Dr Erica Darian-Smith is a highly skilled ophthalmologist specialising in refractive, cataract, and corneal surgery. She completed her training in ophthalmology at Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney, followed by an esteemed two-year fellowship in corneal and refractive surgery at one of the world’s leading institutions in Toronto, Canada. There, she gained extensive subspecialty expertise in laser eye surgery and the treatment of corneal diseases, including corneal transplants.

Dr Darian-Smith graduated with Clinical Distinction in her Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) from the University of Tasmania in 2014. She furthered her expertise with a Master of Medicine in Ophthalmic Sciences and a Graduate Diploma in Cataract and Refractive Surgery from the University of Sydney. She has received numerous accolades throughout her career, including the 2022 American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) Foundation Resident Excellence Award, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO) Filipic Greer Medal in 2019 for excellence in ophthalmic pathology, and the RANZCO Trevalyn-Smith Travelling Scholarship for overseas study.

In addition to her clinical work, Dr Darian-Smith is an accomplished researcher with publications in prominent journals including the American Journal of Ophthalmology, the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, and the European Journal of Ophthalmology. She has contributed to a book chapter and presented her findings at national and international conferences.

As a Clinical Lecturer at the University of Sydney's Save Sight Institute, Dr Darian-Smith is passionate about teaching and advancing the field of ophthalmology. She also serves as a Visiting Medical Officer (VMO) at Nepean Public Hospital, providing expert care for patients with complex corneal conditions and other ophthalmic concerns.

Dr Christopher Go is a subspecialised vitreoretinal ophthalmologist with extensive experience in the medical and surgical management of retinal and macular disorders and cataracts. He is fluent in Mandarin and Cantonese and practices at the Vision Eye Institute clinics in Hurstville, Drummoyne and Tuggerah Lakes and operates at Forest Road Day Surgery in NSW.

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.  Simon was elected as Board Director for Optometry Victoria/South Australia in 2022 and in 2023, was appointed as a panel member at the Department of Health’s Professional Services Review.

Colby is a fellowship trained cornea specialist, who completed his ophthalmology training in Victoria before travelling to the United Kingdom to complete his subspecialist training. He has public appointments at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital and is an honorary researcher at the Centre for Eye Research Australia. His private practice is in East Melbourne and Brighton. Outside of work, he loves watching the English Premier League and playing golf. 

Richard Johnson graduated from the School of Optometry at the University of Auckland in 1993. He then worked in the UK, Australia and Austria for a number of years as both an optometrist and contact lens fitter and since 2003 has been the principal optometrist at the Ophthalmology Department at Greenlane Hospital, where he works in the Acute Eye Service as well as paediatric, glaucoma and medical retinal clinics. 

He is a previous lecturer and examiner in Ocular Therapeutics at the University of Auckland Optometry School.

Richard is a past president of the Cornea and Contact Lens Society of New Zealand and was also a trustee of the Eye Bank of NZ for a number of years. He has been the chairman of VOSO, the New Zealand based charitable trust comprised of optometrists and ophthalmologists providing eye care throughout the Pacific from 2006 to 2016 and is still a trustee and active volunteer. He has been on over 30 aid trips to regions within the Pacific.

Richard is the first optometrist in Australasia to have the extended optometry scope of practice to include laser surgical procedures. He is an advisor for the Ophthalmology division of Pharmac, a New Zealand Crown entity that decides, on behalf of Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand, which medicines and pharmaceutical products are made available and subsidised for use in the community and public hospitals.

Richard recently completed a first-class honours Masters degree in maritime vision requirements and regulations through the University of Auckland.

Outside of work, he is an active operational wet crew volunteer in the Howick Unit of the New Zealand Coastguard. He spends the remainder of his time raising his two (almost) teenage girls.

Dr Koetting is an Assistant Professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in the Department of Ophthalmology in Denver, Colorado. Her primary focus is in anterior segment and ocular surface disease, neuro-optometry, and peri-operative care. She partakes in clinical research and has served as Externship Director and adjunct faculty for several schools and colleges of optometry.

Dr Koetting is a member of Intrepid, a fellow in the American Academy of Optometry, a diplomate of the American Board of Optometry, an active member of the American Optometric Association (AOA) and has served as both local and state officers within AOA. She was named young optometrist of the year by the state of Virginia.  Dr Koetting lectures locally, nationally and internationally at conferences, continually contributes articles to and serves on editorial board for multiple publications.

Margaret Lam graduated from the School of Optometry and Vision Sciences at the University of New South Wales and finished her Postgraduate qualifications in ophthalmic medicines prescribing in 2010. Margaret practices full scope optometry and primary eye care as well as having expertise in specialty contact lenses.

Margaret areas of expertise include myopia management, dry eye, and specialty contact lens fitting, including prescribing for orthokeratology, keratoconus, corneal ectasia and rehabilitative contact lenses, and she has been a past recipient of the Neville Fulthorpe Award for Clinical Excellence. 

Margaret works as the Head of Optometry Services for 1001 Optometry and as an optometrist for 1001 Optometry in Bondi, and is also an Adjunct Senior Lecturer for the School of Optometry and Vision Science at the University of New South Wales, and she mentors and teaches undergraduate and postgraduate Masters students in advanced contact lenses.

Margaret has also worked in several advisory roles with leading contact lens companies, and has written for the optometry publications including mivision, Insight, Australian Optometry, Optometry Connection and Clinical and Experimental Optometry.

She also currently serves as the National Vice President of the Cornea and Contact Lens Society of Australia and is the past National President of Optometry Australia.

Dr Angelica Ly is a clinician-scientist and Senior Lecturer in Posterior Eye Therapeutics at UNSW. She earned her PhD in Vision Science from UNSW on the 'Multimodal evaluation of Macular Structure and Function in Age-related Macular Degeneration'. Dr Ly has published 40 peer-reviewed publications and secured significant research funding. She presents regularly at national and international conferences and is passionate about enhancing the early detection of eye disease through emerging technologies.

Dr Bao Nguyen is an optometrist and Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences at The University of Melbourne. Her expertise is the connection between the eye and the brain, spanning healthy development and ageing, neurodegeneration and neurological disorders. She is a passionate advocate for optometry education, previously serving on the Education Committee and as an Education Consultant for Optometry Australia. She was the first optometrist to be awarded the BioMedVic Early Career Clinician Researcher Award and currently holds a Momentum Fellowship at The University of Melbourne.

Dr Giovanna Olivares is the Global Director, Specialty Platforms Research & Development, at Johnson & Johnson Vision Care. She oversees the strategy, design and development of new products to support the company’s global Astigmatism and Presbyopia platforms.  In 2022 under her leadership, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care launched the ACUVUE® OASYS MAX MULTIFOCAL which combines TearStable™ and OptiBlue™ Light Filter technologies to deliver unprecedented performance for presbyopia patients.

Prior to joining J&J, Dr Olivares served as the Director of Clinical and Professional Development for Unilens Corp. USA, where she developed contact lens designs for presbyopia. Additionally, Dr Olivares was a Professor at SUNY State College of Optometry and has practised in an ophthalmology practice, private optometric practice, retail optometry, and as a technical medical consultant at TLC, a center for Lasik surgery. Dr Olivares is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, has authored numerous scientific articles and has lectured internationally on contact lens innovation, technology and fitting for success.

Tarli has extensive experience in counselling, education and working with families in difficult emotional and health care situations. Tarli holds a Bachelor of Behavioural Science from La Trobe University, a Graduate Diploma in Genetic Counselling from the University of Melbourne, and a Graduate Diploma in Leadership from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.

Tarli’s impact and contribution includes diverse expertise in delivering collaborative and empowering outcomes in public, government, private and professional contexts within the health and disability fields, extending to membership of various not-for-profit Boards. Tarli is committed to facilitating community development through the principles of empowerment, human rights, inclusion, social justice, and equality. Tarli always works to the belief of “seeing the person not the disability” and facilitating all individuals to have control and be experts on their own needs.

Dr Weymouth is a member of the International Society for Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision, a Credentialed Optometrist for CASA, a Senior Fellow of the Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences at the University of Melbourne and a Fellow of the Australian College of Optometry. Anne has over 20 years of clinical and research experience in electrophysiology and psychophysics, including overseas placements in paediatric electrophysiology at the Children’s Hospital, Harvard, Boston and in Lyon, France. Along with consulting in electrodiagnostics, she conducts occupational assessments of visual function and is involved in post-graduate supervision and lecturing at the University of Melbourne. Anne has extensive teaching and service provision management of clinical assessments of visual function for many occupations and has provided expert advice on colour vision to the Federal and Victorian Police Forces, VicRoads, the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine and the electrical industry. Anne also acts as an expert witness in an ophthalmic medico-legal setting where requested and has enjoyed offering aide services both nationally and internationally.

Michelle is a tenacious and intelligent woman with the lived experience of Cerebral Palsy. She has a Diploma in Community Welfare Work. Over the last 13 years Michelle has worked as a project worker, coordinator and educator within the field of disability. Michelle will share her personal and professional expertise in engaging with health practitioners and nursing staff. She is passionate about educating health practitioners and nursing staff to develop skills and knowledge to effectively communicate with patients with disability to support them to make decisions about their own health.

Michael is currently the Head of Clinical Operations at Centre for Eye Health (CFEH) as well as an Optometry Advancement Advisor for Optometry Australia. Michael had a diverse range of clinical experience, working in regional private practices, locum work Australia-wide and in the UK, as well as running an optical charity, working in two different ophthalmology practices and being a Staff Optometrist at UNSW. Michael has also been involved in optometric education for many years through a combination of delivering lectures and workshops nationally and internationally as well as contributing written articles to industry publications and online CPD platforms. Michael is also a co-author on 12 peer-reviewed journal publications.

Dr Tiger Zhou is an Australian-trained ophthalmologist with significant expertise in cataract surgery, pterygium surgery and intraocular injections. He also has a special interest in managing glaucoma and medical retinal diseases. Dr Zhou practises at Vision Eye Institute’s Kurralta Park, North Adelaide and Windsor Gardens clinics in South Australia.