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Board of Directors

All Optometry Queensland Northern Territory’s decisions are directed by our board. Our board consists of practising optometrists who are appointed by our members at the Annual General Meeting.

We take pride in our board which represents the diversity of our membership, and we intentionally appoint optometrists to the OQNT board so that our members can be assured that each decision is made based on the most beneficial outcome for them.

Additionally, our board’s wide-ranging experience spans across working in metro and regional practice, remote and Indigenous care, teaching, business-ownership, and working as an employee optometrist or franchisee. What they all have in common is a shared passion and vision for our profession, working tirelessly to ensure optometry in Queensland and the Northern Territory continues to prosper and our members are always looked after.

You can contact any director at any time to discuss Optometry Queensland Northern Territory business and to share ideas. Please email our office and we will happily forward your query to the most appropriate board member.

President & Director

Nancy Atkinson

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Tel: 07 3839 4411 Email: executiveassistant@optometry.org.au

Nancy is the current President of OQNT. She has over 25 years of clinical experience is all areas of optometry. She has worked in both rural and metropolitan practice and now owns her own practice in Toowong, Brisbane. Nancy completed her Bachelor of Applied Science (Optometry) and Grad Cert (Ocular Therapeutics) at QUT and later completed a Master of Business Administration and Sports Vision Accreditation. She has served on the Optometrists Board of Queensland and the Board of Royal Blind Foundation and is a former Director of the Optometrists Association of Australia QLD/NT, having served as President in 2003-2004. She was also a committee member for the Queensland Vision Initiative for 2 years and served on the Registration and Notification Committee for the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (APHRA) for 10 years, which is responsible for registering optometrists in Australia.

She also has a son who is studying optometry so has a strong interest in the current and future needs of optometrists.

Director

Andrew Christiansen

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Tel: Email: executiveassistant@optometry.org.au

My name is Andy, and I have been a practising optometrist for 30 years and the owner and director of a busy clinically focused regional practice in Bundaberg with four consulting rooms. I have completed a Masters of Philosophy through QUT focusing on ocular allergies. In the past I have also attained a Masters in Health Science (QUT) to broaden my knowledge of the Australian health sector, and the Postgrad in Ocular Therapeutics (QUT). Currently I am undertaking a PhD (QUT) researching corporatisation, emerging technologies and the influences these can have on the ethical framework of our profession.

I believe the public perception of our profession should be enhanced further and I want to be involved in the continued progression of optometry in Australia.

I have a lovely wife with whom I also work with and two beautiful high-school age children (and a small fluffy dog). When I have spare time I enjoy hiking, guitar, playing soccer and snowboarding.

Memberships: - Optometry Association of Australia, Dry Eye Society Australia, Australasian Association of Bioethics and Health Law, Clinical Ethics Society of Australasia, and the Australian College of Optometry.

Director

Michael Kightley

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Tel: Email: executiveassistant@optometry.org.au

A seasoned Executive and Non-Executive Board Director, Chair, Managing Director, and Chief Executive Officer, with over 30 years experience within the Not for Profit (NFP), Financial Services, Insurance, Governance, and Consultancy sectors.

Michael recently completed 13 years with Guide Dogs Queensland as a Board Director and as CEO. Over this period, Guide Dogs Queensland revised their constitution twice, commissioned a full independent governance review, and four new strategic plans.

His experience includes five years as an Executive Director on the board of Budget Direct (an APRA regulated national Financial Institution and major challenger brand) and related companies (Compare the Market, Auto & General Training Services, Australian Insurance Holdings). Budget Direct is part of the international Budget group, which is the largest privately owned Insurance Intermediary in the UK. Michael initially held the role of Client Acquisition Board Director and subsequently Strategic Alliances Board Director.

Michael’s previous roles include four years as an Associate Director of Amplifi Governance in Brisbane, and nine years at Deloitte with three years as Sales Director in Sydney, Managing Director of Williams Design, a large Sydney design and advertising agency; Non-Executive Director of WDA Group; Managing Director of Kerfield Consulting, an investment and commercial property development company; Non-Executive Director of Kerfield Properties and 12 years senior and general management experience with Standard Bank and Investec Bank.

He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD) and completed the AICD directors’ course in 2012 (GAICD) and regularly attends relevant AICD, NDIS and NFP professional development courses, events and the annual Australian Governance Summit, Fundraising Institute of Australia and NDIS annual conferences.

Acknowledgement of Country

In the spirit of reconciliation Optometry Australia acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.