Specsavers has unveiled the judging panel for the 2026 Dame Mary Perkins Award for Outstanding Patient Care, bringing together three influential leaders in eye health across Australia and New Zealand to spotlight the stories that truly define exceptional care.
This year’s panel of judges comprises Dr Justin Mora, who sits on the board of Eye Health Aotearoa, co-leads the NZ National Eye Health Clinical Network and is also chair of the RANZCO Māori and Pasifika Eye Health Committee; Graham Perrett, chair of Vision 2020 and former member of the Australian House of Representatives; and Mark Nevin, CEO of Optometry Australia.
Named in honour of Specsavers’ co-founder Dame Mary Perkins, the award celebrates optometrists who go above and beyond, not just in sight-saving interventions, but in the everyday moments of compassion, clinical excellence and human connection that leave a lasting impression on patients’ lives, Specsavers said.
Optometry plays a critical role on the frontline of healthcare and has the potential to address persistent inequities in eye health outcomes, Dr Mora said. “Across Aotearoa and even in Australia, we continue to see disparities in eye health outcomes that should not exist in a modern healthcare system. Frontline optometrists are uniquely placed to identify issues early, connect patients into the broader health system and ultimately change the trajectory of someone’s health. This award is important because it recognises those practitioners who understand that bigger picture and are committed to delivering care that makes a real difference, not just for individuals, but across communities.”
Nominations for the 2026 Dame Mary Perkins Award are open for Specsavers optometrists, with winners to be announced at the Specsavers Clinical Conference on the Gold Coast 12–13 September 2026.
