Eye Health National Clinical Network

Sarah is a vitreoretinal surgeon who is committed to improving equity in eye-health services.

She has worked as a consultant ophthalmologist at the Greenlane Ophthalmology department for nearly 15 years and has been the clinical lead for the past 10 years. She was also appointed the clinical lead for the Northern region in 2021.

During this time, Sarah has worked to improve access and equity to eye-care for all patients. Her co-operative leadership style has allowed her to work closely with other departments while overseeing the opening of satellite clinics to ensure excellent eye-care is available across the region. Sarah has extensive experience in vitreoretinal and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and is a member of a working group that is tasked with setting up a National ROP screening service.

Outside of her clinical work, Sarah has had a life-long belief in social justice. Prior to embarking on her medical career, she explored a variety of areas involving work and study. After completing a maths degree, she worked in Rape Crisis, advocating for the rights of women and instigated the first Rape Awareness Week in Aotearoa.

Sarah then worked as an assistant film editor for a number of feature films and television programmes, which lead her to institute Wellington’s first LGBTQ film festival, ‘Reel Queer’, which then became an annual event for some years in Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch.

Alistair is Samoan-Pakeha and one of two Pasifika FRANZCO ophthalmologists in New Zealand.

He holds the Matai title of Tofilau from Iva, Samoa. He has over 12 years governance experience with national and international professional organisations and institutions. Alistair is also a member of the NZ Institute of Directors and a past board representative of the Pasifika Medical Association, a key stakeholder of Pacific health.

Alistair is motivated to improve the equity, efficiency and quality of eye health services, particularly for Māori and Pasifika. He has contributed significant work to maximise the productivity of eye teams he has been involved with, to enable the delivery of high-quality eye care.

He has co-authored key eye health plans including the recent Royal Australia and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO) Pasifika Eye Health Action Plan, the Te Tiriti o Waitangi Action Plan and Māori and Pasifika sections of the RANZCO’s Vision for Aotearoa New Zealand’s Eye Healthcare to 2030 and Beyond.

Alistair has proven experience in developing effective public ophthalmic systems at a number of centres across the country that standardise a high-quality patient experience. He attributes this success to a collaborative approach, which centres on building a strong and supportive team culture that prioritises inclusivity and excellence.

Justin is an Auckland-based ophthalmologist who also works as a senior lecturer in ophthalmology at Auckland Medical School.

He is a member of the Australian and New Zealand Paediatric Ophthalmology Society, a member of the Australian and New Zealand Glaucoma Society, a member of RANZCO Council, and a foundation member of the International Ophthalmology and Strabismus Council.

Justin chairs several RAZNCO committees, including the Māori and Pasifika committee, which partnered with Kāpō Māori Aotearoa and the Pasifika Medical Association to complete the Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Pasifika Eye Health Action Plans.

He also represents RANZCO on Eye Health Aotearoa, which works closely with eye health advocacy groups, and is chair of Vision 2030 and Beyond Aotearoa. Justin has also worked internationally as external examiner for the Pacific Eye Institute in Suva and provided curriculum development in Papua New Guinea.

For the past 11 years he has provided training in paediatric ophthalmology for local eye surgeons in Cambodia and Laos, for Sight for All.