2026 Optometric Leaders’ Forum
List of participants by Association
AAO
Dr. Sophia Leung
President
Dr. Cristy Franco
President-Elect
Dr. Gabrielle Betts
Chief Executive Officer
Alberta College of Optometrists
Dr. Kim Bugera
Registrar
Dr. Michelle Duke
President
Dr. Jonathan Akle
President Elect
Alcon Canada
Vanessa Johari Hansen
Country Business Unit Head, Vision Care
Gordon Petrovic
Senior Manager, Strategic Market Access
Association des optométristes du Québec
Dr Patrick Sauvageau
Vice-président
Me Maryse Nolin
Directrice générale
Bausch + Lomb
Joanne Gourgouvelis
National Medical Affairs Lead
Sindi Skenderi
Senior Manager, Marketing Rx
BC Doctors of Optometry
Dr. Evelyn Lo
President
Dr. Brent Allen
Vice President
Kathryn Bell
Chief Executive Officer
CAO
Dr. Allison Scott
President
Dr. Surjinder Sahota
Vice-President, BC Representative
Dr. Martin Spiro
Past-President
Dr. Troy Brady
Secretary-Treasurer, AB Representative
Dr. Devan Trischuk
SK Representative
Dr. Tanya Dillon
MB Representative
Dr. Krista Bruni
ON Representative
Dr. Audrey Daoust
QC Representative
Dr. Bronwyn Mulherin
NB Representative
Dr. Mark Kepes
NS Representative
Dr. Jessica Wood
PEI Representative
Dr. Trudy Metlcafe
NL Representative
Joelle Walker
Chief Executive Officer
François Couillard
Retired Chief Executive Officer
Mélanie Bérubé
Director of Professional Development and Member Services
Ibrahim Daibes
Director of Policy and Research
Bonnie Kirkwood
Director of Advocacy and Government Relations
Julie Vanghelder
Director of Communications and Marketing
Jeanne Franche
Director of Finance and Operations
Sophie Lalonde
Executive Assistant
Radiyyah Karodia
Policy Analyst
Louise Crawford
Manager, Vision at Work
Catherine Heinmiller
Communications Coordinator
Victoria Guay
Communications Coordinator
CAOS, University of Waterloo
Abarnaa Arithas
President
Elisa Haley
President Elect
CAOS-ACÉO, Université de Montréal
Mélissa Raouli
Présidente
Evelyne Bérubé
Vice-présidente
Canadian College of Specialties in Optometry
Dr. Nasir Khan
Director
Canadian Journal of Optometry
Dr. Ralph Chou
Editor-in-chief
Canadian New OD's
Dr. Wynn Nguyen
Co-founder
Canadian Optometric Education Trust Fund (COETF)
Dr. Joshua Smith
Chair
College of Health and Care Professionals of BC
Christine Smerdon
Director, Licensure
Susan Paul
Regulatory Transformation Advisor, Quality Practice
College of Optometrists of Ontario
Dr. Mark Eltis
President
Dr. Abraham Yuen
Vice-President
Joe Jamieson
Registrar and CEO
CooperVision
Enrique Contreras
President, Country Manager
EssilorLuxottica Canada
Bruce Miles
General manager, Professional Solutions, Canada and Head of HumanWare
Simon Robert
Senior Director, Corporate Affairs and Strategic Partnerships
Eye Recommend
Dr. Colin Hobson
Board Chair
FORAC
Dr. Paul Chris
Executive Director
Fyidoctors
Dr. Al Ulsifer
Chair and CEO
Dr. Frédéric Marchand
Vice President, Visique, BonLook and Retail Optical Business Units
IRIS the Visual Group
Dr. Daryan Angle
Executive Vice President
Dr. David Schwirtz
Vice President, Innovation
Johnson&Johnson
Marcus Savoi
General Manager
Martha Kubarakos
Manager, Professional Education (Canada)
Manitoba Association of Optometrists
Dr. Averi Van Dam
President
Dr. Trent Turner
Vice-President
Sheila Bellido
Executive Director
Dr. Derek Papegnies
Registrar
Dr. Madilyn Kevany
Assistant Registrar
New Brunswick Association of Optometrists
Dr. Jason Larocque
President
Dr. Jeff Clarke
Vice-President
Dr. Louiselle St-Amand
Registrar
Dr. Jenna Etsell
Assistant Registrar
Darian Allen
Executive Director
Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Optometrists
Dr. Stephanie Powell Jenkins
President
Lisa Pike
Executive Director
Newfoundland and Labrador College of Optometrists
Dr. Justin Boulay
Registrar
Dr. Claire Halleran
Chair
Nova Scotia Association of Optometrists
Dr. Chelsea Kayed
Acting Vice President
Dr. Sarah J. Knox
Treasurer
Andrea Edwards
Associate Executive Director
Nova Scotia College of Optometrists
Dr. Sheldon Pothier
Registrar
Dr. Raman Parkash
Chairperson
Kevin Mitchell
Executive Director
Ontario Association of Optometrists
Dr. Shaina Nensi
President
Dr. Virginia Donati
Vice-President
Mark Donnison
Chief Executive Officer
Optometry Examining Board of Canada (OEBC)
Kim Allen
Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Léo Breton
Director
Dr. John Wilson
Director
Dr. Patrick Quaid
Director
Ordre des optométristes du Québec
Me Marco Laverdière
Directeur général et Secrétaire
Dr Éric Poulin
Président
Dre Rachel Turcotte
Vice-présidente
Claudine Champagne
Directrice adjointe
OSI Group
Patrice Lacoste
President & CEO
Monique Abitbol
National Business Development Director
Prince Edward Island Association of Optometrists
Dr. Alanna Stetson
President
Dr. Alycia Cooper
Vice President
Prince Edward Island College of Optometrists
Dr. Kelly Bowes
Registrar
Dr. Sarah Anstey
Assistant Registrar
Saskatchewan Association of Optometrists
Dr. Heather Hunter
President
Dr. Jake Kelly
Vice-President
Dr. Rachel Berger
Registrar
Suzanne Berg
Executive Director
Université de Montréal, École d’optométrie
Dr Jean-François Bouchard
Directeur
UWaterloo School of Optometry & Vision Science
Dr. Ben Thompson
Director
Dr. Lisa Christian
Associate Director
Vision Therapy Canada
Dr. Tedra Kindopp
President
Dr. Kristel Jefferies
Vice-President
WCO
Dr. Michael Nelson
Geographic Representative for North America