MEET OUR SPEAKERS
Prof James Armitage
James Armitage is a Professor of Optometry and Associate Head of School (International and Partnerships) in the Deakin University School of Medicine. James trained in optometry at the University of Melbourne (BOptom, MOptom, PhD) and then undertook postdoctoral fellowships at Kings’ College London, The Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute and Monash University. His research interests include optometric education research; particularly focusing on better understanding how to improve the way that students modify their metacognitive process to promote safe and efficient clinical reasoning and effective communication. His other research interests include role of diet in modifying foetal and neonatal development and adult cardiovascular health and functional studies of ocular vasculature. James is an active clinician and has primary clinical interests in managing dry eye disease, glaucoma and the ocular sequelae of metabolic disease.
Dr Kalika Bandamwar
Dr Kalika Bandamwar is a Research Fellow at the Ocular Surface Laboratory in the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. She completed her PhD from the University of New South Wales, Sydney in 2013. Before joining the Ocular Surface Laboratory, she was manager for research and development at Brien Holden Vision Pvt Ltd in India. Her research focuses on contact lenses, dry eye disease, tear film, and ocular surface health. Dr Bandamwar has extensive experience in large scale clinical trials, laboratory analysis, and ocular surface imaging. She has presented to national and international audience and has won several competitive awards. She is a fellow of British Contact Lens Association and was part of the Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society’s lifestyle workshops. She is an associate editor for the Clinical and Experimental optometry and is the editor for the journal’s special issue for 2026.
Dr Cassandra Brooks
Dr Cassandra Brooks (Cassie) is a research fellow at the Lions Eye Institute and the University of Western Australia. Her research interests include clinical vision science and visual neuroscience. She completed her PhD on visual processing in visual snow syndrome at the University of Melbourne in 2025. She is an optometry graduate from the University of Melbourne (2009).
Marissa Cassimatis
Marissa is a clinical optometrist with special interests in contact lenses, myopia management, and dry eye disease, and is a member of the Professional Education and Development team at Alcon. She has broad experience in managing complex anterior eye conditions and has worked closely with ophthalmologists in multidisciplinary care settings. Marissa has contributed to optometric education as a sessional academic at the Queensland University of Technology and as a guest lecturer in the Master of Optometry program at the University of West Attica in Greece. She is a Fellow of both the British Contact Lens Association (BCLA) and the Higher Education Academy (HEA).
Dr Marianne Coleman
Marianne is a clinical researcher and orthoptist. Marianne worked in the UK National Health Service and later trained in clinical research. Marianne's PhD was on the topic of visual perception in amblyopia, which she explored using dichoptic stimuli. Marianne was later the trial coordinator for the UK's first randomised controlled trial of dichoptic amblyopia treatment. Marianne moved to the University of Melbourne in 2020 to work as a Clinical Vision Research Fellow, between the Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, and the Australian College of Optometry's National Vision Research Institute. Marianne now works at the National Centre for Healthy Ageing, a collaboration between Monash University and Peninsula Health.
Jane Duffy
Jane Duffy is a senior lecturer in health law and professionalism, and is a member of the team that teaches health ethics, law and professionalism to students in Deakin University’s Doctor of Medicine program. Jane has qualifications in optometry and law and has practised in both professions. She has served on several health practitioner registration boards including as an inaugural member of the Optometry Board of Australia. In 2014, her contributions to the optometry profession were acknowledged with an Order of Australia medal.
Mary Gazis
Mary Gazis is a Senior Clinical Product Training Specialist at Topcon Healthcare with over 15 years of experience in ophthalmology. She holds a Bachelor of Health Sciences and a Master of Orthoptics from La Trobe University, Melbourne, and is a registered orthoptist with the Australian Orthoptic Board. As a practising orthoptist, Mary spent 10 years working alongside ophthalmologists, developing extensive expertise in diagnostic imaging, patient assessment and management, optical biometry, perimetry, corneal topography, and the clinical assessment and management of a broad range of ophthalmic conditions.
Dr Alex Hui
Alex Hui is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the School of Optometry and Vision Science, UNSW Sydney. His research interests include ocular therapeutics, contact lenses, drug delivery and myopia control.
Adele Jefferies
Adele Jefferies is a therapeutically qualified optometrist with over 20 years of clinical experience across private and corporate practice. She is the Founder of Illume Eye Care in Auckland, New Zealand - a clinically focused practice supporting patients and referring practitioners with services like advanced dry eye care, myopia management and contact lens care. She is the Immediate Past President of the Cornea and Contact Lens Society of New Zealand, an Honorary Teaching Fellow at the University of Auckland, a Board Member of the New Zealand Optometry and Dispensing Opticians Board, and has contributed to a range of professional committees, conferences, advisory boards, research collaborations, and education initiatives around Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
Alex Koutsokeras
Alex Koutsokeras is a therapeutically endorsed optometrist with qualifications in Optometry and Psychology. During her time in independent practice, Alex gained extensive experience in complex contact lens fitting for corneal ectasias, trauma, dry eye and myopia control. Alex has been invited to present at leading professional education events and conferences and has published articles in industry publications on the topics of advanced contact lens fitting and emerging approaches to dry eye management. In 2022, Alex joined the Professional Education team at Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, where she continues to focus on delivering evidence-based education and supporting best-practice contact lens prescribing for optometrists across Australia and New Zealand.
José Antonio Mendoza
José is a Peruvian ophthalmologist with a major in ophthalmic imaging from Stanford School of Medicine, refractive surgery, and a Masters degree in clinical ophthalmology. He serves as Clinical Education Specialist at Topcon Healthcare and Medical Director of Imaging and Diagnostics at CEDO Reading Centre in Lima, Peru. As an internationally recognized speaker, Dr Mendoza has presented at major ophthalmology congresses worldwide, with expertise in multimodal imaging, OCT technologies, artificial intelligence, and innovation in clinical ophthalmic practice.
Niall McCormack
Niall graduated in 1987 from University Manchester Institute Science and Technology, emigrating to New Zealand in 1989. He therapeutically qualified in 2004 and have received Fellowships from OVDRA, ACBO and NORA. Niall currently works as a hospital optometrist in Hawkes Bay Hospital, New Zealand dealing mainly with glaucoma, cataract, paediatric, concussion and stroke patients. He founded Eye Care For Africa in 2017 to provide eye care to remote parts of East Africa. His hobbies include hiking and recently walked the lengths of NZ and UK as fund raisers for Eye Care For Africa.
Dr Sarah McIver
Dr Sarah MacIver is an optometrist and associate clinical professor at the University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science. She is associate director of Continuing Professional Development, Service Head of the Ocular Disease & Imaging Clinic and residency supervisor for the ocular disease and glaucoma residency program. She has a special interest in the treatment and management of chronic ocular disease, specifically glaucoma, retinal imaging and dry eye for which she has been invited to speak at various continuing education across North America. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, Fellow of the Canadian College of Specialties in Optometry, a member of the Optometric Glaucoma Society and program chair for the American Academy of Optometry’s Glaucoma section.
Amy Pillay
Amy Pillay is a highly regarded optometrist and Professional Affairs Manager at EssilorLuxottica.
With a strong clinical background and a focus on myopia management, she plays a crucial role in driving industry collaboration and innovation. Amy actively drives key initiatives such as the Myopia Leaders Program, Eyecare Roadshows, and University Programs, empowering eyecare professionals with the knowledge and tools to deliver exceptional patient care.
Amy is dedicated to establishing partnerships in all areas of the industry, striving to work together for advanced eye health solutions and improvement of patient outcomes.