People on the move – July 2022

Welcome to People on the move – July 2022, Insight’s monthly bulletin to keep the Australian ophthalmic sector updated on new appointments and personnel changes.

If you’d like to tell the market about a new person in your company, practice, or clinic, please send the person’s name, position, image and a short description about their role to editor Myles Hume for consideration at myles.hume@primecreative.com.au.

Simon Hanna – Bausch + Lomb

Simon Hanna has been appointed National Professional Services Manager at Bausch + Lomb. The role will primarily encompass delivering educational content to optometrists nation-wide in varying print and face-to-face mediums including conferences, webinars, seminars, and workshops, providing advice to practitioners on current and new products as they come to market. He will also be heading up internal staff training to ensure adequate technical and product knowledge. Prior to joining B+L, Hanna was at Optometry Australia (OA) for nine years, where he developed the Institute of Excellence and OA’s CPD program including Optometry Virtually Connected, the largest fully virtual conference in the Southern Hemisphere.

Paul Vessey – Safilo

Safilo has revealed Mr Paul Vessey will assume the company’s newly established position of Territory Manager, South Australia. In this role, he will be located full-time in Adelaide to represent Safilo brands in the state, while Mr Callan Meredith will continue with Safilo in Perth. Vessey has extensive experience in the optical industry, including positions of national responsibility with Hoya, Essilor and Optical Products. Most recently he has been based in the Safilo head office in Sydney. This experience has given him a strong understanding of the independent optometry and eyewear market in Australia. “This is a great step forward for Safilo; Paul’s experience and passion representing our business will be positive for the company’s new and existing customers in South Australia, who will now have a Safilo representative in the market, full-time,” Safilo stated.

Laura Davies Flannagan – ProVision

Laura Davies Flannagan has been appointed to the position of Business Coach for NSW members of ProVision. She began her optical career with Specsavers in the UK, before transitioning to Essilor, where she completed the Essilor coaching program, and Nikon, where she held the role of National Business Development Manager.

Brad White – ProVision

Brad White has become the Business Coach for Melbourne-based ProVision practices. He has over 25 years’ experience in the optical industry, beginning with optical retail at OPSM where he progressed from dispenser to multi-site manager. White also brings experience from both Luxottica and Essilor, where he worked for seven years as an Account Manager. He has excellent technical skills and a strong understanding of practice operations.

Grant Topham – Bausch + Lomb

Grant Topham has recently joined Bausch + Lomb as the Surgical Territory Manager for South Australia and the Northern Territory. He has previously worked for Alcon and most recently worked for a number of device companies including Teleflex and Cardinal Health. He brings a wealth of experience in medical sales and has a strong commitment to providing exceptional levels of customer service and support to surgeons and nursing staff working in the perioperative suite. “I look forward to acquainting myself with ophthalmologists I worked closely with previously as well as supporting new graduates and surgeons who have recently moved to SA or NT,” he said.

Jessica Watkins – Bausch + Lomb

Jessica Watkins has joined Bausch + Lomb as Surgical Marketing Manager and brings over 10 years of sales and marketing experience within the medical device industry. She will lead tactical and strategic marketing initiatives across Australia and New Zealand in collaboration with the surgical sales and clinical teams. “At the end of the day it’s all about the patients, and I feel so inspired to be a part of an organisation at the forefront of eye health dedicated to protecting and enhancing sight for millions of people globally,” she said.