Dr. Glen T. Steele is a Professor of Pediatric Optometry at Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, TN with primary work in the Pediatric Clinic. Following graduation, he completed an optometric fellowship at the Gesell Institute of Child Development. He served as Pediatric Clinic Chief of Service for 25 years at the Southern College of Optometry. He is involved with the American Optometric Association’s InfantSEE and Children’s Vision Committee, previously serving as Chair. He served as president of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development and the Optometric Extension Program Foundation. In 2019, he was inducted into the National Optometry Hall of Fame. For the past 15 years, his work has been focused on infant vision development and the manner in which vision links are so intricately involved in overall development.

Following a 1st class Optometry degree from Manchester, a pre-registration year at Moorfield’s Eye Hospital, London, a PhD at Cardiff University and a clinical/research fellowship at the University of Melbourne, Australia, Professor Wolffsohn was appointed by Aston University in 2000, where he was Head of Optometry 2004-9 and Deputy Executive Dean for Life and Health Sciences 2009-16, being awarded a personal Chair in 2007. He is now associate Pro-Vice Chancellor. James has published over 265 peer reviewed academic papers and given numerous international presentations. His main research areas are the development and evaluation of ophthalmic instrumentation, contact lenses, intraocular lenses, and the tear film. He is the academic Chair of the British Contact Lens Association, having been a past president, was a harmonizer and sub-committee chair for TFOS DEWS II and joint-Chair of the International Myopia Institute reports, and was chair of the BCLA Contact Lens Evidence-based Academic Reports (CLEAR).

Caroline Blackie currently serves as a Senior Medical Director at Johnson and Johnson Vision (JJV). Caroline joined Johnson and Johnson Vision after 12 years with TearScience where she worked in clinical development and led the medical affairs function to support the launch of the entire TearScience portfolio. Along this journey, Caroline became an internationally recognized clinical and scientific expert in the field of dry eye with specific focus on meibomian gland dysfunction. Passionate about the patient experience, she has also accrued approximately 20 years of direct patient care experience in her career. Her years in direct clinical care fuel her desire to elevate and transform the standard of care towards a more proactive approach to the health of the ocular surface.

Dr. Senol Demircan currently serves as the International Therapeutic Area Director (Medical Affairs) supporting the Vision Care and Ocular Health Franchise at Alcon. Within this role, Senol focuses on guiding clinical data generation efforts around Dry Eye Disease and solutions provided by Alcon, within international markets. He has both led and co-led many award winning projects within Alcon, purely focusing on the endpoint of helping patients to see better. Senol obtained his Medical Doctorate degree from the Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine in Ankara, Turkey. Currently residing in Switzerland, he is also an avid artificial intelligence and block chain enthusiast.

Dr. Richard Maharaj is the current medical director for eyeLABS Center for Ocular Surface Disease a leading specialty eye care and research facility in Brampton, Ontario. He obtained his Doctor of Optometry from the University of Waterloo School of Optometry and is an active Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry. He is a clinical adjunct faculty for the University of Waterloo School of Optometry, the Canadian Association of Optometrists Section Chair for Ocular Surface Disease, Editorial Board Member for The Journal of Dry Eye and Ocular Surface Disease, and Chief Education Officer at MyDryEye.ca and co-founder for the Canadian Dry Eye Summit – a national conference dedicated to educating eye doctors in the area of dry eye disease management. In 2018, he was honored as one of the Top 40 Canadian Optometrists under 40 by Johnson and Johnson Vision Care. As a published international speaker and clinical scientist on diseases of the ocular surface and the psychology of health care, he remains an active member of both national and international professional associations.

Over the 26 years since graduating from Queensland University of Technology with a Bachelor of Applied Science (Optometry), Melinda’s career has been varied, practicing in the public sector, private practice, university clinics and in corporate settings, in roles ranging from clinical, managerial to educator. During this time Melinda developed a special interest in ocular diseases, ocular therapeutics, evidence-based practice and public health optometry. Melinda has also gained the following qualifications: post-graduate Master of Optometry, Master of Business Administration, Graduate Certificate of Ocular Therapeutics and Certificate of Public Health and Eyecare Leadership. Melinda is currently a PhD candidate investigating the quality and safety of glaucoma care delivery by Australian optometrists. Melinda has been an OQNT board director since 2015 and was President from 2017 – 2020.