Current Board members

Kristine has been a Board member since 2015. While she has held the Deputy Chair role since 2019, she became the Chair in 2022. She is a Dispensing Optician and a Professional Teaching Fellow at the University of Auckland, School of Optometry and Vision Science (SOVS). Kristine teaches Optical Dispensing to Optometry students in part III, part IV and part V. She also supervises Dispensing at the University of Auckland’s Optometry clinic.  

In 1997, Kristine completed her Certificate IV in Optical Dispensing (with distinction) from TAFE Digital (previously OTEN/TAFE) (Sydney Australia). In 2014, she graduated with the Fellowship Diploma at the Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO). She is one of the first in Aotearoa New Zealand to attain this Bachelor-level qualification. Amongst others, she also holds a Certificate in Train the Trainer at the NZ Institute of Management, a National Certificate at the Retail Industry Training Organisation (ITO), and a National Certificate in Public Sector Services (Level 4). 

Prior to her work at the university, Kristine spent 5 years working for the Ministry of Social Development, primarily as a programme co-ordinator and work broker. From 1993 to 2004, she was employed by OPSM, working as a Dispensing Optician, Store Manager and Area Manager.  

In 2021, Kristine was awarded the prestigious Robert Maher award recognising her contribution to the profession of Dispensing Opticians. She is a current member of the Association of Dispensing Opticians of New Zealand (ADONZ). 

Annette has been a Board member since 2016, and became the Deputy Chair in 2022. She qualified with a Bachelor of Optometry in 1985. Annette was in the first class to complete the The Auckland Programme In Ocular Therapeutics (TAPIOT), at the University of Auckland in 2004. She was employed in Wellington from graduation until she bought her own practice in Paraparaumu in 1990. She now works for Grylls and Matthews in Paraparaumu. Annette was a councillor of the New Zealand Association of Optometrists (NZAO) from 1992 until her appointment to the Board. She has also been a member of the Council of Optometry Regulatory Authorities (CORA), and its successor the Optometry Council of Australia and New Zealand (OCANZ). She has a keen passion for legislation works to govern patient safety, and enjoys balancing the application of her knowledge as an Optometrist, with the consumer perspective and ensuring the protection of the public. 

Jayesh has been a Board member since 2015. He was Deputy Chair in 2016 and 2017, and Chair from 2018 to 2021. In 2022 he made the decision to step back and allow for new leadership to emerge, as the Board prepares for the transition of longstanding Board members to change. He is a Member of the Optometry Council of Australia and New Zealand (OCANZ), sits on the Board of Studies for the School of Vision Science (SOVS) and a previous Professional Conduct Committee member. Jayesh is an Optometrists, and graduated from the University of Auckland in 1996. He also completed his post-graduate Ocular Therapeutics qualification in 2013. He is currently working at Clear Vision Optometrists in Wellington which is an independent practice that he has owned for the last 17 years. Previous to that, he worked in various roles and organisations across New Zealand, Australia and the UK, as well as voluntary work in the pacific Islands. He is a current member of the New Zealand Association of Optometrists (NZAO), Cornea and Contact Lens Society (CCLSNZ), the Australasian College of Behavioural Optometrists (ACBO) and EyePro, as well as a Paralympics NZ VI Classifier. 

Ross has been a Board member since 2014. He is an Optometrist and graduated from the University of Auckland in 1994. Ross also obtained his Ocular Therapeutics qualification in 2008, and became an independent Glaucoma-approved prescriber in 2015. Ross has worked in various practices in the lower North Island, in both independent, group and corporate practices. In 2015, he took the opportunity to purchase one of the practices he had previously worked in, becoming Vision Experience Optometrists, Marton. He also works at Ophthalmology clinics as an Optometrist at Whanganui District Health Board. During the years, he has held several key Board Committee Convenor roles, including that of the Professional Standards Committee, and involved in the many steering and working groups such as those responsible for the development of the Board’s Oral Medicine Guidelines, improvements to the Self-Audit process, and the like.

Ravi has been a Board member since 2020. He is an Optometrist, specialising in children’s vision. He graduated from the University of Auckland with a Bachelor of Optometry in 2005. He is also the co-founder of Mr Foureyes Opticians and Mr Foureyes Foundation. He is passionate about solving undetected eyesight problems in youth and has over 15 years’ experience working across Aotearoa New Zealand and overseas. This includes work in the Pacific with volunteer organisations such as the Fred Hollows Foundation, and others.

Zoe has been a Board member since May 2020. Since her appointment, she has held several Convenor for several Board Committees, currently being the Professional Standards Committee Convenor. She is a Dispensing Optician. Zoe graduated from the University of Auckland with a Bachelor of Science in 2010. While working in Wellington, she completed her Certificate IV in Optical Dispensing through TAFE Digital (previously OTEN/TAFE) in 2011. Now based in Auckland, she works for Mortimer Hirst Eyecare and Eyewear. She is also involved in training students completing the Certificate IV in Optical Dispensing through Australasian College of Optical Dispensing (ACOD). Zoe is a current member of the Association of Dispensing Opticians of New Zealand (ADONZ).  

Irene has been a Board member since 2014. As lay member, she has held the Convenor role for several Board Committees, including the Registration Committee and Legislation Committee throughout the years. Irene is a sixth generation Northlander and lives in Tutukaka, Whangarei. She comes with more than 15 years’ experience in active involvement in governance and consulting in both the private and public sectors. Irene currently holds several governance roles including Trustee on Northpower Electric Power Trust, NorthHaven Hospice Endowment Trust, Kiwi Coast Trust, and others. Her background lies in law, financial planning, investments, strategic business coaching and business capability assessment. Irene completed a Management degree, postgraduate studies in Health Systems Law, Consumer, Practitioner and Ethics (University of Otago), and a Postgraduate Diploma in Finance. Irene was awarded Aotearoa New Zealand Businesswoman of the Year in 1998/99, and enjoys sports, reading, travel and time with family. 

Sean has been a board member since 2018. He is a lay member, and comes with several years’ of experience in statutory regulation, both nationally and internationally. Prior to entering the regulatory field, he completed postgraduate studies in Industrial and Organisational Psychology at Canterbury University, and was employed in a number of positions within Aotearoa New Zealand’s justice sector and international education. Following this he has held the position of Executive Director of the professional body for psychologists, the Chief Executive of the New Zealand Social Workers Registration Board, the Chief Executive of the Veterinary Council of New Zealand, and General Manager for the New Zealand Playcentre Federation. In 2021, he was appointed as the Secretary General of YMCA New Zealand. Sean sit on several Boards, including the Physiotherapy Board Of New Zealand, and the Community, Health, Education and Social Services Workforce Development Council (WDC). Sean was elected as a member of the Board of Directors of CLEAR between 2016 and 2018, and is a member of the Council for Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation (CLEAR).