New Zealand dominated Specsavers’ biennial Excellence Awards, held at the ICC in Sydney’s Darling Harbour in early March.

In front of more than 800 Specsavers’ partners, head office staff and special guests, Specsavers Hastings, Whanganui and Mt Manganui, stepped up to the winners’ podium taking home awards for excellence in customer service, team culture, community support and dispensing. Hastings’ partnership team, optometrist Niall McCormack and retail director Jenny Dobson, were nominated for three awards and won three awards, Whanganui’s optometrist Ian Russell and retail partner Murray Ehlers took home New Zealand store of the year and overall performance, while last year’s New Zealand winner, Mt Maunganui’s optometrist Ian Buchanan and dispensing partner Clare Hodge, were recognised for team culture.

Guest MCs, comedians Hamish Blake and Andy Lee, best known in Australia for their radio show, The Hamish & Andy Show, and their television work as correspondents on Rove, kept the atmosphere upbeat throughout the evening. On the night, Specsavers partners also pledged $127,500 to Vision Australia, New Zealand’s Blind Foundation and Better Hearing Australia.

The celebratory night was themed to recognise Sydney’s gay pride Mardi Gras, taking place at the same time, and was the culmination of a full day of partnership seminars and runway shows to introduce partners to new frame ranges. So, it wasn’t surprising the dance floor quickly filled at the end of the awards, as attendees let their hair down to Abba tribute band, Bjorn Again.

Specsavers 2019 Excellence Awards

• Excellence in Customer Service: Specsavers Hastings, NZ
• Graduate Great Place to Work: Specsavers Salamander Bay, NSW
• Excellence in Team Culture: Specsavers Mt Maunganui, NZ
• Excellence in the Community: Specsavers Hastings, NZ
• Dispensing Excellence: Specsavers Hastings, NZ and Specsavers Success WA (Joint winners)
• Excellence in Partnership Support: Steve Kolokithas (Regional Relationship Manager, VIC/TAS)
• Excellence in Integration of Audiology: Specsavers Rockingham, WA and Specsavers Burwood, NSW (Joint winners)
• Excellence in Overall Performance: Mornington, VIC (Australia) and Whanganui, NZ (New Zealand)
• Audiology Business of the Year: My Phuong Lam (Specsavers Burwood and Specsavers Leichhardt, NSW)
• New Zealand Store of the Year: Whanganui, NZ
• Australian Store of the Year: Mornington, VIC