29/07/2025
Meet your IOA President: Helen Whitaker (Canada)
Helen is a Licensed Contact Lens Fitter and Refracting and Dispensing Optician based in British Columbia, Canada, with over 13 years of dedicated service. In 2021, she became the first woman to be awarded the prestigious International Optician of the Year, an honour that reflects her commitment to advancing the optical profession and serving communities with passion.
Helen is the founder and operator of Secure Vision, an award-winning mobile optical business devoted to making high-quality, stylish, and affordable eyewear accessible to all—regardless of age, mobility, or financial status. She is equally proud of The Secure Vision Mobile Optical Academy, where she mentors and educates aspiring mobile opticians, helping them build sustainable businesses that balance profitability, client care, and personal well-being.
Philanthropy is at the heart of Helen’s work. A pivotal moment in her career came during her 2018 mission to the Little Ray of Hope School in Kwangware, Nairobi. Providing vision solutions to underserved children remains one of her most rewarding experiences. Today, as Optical Team Leader for Volunteering for Honduras, Helen leads annual missions to remote communities, offering essential eye care and eyewear.
In her role as President of the International Opticians Association, Helen champions global collaboration, innovation, and policy development. She firmly believes that through shared knowledge, technology, and compassion, opticians worldwide can elevate the profession and create a future where equitable vision care is a reality for all.
“Collaboration, accountability, and compassion are the keys to a future where vision care is a right, not a privilege.”
