Current Board members

Board member since 2015

Jayesh Chouhan is a 1996 graduate from the University of Auckland and completed his post-graduate 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 10 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 NZAO, CCLSNZ, ACBO and EyePro, as well as a Paralympics NZ VI Classifier.

Board member since 2012

Jennifer qualified as an optometrist in Scotland in 1992, was awarded a PhD in 1995 from Glasgow Caledonian University, and completed her postgraduate ocular therapeutic training in Auckland in 2009.  Jennifer is an Associate Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Auckland.  She teaches both optometry and medical students at undergraduate and postgraduate level, and heads the Ocular Surface Laboratory, conducting and supervising research into aspects of the anterior eye with a particular interest in the tear film and dry eye.  Jennifer regularly delivers continuing education and research lectures nationally and internationally, and publishes in both the scientific and clinical press.  She previously served as a long-standing member of the University of Auckland Human Participants Ethics Committee, latterly as Deputy Chair.  She is currently serving as Vice-Chair, Steering Committee member, and subcommittee Co-Chair for the Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society’s International Dry Eye Workshop II.

Board member since 2014

Ross graduated from the University of Auckland in 1994, obtained his therapeutic qualification in 2008, and became a 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 Optometrist, Marton.

Board member since 2016

Annette Morgan qualified with a Bachelor of Optometry in 1985, and was in the first therapeutics class at the University of Auckland, receiving the TAPIOT in 2004. She was employed in Wellington from graduation until buying her own practice in Paraparaumu in 1990. She now works for Grylls, Keleher and Matthews in Paraparaumu. Annette was a councillor of the New Zealand Association of Optometrists (NZAO) from 1992 until her appointment to the Board, but has been a member of the Council of Optometry Regulatory Authorities (CORA) and its successor the Optometry Council of Australia and New Zealand (OCANZ) for the past 10 or so years so has seen how legislation works to govern patient safety. Annette is looking forward to shifting gear and serving on the Board, balancing the application of her knowledge as an optometrist with the consumer perspective and ensuring protection of the public.

Board member since 2015

Kristine is a dispensing optician at the University of Auckland (UOA) School of Optometry and Vision Science working in the UOA clinics supervising and teaching Part IV and Part V optometry students in optical dispensing.  Prior to this, Kristine spent 5 years working for the Ministry of Social Development primarily as a programme co-ordinator and work broker. During that time, she completed the National Certificate in Public Sector Services Level 4.

Kristine was employed by OPSM from 1993 – 2004, working as a Dispensing Optician, Store Manager and Area Manager. While working for OPSM she gained her Dispensing Opticians qualification from OTEN, Sydney (with distinction), the NZ Institute of Management – Train the Trainer certificate, and the Retail ITO National Certificate.

In 2014, Kristine completed the Association of British Dispensing Opticians fellowship diploma – FBDO O/S.

Board member since 2009

Lorraine has been a Dispensing Optician since qualifying as a Fellow of the Association of Dispensing Opticians through the New Zealand Association of Dispensing Opticians in 1994.  She is presently living in Havelock North and working with Specsavers Hastings.  Lorraine has also completed a Competency Assessment and Training Diploma through OPSM (1998), a Diploma of Refracting Optician at the Northern Albert Institute of Technology, Canada (2002), a Diploma of Retail Studies at Monash University, Australia 1999.  She has also served as Secretary and Treasurer of the Association of Dispensing Opticians New Zealand (2004-2009) and Vice President (1999-2000).

Board member since 2014

Irene is a 6th generation Northlander and lives in Northland in Tutukaka. For 15+ years she has actively been involved in governance and consulting in the private and public sectors. Her background is in the legal field, financial planning, investments, business coaching and business capability assessment. Irene has completed Post-Graduate studies in Health Systems Law, Consumer, Practitioner and Ethics through Otago University, and has a Management Degree and Post-Graduate Diploma in Finance. Irene was awarded NZ Business Woman of the Year in 1998/99, and enjoys sports, reading, travel and time with family.

Board member since 2018

Sean has been involved in statutory regulation, both nationally and internationally, for a number of years.  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 the New Zealand justice sector and international education.  Following this he has held the positions of Executive Director of the professional body for psychologists, the Chief Executive of the New Zealand Social Workers Registration Board and until recently Chief Executive of the Veterinary Council of New Zealand. Sean is a member of the Council for Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation (CLEAR) and in 2016 was elected as a member of the Board of Directors of CLEAR for a two year term. In August 2018 Sean was appointed as General Manager for the New Zealand Playcentre Federation.