06/10/2025
Meet your IOA Education Director : Dr Grant Hannaford of Australia, 2022 Silmo Paris IOA International Optician of the Year.
Grant is an internationally recognised authority in ophthalmic optics, lens design, and optical dispensing education. With almost three decades of experience in clinical optics and professional training, he is committed to elevating global standards of optical practice through education, research, and leadership.
Grant holds a Doctor of Ophthalmic Science (DOphSc) from Aston University in the UK and is a Fellow of the British Dispensing Opticians (FBDO Hons), with additional academic degrees in science and the humanities from the University of New England. He is a Director of a multi award winning independent practice Hannaford Eyewear in New South Wales, Australia, and the co-founder of the Academy of Advanced Ophthalmic Optics (AAOO), which provides postgraduate education to optometrists, opticians and optical dispensers throughout Australasia, Europe, and North America.
As Education Director for the IOA, Grant leads strategic education initiatives to support the development of dispensing professionals across diverse global contexts. He is instrumental in creating educational frameworks that promote lifelong learning, clinical excellence, and cross-border collaboration among optical professionals.
In addition to his international work, Grant has served as the President of the Optical Dispensers Education Trust in New South Wales, where he supported the advancement of education and professional development within the Australian optical community. He is also a past Vice President of the Australian Dispensing Opticians Association (ADOA), where he contributed to advocacy, policy, and practitioner representation.
Grant’s academic and clinical research focuses on biometric lens modelling, wavefront aberrations, and spectacle lens design customisation. He has delivered lectures and workshops across multiple continents and continues to collaborate on curriculum development for professional and academic programs.
Grant’s work uniquely bridges the gap between theoretical optics and clinical application, equipping opticians with the tools to manage complex visual needs using evidence-based approaches. With a deep commitment to advancing the role of optical dispensers worldwide, he advocates for greater recognition of their expertise in the evolving landscape of eye care.
Grant is an adjunct lecturer at the School of Optometry and Vision Science the University of New South Wales UNSW and the Save Sight Institute the University of Sydney. A passionate educator, researcher, and clinician, he remains at the forefront of shaping the future of optical dispensing through innovation, professional standards, and a global vision for the profession.
