Optical Women’s Association celebrates international milestone

Optical Women’s Association celebrates international milestone with successful “start strong” breakfast event at SILMO PARIS 2026

The Optical Women’s Association (OWA) marked an important milestone in its international expansion journey with START STRONG, powered by the OWA, a special global connection breakfast event held at SILMO Paris on Saturday, September 26.

A retrospective on SILMO 2026

The event brought together optical professionals from across the industry for an early morning dedicated to connection, leadership and the advancement of women in optics. Hosted at the SILMO Club, START STRONG created an opportunity for attendees to pause before the busy exhibition day, exchange ideas, learn from industry leaders and build meaningful relationships within the global optical community.

The event represents a significant step forward in OWA’s ambition to extend its reach beyond North America and build a truly international community that supports women’s professional growth, leadership development and success across the optical industry.

“International expansion is about so much more than growing our membership; it’s about creating opportunities for people to connect, learn from one another and realise the strength of a global community,” said Nancy Gries of OWA. “START STRONG brought that vision to life at SILMO, creating space for meaningful conversations, shared experiences and new relationships. We are incredibly grateful to SILMO for supporting this milestone and helping us bring the OWA community together in Paris.”

Industry leaders shared insights in “In Focus” sessions

A highlight of the morning was the In Focus programme, featuring experienced industry leaders sharing practical perspectives on making the most of major optical trade shows.

In the Exhibitor Edition, Barbara Hébert Motz, Chief Marketing Officer at MOREL, shared insights on preparing for trade show success, maximising opportunities during an exhibition and evaluating results afterwards.

The Buyer Edition featured Tamara Johnson, Buyer at New Look Vision Group, and Alessandra Germanetti, Luxury Category Buyer for EssilorLuxottica Retail. They offered perspectives on how buyers approach major trade shows, set priorities, identify new opportunities and measure success.

The sessions encouraged attendees to consider how purposeful preparation, meaningful engagement and clear objectives can help turn trade show participation into lasting business relationships and opportunities.

Opening remarks were delivered by Amélie Morel, President of SILMO and Director of Communications, whose support helped set the tone for a morning centred on collaboration and the power of bringing the optical community together.

Beyond the discussions, START STRONG placed a strong emphasis on connection. Attendees had the opportunity to meet fellow professionals, exchange experiences and connect with members of the OWA International Expansion Committee to learn more about the association’s growing international presence, initiatives and plans for the future.

The event reflected OWA’s belief that building a stronger industry starts with creating opportunities for people to support one another, share knowledge and develop relationships across roles, organisations and borders.

As OWA continues to develop its international community, initiatives such as START STRONG will help create more opportunities for members and prospective members to engage with the association, access leadership development and contribute to a more connected and inclusive optical industry.

Nancy Gries added: “The energy and willingness to connect that we saw at SILMO reinforced why this work matters. We want professionals across the world to feel that there is a community they can turn to for support, inspiration and opportunities to grow. START STRONG is an exciting part of that journey, and we look forward to building on this momentum.”