Marika Wahlberg Ramsay is Programme Director for the optometry programmes at Karolinska Institutet, a role she has held since 2016. Having worked at the university since 2005, she combines teaching, research, and leadership as a unit manager with a strong commitment to optometric education and professional development.

In addition, Marika is a member of the visiting panel for the European Council of Optometry and Optics, contributing to the review and quality assurance of optometry education programmes across Europe. Her work is informed by 11 years of clinical experience in an eye emergency department, where she developed broad expertise in vision problems and acute eye conditions.

Adam Tommerup is Ophthalmic Lens Engagement Manager at Specsavers Northern Europe Support Office and has nearly 30 years of experience within the optical industry. A trained optometrist with a strong retail background, he specialises in helping translate complex lens technology and myopia management into practical solutions for everyday clinical practice.

Adam has played a central role in the launch and training of MiYOSMART and MyoEyes across Northern Europe, while also supporting the implementation of updated lens ranges and training. He’s particularly passionate about helping store teams move beyond technical specifications and instead create clear, needs-based conversations that improve understanding, confidence, and outcomes for customers.

Allart Knoop is an audiologist at Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam, where he works with patients who have complex hearing loss, including severe hearing loss and conductive or mixed hearing loss following ear surgery. He specialises in real ear measurement (REM) and the fitting of hearing aids for these complex cases.

Alongside his clinical work, Allart runs Kristal Hooradvies, a training practice for audiologists and hearing care professionals, where he provides individual, tailor-made training. His training has a strong focus on the measurability and effectiveness of hearing aid fittings, helping clinicians apply these principles in everyday practice.

Anna Ohldin is a practising optometrist at Specsavers in Lidköping. After graduating from upper secondary school in 1998, she began her career as an optical assistant. The following year, she commenced her studies to become a licensed optician at the Karolinska Institutet. In 2019, Anna earned a diploma in Diagnostic Optometry and shortly thereafter obtained a Master of Medical Science degree with a specialisation in Optometry.

Anna has been a dedicated member of the Specsavers team since the introduction in Sweden in 2004. In 2018, she was honoured with the title of Optician of the Year, and during 2023/2024, she served as a member of the Specsavers Professional Hub. As part of Specsavers’ national initiative to equip all Swedish stores with OCT and visual field machines, Anna acted as a mentor, providing support and guidance to stores during their Go Live phase.

Annika De Torres is a Clinical Performance Consultant at Specsavers Sweden, specialising in clinical quality, training, and the implementation of new clinical processes. She works closely with Clinical Assistants, opticians, and partners to support consistent, high-quality patient care across stores.

A key part of Annika’s role is helping teams adopt new technologies and ways of working with confidence. She has been closely involved in the implementation of Assisted Refraction using the Vx160, as well as digital tools such as SiVIEW, with a strong focus on practical application, clinical confidence, and supporting teams in their everyday practice.

Arjan de Graaf is an optometrist with over 18 years of experience in optics. He began optician training in 2006 and pursued optometry training in 2010, obtaining his degree in optometry four years later.

Arjan has broad experience from working at an optical store (2006 – 2012) and an ophthalmology outpatient clinic at a hospital. A skilled lecturer, he has five years of experience teaching optometry at the University of Applied Sciences Utrecht and has previously taught on an optician training programme.

Arne Løberg Sæter is a consultant ophthalmologist working as a publicly contracted specialist at Sogn Øyelegesenter and part-time as Senior Consultant Ophthalmologist at Oslo University Hospital. He has a particular interest in paediatric ophthalmology and previously served as Head of Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus at Oslo University Hospital.

Alongside his clinical work, Arne also has experience from the healthcare informatics industry and holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science and mathematics. Naturally curious and motivated by continuous learning, he enjoys developing his knowledge across fields ranging from ophthalmology and healthcare systems to, on a more personal note, climbing and mountaineering.

Björn Johansson, MD, PhD, FEBO, is Associate Professor and subject representative for ophthalmology at Linköping University, Sweden. A cataract surgeon since 1990, he combines clinical practice, research, and education with a long-standing commitment to advancing cataract surgery and surgical training.

For more than 20 years, Björn has trained new cataract surgeons in Linköping and continues to teach and instruct internationally. His research focuses on cataract surgery outcomes and Immediate Sequential Bilateral Cataract Surgery (ISBCS), while his professional contributions include co-authoring the Swedish national curriculum for cataract surgery training and the Swedish National Guidelines for cataract surgery.

Björn is an active member of several international ophthalmic societies and remains engaged in shaping both clinical practice and education within cataract and refractive surgery.

Liesbet Ruytjens is a Clinical Physicist-Audiologist at Auris, where she provides audiological care across the Rotterdam, Bergen op Zoom, and Goes locations. She has extensive clinical expertise and a particular interest in paediatric audiology, hearing diagnostics, and multidisciplinary hearing care.

Liesbet holds a Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology from KU Leuven, a PhD in Neuroscience from the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), and completed her clinical training as a Clinical Physicist-Audiologist through Pento and Utrecht University.

Before joining Auris, she worked as a paediatric audiologist at Sophia Children’s Hospital and later at Libra in Breda, where she further developed both her expertise and interest in paediatric audiology, hearing diagnostics, and multidisciplinary hearing care.

Erik Robertstad is an optometrist and practice owner with more than 25 years of experience from his private practice in Tønsberg, Norway, which has grown to become one of the country’s largest optometric practices. His clinical interests include contact lens complications, multifocal and scleral lenses, myopia management, dry eye treatment, and visual challenges in children.

Alongside his clinical work, Erik is an external examiner and visiting lecturer at the University of South-Eastern Norway, where he contributes to teaching within dry eye, allergy, inflammation, and continuing education programmes. He’s also a frequent lecturer at optometric conferences across Scandinavia and Europe and continues to contribute to both professional and commercial committees within the optical industry.

Erik graduated from the School of Optometry & Vision Sciences at Cardiff University in 1996 and completed his pre-registration year at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, where he later also worked as a sessional optometrist. His contributions to the profession have also been recognised with industry awards in Norway.

With experience from both the Canadian and Norwegian optical systems, Espen Sørlie brings an international and practical perspective to optometry and eye care. He began his career in Canada, where he studied optics at Georgian College in Ontario and qualified as a licensed optician through a clinically focused and highly practical programme covering contact lenses, glazing, repairs, frame fitting, and anterior eye health.

After moving to Norway in 2019, Espen continued his education at the University of South-Eastern Norway (USN), qualifying as an optometrist in 2021. He started his Norwegian career at Brilleland before becoming Optical Partner at Specsavers Jessheim in 2022.

Gustav Stålhammar is Professor at Karolinska Institutet and Senior Consultant Ophthalmologist at St. Erik Eye Hospital in Stockholm, where he heads the Ophthalmic Pathology Laboratory. He is board-certified in both ophthalmology and clinical pathology and is a Fellow of the European Board of Ophthalmology (FEBO).

Gustav leads the highly specialised Ocular Oncology and Pathology research group, focusing on uveal melanoma and retinoblastoma, with particular interest in early detection, prognostics, and innovative treatment strategies. His work combines clinical ophthalmology, pathology, and advanced technology to improve diagnostics and outcomes for patients with ocular tumours.

His group currently runs the world’s longest ongoing randomised clinical trial of adjuvant melatonin in uveal melanoma and has also developed a deep learning algorithm designed to distinguish benign pigmented fundus lesions from melanoma.

Halepce Özalp is a licensed optician who owns and manages a Specsavers store in northern Stockholm. Since graduating from Karolinska Institutet in 2013, she’s combined clinical practice with leadership, business development, and professional training within the optical industry.

Alongside running her own store, Halepce works as a supervisor at Karolinska Institutet, supporting and helping develop future opticians. She also delivers internal training within Specsavers, focusing on professional development, customer care, and creating meaningful customer experiences.

Driven by a strong belief in personal growth and human connection, Halepce is passionate about building trust, understanding individual needs, and ensuring that every customer receives the best possible experience and eye care.

IIvan Sincek is a trained optometrist and Sales Manager for Central Europe, the UK, and Scandinavia at IOT Lenses. With a strong clinical background in optometry, he combines technical expertise in vision care with extensive experience across the optical industry.

Working closely with partners and eye care professionals across multiple international markets, Ivan supports the adoption of advanced lens technologies and innovative optical solutions. His work is driven by a strong focus on connecting clinical understanding with innovation to help improve visual outcomes for patients worldwide.

Jenna Aro is an optometrist with experience across public healthcare, private practice, optical retail, and refractive surgery. Since joining Hospital Nova of Central Finland in 2019, she’s expanded her expertise in ocular disease and more complex visual conditions, with a particular focus on corneal conditions and challenging specialty contact lens fittings.

Jenna completed her Master’s degree in General Optometry at the University of South-Eastern Norway (USN) in 2020. She works closely with strabismus specialists and is part of a multidisciplinary low vision rehabilitation team, where collaboration across specialties plays an important role in patient care. Alongside her clinical work, she’s also a part-time product specialist at Novalens, keeping her closely connected to the latest developments in contact lens technology.

Julia Vaahtoranta, MD, is a consultant ophthalmologist and PhD candidate with a special interest in dry eye disease and ocular surface health. She has been practising ophthalmology since 2013 and combines clinical work with research, focusing on ocular surface changes across diverse patient populations. 

Julia works at Helsinki University Hospital Eye Clinic as well as in private practice, combining specialist hospital care with everyday clinical practice. Through her clinical and research work, she contributes to advancing the understanding, management, and treatment of dry eye disease.

Keijo Leppänen is a performance coach, interviewer, moderator, and former news anchor with a background in journalism and live broadcasting. After working as a journalist for around 15 years, he became a news anchor in 1996 and has since hosted more than 9,000 broadcasts, developing a strong understanding of communication, performance, and human interaction under pressure.

Today, Keijo works as an event host and moderator, helping individuals and organisations create engaging communication and confident performance. He describes his approach in three words: professional, matter-of-fact, but relaxed.

Kristyane Rokling is an optometrist who graduated from TEC Copenhagen in 2006 and has broad experience across both clinical practice and commercial roles within the optical industry. After nearly five years working as an optometrist, she spent 10 years as Regional Manager at B+L Vision Care before joining Specsavers in 2019.

Since then, Kristyane has worked within Learning & Development, focusing on what gives her the most energy: helping others grow, build knowledge and confidence, and create meaningful and caring customer experiences. She’s strongly motivated by Specsavers’ purpose, to change lives through better sight and hearing.

Leon Romestrand is Country Manager at MOT Norway, an organisation dedicated to strengthening young people’s courage to live, care, and say no. He has more than 15 years of leadership experience within education and organisational development, including as a school principal.

At MOT Norway, Leon leads the organisation’s work with funding, strategic partnerships, and collaboration across schools, businesses, and government. He’s particularly passionate about culture-building, psychological safety, and leadership communication that creates trust, engagement, and meaningful action.

Louise Van Doorn is a lecturer in Optometry at Utrecht University of Applied Sciences (Hogeschool Utrecht) with extensive experience across both primary and secondary eye care.

Since qualifying as an optometrist in 1996, she’s developed expertise in binocular vision, clinical reasoning, and primary care optometry.

Alongside her teaching and clinical supervision work, Louise holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Optometry from City, University of London, where she completed advanced training in areas including glaucoma, paediatric optometry, ocular disease, binocular vision, and refractive surgery co-management.

She’s passionate about combining patient care with education and especially values guiding students as they examine and manage real patients.

Seeing moments of understanding and confidence develop in students is one of the aspects of teaching she finds most rewarding, and she strongly believes that sharing knowledge helps strengthen the profession.

In 2024, Louise completed a second Master’s degree in Applied Ethics at Utrecht University, focusing on medical ethics and moral reasoning in healthcare. She’s particularly engaged in integrating ethical reflection into clinical decision-making and optometric education.

Merel Kanters serves as Professional Affairs Manager Benelux at CooperVision, where she leads a team supporting eye care professionals through education and professional development. With a background as an optometrist and former lecturer in contact lens care and optics at Utrecht University of Applied Sciences, she brings many years of experience in teaching, training, and knowledge-sharing.

Her expertise includes myopia management, innovative contact lens solutions, and contact lens complications. Merel is particularly passionate about translating scientific evidence into practical insights that help eye care professionals deliver the best possible care for their patients.

Mohamed Geneid, MD, PhD, is a consultant ophthalmologist with subspecialty expertise in glaucoma and surgical focus on both cataract and glaucoma procedures.

He began his ophthalmology career in 2009 and earned his PhD from Oulu University, Finland. Dr. Geneid currently practices at Päijät-Häme Central Hospital in Lahti, Finland, and in the private sector. He has participated in numerous international conferences as a speaker and presenter and has published peer-reviewed research in glaucoma and retinal imaging. Dr. Geneid is committed to advancing glaucoma care through both clinical practice and research.

Follow Dr. Mohamed Geneid on YouTube: Dr. Mohamed Geneid Eye Surgery – YouTube

Dr. Nayyirih de Koning-Tahzib is an ophthalmologist and corneal surgeon at Xpert Clinics in the Netherlands. Her clinical expertise includes corneal disease, keratoconus, corneal crosslinking, corneal transplantation (DMEK), cataract surgery, premium IOLs, and refractive laser procedures.

After completing her ophthalmology residency and cornea fellowship at Maastricht University Medical Center, she earned a PhD from Maastricht University, focusing on visual outcomes and patient satisfaction following corneal and refractive surgery. Alongside her clinical work, she remains actively involved in education and clinical innovation, helping bring new knowledge into everyday ophthalmic practice.

Olav Wagenaar is a clinical neuropsychologist, and a PhD candidate at the Department of Translational Neuroscience, University of Antwerp.

He has a longstanding clinical and scientific interest in the relationship between cognition, hearing, and behaviour, with a particular focus on tinnitus, hearing-related distress, and the neuropsychological mechanisms behind symptom perception.

Alongside his research, Olav is passionate about translating scientific knowledge into practical support for people living with tinnitus.

In addition to his scientific publications, he is the author of Eerste Hulp Bij Oorsuizen and has developed a range of accessible psychoeducational and digital self-help tools.

Oleg Pavlukovskis is the General Manager of ProCornea Spesiallinser. He graduated as an optician from HIBU in 2012 and has since developed his expertise, specialising in lenses in 2013 and completing a course on dry eyes in 2015.

Oleg has attended courses in Norway and abroad to enhance his knowledge of special lenses, dietary supplements, and treatment of dry eyes. Since 2016, he has been part of ProCornea, where professional insight and leadership are combined to promote innovation and quality within optician expertise.

Øygunn Utheim is a Senior Consultant at Oslo University Hospital, specialising in retinal diseases and uveitis. Alongside her hospital role, she co-manages the Eye Health Clinic with her colleagues, combining clinical practice with a strong commitment to research and education.

Øygunn lectures on uveitis and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) at the University of South-Eastern Norway and earned her PhD in 2018. Since then, she has successfully supervised three PhD candidates through to completion.

Her particular expertise lies within both neovascular and dry AMD, with a special focus on emerging treatment approaches for dry AMD. At her clinic, she provides treatment using Valeda photobiomodulation while actively researching the potential of this innovative therapy.

Panu Tast is a seasoned CEO and lobbyist with extensive experience in the optics industry, healthcare, and payment services. He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in business administration with a specialisation in media management and is a licensed optometrist in Finland. For the past fourteen years, he has led the Finnish Association of Vision and Eyecare (NÄE) as CEO, playing a pivotal role in advancing the field. Panu’s expertise and leadership have made a significant impact on the industry, establishing him as a respected authority in vision and eye care.

Paul Morris first qualified as an optometrists in 2002, he has been Director of Professional Advancement for the Specsavers group in UK and Ireland for over a decade. His role focuses on furthering clinical scope, professional services, standards, and strategy across the group. He also holds a post-graduate prescribing qualifications and is passionate about enabling other clinicians to undertake further development.

Paul is also an optometrist and ophthalmic director of the Bridgend and Porthcawl Specsavers practices in South Wales, where he’s been a Specsavers Partner for 22 years.

Outside of Specsavers, Paul has served as a director of FODO, chair of the Optical Confederation IT and Information Committee, and currently serves as vice-chair of Optometry Wales. He’s also worked across a range of clinical and educational roles within Universities, optometry, ophthalmology, pharmacy, and medicine.

Per Olsson began his career as an optician in 1994 and has been an Optician Partner at Specsavers in Nynäshamn since 2009. Throughout his career, he’s been passionate about sharing knowledge and helping develop colleagues and optician assistants within Specsavers.

Per completed further qualifications in diagnostic optometry in 2018 – 2019 and earned a Master’s degree with a focus on clinical optometry in 2020. The same year, he also completed training in diabetic eye care and photographic diagnostics and is today a member of the Specsavers Professional Hub.

He has a particular interest in binocular vision and enjoys helping others better understand prism correction in clinical practice, while sharing practical tips and insights that can support everyday patient care.

Pernilla Kinde is a licensed optician and part of the clinical team at the Specsavers Support Office, where she has worked since 2021 to support high standards of eye care across the business. Her career spans both optical practice and medical technology, including more than a decade at Alcon working with cataract surgery.

Pernilla is particularly passionate about professional development and clinical excellence. She finds it especially rewarding to see the growing competence of Specsavers opticians and clinical assistants, helping more customers with a wide range of eye conditions receive the care they need. Through her work, she supports the continued development of both people and patient care.

Richard van Hooijdonk doesn’t just study emerging technologies. He embeds them in his life, and that’s just part of what makes him an authority on new technologies and trends.

As a keynote speaker, his hands-on approach has shaped the insights that more than 650,000 people have gained from his sessions over the past 15 years. Richard also regularly shares his perspectives through radio and television appearances and is a best-selling author who has published more than 2000 articles, books, e-books, and white papers.

Backed by an international research team, he focuses on the technologies reshaping business: generative AI, robotics, autonomous systems, quantum computing, biotech, augmented reality, and much more.

Saana Vartela graduated as an optometrist from Metropolia University of Applied Sciences in Helsinki in 2014 and has been part of Specsavers ever since. In 2022, she became an Optical Partner and today co-owns two Specsavers stores in Jyväskylä, Central Finland. Despite her entrepreneurial role, she still spends most of her time working as an optometrist.

Customer service is close to Saana’s heart, and she always strives to find the optimal solution for every customer, both in terms of glasses and follow-up care.

Sara Salimi holds a bachelor’s degree in Optometry and has experience across both clinical practice and the optical industry, with a particular focus on contact lenses and dry eye management. She began her career in optics alongside her studies at the University of South-Eastern Norway, gaining early clinical experience at Krogh Optikk before later working as an optometrist at Interoptik.

After several years in clinical practice, Sara joined Johnson & Johnson Vision, where she worked closely with eye care professionals within contact lenses and eye health. Today, she works as a Key Account Manager at Ursapharm, supporting eye care professionals with a particular focus on dry eye management and practical solutions in everyday clinical practice.

Sia O’Reilly is CEO of Optileks AB and has spent much of her career helping bring innovative optical solutions into everyday clinical practice. Working closely with eye care professionals across the Nordics, she has developed a particular interest in light sensitivity and the significant impact it can have on comfort, confidence, and quality of life.

Over the years, Sia has seen how specialty optical solutions, particularly optical filters, can make a real difference for people affected by light sensitivity. She’s passionate about helping eye care professionals understand when and how these practical, patient-focused solutions can be used, turning innovation into meaningful improvements in everyday life.

Sten Raeder is co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of both The Norwegian Dry Eye Clinic and The Eye Health Clinic in Oslo. He is an ophthalmologist trained at Oslo and Stavanger University Hospitals and holds a medical degree and doctorate in corneal diseases from the University of Oslo.

With a strong clinical and research focus on ocular surface disease, Sten has contributed to around 40 scientific publications as well as Norwegian and Nordic Dry Eye Guidelines. His work combines patient care, research, and international collaboration, with research experience from both Harvard Medical School and Kyoto.

Sten has received the European Society of Ophthalmology award and currently serves as a TFOS Global Ambassador, contributing to international collaboration and knowledge-sharing within ocular surface disease.

Tina Wammer is an experienced optometrist at Specsavers Trondheim with more than 23 years in clinical practice and a broad clinical background within eye care.

She holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Optometry from the University of South-Eastern Norway and has a strong professional interest in the posterior segment, particularly vitreoretinal conditions.

She’s especially engaged in the clinical challenges and diagnostic aspects related to posterior eye health.

Ton Nguyen is a vitreoretinal surgeon, cataract surgeon, and dry eye specialist at Elkerliek Hospital in Helmond, the Netherlands. He completed his ophthalmology training at Amsterdam UMC in 2017 and a fellowship in vitreoretinal surgery in 2019.

Since then, Ton has built a growing retinal practice at Elkerliek Hospital, treating patients with retinal pathology and cataracts, including premium IOL procedures and combined retinal surgery. Between 2022 and 2024, he also worked part-time at Maastricht UMC+.

Alongside his hospital work, Ton runs his own dry eye clinic, primarily performing IPL treatments and combining surgical care with a strong clinical focus on ocular surface disease.

Tor Paaske Utheim is a clinician, researcher, and innovation leader with an extensive interdisciplinary career spanning ophthalmology, regenerative medicine, biochemistry, and computer science. He holds ten professorships across several fields, including positions at the University of Oslo and King’s College London, and serves as a consultant at multiple hospitals across Norway.

At Oslo University Hospital, Tor leads both the Unit of Regenerative Medicine and the Unit of Research-based Innovation. He also co-founded the Norwegian Dry Eye Clinic and the Institute of Eye Health in Oslo, combining clinical practice with extensive research and innovation work.

Tor has supervised nearly 50 PhD students and received numerous research and innovation awards, including a Fulbright Scholarship to Harvard Medical School, where he also served as an Adjunct Clinical Associate. He is a frequent international speaker and moderator within ophthalmology and innovation and currently serves as Global Ambassador for The Tear Film & Ocular Surface Society.

Trine Johnsen is a trained optometrist with over ten years’ experience in optometry practices, including five years running her own locum business. Trine knows her way around the eye care industry – not only in her home country of Norway, but also further afield. She obtained her master’s degree in optometry in Australia and has worked with universities in both Oslo and Valencia, looking at the effects of antioxidants on ocular inflammation, and growing corneal epithelium from limbal stem cells.

Trine’s passion for optometry and education led her to Specsavers more than fifteen years ago. She established the Professional Learning & Development department in the Nordic countries and the Specsavers Academy in Norway. Now, she’s Head of Professional Advancement in Norway, dedicated to building the professional reputation of Specsavers in particular, and the optometry industry in general – so that customers get high-quality eye care.