New Zealander Steve Stenersen is the only southern hemisphere optician in the running for the 2019 IOA/Silmo Optician of the Year title to be announced at the annual Paris event this September.

Gisborne-based dispensing optician, Stenersen is a life member of the Association of Dispensing Opticians NZ (ADONZ) and recipient of New Zealand’s prestigious Robert Maher award having been on the ADONZ board for many years championing the cause and education of opticians across the country. He was an Optiblocks course tutor and examiner and has worked closely with the Australasian College of Dispensing to ensure a high standard of training continues within the industry today.

International Opticians Association (IOA) president Fiona Anderson said she was ‘overwhelmed’ with the calibre of nominees. “The selection committee had a really tough job narrowing down the field to pick our five finalists. We are grateful to our sponsors and colleagues for these nominations and the very difficult task we now have to come is choosing the recipient of the 2019 IOA/Silmo Optician of the Year.”

Awarded for the first time at the Silmo d’Or Awards ceremony in 2018, the award recognises the importance of opticians in the optical sector and their role in choosing the best products for their customers. The 2019 finalists are Andrew Keirl (UK), Thierry Caillat (France), Thomas Truckenbrod (Germany), Steve Stenersen (New Zealand) and Charlie Saccarelli (US).

The winner will be announced on September 28 this year at Silmo in Paris and wins a trip for two to Silmo 2020.