CCLS NZ councillor Hans Vellara, with Mark James, at the 2025 conference in Christchurch where he announced the new scholarship

The Corneal and Contact Lens Society of New Zealand (CCLS NZ) unveiled a brand-new scholarship at the 2025 conference honouring speciality contact lens manufacturer and industry stalwart Graeme Curtis who died earlier this year.

The Graeme Curtis Contact Lens Scholarship (GCCLS) was created in partnership with the New Zealand Association of Optometrists and Curtis’ company, the Corneal Lens Corporation (CLC), backed with additional philanthropic funding, said CCLS NZ councillor Dr Hans Vellara. “This initiative honours the legacy of Graeme Curtis, whose pioneering leadership transformed CLC into one of Australasia’s most advanced contact lens laboratories, specialising in contact lenses.”

Offered in addition to the annual $2,500 CCLS NZ Scholarship, the new GCCLS will provide funding of up to $11,000 a year for three years (2026–2029) to support projects that advance contact lens practice in New Zealand. Eligible projects include the evaluation of new technologies, advanced clinical training in specialty lens fitting, the development of innovative management options for complex cases, quality improvement initiatives, clinical research and investigation of contact lens-related ocular surface conditions. Any New Zealand-registered optometrist, ophthalmologist or vision science researcher affiliated with a New Zealand institution and actively practising or researching in New Zealand, can apply for the scholarship.

CLC’s Graeme Curtis at CCLS
NZ 2021

"We are thrilled to collaborate on this important initiative that not only honours Graeme's tremendous contributions to contact lens development throughout Australasia but also supports the next generation of innovation in our field," said Dr Vellara. "This scholarship reflects our commitment to advancing contact lens science and clinical practice in New Zealand."

“By supporting cutting-edge research and clinical development, we hope to inspire practitioners to push the boundaries of what's possible in contact lens practice, just as Graeme did throughout his career," said fellow CCLS NZ councillor Dr Akilesh Gokul.

The application process and details are available on the CCLS website www.contactlens.org.nz.