Canberra-based Wiradjuri and Ngemba optometrist Harrison Pike has received the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health Conference26 emerging leadership award.

The award was presented by the First Nations Eye Health Alliance at the 2026 conference at the MCG, Naarm/Melbourne, on Wurundjeri Country in May.

Mr Pike is the first Indigenous student to graduate from the Master of Optometry at the University of Canberra.

He works as an optometrist at OPSM Canberra City and is a member of the alliance and its conference leadership group.

Mr Pike said the award reinforced his commitment to advocating for better eye health outcomes.

"I was deeply honoured to receive the Emerging Leadership Award," Mr Pike said.

"A huge thank you to the First Nations Eye Health Alliance for this recognition.

"I don't do this work for awards, however receiving this means a great deal to me and reinforces my commitment to continuing to advocate for better eye health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples."

The conference also acknowledged the World Health Organisation's formal validation of Australia's elimination of trachoma as a public health problem.

The alliance described the milestone as a significant achievement for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander eye health and global efforts to eliminate neglected tropical diseases.

It said the result reflected decades of work by communities, Aboriginal community-controlled health organisations, health workers, clinicians, researchers and government partners.

First Nations Eye Health Alliance CEO Lose (Rose) Fonua congratulated Mr Pike on the recognition.

Ms Fonua said Mr Pike represented emerging leadership in the sector.

"As a valued member of FNEHA and our conference leadership group, Harrison represents the next generation of leaders helping to improve eye health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through culturally safe, community-centred care," Ms Fonua said.

"His recognition highlights the important role optometrists play in closing the gap in vision outcomes and the need to continue to grow a strong, skilled, and culturally responsive eye health workforce."

First Nations Eye Health Alliance co-chair Shaun Tatipata said the achievement showed the impact of community-led work.

"The elimination of trachoma is a historic public health victory for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and a powerful example of what community-led action can achieve," Mr Tatipata said.

"For too long, trachoma reflected the inequities experienced in some of the most remote communities in Australia.

"This milestone shows that preventable blindness can be eliminated when governments, communities, and Aboriginal community-controlled health services work together with long-term commitment and shared purpose."

The alliance said continued vigilance and investment would be needed to maintain elimination status and support future generations to remain free from trachoma.

It will present an award to Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler and Assistant Minister Rebecca White in Canberra in recognition of the Australian Government's achievement.