Speakers
We are pleased to welcome the following speakers to the 2025 Conference of Scottish LDCs...
Christina Ferry, Chair of Conference of Scottish LDCs
Welcome to Conference and Opening Remarks
Christina Ferry qualified from Glasgow Dental Hospital in 2008 and is the owner of a busy mixed NHS/Private practice in Lanarkshire. She is currently Chair of the Conference Agenda Committee having taken over from Lindsay Milton at the 2023 conference. She is Chair of Lanarkshire Local Dental Committee & GP Subcommittee having joined in 2014. She also stands on Lanarkshire Area Dental Advisory Committee; Lanarkshire Quality Improvement Committee and has been involved in setting up the Lanarkshire Oral Surgery Study group.
Tom Ferris, Chief Dental Officer, Scottish Government
Impact of Determination 1
Tom is the Chief Dental Officer of Scotland. He was seconded to Scottish Government as Deputy Chief Dental Officer from his substantive posts with NHS Forth Valley and NHS Education for Scotland in 2010. He has worked in general practice, hospital service, the salaried service in Scotland and in the hospital service in Malta.
Gillian Leslie, Deputy Chief Dental Officer, Scottish Government
Assurance Update
Gillian Leslie is one of two Deputy Chief Dental Officers for Scotland. She is a practice owner in Lothian and a practicing GDS dentist with a specialist interest in surgical dentistry. She is a retired Surg Lt Cdr(D) who served 13 years in the Royal Navy. Gillian is a veteran of the Iraq war and has served with the Royal Marines, the US Navy and the Bruneian Navy.
David Notman, Unit Head of Dentistry and Optometry, Scottish Government
Assurance Update
David Notman is Joint Unit Head in Dentistry and Optometry Division within the Primary Care Directorate of Scottish Government, supporting the Chief Dental Officer on assurance aspects of NHS dentistry.
Gavin McLellan, Deputy Chief Dental Officer, Scottish Government
Workforce Update
Gavin is one of two Deputy Chief Dental Officers with The Scottish Government supporting the Chief Dental Officer in offering advice to Scottish ministers on a range of matters relating to dentistry. He has worked as a GDS dentist for over 30 years as both a practice owner and associate at times. He currently works part-time as an associate in a practice in Fife.
In addition to these two roles Gavin has spent around 20 years as a Vocational Training Adviser with NHS Education for Scotland supporting new dental graduates through their first year in general practice.
Beth Grieve, Unit Head of Dentistry and Optometry, Scottish Government
Workforce Update
Beth Grieve is a Joint Unit Head in the Dentistry and Optometry Division of Scottish Government and supports the Chief Dental Officer on workforce policy for NHS dentistry.
Lee Savarrio, Postgraduate Dental Dean and Director of Dentistry, NHS Education for Scotland
Shaping the Scottish NHS Dental Workforce for the Future
Lee is a specialist in Restorative Dentistry and has worked as a Consultant in Restorative Dentistry for NHS GGC for over 20 years where he was also Chief of Dentistry for 5 years. His subspecialty interests are periodontics and implant dentistry and in particular, implant dentistry for hypodontia patients. He is closely involved in the teaching and training of dental teams in primary and secondary care settings. Lee has published in peer reviewed journals and presented work at a national and international level as well as contributing a chapter to the popular Oxford Handbook of Clinical Dentistry. In addition, he has held positions in the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, both on the education committee as lead for the clinical anatomical simulation centre as well as Director of Membership Services. In addition he has held positions on the Specialty Training Committee and Specialist Advisory Committee for Restorative Dentistry as well as having been Chair of the Strategic Board for the dental therapy programme accredited by Glasgow Caledonian University.
Most recently, Lee has been appointed to the full time position at NES as Postgraduate Dental Dean and Director of Dentistry.
Gillian Lennox, Chair of the Scottish Dental Practice Committee
The work of the Scottish Dental Practice Committee 2024-2025
Gillian Lennox qualified from Glasgow Dental School in 1997 and she is the Chair of SDPC. Gillian is Chair of Forth Valley Area Dental Committee and sits on Forth Valley LDC. She is a Dental Practice Inspector for Forth Valley Health Board and was also the Adviser for trainer development with NES from 2006-2015. She is a partner in 2 predominately NHS practices in Stenhousemuir and Falkirk.
David McColl, Previous Chair of the Scottish Dental Practice Committee
The work of the Scottish Dental Practice Committee 2024-2025
David McColl is the Immediate Past Chair of the Scottish Dental Practice Committee (SDPC) and Vice Chair of the GP Sub-committee of Greater Glasgow and Clyde Local Dental Committee. He also sits on the Area Dental Committee of Greater Glasgow and Clyde LDC and is on the Board of the Scottish Public Pensions Authority (SPPA).
Gillian Wylie, Strictly Confidental
Address from conference Platinum Sponsor
Strictly Confidental Ltd has been operating for over 20 years within the Dental Profession in Scotland.
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Elizabeth Glass, Conference Treasurer
Conference Accounts and Treasurer’s Report
Elizabeth Glass, known as Liz, qualified from the University of Glasgow in 1986. She has been a committee member of Greater Glasgow and Clyde Local Dental Committee since the late 1980s and has attended all Scottish LDC Conferences since their inception in 1999 following Devolution. Liz chaired the Scottish LDC Conference in 2008 and 2009 and has served as Treasurer since 2011, taking over from Frank Angell on his retirement from dental politics. In 2020 she modernised the operation of the Conference bank account, moving to online banking, with the facility for all payments to be counter-authorised by Chair or Chair-Elected, as laid down in standing orders.
Roy McBurnie, Chair of The Scottish Dental Fund
Report from The SDF Board of Management
Report from The Board of Management with Audited Accounts for 2023/2024. Jointly presented by the SDF Chair Roy McBurnie and Treasurer Derek Harper.
Derek Harper, Treasurer of The Scottish Dental Fund
Report from The SDF Board of Management
Report from The Board of Management with Audited Accounts for 2023/2024. Jointly presented by the SDF Chair Roy McBurnie and Treasurer Derek Harper.