The regional optical fair battle reached a head at the end of last year with O=MEGA19 - replacing the biennial Optical Distributors & Manufacturers Association of Australia (ODMA) fair - issuing statements promoting its achievements and speaker list and Silmo Sydney, run by ODMA’s former event organiser, Expertise Events, cancelling its 2019 show.
In a letter to exhibitors, Expertise Events’ managing director Gary Fitz-Roy said he had cancelled the 2019 event after failing to reach some sort of compromise with ODMA on a range of options. “As you can imagine, a decision of this magnitude was not reached easily. ODMA and some others may see this as a win but we certainly are not looking at it in terms of us winning or losing. We are doing what we think ODMA should be doing as an industry association should do and putting your interests first. We will run in 2020 instead.”
ODMA chair Rob Sparkes and CEO Finola Carey refused to comment on Fitz-Roy’s comments, Silmo Sydney or what this might mean for its ‘in-between’ biennial, boutique O-Show in 2020, and if this might be held in Sydney now O=MEGA19 is committed to Melbourne.
“O=MEGA19 will be a unifying event for every sector of optics from optometry, dispensing, ophthalmology, orthoptics and retail, occupying 10,000 sqm of exhibition space,” said Carey. “The gamut of exhibitors is wide with platinum sponsor Bausch & Lomb and diamond sponsor Alcon being joined by loyal exhibitors of many years. We welcome back Maui Jim to its biggest ever exhibition footprint and are pleased to have every category of product and service an eyecare practitioner could require represented.”
O=MEGA19, a joint initiative between Optometry Victoria (newly merged with Optometry South Australia) and ODMA, replaces the previous ODMA fairs and Optometry Victoria’s popular, Southern Regional Conference (SRC).
