Specsavers’ 2025 Dame Mary Perkins Award for Outstanding Patient Care will be judged by a panel comprising Chrissie Cowan, Co-Chair of Eye Health Aotearoa and CEO of Kāpō Māori Aotearoa; Carly Iles, CEO of Vision 2020 Australia; and Ross Piper, CEO of The Fred Hollows Foundation.
The award, named in honour of Specsavers’ co-founder Dame Mary Perkins, celebrates optometrists who demonstrate exceptional dedication to patient care – recognising not only sight-saving interventions but also the everyday acts of compassion and clinical excellence that make a lasting impact on patients’ lives.
Unlike awards that focus solely on the severity of ocular conditions, the Dame Mary Perkins Award is designed to celebrate the human side of optometry. It honours examples of great care, whether they involve life-changing diagnoses or small but meaningful gestures that reflect an optometrist’s commitment to their patients. The judging process centres on the quality of care delivered, the dedication shown, and the positive outcomes achieved.
Ms Cowan, a respected advocate for Māori health, expressed her pride in being invited to judge the award.
“As a descendant of Ngāti Kahungunu/Ngāti Porou Iwi and Chief Executive of Kāpō Māori Aotearoa, I am deeply honoured to be invited to serve as a judge for the Dame Mary Perkins Award,” she said.
“This award shines a light on those who are transforming lives through eye health, a kaupapa that aligns with our collective commitment to equity and access – especially for Māori and underserved communities. I welcome this opportunity to support and celebrate leadership in our sector, and to further strengthen the relationship between Eye Health Aotearoa and Specsavers,” she said.
Now in her third year as a judge, Ms Iles said the process “has become a part of the year that I look forward to”.
“It’s a great way to recognise those who truly make a difference. It’s a privilege to be part of a process that celebrates compassion, clinical excellence, and the power of patient-centred care,” she said.
It’s a privilege to be part of a process that celebrates compassion, clinical excellence, and the power of patient-centred care.
Mr Piper echoed the importance of recognising those who are driving change in eye health.
“This award is a testament to the dedication of optometrists who are improving lives every day. It’s an honour to join the judging panel and support an initiative that not only celebrates individual achievement but also reinforces our shared mission to eliminate avoidable blindness and promote health equity,” he said.
Nominations for the 2025 Dame Mary Perkins Award have now closed with winners to be announced at the Specsavers Clinical Conference in Melbourne in September.
