Professor Paul Baird heads the Ocular Genetics Unit at the Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA) and is a Professor at the Department of Surgery, Ophthalmology, University of Melbourne. His interests are in the study of the genetics of eye diseases, particularly age-related macular degeneration (AMD), myopia and keratoconus and how genetics can be used to improve prediction models and treatment outcomes for patients through the use of big data in precision medicine. He has over 170 publications and is on the editorial board of 10 international journals. He reviews extensively for 37 international journals and 32 international granting bodies. He was awarded the Golden Eye Award by the Association of Community Ophthalmologists of India in 2011, a Senior Australia India Fellowship from the Australian Academy of Science in 2013, a Distinguished Scholar Scheme awardee from the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2017 and is an NHMRC Senior Research Fellow. He initiated the Keratoconus International Consortium and is Vice President of the National Eye Institute (USA) initiated Global Eye Genetics Consortium which is aimed at promoting eye research across the Asia Pacific region and developing world with an emphasis on research, education and training. He has been on the organising and program committees of 18 national and international meetings, chaired 18 symposia and delivered 14 keynote and plenary lectures and 50 symposia.