BHVI

Professor Brien Holden BAppSc PhD DSc OAM (CEO of Brien Holden Vision Institute)

Brien Holden is CEO of the Brien Holden Vision Institute, CEO of the Vision Cooperative Research Centre, CEO of the International Centre for Eyecare Education and Chair of Optometry Giving Sight. Brien has made outstanding contributions to the fields of optometry and vision science as a researcher, educator and as public health advocate.

He graduated from the University of Melbourne with a B AppSc in 1964 and from the City University (London) with a PhD in 1971.

He was founder and Director of the Cornea and Contact Lens Research Unit at the School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of NSW, Director of the Cooperative Research Centre for Eye Research and Technology, a founding Director of the Institute for Eye Research, co-founder of the International Association of Contact Lens Educators, founding President-elect of the International Society for Contact Lens Research and founder of the Optometric Vision Research Foundation.

In the area of international public health, Professor Holden is Chair of the Refractive Error Working Group of the World Health Organization, Co-Chair of the Vision 2020 Australia group, a board member of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness and Chair of the board of management of VisionCare NSW.

His distinguished contribution to optometry and vision science has been recognised with several prestigious international awards including honorary Doctor of Science degrees conferred by the State University of New York, Pennsylvania College of Optometry, City University London, University of Durban-Westville, South Africa and Ohio State University.

In 1997, Brien Holden received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for contributions to eye care research and education.