Silmo IOA Award shortlist revealed

Finalist April Petrusma of Australia

The shortlist has been announced for the Silmo IOA International Optician of the Year Award 2022, to be announced at this year’s Silmo show in Paris.

The finalists are: Wendy Buchanan (Canada); Grant Hannaford (Australia); April Petrusma (Australia); and Jean Francois Porte (France). Read more about each of the finalists here.

Finalist Grant Hannaford of Australia

IOA president, Fiona Anderson, said: “We are impressed by the calibre of entries and delighted to announce this shortlist. The finalists will now have the chance to supply a dossier of evidence to back up their achievements in the eight areas of expertise we are looking for. I hope that showcasing these outstanding opticians will inspire the whole profession.”

As well as the award, the winner will win a trip to Silmo 2023. The 2021 winner was Helen Whitaker, the first woman to win the award. Helen runs Secure Vision Optical in British Columbia, Canada, and is the founder of the Secure Vision Mobile Optical Academy.

The Silmo IOA International Optician of the Year Award was first given in 2018 and recognises the importance of the optician in the optical business and their role in the choice of optimum products for their clientele.

To find out more about the finalists and the award, visit the IOA website.