Founders
The Driving Force Behind Women In Vision Aotearoa
In 2022, while on a run, Liz came up with the idea to create a platform of unwavering support to female trainees in the field of ophthalmology. She joined forces with Prof.Helen-Danesh Meyer, who has long been a pioneer behind women's empowerment in ophthalmology and the only female Professor in ophthalmology NZ. She confided her thoughts to, Pragy Jagadish, who was then her trainee and equally passionate about culture change. The three of them, then came up with "Women in Vision".
The platform has since expanded to foster professional and personal growth among all women in ophthalmology (including optometry), provide a safe and secure community of like-minded individuals to empower and innovate change in the workplace.
Helen Danesh-Meyer, MBChB, MD, PhD, FRANZCO is the first female Professor of Ophthalmology in New Zealand and holds the Sir William and Lady Stevenson Chair in Ophthalmology and Head of Academic Neurophthalmology and Glaucoma.
Optholmology Professor
Professor Dame Helen Danesh-Meyer
Brief Introduction
As an internationally recognised leader, Prof.Helen Danesh-Meyer has been awarded Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to ophthalmology. She is one of seven new knights and dames appointed nationwide in 2026.
​Prof.Dame. Helen Danesh-Meyer was the youngest appointed professor at the University of Auckland Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences and one of the few women who is professor in a surgical speciality. Helen is clinician-scientist that divides her time equally between patient care/surgery and research. She has published approximately 200 paper in glaucoma and neuro-ophthalmology and authored several textbooks and chapters and raised over $15M in grant funding. Several of her research findings have impacted clinical practice and her research has been featured in the New Scientist. She mentored over 20 clinical and research fellows. She is active teaching and education and regularly lectures nationally and internationally. She is the international representative on the American Academy Basic Clinical Science Course (Neuro-ophthalmology), has served as an Examiner for the RANZCO Examinations, and has developed a web- based glaucoma education programme.
She has achieved numerous ‘firsts’ for NZ ophthalmologist: first NZ member of the international Glaucoma Research Society (membership determined by research contribution to the field), the first NZ ophthalmologist to be Visiting Professor at Harvard Fall Festival, first Australian or NZ to be appointed to the American Academy of Ophthalmology Basic Clinical Science Course, first female Chair of the RANZCO Scientific Programme Committee, and first NZ ophthalmologist to serve on the Editorial Board of American Journal of Ophthalmology and Ophthalmology. Helen is also an active contributor to the wider community. She is the only New Zealand Ophthalmologist to have been awarded the Paul Harris Award by Rotary for her service to the community. She is a Founding Trustee and Chair of Glaucoma New Zealand, a charitable trust to prevent blindness from glaucoma. She is also on the Executive Advisory Committee for Word Glaucoma Association. She is also presently the Chair of Women in Ophthalmology for RANZCO.
Dr. Liz Insull
Dr. Liz Insull is the NZ Chair of RANZCO and New Zealand and UK trained Oculoplastic and Ophthalmic surgeon based in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand.
Ophthalmic Surgeon
Brief Introduction
Dr Liz Insull is an ophthalmologist and oculoplastic surgeon based in Aotearoa New Zealand. She trained in Dunedin and Auckland after graduating from the University of Otago with an MB ChB and BSc (Neuroscience), and completed subspecialty fellowship training in ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery in the United Kingdom at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital and the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford. She is the only member of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Ophthalmic Plastic Surgeons (ANZSOPS) practising in Hawke’s Bay.
Liz is the current New Zealand Branch Chair of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO) and sits on RANZCO Council. Through this role, she also serves as a trustee of the Council of Medical Colleges (CMC). She is a member of the Women in Ophthalmology Executive.
A founding member and co-director of Women in Vision Aotearoa, Liz has a strong interest in leadership, equity, and the wellbeing of the eye-health workforce, including more human and sustainable approaches to surgical training. Her work focuses on collaborative models of care, particularly in regional settings.
Liz is the former Clinical Director of Ophthalmology at Hawke’s Bay Hospital. She was awarded the Heather G Mack Scholarship for Women in Leadership in 2022 and the RANZCO Trainer of Excellence award in 2021.
Dr. Pragnya recently graduated with FRANZCO and currently undertaking fellowships in refractive surgery at the prestigious London Vision Clinic and is due to start her second fellowship at Moorefields Eye Hospital, London. She completed her final year of training in Monash, Melbourne, specialising in complex cataract surgery and medical retina. She is a strong advocate for wellbeing, improving diversity and creating a change in the culture of medicine. She is on the board for RANZCO Women in Ophthalmology as well
as Cultural curriculum committee. Pragy has a creative streak and working towards launching a podcast in 2026!
Member
Dr. Pragnya Jagadish
