Our people

Tel: (03) 9652 9100 Email: executiveassistant@optometry.org.au

Kristin is an optometrist and director of Bridge Eye Care, an independent practice located in Murray Bridge in South Australia. She is therapeutically trained and enjoys practicing full-scope optometry. After graduation in 1993, she worked in Tasmania and Victoria in in both corporate and independent optometry practices, before making South Australia home in 1999.

She is passionate about optometry and its place as a primary eyecare profession. Kristin is keen to be an advocate for eye care providers, helping ensure all members of the community have access to quality eyecare.

Kristin joined the OV/SA Board in late 2021 and currently serves as Treasurer, as well as the Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee.

Tel: (03) 9652 9100 Email: executiveassistant@optometry.org.au

Laura was previously involved with ECOV/SA as a committee member and at University was a founder and President of the Deakin Optometry Student Society. She graduated as an Optometrist from Deakin School of Medicine in 2015 after completing a Bachelor’s degree in Vision Science (with Distinction) then a Masters in Optometry.
Laura has previously worked in an ophthalmology clinic and currently works at Canterbury Eyecare, an independent practice in Melbourne. She has an interest in dry eye and ocular surface disease as well as myopia management and orthokeratology for children having completed further study for this through Melbourne University in 2017.

Tel: (03) 9652 9100 Email: executiveassistant@optometry.org.au

After graduating from the University of Melbourne in 2003, Simon worked at the Australian College of Optometry, completing the Clinical Residency Program before opening his own private clinic in 2006. He completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Clinical Optometry in 2006 and Postgraduate Certificate in Ocular Therapeutics in 2007, before returning to the University of Melbourne as a Senior Clinical Teaching Instructor in 2011 and completing a Graduate Certificate in University Teaching. From 2014 to 2022, Simon worked with Optometry Australia, representing the profession and all optometrists to the Federal Government on key issues, including Medicare and private health insurance, in his capacity as National Professional Development and Clinical Policy Manager. In 2022, he was appointed the National Professional Services Manager with Bausch & Lomb. Simon has a passion for Medicare billing and compliance and regularly assists optometrists in areas of professional services, helping practitioners with contract, billing, business and clinical queries.

Tel: (03) 9652 9100 Email: executiveassistant@optometry.org.au

Andrew Anderson is a qualified optometrist with MSc and PhD degrees from The University of Melbourne, and has held post-doctoral positions at the Devers Eye Institute, Portland, Oregon (2000-2002) and the Department of Physiology, University of Cambridge (2002-2004). In 2005 he commenced a tenured lectureship within the Department of Optometry & Vision Sciences, The University of Melbourne. In 2012 he received a 4-year Future Fellowship from the Australian Research Council to investigate vision loss in the eye disease glaucoma.

His research work uses a range of behavioural methods to study how the human visual system processes information, both in healthy and diseased eyes, and how this information is subsequently used to make decisions. He is heavily involved in teaching ophthalmic dispensing to the University’s Doctor of Optometry students, and is the coordinator of the undergraduate subject OPTO20004 "Perception, Illusions, and Art" that provides an introduction to the science of how the human visual system works and how this has been exploited by visual artists.

Since 2013, he has been a member of OV/SA’s Education Committee that advises on continuing education programs. He is also a member of the Accreditation Committee of the Optometry Council of Australia and New Zealand.

Tel: Email: executiveassistant@optometry.org.au

Dr Bao Nguyen is an optometrist, educator, and researcher at The University of Melbourne. She has actively contributed to the optometry profession and organisation for over 15+ years through education, research, and advocacy leveraging her extensive community, academic, and health professional networks within and outside of optometry. She is a passionate champion for pre-registration and continuing professional education for optometrists, previously serving on the Optometry Australia Education Committee and as an Education Consultant in Victoria.

Tel: Email: executiveassistant@optometry.org.au

Graduated with a Doctor of Optometry from the SUNY College of Optometry (New York) in 2004. I have practiced in Australia since 2005 and joined the ACO in 2007. My career has been strongly aligned with public health optometry, community impact, and advocacy for equitable access to eye care.

Management, Research and Leadership Roles at the ACO
• 2010 – Lead Optometrist, Clinical Teaching
Transitioned to full-time work at the ACO to strengthen clinical education and support the development of future optometrists.
• 2013 – Lead Optometrist, Paediatric Services
Led a team of 30 optometrists across children’s and developmental/binocular vision clinics, expanding public health service delivery and advocating for improved paediatric access pathways.
• 2020 – Head of Specialist Services and Clinical Care
Oversaw all specialist clinical services, clinical teaching placements, OCANZ examinations, and clinical research.
Advanced public health outcomes through service redesign, interdisciplinary collaboration, and advocacy for evidence-based care.
• 2022–2024 – Principal Investigator, Low-Level Red Light Therapy Myopia Control Study
Led the first major Australian clinical study evaluating the safety and efficacy of low-level red-light therapy for myopia control in children.
• 2023 – General Manager, City Clinic
Appointed following organisational restructure.
Currently responsible for:
• Oversight of 80 optometrists across 27 rooms
• All front-of-house and dispenser services across seven fixed sites
• Delivering high-quality, accessible eye care aligned with the ACO’s public health mission