Gail Giordani and Jacque Katsieris

Gail Giordani and Jacque Katsieris have joined the Optical Distribution & Manufacturers Association of Australia’s (ODMA) board of directors.  

A medical scientist specialising in haematology, Giordani is the head of Zeiss Vision Care ANZ, with over two decades’ experience within the company. She brings to the board a background in international market development across multiple industries and an emerging-market perspective on the optical industry. 

Katsieris began her optical career in 1999 at Tower Optics/Jonathan Sceats Eyewear and has extensive experience of developing local brands, including RM Williams and Deborah Hutton, as well as importing collections such as Tommy Hilfiger. In 2009, Katsieris and Raymond Kessler started ProOptics, distributing both high-end and lifestyle collections, and designing and developing proprietary brands for Australian fashion labels. 

The board vacancies were due to a resignation and the sad passing of Richard Grills* in July 2022. Giordani and Katsieris will serve on the board for 12 months up to the 2023 annual general meeting, when all board positions will be filled by nomination and election. The new directors join the ODMA board of Optimed’s Robert Sparkes (chair), Device Technologies’ Mark Altman, CooperVision’s Daniel Burgess, Hoya’s Craig Chick, Mimo’s Lionel Minter, Frames Etcetera’s Sean Rosenberg and Brad Saffin of Marchon.   

* www.nzoptics.co.nz/articles/archive/ophthalmic-industry-legend-dies