Dr Trevor Gray and Barbara Hare. Credit: Re:Vision

A practice manager for nearly 30 years, Barbara Hare recently retired from Re:Vision, with colleagues organising a grand leaving bash in her honour.

Dr Trevor Gray said he’s been fortunate to have worked with Hare for over a decade. “For more than 13 years, I have had the privilege of working closely with one of New Zealand’s most experienced ophthalmic practice managers. Barbara has a management style increasingly rare these days, which is leading by example. A hard worker second to none and, at the same time, a caring friend to every member of her staff, she was always ready to help out when needed.”

Hare has seen the profession change significantly over three decades, she told NZ Optics on her last working day. “When I started working for GPs in the 1990s and specialists in the 2000s, they relied on the manager to do all segments of management within the practice. This included marketing, administration, HR, practice management systems, reports, financials and so forth. The old one-man-band manager is now replaced with at least four specialised roles to meet the expectations of an evolving industry.”

When asked what aspects of the role she enjoyed most, Hare said her main love was being ‘instrumental’ in the development of two practices and their new fitouts (Remuera and Mt Wellington).

Turning a new page, Hare said she is looking forward to spending more time in her newly built Orakei home, playing tennis and doing hula hooping. “This world is now for the young, vibrant and innovative to take specialists through their next chapters.” Her top advice to young practice managers: “The best asset to any business is it employees. It’s also the hardest part of your role to manage. Be prepared to work alongside, listen, share knowledge and lead by example,” she said.

Hare also expressed warm thanks to Dr Bruce Hadden for his leadership, to “financial whizz” Dr Tony Morris and “mentoring and marketing king” Dr Trevor Gray.