Ernest is a behavioural optometrist who obtained his undergraduate optometry degree from Auckland University in 2008. He then worked in Christchurch for 4 years serving the local community and volunteered at an international eye clinic in Thailand in 2009. The devastating earthquake that followed was a clear sign for him to pack up and move.

Having visited Australia multiple times, he decided to cross the ditch and has worked in Melbourne and now Sydney. While working, he pursued his Masters in Optometry at UNSW dabbling in advanced contact lenses, public health optometry and behavioural optometry. During this time (under the guidance of Dr Rosemary Paynter and Professor Ed Howell), his interest in peadiatric optometry and binocular vision was reignited. After completing his Masters, he spent the majority of his time doing relief work in regional areas of Australia and worked as a visiting peadiatric clinical supervisor at UNSW. He also completed his post-graduate certificate in Ocular Therapeutics to become an ophthalmic medicine prescriber.

In his spare time, he enjoys painting* and keeping fit so you can find him swimming, playing tennis or running with his two dogs.