Professor Helen Danesh-Meyer
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 Neuro-ophthalmology and Glaucoma. She
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.
Graduating from the University of Otago in 2006 with an MB ChB and BSC (Neuroscience) degree, Liz gained specialist Ophthalmic training in Dunedin and Auckland and sub-specialty fellowship experience at The Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital and the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford in the United Kingdom. Liz is the only member of the Australian, New Zealand Society of Ophthalmic Plastic Surgeons (ANZSOPS) in Hawke’s Bay.
Liz is the Clinical Director for Ophthalmology at Hawke’s Bay Hospital and is Vice-Chair on the New Zealand branch executive of RANZCO. She sits on the Women in Ophthalmology advisory board and is a recent addition to the Maori and Pacific Eye Health Committee, working closely Kapo Maori Aotearoa. Liz was awarded 2021 ‘Trainer of Excellence’ by trainees in RANZCO’s New Zealand network.
In her spare time Liz is training for the 'Old Ghost Road' ultramarathon in February and spending time with her girls Scarlett and Ruby and husband Francis.
Dr. Pragnya Jagadish
Pragnya (Pragy) recently completed her RACE and is interested in medical retina. She is passionate about women's empowerment and wellbeing. She is a member of the Women in Ophthalmology RANZCO.