Optometry leaders in Canberra for launch of reform agenda for the future of optometry

Optometry leaders at Parliament House for the launch of Optometry 2040. Image Lachlan Hessing.

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 By Helen Carter, Journalist

Optometry leaders, politicians and stakeholders from across the nation attended the launch of Optometry Australia’s ground-breaking Optometry 2040 report at Parliament House in Canberra this week.

The who’s who of optometry in Australia included past and present presidents of Optometry Australia, state organisation presidents and CEOs and sector stakeholders.

Optometry Australia’s 20-year vision for optometry in Australia. Optometry 2040 taking control of your future  – was developed after extensive collaboration with members, stakeholders and key sector influencers throughout Australia.

The 20-year transformation agenda aims to create a plausible, sustainable future for optometry and primary eye health care.

The launch on Monday coincided with Optometry Australia’s 100^th birthday, and its annual general meeting on Sunday.

Photo gallery images, Irene Dowdy.

Optometry Australia CEO Lyn Brodie launching the report

The happy crowd gathered at the report launch

L-R, Optometry Australia president Darrell Baker, SA ECO committee member Cassie Haines, Optometry Australia CEO Lyn Brodie, Victoria ECO committee member Katrina Yap and Optometry Australia past presidents Dr Kate Gifford and Andrew Hogan

L-R, Three wise men! Optometry NSW/ACT president Luke Cahill, Optometry SA president Kurt Larsen and Optometry Victoria president Murray Smith

Optometry WA President Dr Rob Howie, centre, with Optometry Victoria CEO Pete Haydon

L-R, Optometry Australia board director Karen Garner-Hamilton, Optometry Tasmania president Lee Baumwol and Lily Wegrzynowski

Early Career Optometrists, L-R, Tori Halsey, Cassie Haines and Sarah Coudrey with Optometry Australia CEO Lyn Brodie

L-R Optometry Tasmania CEO Jonathan Jones, Optometry WA EO Evan MacRae, Optometry SA CEO Libby Boschen, Optometry Victoria CEO Pete Haydon, Optometry Australia CEO Lyn Brodie and Optometry NSW/ACT CEO Andrew McKinnon. Optometry QLD/NT CEO Cathryn Baker was absent.

Optometry Australia Member Services and Optometry Advancement General Manager Skye Cappuccio, past Optometry Australia president Ross Harris and wife Marion

Optometry Australia president Darrell Baker, former president Dr Kate Gifford and Optometry Australia CEO Lyn Brodie

L-R, Optometry Australia Board director David Bradley, Optometry QLD/NT president Melinda Toomey with Queensland politicians, Member for Ryan, the Hon Jane Prentice, and Member for Bowman, Mr Andrew Laming

Former Clinical and Experimental Optometry Editor in Chief Emeritus Professor H Barry Collin and Jill Crerie

L-R Optometry SA CEO Libby Boschen, Optometry NSW/ACT CEO Andrew McKinnon’s partner Denise Bergin, and Joanne Thomas

Ngunnawal Elder Aunty Violet Sheridan

ECOs Kiran Sookroo with Katrina Yap

Our three CEOS. This talented trio has led the way for optometry in Australia in recent decades. They are L-R, Optometry Australia’s national CEO Lyn Brodie and former CEOs Joe Chakman, AM, and Genevieve Quilty

Gary Crerie enjoying the speeches

Immediate past president of Optometry Australia Andrew Hogan with another former past president Dr Kate Gifford

L-R, Editor of Clinical and Experimental Optometry Emeritus Professor Nathan Efron, his wife Suzanne Efron, former Optometry Australia president Helen Robbins and former Optometry Board of Australia chair Colin Waldron

Australian College of Optometric Dispensers CEO James Gibbins with Glaucoma Australia CEO Annie Gibbins

Diabetes Australia CEO Greg Johnson, left, with Optometry Australia director and treasurer Gavin O’Callaghan

Pioneers! Helen Robbins, left, was Optometry Australia’s first female president and Dr Kate Gifford its second

Optometry WA EO Evan MacRae, Optometry Australia Policy and Advocacy Manager Sarah Davies and Optometry Tasmania CEO Jonathan Jones

Head of the School of Optometry and Vision Science at Queensland University of Technology, Associate Professor Sharon Bentley, centre, with Helen Robbins, left, and Melinda Toomey

Immediate past president of Optometry Australia Andrew Hogan

Dr Maria Markoulli, deputy editor of Clinical and Experimental Optometry

Optometry Victoria CEO Pete Haydon

All hands on deck for the future of optometry, are L-R, Optometry Australia President Darrell Baker, ECO Cassie Haines, Optometry Australia CEO Lyn Brodie, ECO Katrina Yap, and past presidents Dr Kate Gifford and Andrew Hogan.  

 

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