Pete Haydon to head up ACO

Optometry Victoria South Australia has announced the resignation of CEO Pete Haydon, after seven years with the association.

Pete (pictured above) has accepted the role of CEO with the Australian College of Optometry and will finish work with OV/SA in mid-November 2021.

OV/SA President Elise Pocknee-Clem said that, ‘Pete’s time with us has been highly productive. In his early years, he worked to expand member services including CPD programming, evolve our work with early career practitioners, diversify revenue sources and stabilise the operations of the business’.

Ms Pocknee-Clem added that Pete was instrumental in the amalgamation of the Victorian and South Australian divisions, the joint venture with ODMA that created the O=MEGA conference, and the successful bid for the World Congress of Optometry to come to Australia.

‘More recently, Pete has helped guide the membership through the pandemic with clear and ethical leadership. He leaves behind an association that is stronger as a result of his contributions.

‘We thank Pete for his time with us as CEO and wish him all the best with the next chapter of his career’, Ms Pocknee-Clem said.

OV/SA will commence recruitment of a new CEO.

Optometry Australia CEO, Lyn Brodie also congratulated Pete and wished him well as head of the ACO.

‘Optometry Australia has a strong working relationship with the ACO and we look forward to being able to continue our work with Pete as its CEO’.