Specsavers has announced the judging panel for the 2025 Dame Mary Perkins Award for Outstanding Patient Care, bringing together three influential leaders from the eye health sector to assess this year’s nominations.
The award, named in honour of Specsavers’ co-founder Dame Mary Perkins, celebrates optometrists who demonstrate exceptional dedication to patient care – recognising not only sight-saving interventions but also the everyday acts of compassion and clinical excellence that make a lasting impact on patients’ lives.
In a media release, the company said that, unlike awards that focus solely on the severity of ocular conditions, the Dame Mary Perkins Award was designed to celebrate the human side of optometry.
It honours examples of great care, whether they involve life-changing diagnoses or small but meaningful gestures that reflect an optometrist’s commitment to their patients. The judging process centres on the quality of care delivered, the dedication shown, and the positive outcomes achieved.
This year’s judging panel is Ms Chrissie Cowan, co-chair of Eye Health Aotearoa and CEO of Kāpō Māori Aotearoa; Ms Carly Iles, CEO of Vision 2020 Australia; and Mr Ross Piper, CEO of The Fred Hollows Foundation.
Cowan, a respected advocate for Māori health, expressed her pride in being invited to judge the award.
“As a descendant of Ngāti Kahungunu/Ngāti Porou iwi and chief executive of Kāpō Māori Aotearoa, I am deeply honoured to be invited to serve as a judge for the Dame Mary Perkins Award,” she said.
“This award shines a light on those who are transforming lives through eye health, a kaupapa [plan] that aligns with our collective commitment to equity and access – especially for Māori and underserved communities. I welcome this opportunity to support and celebrate leadership in our sector, and to further strengthen the relationship between Eye Health Aotearoa and Specsavers,” she continued.
In her third year as a judge, Iles shared her enthusiasm for the award’s mission.
“Judging the Dame Mary Perkins Award has become a part of the year that I look forward to. It’s a great way to recognise those who truly make a difference. It’s a privilege to be part of a process that celebrates compassion, clinical excellence, and the power of patient-centred care,” she said.
Piper echoed the importance of recognising those who are driving change in eye health.
“This award is a testament to the dedication of optometrists who are improving lives every day. It’s an honour to join the judging panel and support an initiative that not only celebrates individual achievement but also reinforces our shared mission to eliminate avoidable blindness and promote health equity,” he said.
Nominations for the award have now closed with winners to be announced at the Specsavers Clinical Conference in Melbourne in September.
More reading
Specsavers ANZ crowned ‘most trusted’ optometry brand for six years running
Will Specsavers adopt IPL? The early results are in
Specsavers working to break down optometry barriers
