AOP Awards 2019

Voting in the AOP Awards 2019 has now closed. The winners of will be announced at the Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony in London on Sunday 13 January 2019. For more information on the ceremony and to book your tickets please visit the AOP Awards event page. 

The headline sponsor for this year's Awards is Cooper Vision.

SHORTLISTED NOMINEES

Audiology Practice of the Year

The Audiology Practice of the Year will be able to demonstrate how they have successfully integrated hearing care into their practice, to complement their eye care services. Nominees will be able to outline the benefits that this supplementary service has brought to their patients, staff and the practice. 

Shortlisted nominees:

• Malmo Hearing and Davies & Jones Optometrists
• The Outside Clinic

Charity of the Year

This award recognises charities from all corners of the eye health sector, including those who are dedicated to research, raising awareness of optical issues, or supporting people with vision impairments. Nominees for of this award will be able to evidence an outstanding and successful initiative from the past 12 months, which demonstrates innovations in research, education, campaigning or profile-raising activities. 

Shortlisted nominees:

• Friends of Moorfields
• KVIN
• Second Sight

Contact Lens Practitioner of the Year

With a full grasp of product range and innovation, the 'Contact Lens Practitioner of the Year' will be a champion for contact lens wear in the practice and beyond. Nominees will be able to demonstrate how they have expanded the presence of contact lenses within the practice, and, through their promotion, have seen the sale of lenses grow. 

Shortlisted nominees:

• Bhavin Shah
• Iain Johnson
• Patti Cranton
• Roger Smyth

Dispensing Optician of the Year

The 'DO of the Year' will have an encyclopaedic lens knowledge, which they have utilised to find creative solutions for patients’ individual needs. Nominees will be able to demonstrate a dedication to keeping up-to-date with new innovations in frames and lenses, and can show evidence of their leadership within the practice, supporting colleagues and promoting eye health. 

Shortlisted nominees:

• Russell Ham
• Sue Edwards
• Tanja White

Frame of the Year (AOP member-only vote)

Entries are invited for a frame brought to market in the last three years (at the time of application submission) that has had a significant impact upon the wearer and the dispensing practice or practitioner. The impact could have been aesthetic, emotional or financial in nature. The design might be broad in appeal, forward-thinking in style or innovative in material. It might be the pioneer of a whole new trend phenomenon. The way in which it was marketed and presented to the profession and to a wider audience might also be considered. The judge will welcome samples, case studies or measures of its success. 

Shortlisted nominees:

• Bondeye Optical
• Eyespace Eyewear
• International Eyewear
• Lio
• Millmead Optical Group
• Silhouette UK

This category is voted for by AOP members only. Voting opened on 1 November - members will receive an email from Mi Voice with information on how to vote.

Lecturer of the Year

Recognising teaching at the highest level, nominees will be able to demonstrate a commitment to dynamic and informative teaching methods, which inspire clinical excellence amongst students. Showing great pastoral care, in addition to academic inspiration, nominees will have a lasting positive impact on students.  

Shortlisted nominees:

• Gus Gazzard
• Peter Campbell
• Stephanie Mroczkowska

Lifetime Achievement Award

The Lifetime Achievement Award recognises a person who has dedicated their career to promoting and expanding the role of optics, or who has brought the benefits of optics to a wider audience. The recipient will have a demonstrable and wide-reaching impact on the profession.

The Lifetime Achievement Award is selected by an AOP panel, including our Chief Executive and Chair. 

Locum of the Year

The winner of the new Locum of the Year Award will demonstrate a drive and commitment to enhancing their clinical skills for the benefit of patients. Nominees will be able to evidence their wider contribution to the profession, through their leadership skills, mentoring of peers, teaching experience, research activity, or holding a key ancillary role within the sector

Shortlisted nominees:

• Jason Searle
• Kristen (Kris) James Cottier
• Dr Valarie Jerome

Newly-qualified Optometrist of the Year

Nominees will be optometrists who have been qualified for up to three years (from their date of registration on the GOC list at the time of application submission) who have launched themselves into the early years of their career with enthusiasm and professionalism. Going above and beyond their day job, this optometrist will be able to demonstrate a keen interest in the profession in its wider context.  

Shortlisted nominees:

• Hamza Mussa
• Joseph Ong
• Mohammad Zahid Bashir

Optical Team of the Year

This Award will go to an optical team dedicated to delivering the best possible patient experience in the practice. Nominees will be able to demonstrate interest in furthering the eye care knowledge of the team, including taking an interest in the technology available in the practice. The winning team will provide outstanding support to both patients and colleagues, while providing unique, bespoke customer service.  

Shortlisted nominees:

• Andrew and Rogers Optometrists
• Cameron Optometry
• Eglinton Eyecare
• Parker & Hammond Opticians

Optometrist of the Year

This award will recognise an optometrist who has combined a commitment to patient care with hands-on clinical expertise. Nominees will be leading figures in their community practice or in a hospital setting, and will demonstrate their support for the development of colleagues. A team player within the wider optical community, the winner of this award will also play a role in initiatives designed to support the profession. 

Shortlisted nominees:

• David Barker
• Martin Smith
• Michael O'Kane

Practice of the Year

This award will go to a practice, either multiple, franchise or independent, that can demonstrate clinical excellence and a strong emphasis on the patient journey. Nominees will have engaged in educating patients and the wider community about eye health, along with showing a flair for products and services, and an emphasis on looking after every patient on an individual basis.

Shortlisted nominees:

• Buchanan Optometrists
• Martin Smith Opticians
• Valli Opticians (Hebden Bridge)

Product of the Year

This award is for a product brought to market in the last three years (at the time of application submission). This category seeks to highlight organisations that have identified new products and successfully brought them to market or adapted an existing product for a new market. Entrants must be able to clearly demonstrate that there was a demand for the innovation and that the innovation has proved successful in line with the objectives set.

Shortlisted nominees:

• Carl Zeiss Vision UK Ltd
• Cerium Visual Technologies Ltd
• Essilor Ltd
• OrCam Technologies

This category is voted for by AOP members only. Voting opened on 1 November - members will receive an email from Mi Voice with information on how to vote. 

Student of the Year

This award will recognise an optometry student, dispensing optician student or pre-registration optometrist who can demonstrate initiative and drive to improve their fellow students’ participation in, and awareness of, optical issues. Nominees will be able to demonstrate a passion for the profession and evidence of their status as ‘an optical leader of the future’.  

Shortlisted nominees:

• Luke McRoy-jones
• Melissa Nelson
• Raven Sinnathamby