Australia Wins Bid for World Congress of Optometry in 2021

Australia Wins Bid for World Congress of Optometry in 2021

Wednesday, October 16 2019 | 11 h 32 min | Events, News, Press Release

The World Council of Optometry (WCO) announces that the 4th World Congress of Optometry (WCO4) will be held September 2-4, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia, and will run in partnership with the highly successful Australian clinical conference and trade show O=MEGA21.

Mr. Paul Folkesson, the incoming President of the World Council of Optometry, will confirm the partnership at a ceremony during the 3rd World Congress of Optometry in Orlando, Florida, on 26 October.

“I’m delighted that the WCO is heading Down Under,” said Mr. Folkesson. “We had a very strong international field of contenders wanting to host the 4th World Congress of Optometry, and the Melbourne bid was exceptional. I have no doubt that the Australians have the experience, infrastructure and professionalism to deliver an outstanding event.”

OV/SA President Elise Pocknee-Clem said: “It’s an honour to have been chosen to host the 4th World Congress of Optometry. Early September is a great time to visit, get high-quality continuing education, and see how optometry is practiced in Australia and the Asia Pacific region. It will be a tremendous opportunity for our members to come together, share ideas, and make international connections. Melbourne is a wonderful place to bring family and friends. We encourage you to discover the hidden gems of the city, and to spend some time travelling in Australia – one of the most beautiful, safest, and friendliest countries on Earth.”

The Chairman of ODMA, Robert Sparkes, said: “O=MEGA21 is the largest and most credentialed clinical conference and trade show in the Southern Hemisphere for optometry and the ophthalmic optics community. It has always been our plan to expand the reach of our new O=MEGA offering, and make it a truly regional event. We are excited about collaborating with the World Council of Optometry and hosting WCO4 during O=MEGA’s second stellar conference.”