FOUNDER, THE WELLBEING EDGE

Women in Optics Keynote Speaker

Roni Millard is a powerhouse in both the business and wellbeing spaces, with a 30-year executive career spanning marketing, sales, and transformation across global brands. 

Aside from her marketing consultancy, she’s the founder of The Wellbeing Edge, a wellness and performance consultancy where she works as a wellbeing consultant helping businesses prioritise the health and wellbeing of their people through keynote speaking, tailored wellbeing programs, and NLP life coaching. 

She advocates for high performance in the workplace, but never at the expense of health and she champions the mindset of being positively obsessed with our wellbeing while still achieving big.

After decades of corporate success, Roni’s body began to show signs that her relentless pace wasn’t sustainable. She silently battled endometriosis twice, miscarriages, anaemia, and other dis-eases that quietly drained her while her professional star continued to rise. But it was burnout culminating in a breast cancer diagnosis, that finally forced her to pause, reflect, and rebuild.

From those deeply personal challenges, Roni emerged with a mission: to teach high-performing professionals how to respect their ambition without abandoning their wellbeing.

A certified NLP Life Coach and a soon-to-be published author, Roni brings a rare blend of strategy, lived experience, and soul to every room she enters. The healthiest and fittest she’s ever been, she coaches executives – especially women, and delivers compelling keynotes, runs transformative workshops on burnout prevention, emotional resilience, and redefining success in the workplace.

Roni serves as a mentor with the Women’s Resilience Centre, supporting women as they rebuild their lives after trauma. Through this work, she helps women strengthen resilience, reclaim confidence, and create pathways to sustainable wellbeing and independence.

Roni is also the Chair of Business Women Australia’s Marketing Sub-Committee, focused on growing membership and deepening engagement by shining a spotlight on the real, raw, and remarkable stories within the BWA community.

In addition to her wellbeing work, Roni consults with businesses on marketing and growth strategy, drawing on decades of experience leading high-performing teams, launching multi-market campaigns, and building brand impact across B2B, B2C, and service industries. She helps businesses refine their message, connect with their audience, and accelerate marketing and sales results with clarity and heart.

Beyond her work, Roni is a proud mum of three, wife, and dog lover with two energetic fur-babies. She thrives on time with her tight-knit circle of friends and family, and keeps herself grounded through her love of exercise, whether it’s running, lifting weights, or pushing herself in races.

Experience, Accomplishments, Qualifications

Health & Wellbeing Consultant, Motivational Speaker, Author, Women’s Resilience Centre, Mentor, NLP Life Coach, Business Women Australia Marketing Sub-Committee Chair, Marketing Consultant

CEO, ODMA

Amanda Trotman has held multiple senior roles throughout her career, including for global organisations, not-for-profit trade Associations and as founder and owner of what grew to a 25 person event management and marketing agency. 

Amanda has a Degree in Business and a Post Graduate qualification in Tourism and Hospitality. Her strong skillset covers collaboration, business management, team performance, marketing, event management and stakeholder engagement. 

Amanda is currently CEO of the Optical Distributors and Manufacturers Association and launched the Women in Optics special interest group in 2025.

DIRECTOR, EYES@OPTOMETRY

Belinda Musitano is the Director of Eyes@Optometry in Western Australia and a passionate advocate for women in the optical industry. With more than 20 years of experience building and leading independent practices, she focuses on empowering others to grow their confidence and step into leadership with clarity and purpose.

Belinda champions the practice of working on the business rather than being consumed in it, encouraging women to create space for strategy, development, and their own professional voice. This approach has shaped her leadership style and led to meaningful growth across her practices, fostering environments where innovation, patient care, and team development can thrive.

As a business owner, mother, and leader, she understands the daily juggle of family, life, and work. Belinda openly shares her experiences to remind women that balance isn’t perfect — but with support, resilience, and a bit of humour, it’s absolutely achievable.

Her mission is simple: to help women in optics back themselves, lead boldly, and build businesses and careers they’re proud of.

DIRECTOR, EYECONIC OPTOMETRY

Celia Bloxsom is the principal optometrist and owner of Eyeconic Optometry, a boutique optometry practice located on the Gold Coast, Australia. Celia graduated with Honours from QUT Optometry School in 2000, receiving the Don Noack Award for Clinical Excellence in Contact Lenses, and to work for John Mountford, where he mentored her in fitting all modalities of contact lenses. She has been involved with multiple optometric society boards, including her longest involvement with the Orthokeratology Society of Oceania as Secretary/ Vice President from 2003 to present. 

She is also on the board of the International Academy of Orthokeratology and Myopia Control since it partnered with the OSO back in 2014 and was the first female Fellow of the IAOMC in Australia in 2018. Providing education to fellow and student optometrists is a passion and Celia has been a clinical educator and lecturer at QUT School of Optometry from 2001 to present, as well as welcoming a myriad of students into her practice for observation and mentorship over that time. She was jointly awarded the QUT Vice Chancellor’s Award for Excellence with her fellow contact lens clinicians inboth 2010 and 2013 for her contributions to the contact lens clinic education at QUT in those respective years.

Recently, Dr Bloxsom also joined the Dry Eye Society as Education Committee Chair in 2023 to be able to provide dry eye education and arrange wet lab events for optometrists around the country. Celia established her own practice, Eyeconic Optometry, in 2016, where she continues to consult full time. Eyeconic Optometry is a full scope optometry practice that has a special interest in contact lens fittings of complex corneas, orthokeratology, myopia control, dry eye treatments, paediatric eyecare and the therapeutic management of anterior eye conditions.

Experience, Accomplishments, Qualifications

B App Sci (Optom) Hons, FIAOMC, OA, CCLSA, OSO, IAO

Optometrist, Director (Eyeconic Optometry)

Grad Cert Ocular Therapeutics, QUT

Fellow (International Academy of Orthokeratology & Myopia Control)

Orthokeratology Society of Oceania - Vice President/Secretary (2003 – Present)

Dry Eye Society - Education Committee Chair (2023 – Present)

International Academy of Orthokeratology and Myopia Control Board Member (2014 –

Present)

QUT Optometry Clinic Clinician & Lecturer (2001 – Present)

PURPLE KEY CONSULTING

Emma Gillies is well known as an optometrist for her expertise in contact lenses, and has spoken extensively both locally and internationally in her role as professional Affairs Manager with Johnson & Johnson. 

She is passionate about human dynamics and established Purple Key Consulting in 2018 through which she provides business coaching, corporate training and sales and leadership coaching. 

Emma is an accredited NLP practitioner and she works with people and teams to build strong communication skills, help individuals understand their own thinking and behavioural patterns and use this to better understand customers in the optometry practice. 

PRINCIPAL OPTOMETRIST, CUSTOM EYECARE

Heidi is a principal optometrist at Custom Eyecare, an independent full scope practice in Newcastle NSW with a keen interest in myopia management and specialty contact lenses. 

To give back and support the profession, Heidi is the current OA NSW/ACT President, as well as the NSW president for CCLSA. 

She is CASA certified, a past clinical supervisor at UNSW, a guest lecturer at University of Newcastle, a writer for Mivision, an optometric speaker on ABC radio and continues to be a mentor to optometry students on clinical placements.

Experience, Accomplishments, Qualifications

Ophthalmic Medicines Prescriber, CASA Credentialed Optometrist, Optometry NSW/ACT President, Cornea and Contact Lens Society of Australia NSW President  

B.Optom (UNSW), Grad Cert Oc Ther (UNSW)  

SENIOR OPTOMETRIST, BUPA OPTICAL

Helen Summers OAM has spent more than 30 years caring for the vision of Territorians, both in Darwin and across the Top End, including in some of the most remote communities in Australia. As the founder of Helen Summers Optometrist in 1998, the practice was built from the ground up with a strong belief in compassion, service and community connection. 

The 2013 National Telstra Business Women of the Year, and an inductee into the Australian Businesswomen’s Network Hall of Fame, Helen is recognised for her leadership, advocacy, and community impact. Her outreach programs, donations of glasses to communities in need, and dedication to equitable access to eye health reflects her passion to making a meaningful difference. Helen has an extensive service to prison health and is also the optometry leader for Cambodia Vision. 

Helen continues to inspire Women in Optometry, through her innovation, resilience and lifelong commitment to community eye care.

Helen has served in various leadership and governance roles, including as committee member OA NT Advisory Board; OA Aboriginal and Torres Strait Eye Health Working Group, director of Guide Dogs SA NT,  Chair of Australian Optometric Panel, Chair of Health Providers Alliance NT PHN.

Helen currently is a Senior Optometrist with Bupa Optical and continues to work in East Arnhemland, and Holtze Correctional Centre with non-executive roles as deputy chair Tennis NT, deputy chair Australia Day Council NT; director Order of Australia Association NT;member OA Advisory Board NT. 

Experience, Accomplishments, Qualifications

Master Optometry; Credential Optometrist Aviation, Fellow ACBO. Helen has Australian Institute Company Director qualifications and has held Fellow status. 

DIRECTOR, IGN MEDIA

Laura Moore is a dynamic leader and strategist in the luxury industry, dedicated to fostering community, driving innovative marketing strategies, and empowering independent businesses. Laura has built multiple businesses focused on enhancing industry networks, delivering educational resources, and equipping professionals with the tools to thrive in an evolving marketplace.

As a passionate advocate for collaboration and industry growth, Laura has played a pivotal role in creating platforms that bring together brands, suppliers, and retailers, strengthening the connections that drive success. Her expertise spans community-building, strategic marketing, and business development, and she is currently Managing Director of IGN Media, ODMA Eyetalk’s publication and marketing agency.

OPTOMETRIST & FOUNDER, DRY EYE IMPACT & IMPACT CULTURE GROUP  

Shaina Zheng, MBA GAICD, is an optometrist, culture and dry eye advisor, and co-owner of an award-winning independent optometry practice recognised for excellence in health and wellbeing. She serves as Vice President of The Dry Eye Society, contributing to professional education, clinical best practice, and industry collaboration. Drawing on formal research at QUT, Shaina developed the Positive Optometry Culture Framework, an evidence-based model for building psychologically safe, high-performing teams. As Founder of Impact Culture Group and Dry Eye Impact, she helps organisations and clinicians strengthen team culture, elevate dry eye care, and create sustainable, human-centred patient experiences.

FOUNDER & PRINCIPAL OPTOMETRIST, EYECARE KIDS

Soojin Nam is an experienced optometrist, business owner, and passionate advocate for paediatric eye care. She holds both Bachelor and Master degrees in Optometry from UNSW, and an MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management. She has completed advanced courses in behavioural optometry and advanced contact lenses. In 2024, SooJin was a finalist at the inaugural MiYOSMART Case Study Contest, held at the 60th International Myopia Conference.

Soojin began her entrepreneurial journey at just 25 after winning the NSW Shell LiveWIRE Business Plan Competition. She is now the owner of 2 and co-owner of 3 optometry practices, including Eyecare Kids, an optometry practice that focuses on paediatric eye care services in Sydney. SooJin and her practices have received multiple business awards

SooJin has served as a children’s vision clinical supervisor at UNSW School of Optometry, Treasurer for NSW/ACT Optometry Australia and Director of the National Eyecare Plus network. She was involved in Optometry Australia’s COPE Paediatric Community of Practice, currently sits on the board Australian Optometric Panel and as a committee member of CCLSA.

Soojin is also a passionate mentor, supporting optometrists, dispensers, and young professionals in their career growth—while also raising two teenage boys of her own.

Qualifications

BOptom, MOptom, MBA (AGSM)

PRINCIPAL, BURKE LAWYERS

Meghan Warren is a Principal and Director at Burke Lawyers with over 18 years’ experience in commercial law including business advice and contracts, litigation and dispute resolution. She advises professionals and SMEs with a particular focus on the medical, health, and sciences sectors, providing strategic, outcome-focused and plain language legal advice and outcomes. 

Meghan is admitted to practice law in the State and Federal jurisdictions of Australia and in New York in the US. Meghan also holds a Bachelor of Business with a major in financial planning and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.  Meghan is also currently appointed as a member of the College of Law’s Victorian Chapter Board and a committee member of the Victorian Legal Admissions Board.

WILLS & ESTATES LAWYER, BURKE LAWYERS

Sarah Kabiri is a Wills and Estates Lawyer at Burke Lawyers, bringing a client-focused and compassionate approach to estate planning, probate and estate administration. With over 20 years of experience in client relations and legal practice, Sarah combines technical expertise with a strong emphasis on clarity, support and understanding, empowering clients to make informed decisions that reflect their intentions and protect their legacy. 

Sarah is dedicated to helping individuals, families and executors navigate the complexities of wills, testamentary trusts, powers of attorney and estate disputes, ensuring legal processes are as straightforward and as stress-free as possible