Council and Committees
Council of Directors
The Council governs the COA. Council members include Registered Opticians appointed by the COA Council and Public Members appointed by the Minister of Health.
The Council is responsible for setting the governing policies and strategic direction of the COA, monitoring the fiscal health of the organization, and ensuring the College meets its mandated obligations under legislation and regulations. Through careful analysis of changes in eye care and the healthcare sector, the Council approves policies and practice standards for opticians to maintain and enhance patient protection.
The Council works together with the Government of Alberta, other provincial regulatory bodies, and post-secondary institutions.
You can find a list of Council meeting dates and previous meeting minutes here.
Members of Council
President
Registered Member
Vice President
Public Member
Public Member
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Public Member
Registered Member
Public Member
Registered Member
Council Appointments
In 2022, the Council adopted an appointment process for registered members as part of the transition of the former ACAO to the College of Opticians of Alberta (COA) with a single mandate to protect the public. In accordance with the COA Bylaws, registered members are appointed for a three-year term and may serve a maximum of two terms. Public members are appointed by the Minister of Health. Current terms of office for the Council are as follows:
| Council Member | Appointing Authority | Appointed | Term | Expiry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lana Bentley (Public Member) | Minister of Health | 2020 | 1 | 2024 |
| Olatunde Olatona (Public Member) | Minister of Health | 2021 | 1 | 2024 |
| Reagan Cerisano (Registered Member) | COA Council | 2023 | 1 | 2026 |
| Laura Lazenby-Pashko (Registered Member) | COA Council | 2023 | 1 | 2026 |
| Scott Smith (Registered Member) | COA Council | 2023 | 1 | 2026 |
| Chinedu Ogbonna (Public Member) | Minister of Health | 2021 | 2 | 2026 |
| Kay Walsh (Public Member) | Minister of Health | 2024 | 1 | 2027 |
| Pamela Lee (Public Member) | Minister of Health | 2025 | 1 | 2028 |
| Kirsty Vogelesang (Public Member) | Minister of Health | 2025 | 1 | 2028 |
| Lindsay Ziegler (Registered Member) | COA Council | 2025 | 1 | 2028 |
| Tania Arora (Registered Member) | COA Council | 2024 | 2 | 2028 |
| Oziren Ogbimi (Registered Member) | COA Council | 2024 | 2 | 2028 |
Committees and Hearing Tribunals
In addition to the Council, the COA establishes committees and tribunals in accordance with the Health Professions Act, Opticians Profession Regulation, and COA Bylaws to support the governance of the organization and the regulation of opticians in Alberta.
Executive Committee
- Laura Lazenby-Pashko (President)
- Lana Bentley, Public Member (Vice Chair)
Governance and Audit Committee
Oversees governance-related activities and monitors the financial health of the COA. The COA President acts as the Ex-Officio for the committee.
- Kay Walsh, Public Member (Chair)
- Lana Bentley, Public Member
- Pamela Lee, Public Member
- Olatunde Olatona, Public Member
- Scott Smith, Registered Member
- Rhianna McMurdo, Member at Large
- Vacant, Member at Large
Registration and Competence Committee
Reviews applications for registration referred by the CEO/Registrar, may review a registrant’s continuing competence program participation, or conduct other competence assessments. The committee provides policy direction on the standards of practice, the requirements of the continuing competence program, and other regulatory documents. The COA President acts as the Ex-Officio for the committee.
- Oziren Ogbimi, Registered Member (Chair)
- Tania, Arora, Registered Member
- Raegan Cerisano, Registered Member
- Chinedu Ogbonna, Public Member
- Kirsty Vogelesang, Public Member
- Lindsay Ziegler Nelligan, Registered Member
- Udo Hanebaum, Member at Large
- Deidre MacIntyre, Member at Large
- Leah Hart, Member at Large
- Vacant, Public Member
HPA Membership List (Tribunals)
– examples: Hearing Tribunals, Complaint Review
- Georgina Bromley, RO, RCLP - Chair (2022-2025)
- Kathie Melzer, RO (2025-2028)
- Jasmina Miskic, RO (2022-2025)
- Nicole Servold, RO (2025-2028)
- Nitin Pal Singh, RCLP (2023-2026)
- Harpreet Kaur, RCLP (2023-2026)
- Laura Anderson, RO (2024-2026)