MEET OUR SPEAKERS

Dr Kristin Bell is a comprehensive ophthalmologist.

She is the Director of Surgery and Head of the Eye Department at the Royal Hobart Hospital and Chair of the Tasmanian Eye Health Network.

She is the RANZCO Vision 2030 and Beyond Clinical Lead, and chairs the RANZCO Tasmanian Branch, STP, and Regionally Enhanced Training Network Education committees.

She has a strong interest in health advocacy – in particular, fair, and equitable access to health services regardless of postcode, ethnicity, or income.

Dr Bylsma graduated as the top student in his year from the University of Melbourne medical school before training in ophthalmology at The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital in Melbourne. He was the medical retina research fellow in the Centre for Eye Research in Melbourne and subsequently did further post graduate training in the UK in oculoplastics, paediatrics and glaucoma before taking up his current position as consultant ophthalmologist at the Royal Hobart Hospital and in private practice at Hobart Eye Surgeons. He is a supervisor of the ophthalmology surgical trainees at the Royal Hobart Hospital.

On finishing the Sydney Eye Hospital training programme, Craig completed Strabismus and Paediatric ophthalmology fellowship training at Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada. Craig is a senior staff specialist at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead and a visiting medical officer (VMO) at Sydney Eye Hospital and Sydney Children’s Hospital. He is currently head of the Strabismus and Paediatric Unit at Sydney Eye Hospital. From 2012 -2018 he was president of the Australian and New Zealand Strabismus Society. He is RANZCO NSW State Branch Treasurer and a Federal Councillor. Craig has authored numerous journal articles, book chapters and lectured extensively in Australia and internationally.

He was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for services to ophthalmology and medicine and in March 2019 awarded the APAO prevention of blindness award in Asia.

Tim Fricke is an optometrist, researcher and international development practitioner, and is currently Director Research and Education at the Australian College of Optometry and National Vision Research Institute. He has held clinical, teaching, research, management and leadership roles in private, public, community health, hospital and refugee camp settings, including Director of the Brien Holden Foundation. His research has covered paediatric eye care, epidemiology, quality of life, access to eye care, and health economics. He is an honorary senior fellow at the University of Melbourne, and is completing a PhD in ophthalmic epidemiology at UNSW Sydney.

SooJin Nam holds both Bachelor and Masters degrees in optometry from the University of New South Wales and an MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management. One of SooJin's proudest moments was winning the NSW Shell Livewire Business plan competition. This started her journey as a business owner from the age of 25 and is currently an owner of 5 optometry practices. Her primary practice is Eyecare Kids, a paediatric optometry practice in Sydney. Her practices have been the recipient of many business-related awards over the years. Her professional contributions extend beyond her clinics. SooJin has previously served as a children's vision clinical supervisor at UNSW School of Optometry, Treasurer for Optometry NSW/ACT , and a Director of National Eyecare Plus (head office). She participates in the Optometry Australia Community of Practice and Education (COPE) paediatric groups. Currently, she is a member of the Australian Optometric Panel.

Joe is an Optometrist who has worked in the contact lens industry in educational and commercial roles in the UK, Australia and New Zealand.  He has given presentations and workshops on contact lens topics internationally as well as owning businesses involved in contact lens distribution and optometry.  He is a contributing author to the textbook Contact Lens Practice by Nathan Efron and is currently employed as Head of Professional Affairs for CooperVision.