Appointments in September

Eye Institute

Eye Institute’s most recent addition is Dr Divya Perumal, a New Zealand-trained ophthalmologist specialising in glaucoma and cataract surgery. As a former optometrist and vision scientist, Dr Perumal has a unique perspective on eye health.

Dr Perumal pursued an honours degree in optometry from the University of Auckland where she was awarded the Senior Scholarship Award for best overall performance in optometry (2004) and was actively involved in preparation of the Manual of Ocular Therapeutics for the Postgraduate Diploma in Ocular Therapeutics, the first of its kind for therapeutic optometrists in New Zealand.

Inspired by mentors in ophthalmology, including Professor Charles McGhee, she decided to study medicine at the University of Auckland where she was awarded the Calvin Ring Prize for Clinical Ophthalmology, for the best performance in her field. She was also subsequently awarded the Arthur Thomas Paterson Scholarship in Ophthalmology. Dr Perumal recently returned to New Zealand, with the goal of offering the best treatment options to her patients.

Professor Helen Danesh-Meyer said she’s happy to welcome Dr Perumal onboard: “Eye Institute is very excited to have someone as exceptionally trained as Dr Perumal join our team. Divya combines academic excellence with a depth and breadth of clinical glaucoma experience. Her vivacious and caring personality makes her the ideal glaucoma specialist.”

Independent Optometry Group

Campbell Wiltshire has joined the Independent Optometry Group as business development and marketing manager. Neil Human, CEO, says he is very excited to have Campbell on board: “We are moving strongly to cloud-based solutions, allowing practices to reduce their administrative load to free up time to focus on what is really important - their patients. Campbell has a unique set of skills and insights which will facilitate the development and implementation of our business programmes and his worth to the group is already evident.” Wiltshire said he’s very much looking forward to getting to know IOG stakeholders and working with them.

CR Surfacing Laboratories

Linton Dodge, general manager of CR Surfacing Laboratories, is thrilled to welcome Sahara Elpitiya on board as the New Zealand business development manager.

Sahara is from Melbourne and has recently moved across permanently to Christchurch to pursue her career in optics. Sahara has studied in Melbourne obtaining her qualification as an Optical Dispenser at RMIT University and is completing a Bachelor of Business and Accounting Degree at Swinburne University. Sahara has a rich background in optics and account management and has been in the field for over 10 years. She has worked with several other optical companies prior to joining CR Surfacing.

Alcon (Surgical)

Domonique Roach has been appointed head of marketing for Alcon’s surgical division for Australia and New Zealand.

Formerly director of Baxter Healthcare’s Advanced Surgery division, Domonique spent 10 years at Baxter and seven years with Johnson and Johnson Medical before that, so she’s excited to join a company dedicated to one surgical speciality, she said, adding though she’s new to ophthalmology, she’s not to medical devices.

“We all cherish our vision and our family’s vision and so it is exciting to be working in this field with a company that is really making advances in caring for patients’ sight.”

It’s also a particularly exciting time to be joining Alcon, as the surgical division is launching a number of new and technologically-advanced products, like Clareon AutonoMe which has just been released, as well as a strong pipeline of products to come, she said.