Honorary fellowships

Professor Sobha Sivaprasad is an internationally recognised clinician scientist and research leader whose work has had a significant impact on retinal research and clinical practice worldwide.
She is Professor of Retinal Clinical Research at the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, a consultant ophthalmologist at Moorfields Eye Hospital, Director of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Moorfields Clinical Research Facility and Vascular Theme Co-Lead for the NIHR Moorfields Biomedical Research Centre. She also served as Chair of the College’s Scientific Committee from 2019 to 2025 and was Editor-in-Chief of Eye from 2018 to 2

Prof. Peter Scanlon is a full time NHS consultant working as a Medical Ophthalmologist in Gloucestershire. He has been Clinical Lead of the English NHS Diabetic Eye Screening Programme since its inception in 2003 and is currently a Clinical Professional Advisor for NHS England. He also works as an Associate Professor and Medical Tutor at Harris Manchester College, University of Oxford and a Visiting Professor at the University of Gloucestershire.

Born in Calabar, Nigeria, in 1945, Professor Hannah Faal graduated in medicine from the University of Ibadan and completed her ophthalmology fellowship at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. After working in the UK and Nigeria, she moved to The Gambia, where she developed a national eye care programme that helped reduce blindness prevalence from 0.7% to 0.4% over ten years. She later held senior roles with WHO, Sightsavers and IAPB, serving as IAPB President from 1999 to 2004. She has published over 90 papers and remains active in teaching, mentoring and global eye health.

Born in Malta, Professor Bertil Damato trained in Glasgow and founded the Liverpool Ocular Oncology Centre in 1993, directing it for 20 years. He later led the Ocular Oncology Service at the University of California and has held senior roles at Moorfields, St Erik’s/Karolinska, Oxford and Sheffield. A former president of three international ophthalmic societies, his research focuses on uveal melanoma and other ocular cancers. He has published more than 300 scientific papers, contributed to several textbooks and received numerous international awards.

Mrs Melanie Hingorani trained at Oxford University, Guy’s Hospital and the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology before becoming a consultant ophthalmologist. She worked at Hinchingbrooke Hospital and Moorfields Eye Hospital, specialising in paediatric, corneal and emergency eye care, and held several Clinical Director roles. She founded and chaired the UK Ophthalmology Alliance and held senior positions with the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, CQC, NHS England and the National Eye Care Recovery and Transformation Programme. She retired from clinical practice in 2023.

Professor Simon Harding is a leading expert in the early detection and treatment of retinal disease, particularly diabetic retinopathy. He has published over 200 peer-reviewed papers and contributed to major advances in screening, imaging, AI and treatment. In Liverpool, he established the St Paul’s Eye Unit Clinical Eye Research Centre and the University of Liverpool’s Department of Eye and Vision Science. He has also advised WHO and international programmes, founded AI Sight Ltd and served as President of the European Association for Diabetic Eye Complications. He was awarded an MBE in 2022.

Kathy Evans gave the College more than 26 years of exemplary service, including over 17 years as Chief Executive. She led the organisation through major change, strengthened its finances and influence, supported the international growth of its examinations, and successfully managed the sale and move to its current premises. She also built strong relationships across the eye care sector and provided invaluable support to successive Presidents, staff and members, particularly during the pandemic. She retired in May 2023 after overseeing a successful handover to her successor.

Professor Rose has made outstanding contributions to the field of ophthalmology for four
decades, providing selfless, exceptional, and innovative services to incalculable groups of
patients suffering from rare and painful eye diseases all over the world, as well as an
exemplary commitment to teaching and training health professionals worldwide.
Since joining Moorfields Eye Hospital as a Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon in 1991, he has
continuously improved the capacity and quality of care of the lacrimal and orbital services,
receiving UK-wide and international referrals of patients who have not been treatable
elsewhere.

Professor Christopher Liu’s journey into the world of ophthalmology began at the tender
age of 13 in Hong Kong, when, after the shocking discovery that he was short-sighted,
he decided to dedicate his life to the field. He ventured to England, where he pursued
his O and A levels, eventually training at the Charing Cross Hospital, University of
London. He graduated with BSc Hons and obtained his MBBS qualification in 1985. His
specialty in ophthalmology took shape through rigorous training at Charing Cross,
Western Ophthalmic, and Moorfields Eye Hospitals.