Alisha Walker (right)

Johnson & Johnson Vision’s professional affairs manager and optometrist Dr Emma Gillies was manning the J&J Vision stand to explain the benefits of Acuvue Oasys 1-Day, and its unique Hydraluxe technology, and introduce new recruit Alisha Walker.

A trained dispensing optician, Walker was formerly employed by Paterson Burn optometrists in Auckland before joining J&J Vision in August last year. A 20-year veteran in New Zealand’s optometry industry, she says she’s greatly enjoying her new role as a J&J customer development manager in New Zealand, especially as it allows her to travel around the country and share some of the skills she’s learnt managing different practices.

“It’s more than just a sales role, it’s about business support. I bring a lot of frontline understanding about the challenges of growing and maintaining a practice’s success, which involves everything from staff training and discussing the right language to use for patients to helping optometrists identify opportunities to maintain and improve their patient database.”

Dr Gillies says she’s also delighted to have Walker on board. “Alisha brings a breadth of experience and level of enthusiasm to the role which is refreshing and I just know she’s going to do very well in the New Zealand industry.”