Dr Ovens grew up in Sydney, and graduated from Sydney University in 2015. He undertook his Ophthalmology training through Sydney Eye Hospital, including rotations in Darwin and Tasmania and a volunteer trip to the Philippines. In 2023 he was the Professorial Senior registrar at Sydney Eye Hospital, under the tutelage of Prof Peter McCluskey and Prof John Grigg. He is also undertaking a PhD through Sydney University, trying to find better markers of damage in optic nerve and retinal diseases.

Dr Ovens has gained recognition throughout his career, including a full scholarship to study medicine, as well as the Clarence & Mabel Clark Prize for his masters degree in Ophthalmic Science and the Filipic Greer Prize for Pathology during his Ophthalmology training. He has published research in local and international journals, and presented his findings at various academic meetings including the 2023 ARVO meeting in New Orleans, USA. He is also keenly involved in the teaching and training of junior doctors, and has authored a book aimed at helping high school and university students to decide if medicine is right for them.

In his spare time, he will usually be skiing or mountainbiking, to keep fit and to scare himself just a little bit.