Our Team

At Eye Specialists we work as a tightly knit team. Each of us plays our part to ensure your procedure or operation goes as smoothly as possible.
From making you feel welcome the moment you walk in the door, through to your initial consultation, your procedure or operation and your post-operative care, we’ll be there. Many of our patients feel so relaxed – they phone in or pop by to chat with our nurses, post operatively.

Dr Brian Kent-Smith Ophthalmologist

Brian Kent-Smith is the owner and team leader of Eye Specialists.
Born in South Africa.
Medical degree at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg.
Specialised at St John Eye Hospital, part of Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto. He has undertaken many thousands of operations. He’s backed up ably with the enormously capable team at Eye Specialists as well as 13 partners at Auckland Eye, who regularly provide second and third opinions if and when they’re required.
Fellow of the College of Surgeons of South Africa (Ophthalmology) 1995
Fellow of the Royal Australian and NZ College of Ophthalmologists 2006
Employed by Whangarei Area Hospital since 1997
Part time private practice since 2000
Personal interests: cycling, running, swimming, fishing, scuba diving, photography.

Dr Paul Cohen Ophthalmologist

Born in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Medical degree at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg.
Emigrated to Israel where he specialised in Ophthalmology in Jerusalem.
Completed a Fellowship in Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus in Oxford, England.
Ran the Paediatric Ophthalmology unit in Shaare Zedek Hospital, Jerusalem.

Eye-Specialists-Whangarei Brian
Dr Brian Kent-SmithOphthalmologist

Brian Kent-Smith is the owner and team leader of Eye... Specialists.
Born in South Africa.
Medical degree at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg.
Specialised at St John Eye Hospital, part of Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto. He has undertaken many thousands of operations. Fellow of the College of Surgeons of South Africa (Ophthalmology) 1995
Fellow of the Royal Australian and NZ College of Ophthalmologists 2006
Employed by Whangarei Area Hospital since 1997
Part time private practice since 2000
Personal interests: cycling, running, swimming, fishing, scuba diving, photography.

stef-g
Dr Stef GuglielmettiOphthalmologist

Dr Stefano Guglielmetti is a fellowship trained ophthalmologist.... He completed fellowships in corneal, cataract and refractive surgery at Moorfields Eye Hospital in the United Kingdom from 2008 to 2010.
He completed his ophthalmology degree at the university of the Witwatersrand in 2007. Thereafter he was in private practice in Johannesburg from 2010 until 2021 and subsequently relocated to Whangarei with his family and joined the team at Eye Specialists in January 2023.
At Eye Specialists Dr Guglielmetti will be offering Implantable Contact Lens (ICL) surgery and presbyopia correcting lenses with cataract surgery. He is able to manage patients with glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration.
Dr Guglielmetti is a Fellow of the Royal College of Australian and New Zealand Ophthalmologists, Royal College of Surgeons of Canada, College of Ophthalmologists of South Africa and a Charter Fellow of the World College of Refractive Surgeons and Visual Sciences.

Eye-Specialists-Whangarei-2
NickGeneral Manager

Nick joined the team as General Manager in early 2023. He is an... experienced senior health leader with a strong business development background, and qualifications in Public Health and Commerce. Nick has held ownership and senior executive roles across a number of established and start-up organisations in the health industry, spanning public, private and NGO sectors. Nick has a strong connection to the North, returning in 2017 with his wife and daughters, and enjoys time on the water and landscaping.

Eye-Specialists-Whangarei-12
JohannaOptometrist

Johanna graduated with a Bachelor of Optometry with a... therapeutics endorsement from Auckland University in 2010. Since then, she has predominantly worked in private optometry clinics within NZ.
Johanna is enjoying the variety of her work at Eye Specialists which involves post operative care, dry eye treatment and the collaborative management of glaucoma.
Outside of work Johanna enjoys exploring Northland with her young family.

Eye-Specialists-Whangarei-Tricia
Tricia Registered NurseOphthalmic Assistant

Tricia has been employed at Eye Specialists since 2007, working... in both the clinic and theatre areas. Her goal is to provide safe, professional care to all clients who visit Eye Specialists.
In her spare time - when she gets some - Tricia enjoys walking, gardening and outdoor activities.

Eye-Specialists-Whangarei-Ashleigh
Ashleigh Registered Nurse

Ashleigh joined the Eye Specialists team in June 2018 after... returning from Canada. She has been working in Ophthalmology clinics for the past two years, including a busy Eye Clinic in Vancouver. Ashleigh works in theatre and clinics and loves the variety this provides. Ashleigh enjoys fishing, hockey, travel and golf.

Eye-Specialists-Whangarei-Jon
Jon Registered NurseOphthalmic Assistant

As part of our nursing team at Eye Specialists Jon prepares... patients for surgery, assist with post-operative care, and administers the various tests and procedures we do here that are involved in maintaining vision and healthy eyes.
Jon makes his own surf boards and is involved with the Surf Life Saving movement in New Zealand.

Eye-Specialists-Whangarei-Dissmol
DissmolRegistered Nurse

Dissmol joined the team at Eye Specialists in August 2019. Born... in India, Dissmol completed her graduation in Nursing, from the University of Calicut, India. Dissmol has worked as a Registered Nurse for almost three years in Medical and Paediatric units. After moving to New Zealand in August 2015, Dissmol worked as a Registered Nurse in aged care and then at Whangarei Base Hospital on the Medical ward before moving to the Ophthalmology clinic.
Dissmol loves being part of the team here at Eye Specialists and enjoys learning new things everyday.
Outside work, her two little boys keep her busy most of the time although she still finds sometime to experiment with cooking. 

Eye-Specialists-Whangarei-Kate
KateRegistered Nurse

Kate joined the team at Eye Specialists in 2022.
Her... nursing background includes many years working in a variety of clinical and community settings.
Working in post-operative care and clinics, she enjoys the patient contact and working within a team.
She has two kids at home and loves spending time with her family, camping, cooking, and reading.

Eye-Specialists-Whangarei-Amanda
Amanda Registered Nurse

Amanda joined Eye Specialists in August 2018.
Her nursing... background includes many years as a theatre nurse.
Amanda is working in both clinic and theatre and is enjoying the patient contact, variety and being part of our busy team.
She has two active young teenagers with whom she shares a love of the outdoors, water and horses.

Eye-Specialists-Whangarei-Lianne
Lianne Sterlising TechnicianGlaucoma Technician

In 2012 Lianne had a career change from being a travel agent,... and has been with Eye Specialists ever since. Her duties involve sterilisation of the surgical equipment, scanning optic nerves, visual field testing ad checking for glaucoma. Lianne has achieved her sterilisation CSD certificate and believes her strength is being a team player. Outside of the workplace she enjoys travel and gardening.

Eye-Specialists-Whangarei-10
HelenaOphthalmic Technician

Helena joined Eye Specialists in March 2023.
She has... been working in the IT and retail industry previously.
Helena works in the clinics and operates all the eye machines for the doctors.
Helena enjoys hiking, baking and reading.

Eye-Specialists-Whangarei-Andrea
AndreaSterilising Technician

Andrea joined the team at Eye Specialists in December 2021. ... She has 15 years’ experience working in CSU at Whangarei Base Hospital and holds a sterilisation CSD certificate. In her spare time she enjoys going on scenic walks when she’s not busy enjoying her grandchildren.

Eye-Specialists-Whangarei-8
EmmaSterilising Technician

Emma joined the team at Eye Specialists in November 2022 as a... Sterilising Technician.
Tena Koe

Ko Nga Puhi te iwi
Ko Ngati Hine, Ko Te Orewai nga hapu
Ko Tau Henare te marae
No Pipiwai ahau
Kei Whangarei toku kainga inaianei
Ko taku mahi ko sterilising technician
Ko Emmaline toku ingoa

No reira, tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa.

Eye-Specialists-Whangarei-web Tina
Tina Administrative Receptionist

Tina joined the team in 2019 as a part-time Admin Receptionist. ... She has a background as dental admin receptionist.
Tina settled in Whangarei 13yrs ago after marrying her husband in the Hokianga. She keeps busy with her two boisterous boys who both love rugby. In her spare time she enjoys hiking, traveling and boating with the family.

Eye-Specialists-Whangarei-4
PraiseAdminstrative Receptionist

Joined the team 2023 as a Full time Admin Receptionist
My... background is Beauty therapy and medical Administration. I enjoy fishing, camping, going to the beach, spending time with my family and on the weekend you will find me anywhere the sun is.
Born and raised in Whangarei.

Eye-Specialists-Whangarei-6
SherylAdministrative Receptionist

Sheryl joined our reception team in December 2022. She comes... from a banking and medical receptionist/admin background and enjoys going out with friends, movies, walking, cards, puzzles, reading.