2024 WCO Committee Member Applications

Thank you for your interest in participating in a World Council of Optometry committee!

Please read the description and fill out the form below. The application form will only be available from July 01, 2024 (12:00AM US Central Time) until July 22, 2024 (11:59pm US Central Time). 

Once the application window has passed, the office will contact you with next steps.

Standing Committee Member Description

The Standing Committee members play an integral role in the World Council of Optometry. Through their collaborative effort, WCO facilitates the development of optometry around the globe. The Committee member must be able to contribute to and support the work of WCO and the Committee. The member must be committed to and understand their roles and responsibilities.

The WCO Committee Member position is an unpaid volunteer role. There are three (3) WCO Standing Committees: the Education Committee, Legislation, Registration, and Standards Committee, and the Public Health Committee.

Term Length

Committee Members are appointed for a two-year term. Members may serve on the committee for a maximum of three consecutive terms, following which a member can be re-appointed after a break of at least one (1) year.

Roles and responsibilities

• To devote the necessary time and effort
• To show commitment to the work of WCO, its vision, mission, and the Committee
• To have a good knowledge of the subject matter of the Committee
• To develop a positive and professional relationship with members of all WCO committees, officers, and staff
• To attend and participate in all Standing Committee meetings. Any member who is absent without good reason for two consecutive meetings will be deemed to have resigned from the Standing Committee.
• To assist in identifying and developing items and issues for inclusion
• To actively contribute to the discussion and consideration of each matter

 Qualities of a Standing Committee Member

• Ability to identify the significance of issues as they arise
• Good communication and interpersonal skills
• Impartiality, fairness, and the ability to respect confidences
• Good independent judgment
• Ability to think creatively
• Have clarity about what needs to be achieved
• Ability to work effectively as a member of a team
• Willingness to engage in personal development related to the remit of the committee
• Ability to participate in meetings where English is the official language

Eligibility Criteria

• Must either be a member of a WCO Country Member/Affiliate Member or a WCO Individual Member in good standing. Good standing means you or your organization have paid your WCO Membership dues this year. Aside from considering diversity, equity and inclusion in the committee member lineup, priority will also be given to applicants who are members of a WCO Country Member in good standing.
• Must qualify as an optometrist by WCO’s definition:
  • Optometry is a healthcare profession that is autonomous, educated, and regulated (licensed/registered), and optometrists are the primary healthcare practitioners of the eye and visual system who provide comprehensive eye and vision care, which includes refraction and dispensing, detection/diagnosis and management of disease in the eye, and the rehabilitation of conditions of the visual system.
  • An optometrist has successfully undertaken an advanced level of relevant higher education, with the award of a bachelor’s degree or higher from a tertiary-level educational institution.
• Must not have been convicted of any serious crimes or offenses or demonstrated unethical and/or unprofessional behavior and must disclose to the WCO Office any pending lawsuits against them to ensure that there are no reasonable concerns about their ability to perform their duties responsibly and ethically. Any disclosures shared with the WCO Office will remain confidential.

If you have questions regarding eligibility or the selection process, please contact us at enquiries@worldoptometry.org.