About George & Matilda Eyecare

George & Matilda Eyecare unites independent Optometrists from across Australia.

We’re your local optometry experts providing more time, more care.

With 115 locations across Australia, we are part of your local community.
We provide clinical excellence from qualified optometrists using the latest techniques and equipment.
Discover a great range of eyewear brands that deliver on fashion, style and value. Our expert dispensing and retail teams take time to help you select your perfect pair.

George & Matilda Eyecare was founded in 2016. An Australian business proudly uniting the best independents together to continue to enhance the everyday vision needs for over 100 local communities. We simply take the time to care.

Founder & CEO Note

George and Matilda Eyecare is born of the Australian spirit. With a name inspired by the first high street and the cultural spirit of Australia’s national DNA. It was important to me this name was warm and friendly, not cold, and functional like many others. This would go on to represent in our core values and our engagement with our team and community. Together with our best people, leveraging all the smarts of today’s technology and platforms with size and scale that simply benefits everyone.

I believe our Independents do it best, living local and some have provided quality eyecare to local families for decades. Together we can build a brand people can trust time and time again for our future generations.

Our Team

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Chris Beer, CEO The Founder and CEO of G&M with over 32 years of experience in the retail sector across APAC. He previously served as the CEO of OPSM overseeing a multi-million-dollar expansion after it was acquired by Luxottica in 2003. Thereafter he was CEO APAC of Luxottica and collectively in charge of over 8,500 staff and $1bn+ in sales. Chris holds an Associate Diploma of Business (Marketing) from Swinburne University of Technology

Emma Roche, CFO Emma has over 20+ years in the finance sector starting her career in audit at KPMG both in Sydney and London, exposing her to clients both private and listed from a broad range of industries. Leaving KPMG in 2015, she has held a number of senior financial positions at ASX 200 and ASX 300 companies in the deathcare services and agricultural services industries for companies that have grown through roll up M&A opportunities. Emma and her finance team are responsible for the delivery of the company’s statutory and management reporting obligations, internal control procedures and treasury management. Emma graduated from University of Technology Sydney with a Bachelor of Business majoring in Accounting & Finance and is a member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.

Lily Lee, CMO Lily has extensive brand, retail and online marketing experience having worked across a broad range of industries for Procter & Gamble, Nestle CPW, Pizza Hut, Hanes and RSEA Safety. Lily holds a Bachelor of Business Management Degree, majoring in Marketing from QUT. She is also a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Lily was Chair of Shaun Parker & Co, an award-winning dance company, and she is currently an Advisor to start-ups.

Dan Sutter, CIO Dan Sutter has over 20+ years broad experience as a technology leader. Before joining George & Matilda Eyecare, Dan was based in Asia, working with large listed multi nationals in the FMCG, manufacturing & logistics space, delivering major technology initiatives globally. Dan holds tertiary qualifications in Computer Science from Massey University.

Cassie Gersbach, Chief People Officer Original member of G&M with over 29 years’ experience in retail (Women’s Apparel, Specialty and Eyewear / Eyecare). She previously held leadership roles of across multiple functions from Sales, Operations and Human Resources. Cassie is Certified Human Synergistics Practitioner and Executive Coach and Consultant Institute of Coaching and Consulting Psychology.

Ant Hudson, GM of Audiology Ant has over 30 years of diverse retail experience gained in South Africa, Middle East, UK and ANZ. He previously held National sales roles in Optical with Luxottica and in Audiology with Audika. Ant holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Rhodes University and an MBA from Stellenbosch University.

Julian Hilliard, GM of Product Julian has 40 years of Retail Management experience with skills in the disciplines of Category Management and Buying, Product Development (Food and Non-Food), Compliance, Inventory Management, Store Operations, Efficiency/Productivity and Project Management. His forte is his management ability, with an MBA in Retail and Wholesale Management, that emphasises strong analytical and decision-making capabilities, problem solving, strategic planning and sales/profit achievement

Anthony Sargeant, National Professional Services Manager As the National Professional Services Manager, Anthony leads the organisation’s national clinical strategy, governance framework, and professional capability. With over 15 years’ experience across clinical practice, professional development, and advisory roles, he maintains active clinical practice delivering full-scope eyecare, ensuring evidence-based, patient-first care remains the foundation of the network’s operations. Anthony holds a Bachelor of Vision Science and Master of Optometry from the Queensland University of Technology.

Chris Beer, CEO

The Founder and CEO of G&M with over 32 years of experience in the retail sector across APAC. He previously served as the CEO of OPSM overseeing a multi-million-dollar expansion after it was acquired by Luxottica in 2003. Thereafter he was CEO APAC of Luxottica and collectively in charge of over 8,500 staff and $1bn+ in sales.

Chris holds an Associate Diploma of Business (Marketing) from Swinburne University of Technology

Emma Roche, CFO

Emma has over 20+ years in the finance sector starting her career in audit at KPMG both in Sydney and London, exposing her to clients both private and listed from a broad range of industries.

Leaving KPMG in 2015, she has held a number of senior financial positions at ASX 200 and ASX 300 companies in the deathcare services and agricultural services industries for companies that have grown through roll up M&A opportunities.

Emma and her finance team are responsible for the delivery of the company’s statutory and management reporting obligations, internal control procedures and treasury management.

Emma graduated from University of Technology Sydney with a Bachelor of Business majoring in Accounting & Finance and is a member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.

Lily Lee, CMO

Lily has extensive brand, retail and online marketing experience having worked across a broad range of industries for Procter & Gamble, Nestle CPW, Pizza Hut, Hanes and RSEA Safety.

Lily holds a Bachelor of Business Management Degree, majoring in Marketing from QUT. She is also a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Lily was Chair of Shaun Parker & Co, an award-winning dance company, and she is currently an Advisor to start-ups.

Dan Sutter, CIO

Dan Sutter has over 20+ years broad experience as a technology leader. Before joining George & Matilda Eyecare, Dan was based in Asia, working with large listed multi nationals in the FMCG, manufacturing & logistics space, delivering major technology initiatives globally. Dan holds tertiary qualifications in Computer Science from Massey University.

Cassie Gersbach, Chief People Officer

Original member of G&M with over 29 years’ experience in retail (Women’s Apparel, Specialty and Eyewear / Eyecare).

She previously held leadership roles of across multiple functions from Sales, Operations and Human Resources. Cassie is Certified Human Synergistics Practitioner and Executive Coach and Consultant Institute of Coaching and Consulting Psychology.

Ant Hudson, GM of Audiology

Ant has over 30 years of diverse retail experience gained in South Africa, Middle East, UK and ANZ.

He previously held National sales roles in Optical with Luxottica and in Audiology with Audika.

Ant holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Rhodes University and an MBA from Stellenbosch University.

Julian Hilliard, GM of Product

Julian has 40 years of Retail Management experience with skills in the disciplines of Category Management and Buying, Product Development (Food and Non-Food), Compliance, Inventory Management, Store Operations, Efficiency/Productivity and Project Management.

His forte is his management ability, with an MBA in Retail and Wholesale Management, that emphasises strong analytical and decision-making capabilities, problem solving, strategic planning and sales/profit achievement

Anthony Sargeant, National Professional Services Manager

As the National Professional Services Manager, Anthony leads the organisation’s national clinical strategy, governance framework, and professional capability. With over 15 years’ experience across clinical practice, professional development, and advisory roles, he maintains active clinical practice delivering full-scope eyecare, ensuring evidence-based, patient-first care remains the foundation of the network’s operations. Anthony holds a Bachelor of Vision Science and Master of Optometry from the Queensland University of Technology.