AVC2016 Speakers

Speakers

	Dr Julie Albietz (workshop presenter) BAppSc(Optom)(Hons) PhD GradCertOcTher Julie is a therapeutically qualified clinical optometrist with a PhD and clinical interest in dry eye, tear film and ocular surface disease. She is a senior lecturer in the QUT School of Optometry and Vision Sciences and teachers a large component of the didactic and practical aspects of the QUT Ocular Therapeutics courses at Masters and post graduate levels. For two decades, Julie has worked exclusively in ophthalmology consulting and surgery centres in the management of acute red eye, cataract, refractive, glaucoma and vitreoretinal patients. Julie has significant experience in the diagnosis and management of anterior segment disease and an extensive publication record in this area. She works with industry in the development and assessment of dry eye diagnostic devices and treatments.
	Celia Bloxsom (workshop presenter) BAppSc(Optom)Hons GradCertOcTher After graduating with first class honours from QUT in 2000 along with the Don Noack prize for contact lens studies, Celia worked alongside contact lens educator and designer John Mountford for five years. It was through his mentorship that Celia began fitting lenses for keratoconus, PMD, corneal grafts, aphakia in paediatric patients and also discovered a love for orthokeratology. Her enthusiasm for the modality led her to become Secretary for the Orthokeratology Society of Oceania in 2003, a position that she still holds today. In addition, Celia has been a supervising clincian in QUT's contact lens clinic for the past fourteen years and, along with her fellow contact lens supervisors, she was jointly awarded the QUT Vice Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Learning and Teaching in both 2010 and 2013. Celia currently consults full-time on the Gold Coast, where she loves the challenge of practicing in specialty contact lenses.
	Assoc Prof Bang Bui BOptom MOptom PhD PGCOT Assoc Prof Bui completed his optometry degree at the University of Melbourne in 1995. He went on to obtain a Masters and PhD in the areas of retinal development and ischeamic eye disease. He was awarded an National Health and Medical Research Council CJ Martin post-doctoral fellowship to undertake work at Devers Eye Institute (Portland, Oregon, USA) studying the role of intraocular pressure elevation in ganglion cell dysfunction in models of glaucoma. He is currently Deputy Head of the Department of Optometry & Vision Sciences at the University of Melbourne. He holds National Helath and Medical Research Council project grant funding and an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship as well as research grants focusing on understanding the risk factors underlying age-related neurodegeneration and developing novel ocular imaging tool for research and clinical applications.
	Jillian Campbell BVisSci MOptom Jillian graduated from QUT in 2013 with a Bachelor of Vision Science and Master of Optometry with Distinction. Following graduation, Jillian began her residency at the Australian College of Optometry, which allowed her to focus on her areas of interest, particularly specialty contact lens fitting and ocular pathology. Jillian has completed two postgraduate Specialist Certificates through the University of Melbourne in the Management of Contact Lens Patients and Management of Pediatric Patients, and has an Associate Diploma through Trinity College (London) in Speech and Drama. Jillian also provides clinical skills teaching through Deakin University pre-clinic and has assisted with managing patients from the RVEEH keratoconus clinic at ACO. Jillian has also worked with the Brien Holden Vision Institute in Northern Territory communities, and travelled to Vanuatu in 2015 following Cyclone Pam to aid the Vanuatu Prevention of Blindness project. Originally from the far north, Jillian loves any opportunity to escape Melbourne and return to sunny Queensland.
	Dr Diana Conrad (workshop presenter) MBBS(Hons) BMedSci FRANZCO Dr Diana Conrad graduated form the University of Queensland Medical School with First Class Honours and a University Medal. She undertook residency at the Royal Brisbane Hospital, and completed Ophthalmology training in Queensland. She was awarded the Academic Medal for the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists for her final exams. She undertook Fellowship training at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, and the University of California San Francisco. She is now in private practice at the Wesley Hospital and Director of Ophthalmology at the Royal Brisbane and Womens Hospital. Her areas of practice include cataract and refractive surgery, medical retina and inflammatory eye disease.
	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 Laura Downie BOptom PhD(Melb) PGCertOcTher FAAO FACO DipMus(Prac) AMus Dr Laura Downie is a Lecturer and Clinical Leader in the Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences at the University of Melbourne. In this role, she provides didactic and clinical training to Doctor of Optometry students, leads the specialty Cornea clinic at University of Melbourne eyecare and heads her own research laboratory, the ‘Downie Anterior Eye, Clinical Trials and Research Translation Unit,’ involving research higher degree student supervision. Laura completed both her undergraduate optometry degree (2003) and doctorate (2008) at the University of Melbourne. In 2014, she was awarded two prestigious Fellowships from the National Health and Medical Research Council and achieved international recognition for her clinical research achievements with the award of the Irvin and Beatrice Borish Award from the American Academy of Optometry. Laura has been an invited speaker at more than 35 national and international optometric conferences over the past five years, and has published more than 30 peer-reviewed papers in scientific journals.
	Damien Fisher (workshop presenter) BAppSc(Optom)(Hons) GradCertOcTher Damien graduated from QUT in 1999. From there he spent two years working in rural NSW and then returned to Brisbane. He then practiced at Laubman & Pank, Ipswich and was a part time supervising clinician till 2014. In early 2015 he accepted a full time position at QUT as a clinical/research optometrist. He has clinical interests in general practice, contact lenses, binocular/paediatric vision, low vision and ocular therapeutics. In 2010 and 2013, he was part of the Contact Lens Supervisors team which received the QUT’s Vice Chancellor’s award for excellence and has given guest lectures for Optometry students. He completed his Graduate Certificate for Ocular Therapeutics in 2013. Damien has also participated in OneSight vision screenings with Luxottica and serviced Outreach clinics for Indigenous patients through QUT. He served as Vice-National Chair in Luxottica’s Optometry Council and is current Qld Chapter President of Cornea and Contact Lens Society of Australia.
	David Foresto BAppSc(Optom) GradCertOcTher David Foresto has an advanced contact lens practice in Brisbane CBD and works predominantly with keratoconus, post-graft, orthokeratology and paediatric aphakia. David a former President of Optometry QLD/NT and is also a clinical supervisor and guest lecturer at the QUT School of Optometry.
	Dr Erwin Groeneveld MBBS FRANZCO FRCOphth Dr Erwin Groeneveld is a highly skilled vitreous and retina surgeon with 15 years experience as a senior visiting consultant at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane. He established and supervised the Advanced Trainee Post in Retinal Surgery whilst he was chairman of the eye department. He gained experience in complex diabetic vitrectomy surgery whilst a fellow at the Melbourne University Retinal Investigation Unit. He introduced anti-VEGF therapy for eye disease in Queensland. He is currently the Medical Director of the Vision Eye Institute at River City. His clinical experience includes four years as a Visiting Medical Officer at the Mater Children’s Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit where he managed retinopathy of prematurity in extremely low birth weight infants. He holds a position as Consultant Ophthalmologist to the Indigenous Diabetic Eye Service in Central Queensland. He has a keen interest both in patient safety during surgical procedures and macula surgery.
	Jason Holland (sponsored by France Medical) BAppSc(Optom)(Hons) GradCertOcThera CASA CO Mr Holland graduated from QUT in 1994. Initially he worked as a Locum for The Optical Sperstore until in 2002 he became the National Director of Optometry. Jason also 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. He obtained his ocular therapeutic prescribing rights in 2012 and founded a busy Dry Eye, Glaucoma and advanced Contact Lens clinic. Jason became a Director for OA in Qld in 2008 and is now the Treasurer. He was nominated to sit on the National OA board this year. He also sits on the Deakin Advisory board and has lectured on Contact Lenses and Dry Eye in Australia and across South east Asia.
	Dr Shelley Hopkins BOptom PGDipAdvClinOpt PhD Dr Shelley Hopkins is the clinic coordinator at the QUT Health Clinics Optometry Clinic. She has been involved with teaching and research at QUT for the past 7 years. Shelley completed her PhD in 2014 which investigated the visual characteristics of Queensland Indigenous and non-Indigenous school children. As part of her research, Shelley travelled to numerous primary schools in metropolitan and rural Queensland to perform vision assessments on over 600 children. In Shelley’s current role, she coordinates all of the children’s vision screenings held at QUT. Shelley also lectures 4th year optometry students at QUT in the area of paediatric optometry. She has maintained part time clinical practice, and also regularly provides optometry services to a number of outreach clinics in regional Aboriginal communities.
	Mark Koszek (Alcon Vision Care breakfast presenter) BOptom MOptom GCOT 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.
	Dr Judy Ku MBChB FRANZCO Dr Judy Ku completed her Ophthalmology training in Auckland, NZ before undertaking further subspecialty training in Glaucoma at the Singapore National Eye Centre with an internationally respected team specialising in Angle Closure Glaucoma. This was followed by a Cornea, External Eye Disease & Refractive surgery Fellowship at the University of Toronto in Canada. She was awarded the Arthur Thomas Paterson and the RANZCO/AMO scholarships. She has a number of peer-reviewed publications, including a book chapter, and has received a number of best presenters awards. Her research interests include angle closure glaucoma, ocular imaging in glaucoma and advancements in corneal transplant surgery. Dr Ku is a Consultant Ophthalmologist at the OKKO Eye Specialist Centre in Brisbane. In her spare time, she enjoys travelling and spending time with her husband and their two boys.
	Assoc Prof Christopher Layton (workshop presenter) BAppSc(Optom)(Hons) MBBS(Hons) DPhil(Oxford) FRANZCO Chris Layton is a prominent Australian medical retina specialist based in Brisbane, where he is in full time private practice at Greenslopes Hospital, the largest private hospital in Australia. He is the Director of the Ophthalmology Unit at the Gallipoli Medical Research Institute, is lead investigator for multiple clinical trials and discovery projects in diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration, and is the founder and head of the Australian Diabetic Retinopathy Biobank. He presents on both clinical and research topics internationally and has received several international awards for his work in ophthalmology. A/Professor Layton contributes to the community as the current President of the Oxford University Society (Qld) and the Chairman of the Layton Vision Foundation, a charity dedicated to promoting eye research in Australia and access to ophthalmic services in the Pacific Islands.
	Associate Professor Graham Lee (workshop presenter) 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. 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, Vietnam and Laos. The International Ophthalmology Portal at http://iop.vision has been established for worldwide online education.
	Dr Luke Maccheron (workshop presenter) MBBS (Hons) BMedSc FRANZCO Luke is a Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists specializing in Cataract, Corneal and Anterior Segment Surgery. He completed a fellowship in corneal transplant, cataract and refractive surgery at the Queen Victoria Hospital and Centre for Sight, UK, in 2008 and is a Senior Lecturer for the University of Qld. Luke works privately at Brisbane North Eye Centre and publicly at the Royal Brisbane & Women’s Hospital where he trains registrars and helps patients with complex and often advanced eye diseases.
	Dr Lindsay McGrath (workshop presenter) BAppSc(Optom)(Hons) MBBS MPhil(Ophthal) Dr Lindsay McGrath graduated from Optometry with Honours in 2005. She went on to study Medicine at the University of Queensland the following year. She was a board director with Optometry Australia, Qld Division for 2 years, and she is currently an advanced trainee in Ophthalmology, on rotation at Gold Coast University Hospital. Lindsay recently completed a Masters of Philosophy in Ophthalmology entitled ‘Diagnostic and Therapeutic Indications for Corneal Epithelial Debridement’ with chapters on corneal foreign body removal.
	Dr Geraldine Moses BPharm DClinPharm AdvPractPharm Geraldine is a doctor of clinical pharmacy specialising in drug information. Based at the Mater Hospital in Brisbane, she works 3-days a week in the hospital’s Academic Practice and Medication Safety Team. Geraldine also works for the Australian Dental Association providing a national drug information service for ADA members called “Pharmacy Advice” and speaking at dental seminars and conferences around Australia. In her ‘spare time’ Geraldine provides lectures to students of pharmacy, optometry, dentistry, nursing and medicine at the University of Queensland and QUT, at both an undergraduate and postgraduate level. She also consults to organisations such as the Department of Veterans Affairs and the National Prescribing Service, and with a colleague, operates an educational platform called pharmeducation.com.au. She is also well-known for her profile in the media. In 2002, she was named Australian Pharmacist of the Year.
	Josiah Murphy BVisSci MOptom Jo is a young optometrist who provides optometry services to some of the most remote communities in Australia. He grew up on the Darling Downs and completed an apprenticeship in Fitting and Turning before deciding to study Optometry. Upon graduating from QUT in 2013 with Ocular Therapeutics, Jo chose to work in regional South Australia for personal adventure and to broaden his clinical skills. Jo currently works in a full scope independent optometry practice in Alice Springs and also provides outreach optometry services to remote communities in the Northern Territory. He has recently obtained his pilot’s licence which he intends to use to service remote locations more efficiently.
	Ronald Nguyen BVisSci MOptom Ronald grew up and completed secondary education in Melbourne. He moved to Brisbane to pursue his tertiary studies, completing both BVisSci and MOptom and was awarded as QUT's university medallist of 2014. From there Ronald decided to expand his apprehension of the optometry world, utilising both his therapeutic and practical skills in a full-scope practice in Mackay. His special interest includes behavioural optometry, ocular disease management and ocular therapeutics.
	Peter Nixon BSc(Hons) BOptom GradCertOcTher FACO Peter Nixon works at Pezzimenti Nixon Optometrists in Melbourne which specialises in paediatric optometry. He previously worked and taught at the Australian College of Optometry, where he was the Lead Optometrist of Children's Services until 2013. Peter has a strong interest in children's vision, development and welfare. He has managed projects working with disadvantaged primary school children as well as students from a specialised hearing impaired school. He also has 13 year’s experience in contact lens fitting including keratoconus, corneal grafts and aphakic children. Peter volunteers as an optometrist in Nepal with Rotary International and sits on the CCLSA board of Victoria.
	Nicola Peaper (Rodenstock breakfast presenter) BSc(Hons) OphthalmicOptics Nicola Peaper graduated from the University of Wales and qualified as an optometrist in the UK in 1985. She practiced in both private and corporate practice in the UK for 20 years including 8 years in her own practice. In 2001/2 she was employed as Ophthalmic Advisor to Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Health Authority. Since moving to Australia in 2005 she has worked in optical laboratories advising on procedures and quality. In roles as State and National training manager she has gained extensive experience in presenting the technology behind, and the prescribing and fitting of ophthalmic lenses. Nicola Peaper is currently Professional Services Manager for Rodenstock Australia.
	Emily Pieterse (workshop presenter) BAppSc(Optom)Hons BAppSc(MedSc) GradCertOcTher PhD Emily graduated from QUT with Bachelor degrees in Medical Science and Optometry, and was awarded First Class Honours and a University Medal. She worked in independent optometry practices within Brisbane and as a supervisor within the QUT Optometry Clinic, before returning to QUT full time to complete her PhD which examined ocular biometry changes during near work and the potential consequences for myopia development. Her research has been published in high-ranking peer reviewed optometry and vision journals, and has been presented at both domestic and international conferences. In 2013 Emily was voted by her peers as the Optometry Australia QLD/NT Young Optometrist of the Year in recognition of her service to the profession through her teaching, research and volunteer activities. Emily is currently a postdoctoral research fellow, clinical supervisor and guest lecturer for the School of Optometry and Vision Science, and coordinates the Myopia Control Clinic within the QUT Health Clinics. Emily is proud to serve as a director on the 2016 OQNT board.
	Assoc Prof Scott Read BAppSc(Optom)(Hons) PhD GradCertOcThera FAAO Scott Read is an Associate Professor in the School of Optometry and Vision Science at QUT. He completed his undergraduate training in optometry in 1997 and after 6 years working in private practice, returned to QUT and completed his PhD in 2006. Since this time, Scott has held a variety of research and academic positions, and has published over 60 peer reviewed scientific research papers, with the majority of this work focusing upon human myopia. He was recently awarded the ZEISS Young Investigator Award in Myopia Research, at the 2015 International Myopia conference, for his contributions to the myopia research field.
	Assoc Prof Mark Roth BSc BAppSc(Optom) GCOT FVCO FAAO Associate Professor Mark Roth is a clinical optometrist with a degree in pharmacology. He is currently in private practice and is also a Principal Fellow in the Department of Optometry & Vision Sciences, the University of Melbourne. He is also a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry. He has extensive experience as a therapeutic practitioner and contact lens specialist. As an advocate for therapeutic progress in optometry, he contributes to various association, registration board and government committees. A/Prof Roth lectures widely at conferences in Australia and overseas and is involved in many optometry therapeutics and education programmes. He is also the clinical editor of the “Optometry Pharma” publication. His main diversions outside of optometry include coffee, pinot noir, cycling and world football.
	Dr Kevin Vandeleur MBBS FRACS FRANZCO Dr Vandeleur completed his ophthalmology training in 1983 and has participated in post graduate studies in Australia and overseas. His primary areas of ophthalmological interest include cataract and refractive surgery. He also specialises in vitreo-retinal and retinal detachment surgery. He is a member if the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, the Oceania Retinal Association, and the International Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons. Dr Vandeleur helped to establish The Excimer Laser Centre in 1991. In 1994 he developed and subsequently became director of Brisbane's first licensed free standing ophthalmic day surgery - Eye Tech. Dr Vandeleur is involved in trips to East Timor and Kiribati where he volunteers his skills to help improve the eye health of the people of these developing nations. The main procedures performed are cataract operations. He is involved in the Australia-Timor Leste Program of Assistance for Specialised Services which began in October 2006 and is continuing to make a difference to the communities there.
	Prof Joanne Wood BSc (Hons) PhD MBCOptom FAAO Joanne Wood is a Professor in the School of Optometry and Vision Science and Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation at Queensland University of Technology (QUT). She graduated with first class honours in Optometry from Aston University, UK and spent two years in optometric practice before returning to Aston University to complete a PhD in automated visual field investigation. This was followed by a Postdoctoral fellowship in clinical psychophysics at Oxford University. She then joined the School of Optometry at QUT in 1989 as a Postdoctoral Fellow and currently holds the position of Professor. Joanne has extensive research experience in a number of areas including vision, ageing and driving and children’s functional vision. Joanne's research has resulted in 212 published papers in national and international journals, and 176 conference presentations.
	Michael Yapp BOptom (Hons) MOptom GradCertOcTher FAAO Michael received his B.Optom (Hons), M.Optom and GradCertOcTher from the University of NSW and has also recently become a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry. He has worked in private practice in Australia, as a locum around Australia and the UK, a staff optometrist and guest lecturer at UNSW, program manager for Luxottica’s charity programme as well as at a corneal and refractive specialist Ophthalmologists practice. He is currently chief staff optometrist at the Centre for Eye Health with special interests in ocular imaging and glaucoma. He has also been invited to speak at conferences around Australia, India and the US.

Australian Vision Convention 2016

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