Stuart Geddes has retired from the British Dental Association (BDA) after 20 years as National Director for Wales.

Stuart Geddes celebrating his retirement from the BDA with from left to right, Sue Jones, Jacinta McKiernan and Andrea Greatex, all from the Wales office

Stuart originally became a student member of the BDA between 1966 and 1970, before joining the South East Scotland Branch in 1970 then the South Wales Branch in 1973. He was a council member for the South Wales Branch for many years, became Branch Secretary and Member of the BDA Representative Board in 1994 and was also a member of the BDA Welsh Council and numerous committees.

As National Director for Wales, Stuart has supported and advanced dentistry in the whole of Wales. Before taking on the role, Stuart was a dental academic at the University of Wales in Cardiff where he oversaw the undergraduate education of thousands of dental students. At the same time he ran his own dental practicein Usk.

When Stuart became BDA National Director for Wales, it was a new role, part time and without an office. Over time, Stuart's influence demonstrated to the BDA that there was a need to have local presence in Wales that was properly established and supported. As a consequence of Stuart's continuing patience and tenacity, the role grew in significance and the constructive contribution of the BDA within Wales grew to the size it is now, with a national office in Wales. Working alongside a wider team of policy and advisory staff providing support for practitioners and information and advice to NHS bodies within Wales, Stuart has become the recognisable face of the dental profession in Wales.