing craftsmanship, innovation and sustainability. 

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Panos Nicolaou is Creative Director at Traders & Makers and founder of Cult Vision, bringing together expertise in eyewear, design and brand storytelling. With a passion for craftsmanship, culture and independent retail, he has built a reputation for creating distinctive consumer experiences that connect people with products and makers. Panos champions authenticity, creativity and collaboration, helping brands and retailers develop stronger identities, deeper customer engagement and long-term commercial success. 

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Jack Lupton is a fourth-generation optician and director of Ransome Optical, one of the UK's longest-established independent optical practices. Combining family heritage with a modern approach to retail and eye care, he is passionate about exceptional customer experiences, premium eyewear and independent practice success. Jack champions craftsmanship, innovation and personal service, helping shape the future of independent optics while honouring a family legacy that spans more than a century. 

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Natasha Cazin leads Euromonitor International’s global eyewear research, overseeing editorial content and strategic analysis for the sector. A senior member of the fashion team, she advises clients across the eyewear and fashion industries, with a particular focus on how companies adapt business models to meet changing market realities. Natasha also supports wider industry research through a commissioning role. Prior to Euromonitor, she was a staff writer for Thomson Reuters’ Acquisitions Monthly magazine.  

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Rob Barrow FBDO SMC (Tech) is a Fellow of the Association of British Dispensing Opticians, Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers and founder of Spec-Care Ltd. Widely recognised as a leading authority in spectacle repair and specialist modifications, Rob has transformed Spec-Care into the UK's premier repair centre. Through his work in optical innovation and children's eyewear, he continues to champion practical solutions that improve lives through better vision and care. 

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