International Optician of the Year 2022

Grant receives his award from Fiona Anderson, alongside Silmo president, Amelie Morel

Australian optician, Grant Hanniford, has been named Silmo IOA International Optician of the Year 2022.

The International Opticians Association (IOA) announced Grant had won the title at the Silmo d’Or Awards ceremony in Paris.

This innovative award, first given in 2018, recognises the importance of the optician in the optical business and their role in the choice of optimum products for their clientele.

Grant Hannaford has made Hannaford Eyewear the destination for leading-edge innovation and excellence in clinical care for the Southern Highlands of Australia, as well as delivering optical dispensing training for optometrists at the University of New South Wales.

Grant said: “Together with my wife, Thao, we have grown Hannaford Eyewear over the past 18 years from a single optometrist practice to a multi-practitioner location, quadrupling revenues in the process.”

Grant and Thao have developed and mentored more than 50 staff in optometry, optical dispensing and administrative roles, a number of whom now operate their own business as a result. Grant’s practice has been a finalist in the local area business awards 18 times, winning in its category five times. It has also been a finalist on four occasions in the Australian Small Business Champion Awards, including for 2022.

Grant has also developed the Academy of Advanced Ophthalmic Optics, where he has been a mentor, provided practitioner education on the implementation of advanced ophthalmic lenses and been recognised and accredited by the Optometry Board of Australia as an avenue for continuing education with General Optical Council accreditation forthcoming.

Grant was presented with his award by Fiona Anderson, IOA president.

Fioan said: “I am delighted Grant has been awarded this prestigious award. He embodies an optician whose patients are at the heart of all that he does. A truly worthy winner and he deserves our hearty congratulations.”

As well as the prestigious award, Grant wins a trip for two to Silmo 2023.

Find out more about the award on the IOA website.