Specsavers Australia & New Zealand’s Optometry Team continues to grow, with a number of optometrists joining the business’ field-based clinical support team.

Operating as an extension of the Optometry Team based at the Specsavers Support Office in Port Melbourne, the clinical support team comprises six highly experienced consultants led by Chris Papatheodorou.

The clinical support consultants work closely with store partners and their optometrists to help identify opportunities and develop action plans to further enhance their clinical excellence. This is achieved via a mix of coaching, mentoring, training programs, and in-room and in-store observations. The team also provides support in a range of other areas, including the integration of new and evolving technologies in-store, such as OCT.

Together with Port Melbourne’s team of optometry development managers, consultants and more, this increases the broader Specsavers optometry support team to a total of 14.

Further information on the members of the clinical support team can be found below:
Chris Papatheodorou BOptom UNSW
Head of Clinical Support

Chris’ optometry career spans almost 30 years and he is currently the Optometry Partner at Specsavers Burwood, NSW as well as a member of the Specsavers Aus/NZ Operating Board. He has lectured in optical dispensing, sat on various professional boards and councils, acted as a clinic supervisor in optometry, and held professional services manager roles.
Nick Gidas BOptom Melb
Clinical Support Consultant – VIC / TAS

After working at the Australian College of Optometry, Nick joined Specsavers in 2008 with approval to become a Joint Venture Partner. Having spent more than 20 years in the profession, Nick’s experience includes Specsavers store management as well as locum work at more than 60 Specsavers stores across Victoria.
Elisa Lee BOptom (Hons), Grad Cert Oc Ther UNSW, MBA USYD
Clinical Support Consultant – NSW / ACT

After graduating from UNSW in 2001, Elisa went on to complete a Masters of Business at the University of Sydney in 2005. She has almost 10 years of experience within Specsavers, has achieved Stage 1 approval for Joint Venture Partnership, and has worked as a locum optometrist with several Specsavers stores in NSW since 2010.
Louise Winkler BOptom (Hons), Grad Cert Oc Ther UNSW
Clinical Support Consultant – NSW / ACT

As the Optometry Partner of the two Specsavers stores in Nowra, NSW, Louise has a wealth of experience in both clinical optometry and business management. Since joining Specsavers in 2008, she has been an active member of Specsavers’ Leading Optometry Partner Forum, as well as a highly-respected mentor to her team, peers and many graduates who have worked in her stores.
Andrea Hurlow BOptom (Hons) TPA Endorsement, University of Auckland
Clinical Support Consultant – WA / SA

Andrea graduated from the University of Auckland in 2007 as a TPA-endorsed optometrist. She has since continued to consult and work in a number of Specsavers stores across South Australia, most recently as a senior optometrist in the Specsavers Marion store.
Cindy Nguyen BAppSc (Optom) (Hons), Grad Cert Oc Ther QUT
Clinical Support Consultant – QLD / NT

Cindy has been with Specsavers for the past seven years in both South Australia and Queensland. She has experience with both metro and regional settings, having worked in CBD stores as well as in far north Queensland. A TPA-endorsed optometrist, Cindy has been a clinical supervisor for fourth- and fifth-year optometry students at QUT since 2015.
Vipti Harry BOptom (Hons) TPA Endorsement, University of Auckland
Clinical Support Consultant – New Zealand

Vipti, a TPA-endorsed optometrist, has previously been a Specsavers Joint Venture Partner in New Zealand. She also provided support to stores during the rollout of Specsavers’ New Zealand patient management system, Genesys, and has consulted and worked for a number of Specsavers stores across the country.