Chis Beer will transition from his role as Chief Executive Officer of George & Matilda to become Executive Chairman, effective 25 May 2026.

In a statement, Mr Beer said turning 60 this year had given him reason to reflect on his achievements and future direction.

Mr Beer said the change in leadership “reflects the natural evolution of the business and ensures we have the right leadership structure in place to support our next phase of growth”.

“I will continue to be actively involved, focusing on strategy, partnerships, and leveraging my 40+ years of experience in optical retail, mergers and acquisitions, supplier development, and industry engagement. I’m not stepping away from G&M, I’m stepping into a role that is better aligned to where the business is headed and I’m appreciative of the Board’s continued support to strengthen our foundations for sustainable growth.”

Matt Spencer, a member of the G&M Board, will step in as Interim CEO. Mr Spencer has extensive leadership experience and a strong track record in operations and people engagement.

A new state-of-the-art training facility in Sydney is set to transform how health care professionals (HCPs) across Australia and New Zealand learn, collaborate, and adopt emerging medical technologies.

“We can connect across the states in Australia... or with international colleagues,” Mr Thomas said. “We’re still learning how we can best use this exciting digital capability for the benefit of eye care practitioners across Australia and New Zealand.”

The Johnson & Johnson Institute brings together more than 600 employees from the company’s medtech, innovation medicine, and vision divisions under one roof for the first time, marking a significant investment in the future of health care education.

The Institute also incorporates hands-on simulation technology, allowing practitioners to train using artificial eyes and simulated surgical environments before entering operating theatres. This approach is increasingly seen as critical in improving patient safety and clinical outcomes.

Opening the building, Peter Hawkes, Cluster Lead Johnson & Johnson MedTech Australia and New Zealand, welcomed a broad audience of surgeons, clinicians, industry partners, and educators, highlighting the organisation’s long-standing commitment to health care training.

Importantly, the facility is not limited to a single specialty. While ophthalmology and vision care are key areas, the Institute supports a wide range of medical disciplines aligned with Johnson & Johnson’s broader portfolio.

“Johnson & Johnson has a long, proud history here in Australia,” he said. “We’ve been supporting the health of Australians and partnering in the education of health care professionals since 1931... and today is about extending that next chapter and building on this legacy.”

“It’s much bigger than ophthalmology and optometry,” Mr Thomas said. “The Institute supports all the medical specialties where Johnson & Johnson are present.”

Mr Hawkes emphasised that education remains central to the company’s mission, noting that more than 3,500 healthcare professionals across Australia and New Zealand have been trained by local teams in the past two years alone.

The new Sydney facility is the 24th Johnson & Johnson Institute globally and has been designed to meet the evolving demands of modern health care, where increasing complexity, rapid innovation, and growing patient expectations are reshaping clinical practice.

The new facility expands this capability through initiatives such as tele-mentoring, where surgeons from around the world can be guided remotely through procedures in real time.

At the heart of the Institute is a focus on flexible, technology-driven learning. The facility includes simulation suites, artificial training environments, and advanced connectivity that enables remote education and collaboration.

“So, whether you’re a surgeon from Argentina, Albania, or Albury, we can tele-mentor you directly into our simulation suites,” Mr Hawkes said.

Blake Thomas, Country Manager ANZ Surgical Vision at Johnson & Johnson MedTech, said the centre allows for a wide range of training formats, from in-person workshops to live-streamed sessions with international experts.

The Institute also offers the opportunity to formalise new industry partnerships focusing on education. One such partnership includes a collaboration with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons aimed at improving surgical training standards across the region.

“It gives us the option of leading education across a whole broad spectrum of needs,” he said. “We have a multi-purpose facility that can meet those needs for small or large groups.”

Dr Jodie Ellis-Clark, a colorectal surgeon and chair of the Australia and New Zealand training board in colon and rectal surgery, said the facility represents a major step forward for medical education.

GLOBAL CONNECTIVITY A key feature is its global connectivity, enabling clinicians to participate in training regardless of location. This includes the ability to connect

“Technology alone doesn’t transform care,” she said. “What really matters is how clinicians are trained to use it.”

“Surgery is a practical craft. We learn by observing, practising, and sharing ideas... preferably in a place where it’s safe to do so,” she said.

For Johnson & Johnson, the goal is clear: by investing in training, education and partnerships, the ultimate beneficiaries will be patients.

“Ultimately, when clinicians, educators, industry, and government work together to support surgical training,” Dr Ellis-Clark said, “the real beneficiaries are the patients we care for every day.”