One of the most high profile figures in the Australian optometry profession – Greg Johnson, the CEO of the Optometry Association of Australia’s Queensland and Northern Territory division – has announced his resignation.
After 11 years and two months in the job, he says it is “simply time to move on”.
Mr. Johnson, who lives in Toowoomba and commuted the 100 plus kilometres to the OAA’s headquarters in Brisbane’s Spring Hill, will be taking up a position as the Chief Executive Officer of the Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
It is anticipated that the name of his replacement at the helm of the OAA QLD/NT will be announced within the next week.
I think for the people that employed me, therapeutics was probably the main goal. I spent 10 years of my life … but now that’s finally been achieved
Mr. Johnson said while he was excited about his future, “the saddest thing is leaving the hundreds and hundreds of people I’m in contact with” in the optometry profession.
After emailing members about his departure, and thanking them for their “fantastic support”, Mr. Johnson said he was touched by the response.
“I got 150 emails last night and some of them just make you want to cry. But nothing is forever. I’m very excited (about the new job) and very excited about the new challenges before me,” Mr. Johnson said.
Mr. Johnson, who has been a regular contributor to mivision magazine, said one of the highlights of his time at the OAA has been the ability to communicate with OAA members.
“Working at the OAA is really a seven day a week job, 24 hours a day and I chose to communicate with members … when you’re engaging members in one-on-one conversations, that takes a lot of time.”Mr. Johnson said he had been given a number of goals when he started with the OAA and all of those had been achieved during the past 11 years.
“I think for the people that employed me, therapeutics was probably the main goal. I spent 10 years of my life … but now that’s finally been achieved,” Mr. Johnson said.
He also listed the “development of our various meetings” as an achievement of which he was proud, saying they had started out as small groups of people and a handful of trade companies.
“I also leave knowing that we have good relationships with our members, with government and with the opposition and with a range of other stakeholders and organisations,” Mr. Johnson said.