Six Opticians Named on Shortlist for 2026 IOA SILMO International Optician of the Year

The International Opticians Association (IOA), working alongside SILMO, has revealed the six finalists vying for this year's International Optician of the Year Award, with entrants spanning the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand.

Now in its ninth year since launching in 2018, the award exists to spotlight the vital role opticians play in guiding patients toward the right eyewear, and to celebrate the breadth of skill across the global profession.

The finalists

This year's shortlist features (in the image from left to right, top to bottom):

• Cira Collins (USA) : an educator and self-styled "opticianry futurist" whose work with the American Board of Opticianry and GoodVision USA has pushed the profession to think about emerging technology and where the industry is headed next.
• Jessica Gowing (UK) : Senior Dispensing Optician at Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital, recognised for her paediatric expertise, including fitting spectacles for children with craniofacial conditions using 3D-printed, bespoke frames.
• Martyn Howlett (UK) : Senior Dispensing Optician and Team Lead at SeeAbility, who tailors his approach for patients with learning disabilities, autism and complex needs. He was named Dispensing Optician of the Year in 2024.
• Karen Michaelson (USA) : a nearly 50-year veteran of the industry whose Eyes on Dementia initiative has brought dementia awareness and cognitive change into mainstream eyecare conversations. She was named among Vision Monday's Most Influential Women of 2026.
• Janine Santiago (Canada) : founder of Sun City Optics Surrey, praised for building an accessible, community-first practice model aimed at international students, newcomers and young families.
• Steve Stenersen (New Zealand) : a veteran dispensing optician, educator and co-author of the Australian and New Zealand Practical Optical Dispensing textbook, and a Life Member of the Association of Dispensing Opticians New Zealand.

What the judges are looking for

IOA President Helen Whitaker said the calibre of this year's entries had impressed the panel, and that the finalists would now need to submit supporting evidence across eight core areas of expertise before a winner is chosen.

Those criteria include professionalism and patient care, communication skills (including social media presence), entrepreneurial acumen, innovation, specialisation, creativity, community and industry engagement, and advocacy for the profession.

What's next

Each finalist will now prepare a dossier detailing their achievements against those eight criteria, which will be reviewed by an international panel of industry experts. The winner will be revealed at SILMO in Paris later this year, and will take home a trip to SILMO 2027, including economy airfare and hotel accommodation.

More information on the award is available at ioassn.org/award.