Speakers
 |
Dr Robert Bourke
MBBS FRANZCO
Dr Bob Bourke specialises in treatment of macula, vitreo-retina and cataract. He has a special interest in treatment of age-related macular degeneration (ARMD).
Upon completion of Ophthalmology training (1987-91, Brisbane), Dr Bourke furthered his experience by completing two vitreoretinal-macular-cataract fellowships at Moorfields Eye Hospital (London) and St Paul’s, (Liverpool U.K.) between 1991-95. During this time, Dr Bourke treated UK’s most complex referred cases & this experience in the management of complex cases also taught in how to minimise complications in routine intraocular surgery. Dr Bourke’s additional surgical skill-sets and his continued dedication to stay at the forefront of his field, have made him a reliable community resource for the Gold Coast as well as for referrers throughout Australasia, Europe and the U.S. since 1995. Dr Bourke was co-founder of The Eye Centre, Gold Coast, and Short Street Day Surgery, 1998. He is an Associate-Professor at Bond University, Gold Coast and is a board member of the Clem Jones Research Centre for Stem Cells & Tissue Regenerative Therapies (CJRC) which is actively researching stem cell and nanofibre technology therapies for ARMD. Dr Bourke has authored more than 20 peer-reviewed journal articles and been a Guest Lecturer on macular degeneration treatment, diabetes, macular hole surgery and complex cataract and intraocular lens surgery. He is a Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmology and a member of Retinal & Cataract associations in Australia, US, UK and Europe (ASRS, ANZRS, AUSCRS, ASCRS, EVRS). President. |
 | Murphy Chan (Alcon Vision Care Breakfast Speaker)
BOptom (Hons)
Murphy Chan graduated with first class honors at the National University of Malaysia in 1990. He started his career in a local optometry practice in Melaka, 1992. He pursued his optometry specialty in Orthokeratology in 1999 and was a member of the National Eye Research Foundation, USA. In 2000, Murphy obtained his Diploma from the Varilux University, France for the specialty in Progressive Lens Design. Today, he is the CEO of Eyecon, an optometry network which consists of 40 optometrists and 16 optometry practices. Murphy has spoken at a number of conferences and seminars globally covering USA, Europe and ASIA and is the current President of the Association of Malaysian Optometrists. |
 |
Dr Brendan Cronin
MBBS(Hons) DipOphthSci BComm LLB FRANZCO
Dr Brendan Cronin is the lead Corneal and Anterior Segment Surgeon and the Director of Education at the Queensland Eye Institute. Dr Cronin grew up on the Gold Coast and completed his medical and ophthalmic training in Brisbane. He trained in his subspecialty of Corneal, Refractive and Anterior Segment Surgery at the prestigious Manchester Royal Eye Hospital in the United Kingdom. He performs all types of corneal transplant surgery, pterygium surgery, cataract surgery and glaucoma surgery. His textbook “Ophthalmology For Medical Students” is sold in Audiobook format worldwide. He is currently pioneering a new teaching system for medical student education that is being adopted at universities in many countries. |
 | Dr Nelofar Deen
OD
Dr Nelofar Deen graduated with a Doctorate of Optometry in 2004 from the State University of New York’s (SUNY) College of Optometry. She completed an internship in the Vision Therapy and Head Trauma department at SUNY followed by an externship in the Pediatrics and Vision Therapy Clinic at New York’s Beth Israel Hospital. In 2004 Dr Deen relocated to Melbourne and has been a practicing optometrist since January of the following year. Since 2007 she has worked at the Australian College of Optometry as the lead optometrist in clinical teaching and from 2013 as the lead optometrist of paediatric services. |
 | Rachel De Leon
BVisSc MOptom
Rachel completed her Bachelor of Vision Science in 2011 from the Queensland University of Technology and her Master of Optometry with Ocular Therapeutics in 2013. Since finishing her degree, she has been employed as a Clinical Optometrist for the Queensland Eye institute in South Brisbane. Rachel works in a range of ophthalmological specialties, however she works predominantly with the corneal/anterior eye disease. She assists in managing patients with a variety of conditions such as Keratoconus, Pterygium, Corneal Grafts and performs a range of treatments for patients including Intense Pulsed Light Therapy for dry eye and Epithelium-on Collagen Cross-linking for Keratoconus. Her special interests include corneal ectasias and management of dry eye and glaucoma. |
 | Prof Nathan Efron (CooperVision Breakfast Speaker)
BScOptom PhD DSc FAAO(DipCCLRT) FIACLE FCCLSA FBCLA FACO
Nathan Efron is Research Professor in the School of Optometry and Vision Science at QUT. He is currently President of the Australian College of Optometry and Vice-President of the International Society for Contact Lens Research. He lectures extensively world-wide, particularly in the field of contact lenses, and has published over 800 scientific papers, abstracts and textbook chapters, and has written 7 books. He has won numerous research awards, including the BCLA Gold Medal (2001), the American Academy of Optometry’s Glenn Fry Award (2010) and the Kenneth W Bell Medal of the Cornea and Contact Lens Society of Australia (2015). |
 | Prof Erica Fletcher
MScOptom PhD GCOT FAAO FACO
Erica Fletcher is Professor in the Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, at The University of Melbourne where she heads the Visual Neuroscience Laboratory. She is a clinically trained optometrist who holds both MSc and PhD degrees. Prof Fletcher’s interest in the mechanisms of photoreceptor degeneration stem back to her doctoral studies, which were completed under the supervision of Prof Michael Kalloniatis at the University of Melbourne. In 1996, Prof Fletcher was awarded a highly coveted, CJ Martin Award from the NH&MRC (Australia) to undertake her post-doctoral training with Prof. Dr. Heinz Wässle, at the Max-Planck Institute for Brain Research in Frankfurt, Germany. Prof Fletcher was appointed to an academic position in 2000 at The University of Melbourne. Since 2000, Prof Fletcher has had received considerable research funding primarily from the NH&MRC and also a number of international funding agencies, published widely in a range of high impact journals, whilst maintaining a teaching load and mentoring of research personnel. In addition Prof Fletcher serves on a number of editorial boards, provides leadership within optometry by serving on boards of management, as well as serving the research community through NHMRC advisory panels. In 2006 she was awarded the Irvin M and Beatrice Borish Award from the American Academy of Optometry for her contribution to vision research. Prof Fletcher’s research interests remain primarily focussed on understanding the causes of retinal diseases especially Age Related Macular Degeneration. |
 | Dr Peter Herse
DipAppSc(Optom) PhD FAAO GradCertOcTher
Peter Herse graduated as an optometrist from QIT in 1979. He practiced in Queensland and Kenya before starting a life as an academic. He completed his PhD at the University of Houston and held lecturing positions at the University of Durban-Westville, the University of Auckland and the University NSW. He has been a Research Fellow at a number of universities around the world and has over 50 peer reviewed publications. In 2007 he accepted the position of Academic Director of the Luxottica Institute of Learning where he developed professional education programs for the optometrists working in Luxottica. He has a keen interest in low vision and has been Chief Optometrist at the Royal Blind Society NSW and Director of the Macular Degeneration Foundation. He has many years’ service as Councillor in the OAA NSW. |
 | Andrew Hogan
BScOptom GCOT FACO Andrew Hogan is an optometrist and broadcaster. He practices in Hobart, where he works in the areas of children’s vision, contact lenses and sports optometry. He has been a consultant with the Tasmanian Institute of Sport, and Cricket Tasmania. Andrew is a Past President of Optometry Tasmania, and is a national director of Optometry Australia. He is the host of ABC Radio’s award winning podcast “Nerdzilla”. Starting life in 2010, it has an extensive online presence, engaging it’s audience through it’s website, Facebook and Twitter. He is now making video content for the ABC YouTube channel. He has a special interest in social media, cross-platform and innovative technologies, and how they can be applied in new and interesting ways. |
 | Professor Brien Holden OAM BAppSc PhD DipCLP FAAO DSc Brien Holden is Professor and a world leader in eye health and vision correction, research, education and public health. He is founder and CEO of the Brien Holden Vision Institute, the Vision Cooperative Research Centre, the Brien Holden Vision Institute Foundation (formerly the International Centre for Eyecare Education), is Past Executive Chair and current Board Member of Optometry Giving Sight and a Professor of the School of Optometry and Vision Science at the University of New South Wales. Professor Holden is active in international education and research and is the author of over 250 scientific papers. His research has measured the fundamental oxygen needs of the cornea, developing corneal implants, accommodating gel intraocular lenses, myopia control lenses and work to develop unique contact lens materials in partnership with the contact lens industry. In the area of international public health, Professor Holden is respected for his innovation and leadership in eliminating avoidable blindness and impaired vision due to uncorrected refractive error. He is a Trustee Board Member of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) and in 2003 was appointed Chair of the World Health Organisation Refractive Error Working Group. |
 | Jason Holland (sponsored by Good Optical Services) BAppSc(Optom)(Hons) GradCertOcThera CASA CO Mr Holland graduated from QUT in 1994 and commenced work as a locum Optometrist in 1995, spending time consulting in all corners of Australia. In 2002 he became the National Director of Optometry for the Optical Superstore Group. Mr Holland commenced work with Ophthalmologist and Anterior Eye Specialist, Dr Andrew Apel, in 2001 and has since been providing pre and post operative assistance at his Brisbane rooms. Jason became a Director for OA in Qld in ?? and was invited to sit on the National OA board this year. His special interests include managing dry eye, the co-management of glaucoma and the fitting of rigid contact lenses. |
 | Mark Koszek BOptom MOptom GradCertOcTher Mark completed his Bachelor of Optometry from the University NSW in 1995, his Master of Optometry in 2002 and Ocular Therapeutics in 2012. He is a founding partner of EyeQ Optometrists whom have 19 practices Australia wide. Mark has a large full scope practice in the southern Sydney suburb of Ramsgate. He has a special interest in contact lenses, orthokeratology, ocular diseases, and behavioural optometry. He has been a fourth year clinic supervisor at the university NSW since 2002 and has lectured extensively throughout Australia and Asia on contact lenses and dry eye management. |
 | Simon Lan MOptom Simon Lan is an optometrist currently working in Dalby, Queensland. After finishing high school in Brisbane he decided to pursue Optometry at QUT, joining the first cohort of students to graduate with ocular therapeutics qualification in 2013. With an interest in developing therapeutic experience in clinical practice, he found himself working with a like-minded mentor in private practice. He continues to enjoy servicing and connecting with people living in the Darling Downs. |
 | Margaret Lam (sponsored by Alcon Vision Care) BOptom Margaret Lam graduated from the University of New South Wales in 2001. She started theeyecarecompany in 2005, a small group of successful independent optometry practices that focus on professional eyecare across four locations in greater Sydney and Sydney CBD. She practices full scope optometry, but with a passionate interest in specialty contact lenses, particularly keratoconus and orthokeratology, retail aspects of optometry and successful patient communication. She has been a past recipient of the Neville Fulthorpe Award for Clinical Excellence.Her experience includes working in independent practices, as a locum optometrist, in chain practices and corporate multinational optometry practices, and mentoring optometry students on optometric practice and specialty contact lens fitting. Margaret is also a guest lecturer at the University of New South Wales on specialty contact lenses, aspects of optometric practice, and optometry and ophthalmology co-management. Margaret also works in several advisory roles with leading contact lens companies, and is a contributing guest writer for the optometry trade journal mivision. Margaret is also an extensive public speaker on topics spanning contact lenses, specialty contact lenses, practice building, retail aspects of optometry and patient communication. |
 | Associate Professor Graham Lee MD MBBS FRANZCO Associate Professor Graham Lee is from Brisbane, Australia. He completed his Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery in 1991, a Master of Medical Science in Ophthalmology in 1994, Fellowship of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmology in 1999 and a Doctorate of Medicine in 2005. In 2000, he undertook a Glaucoma Fellowship at Birmingham and Midlands Eye Centre, Birmingham and in 2001 a Cataract, Cornea and Refractive Fellowship at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London. Particular specialties include lamellar corneal grafting and advanced management of complex glaucoma. Awards include the Alcon/RACO Travelling Scholarship 2001, AUSCRS Film Festival 2001 and 2005 and the Pharmacia & Upjohn RACO Award 1998. In 2013, he was awarded the Grand Prize at the World Glaucoma Congress Film Festival in Vancouver and the RANZCO Award for Excellence in Training. He has an active interest in Ophthalmic teaching having presented more than 200 lectures at local, national and international levels as well as more than 80 publications in peer-reviewed journals and book chapters. He has a commitment to Ophthalmic education in developing countries including Cambodia, Nepal and Laos. |
 |
Richard Lindsay
BScOptom MBA FAAO(DipCL) FACO
FCCLSA
Richard Lindsay obtained his BScOptom degree from the University of Melbourne in 1984 and a MBA from the same institution in 1991. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and a Diplomate of its Cornea and Contact Lens Section. He is a Past-President and a Founding Fellow of the Cornea and Contact Lens Society of Australia. Mr Lindsay was Head of Contact Lens Clinics at the Victorian College of Optometry from 1989 to 1998 and a Senior Fellow in the Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, University of Melbourne from 1992 to 2007. Presently he manages his own specialist contact lens practice in East Melbourne, Australia, where he manages a diversity of patients referred for contact lens management of conditions such as keratoconus, irregular corneal grafts, failed refractive surgery, paediatric aphakia and ocular trauma. |
 | Dr Hamish McKee |
 | Alexander Ng
BAppSc(Optom)(Hons)Alexander Ng graduated from QUT in 2011 with first class honours. He then accepted the position of clinical optometrist at the QUT optometry clinic the following year. Alexander has been a clinical supervisor at QUT over the last 2 years, helping develop the skills of the undergraduate, master’s and ocular therapeutics students. He has worked at the Woolloongabba branch of the Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Community Health Services clinics as well as being involved in the vision screening outreach program. His interests within optometry include retinal pathology and orthokeratology. |
 | Dr Shaheen Shah
MBBS MD(Res) MSc FRCOphth FRANZCODr Shah is a specialist paediatric eye surgeon who completed his medical degree at Guys and St Thomas Hospital in London, United Kingdom (UK). His speciality training in ophthalmology was undertaken at St Thomas, Kings College and Moorfields Eye Hospitals in London. Dr Shah completed two subspecialist training paediatric ophthalmology and strabismus fellowships one at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, UK (2012) and another in Auckland, New Zealand (2013). He holds two post graduate degrees in research and is a Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists and the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, UK. |
 | David Stephensen (sponsored by Alcon Vision Care)
BAppSc(Hons)(Optom) BBus GCOT CASA CO FCCLSADavid conducts a specialty contact lens practice with his primary practice is located in the southside Brisbane suburb of Moorooka. David is a Fellow of the Cornea and Contact Lens Society of Australia and is now a Honorary Vice President of the Cornea and Contact Lens Society and the Chair of the Case Report Section for the Fellowship programme. As well as his undergraduate Optometry qualification, David also holds a business degree, majoring in the area of Logistics and Operations Management. David was amongst the first graduating class of the QUT Graduate Certificate in Ocular Therapeutics in 2005, making him one of the first therapeutically qualified Optometrists in Queensland. David has worked in association with Dr Andrew Apel in the field of toric intraocular lens optics, particularly in applying toric intraocular lenses to complex cases. David has interests in anterior segment eye conditions, toric intraocular lenses, contact lens correction for presbyopia, orthokeratology and in contact lens correction of abnormal corneas – particularly pellucid marginal degeneration, post graft, and keratoconus. |
 | Dr Stephen Vincent
PhD BAppSc(Optom)(Hons) FAAODr Stephen Vincent is a lecturer in the School of Optometry and Vision Science at the Queensland University of Technology. He graduated from QUT’s optometry program in 2004 and completed a PhD in 2011 followed by a post-doctoral research fellowship in the Contact Lens and Visual Optics Laboratory. Since 2013 he has coordinated the Vision Rehabilitation Centre within the QUT Health Clinics, provided monthly outreach low vision services at Guide Dogs Queensland and is a member of various state and national low vision committees including the Queensland Vision Initiative, the OA Low Vision Working Group and the Vision 2020 Independence and Participation Committee. He is also an Associate Editor for Clinical and Experimental Optometry and a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry. |
 | Dr Sunil Warrier MBBS MMed FRANZCO Dr Sunil Warrier is a Queensland trained Ophthalmologist. Following his general ophthalmology training in Queensland, he undertook subspecialty training in Ocular Oncology, Glaucoma and Medical Retina.This included a fellowship at St Paul's Eye Clinic which incorporates the Liverpool Ocular Oncology Centre. This centre of excellence is the UK's only comprehensive Ocular Oncology Unit with local resection, plaque brachytherapy and Proton Beam Radiation all offered routinely to patients depending on clinical indications. Part of his training included complex cataract surgery in post radiation, trauma and combined cataract and glaucoma surgery. He offers comprehensive assessment and treatment of all eye cancer, including ocular surface tumours, iris lesions and all posterior segment lesions including melanoma and vascular tumours. He is a Senior Lecturer at The University of Queensland and Griffith University Medical Schools, and is involved heavily in the training of ophthalmology registrars via his public teaching position at the the Mater Hospital, Brisbane. |
 |
