Neelam Patel qualified as an optometrist in 2001 and spent the first 13 years working in practice. This included coaching and supporting clinicians, mentoring pre-registration optometrists, supporting newly qualified optometrists, auditing record keeping and delivering CET. In 2014, Neelam moved to working full time for professional services as a clinical governance optometrist, which included complaint handling, resolution, and review of learning. More recently, Neelam joined the professional affairs consultant and faculty teams with Johnson & Johnson Vision Care and is involved in writing and delivering training to optical consultants, optician owners and clinicians.