"You were really very good and what a lot of positive feedback we got. Participants came to me separately for this to indicate this, really a big compliment!"
Gabriëlle Janssen, President Optometrists Association Netherlands
Context: The Optometrists Association of the Netherlands [OVN] is committed daily to ensuring excellent quality of the profession. Optometrists will play an increasingly important role in eye care in the coming years, as they can take over various care tasks from GPs and ophthalmologists. Every two years, the association organises its own OVN congress for members. I hosted the 2019 edition, the online edition in 2021 [see video] and the 2023 edition.
Output: During the well-attended OVN congress, optometrists are updated on the latest developments in eye care, but also around administrative and political issues. For the OVN, I hosted three editions of this annual congress. For example, during the live programme in 2019, I supervised an English-language panel discussion between an ophthalmologist, professor and two contact lens manufacturers on the possible usefulness or, on the contrary, harm of night lenses in children. Due to two conflicting views, between ophthalmologists on the one hand and optometrists on the other, a lively and informative discussion ensued in which I continuously managed to also engage the audience in terms of content. Afterwards, a participant approached me and said: "If you are there again next time, I will be there too".
English 
Dutch