Damehood for visionary ophthalmology leader

Starting out, there were very few women in senior roles in ophthalmology, Prof Danesh-Meyer said. “What was immediately clear, however, was that talent was abundant. The problem was never capability – it was visibility, access and the absence of clear pathways into research and leadership.”

While women are now better represented in training and early career stages, they remain under-represented in senior academic, leadership and decision-making roles, she said. “Recognition at this level helps to normalise women’s presence in those spaces and, importantly, shifts expectations about who is seen as a leader. If this recognition helps accelerate that shift, then it has served a purpose beyond the individual.”

Legacy of advocacy and service honoured

Eye Health Aotearoa co-chair Chrissie Cowan (Ngāti Kahungunu, Rangitāne, Ngāti Porou) is also on the 2026 honours list. She is now an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for services to Māori, particularly blind and low-vision people.

“This honour is an affirmation that the voices of not only myself but those who have supported me to this point, those who came before me and whom I work with currently, are making a difference,” Cowan said. “For me [this work] is about our future generations, my daughter, my mokopuna and my whānau. An Aotearoa, where they are thriving, confidently accessing eye health services and support before, rather than at, a time of crisis. An Aotearoa, where my mokopuna can stand with two feet on the land, proud of their rich heritage, pursue their dreams and celebrate the achievements of their nana and ancestors.”

At the helm of Kāpō Māori Aotearoa (KMA) since 2011, Cowan has made significant contributions to initiatives aimed at supporting tāngata whaikaha* Māori to live self-determined and fulfilling lives, the nomination read. In 2022, Cowan spearheaded the partnership between RANZCO and KMA to address disparities in Māori eye health.

Throughout her career, Cowan has championed culturally responsive and inclusive approaches to service delivery and has served as a member of the Whānau Ora Transformation Group and chair of Access Alliance (a coalition advocating for accessibility laws). She advocated for the introduction of the Accessibility for New Zealanders Bill and was a key witness for the Wai 2109 Kāpō Māori claim before the Waitangi Tribunal.

On the global stage, Cowan recently presented at the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness conference in Kathmandu and is on the Aotearoa Independent Monitoring Mechanism for the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

*People of strength/enabled people