About Us
Our People
Learn more about the people who govern, lead, support and deliver the work of OCANZ, including our organisational structure, Member representatives, Board of Directors, Committees, Taskforce, and staff.
Organisation Chart
The chart below provides an overview of our organisational structure, illustrating how our Board, Committee and Taskforce members, and staff work together to deliver on our mission.
Members
The OCANZ constitution provides for 5 Members to be appointed as the owners of the company OCANZ Ltd. The Member representatives appoint the Directors and the Auditor, receive the Annual Report, and oversee the OCANZ Constitution. They usually meet twice per annum.
The Members are:
- Accredited Heads of Schools
- Australian College of Optometry
- New Zealand Association of Optometrists
- Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Board (NZ)
- Optometry Australia
For more details about the role of Member representatives see the OCANZ Constitution.
Member representatives:
Pictured left to right: Dr Hans Vellara (NZAO), Mr Luke Arundel (OA), Mr Pete Haydon (ACO).
Absent: Associate Professor Michael Pianta (Heads of Schools), Ms Sophie Woodburn (ODOB).
Board of Directors
OCANZ is governed by a skill-based Board of 8-10 Directors, comprising registered optometrists, educators, finance and/or governance experts and community members. The Board meets five times per annum to set the strategic direction for OCANZ and oversee its operations.
The current Directors are
- Professor Alex Gentle, Chair
- Dr Andrew Collins, Deputy Chair
- Mr Jason Chong
- Professor Jennifer Craig
- Dr Peter Malouf
Professor Allison McKendrick
- Professor Lisa Nissen
- Ms Shannon Peckham
- Associate Professor Ann Webber
- Mrs Katrina Yap
Bio details can be found below.
For more details about OCANZ governance, read our annual reports.
Board of Directors:
Pictured top row left to right: Professor Lisa Nissen, Ms Susan Kelly (OCANZ CEO), Professor Alex Gentle, Mr Jason Chong, Dr Peter Malouf.
Pictured bottom row left to right: Professor Jennifer Craig, Ms Shannon Peckham, Mrs Katrina Yap, Associate Professor Ann Webber.
Absent: Dr Andrew Collins, Professor Allison McKendrick
Committees and Taskforce
Four Committees and an Indigenous Strategy Taskforce have been appointed by the Board of Directors to assist it to carry out specific functions:
Accreditation Committee
- Professor Lisa Nissen, Chair
- Ms Jane Duffy, Deputy Chair
- Dr Nicola Anstice
- Associate Professor Anthea Cochrane
- Dr Peter Malouf
- Mr Neilsen De Souza
Examination Committee
- Associate Professor Simon Backhouse, Chair
- Dr Geraint Phillips, Deputy Chair
- Mr Neville Chiavaroli
- Dr Vinod Maseedupally
- Associate Professor Katrina Schmid
- Associate Professor Ann Webber
Examination Eligibility Committee
- Ms Alissa Maillet, Chair
- Mr Michael Hare
- Associate Professor Peter Hendicott
- Dr Suki Jaiswal
Finance & Risk Committee
- Dr Linda Turner, Chair
- Mr Jason Chong
- Ms Lashitha Devadason
- Mr Damian Koppens
- Mr Tony Lund
Indigenous Strategy Taskforce
- Mrs Renata Watene, Chair
- Dr Nicola Anstice, Deputy Chair
- Associate Professor Mitchell Anjou
- Associate Professor Lilon Bandler
- Mrs Lauren Carr
- Ms Sara Carrison
- Dr Andrew Collins
- Professor Jennifer Craig
- Ms Donna Murray
- Ms Shannon Peckham
Staff
OCANZ is supported by a small, dedicated team committed to delivering high-quality accreditation and assessment processes that promote safe, effective and culturally responsive healthcare for communities across Australia and New Zealand.
- Ms Susan Kelly, Chief Executive Officer
- Dr Melisa Rangitakatu, Accreditation Manager
- Ms Amber Smith, Examination Manager
- Ms Lisa Vella, Finance and Office Manager
- Mrs Kelley Baldwin, Policy and Projects Manager
Pictured: Ms Susan Kelly, OCANZ Chief Executive Officer.