Recognising the importance of the dispensing optician (DO), the International Opticians’ Association (IOA)/Silmo International Optician of the Year Award is open for nominations.  

Fiona Anderson, president of the IOA said, “We are delighted to launch the award again in 2021. The calibre of previous entrants and winners has been astonishing, and we hope this year continues to highlight the skills and talents of opticians from around the world. We eagerly await this year’s entrants and are excited to review the applications from outstanding opticians worldwide.”  

As well as being a qualified DO in their country of practice, the winner’s qualities will include being a champion of the DO profession and possessing excellent communication skills, entrepreneurial spirit and creativity.  

IOA members, country members and industry partners may nominate DOs worldwide. Nominees will be contacted and asked to fill in a dossier. A shortlist of up to four nominees will be presented, with the winner announced at Silmo d’Or in Paris 24-27 September 2021.   

Nominations should be sent to Elaine Grisdale at elainegrisdale@yahoo.co.uk before 7 May 2021, including a paragraph stating how the person embodies Silmo’s and IOA’s criteria.  

The prize includes economy flights and two nights’ four-star hotel accommodation, a VIP Silmo pass and invitation to the Silmo d'Or ceremony in 2022. For more, www.ioassn.org/award