Professor Brian Layland

Professor Brian Layland, BSc (Opt. Sc.) OAM is the current Chairperson of the Brien Holden Vision Institute and is widely recognized for his longstanding commitment and contribution to eyecare.

Professor Layland was awarded an Order of Australia Medal in 1979 for services to the profession of Optometry and was also awarded the International Optometrist of the Year Award in London in 1992. Professor Layland is the Director of the NSW Aboriginal Eyecare Programme with the International Centre for Eyecare Education and has been responsible for establishing eyecare clinics in Aboriginal Medical Services around NSW through a collaboration of the Vision CRC and ICEE, together with the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council (AH&MRC) and local AMS’s and Aboriginal communities.

Professor Layland’s work in Aboriginal eyecare has been recognised by NSW Health, receiving in 2006 the Award for Excellence in Health Service Delivery by a non-Aboriginal Person in recognition of his significant contribution to culturally respectful and sensitive health services to Aboriginal people in NSW.

Professor Brien Holden

Professor Brien Holden BAppSc PhD DSc OAM has been a major figure in international eye health and vision care for nearly 40 years. His influence extends across science, research and development, professional and academic education, public health and as an advocate for the profession of optometry. He has been instrumental in establishing and guiding a series of ground-breaking national and international organisations that continue to make important contributions in vision and eye health. He has also been at the forefront of international efforts to address avoidable blindness and vision impairment, especially that caused by uncorrected refractive error.

 Professor Brien Holden has been committed to the work of the AH&MRC over a substantial and continuous period. Professor Holden has also had a longstanding and sturdy commitment to Aboriginal Eye Health.