Adrienne Pizatella is on the Public Health team at Bloomberg Philanthropies. She supports the Tobacco Control Initiative, the Data for Health Initiative and is newly supporting the Vision Initiative - a two-year commitment to address vision needs globally.

She has worked in public health for more than 15 years and has previously worked on the ground in South and Southeast Asia.

Dr Aaron Thembinkosi Magava is a Zimbabwean Qphthalmologist and Public Eye Health Specialist with extensive experience in clinical care, health systems strengthening, and regional policy development. He holds a Master of Science in Public Eye Health from the University of London in addition to clinical qualifications from the University of Zimbabwe.

Dr Magava is actively involved in the delivery of comprehensive eye care services in Zimbabwe, with a strong focus on improving access to quality eye health at provincial and national levels. His work spans clinical management, training of healthcare professionals, and implementation of sustainable eye care programmes.

He has also played a key leadership role in advancing eye health across Sub-Saharan Africa, including serving as Sub-Saharan Africa Chair of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) and Co-Chairing the Eye Health Expert Committee of the ECSA Health Community, which advises ministries of health on policy and strategic planning.

Abigail Steinberg (“Abi”) is the Executive Director of the Eyeglasses Initiative at the Livelihood Impact Fund, managing a diverse portfolio of 25+ organizations across 15+ countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The eyeglasses initiative is focused on getting reading glasses, a simple cost-effective solution, to hundreds of millions of adults who could use them to increase income and productivity and significantly improve their livelihoods.

Abi’s professional life, for over 15 years, has been driven by her dedication to improving livelihoods and addressing intractable issues across the U.S., Africa, Southeast Asia, and India. She has worked in social impact and mission-driven for-profit enterprises, academia, philanthropy, entrepreneurship, government, corporations, and consulting. Her projects include work for the World Bank, International Finance Corporation (IFC), United Nations, Mastercard Foundation, and IDEO. Her recent experience includes leading strategic design on a small team advising the President of financial services at Capital One.

She previously managed an investment portfolio of 20+ companies, piloting and launching new financial products reaching the last mile across East and West Africa. She holds graduate degrees from Brandeis University and the University of Pennsylvania, with academic fellowships from Princeton University and Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She is also a 2023 Byron Fellow.

Megan Collins, MD, MPH, is the Allen and Claire Jensen Professor of Ophthalmology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Wilmer Eye Institute.

She is a practicing pediatric ophthalmologist and global eye health researcher. Her research focus includes the epidemiology of pediatric eye disease and the role of schools and communities in addressing pediatric eye care disparities. She is leading the evaluation team for the Bloomberg Philanthropies Vision Initiative and works closely with IAPB and WHO on a variety of refractive error and cataract related projects.

Adebowale Alfred Adekunle (AAA) doesn't just work with data, he translates it into stories that move people to act. As the current Global Data and Reporting Lead at VisionSpring, he works across a diverse and rich cultural environment to design and manage the performance systems that support eye health programs across VisionSprings key markets- Together, these programs reach millions of people every year.

His work is guided by a clear conviction: when intentionally connected, routine processes become a structured system capable of driving exceptional outcomes more impact is made- to him, impact is in the lives touched.

Over the course of his career, AAA has grown from being used to working in small teams to cross-functional and -culturally rich teams. Yet his convictions remain the same. It is with this clarity, efficiency, and transparency he works across VisionSpring’s diverse market to continuously ensure performance systems support people in need of clear vision.

Looking towards the future, AAA champions what he calls “data democracy” - equipping managers with self-servicing tools that allow them to identify trends early and act decisively. For him, this is ultimately about equity. When those closest to the people can understand and use their own data, they can advocate effectively for the communities they serve.

Adedoyin Haastrup is a public health specialist and Monitoring & Evaluation expert with extensive experience in strengthening health systems in Nigeria. She works with the National Eye, Ear and Sensory Functions Health Programme at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, where she supports the design, implementation, and monitoring of national strategies to reduce avoidable blindness and visual impairment.

Her work focuses on integrating eye health into primary health care systems, strengthening national health information systems, and improving data-driven decision-making for eye health programmes. She has contributed to key initiatives, including the integration of eye health indicators into Nigeria’s National Health Management Information System (NHMIS) and the development of data tools to support eye care service delivery across all 36 states of Nigeria.

Amanda Davis has been working in the area of blindness prevention and public health since 2006. Her experience spans advocacy, education, research, infrastructure development and funding; developing and managing relationships with key stakeholders and partners spanning government departments, institutional donors, universities, NGOs, community stakeholders and industry.

Amanda currently holds the position Director of Strategic Initiatives with The Fred Hollows Foundation. This role is responsible for the identification and execution of opportunities to form partnerships and coalitions to drive change and secure, leverage and catalyse funding.

From 2016 to 2025, Amanda held the elected position of Chair of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) in the Western Pacific region. She is currently the Chair of the Political Engagement Group for the Global Eye Health Summit and Co-chair of the Refractive Error Core Strategy group. As a founding member of the IAPB Technology Taskforce, she co-authored the eye health sector technology guide.

Amanda is also a Foundation Committee member of the WHO SPECS Initiative. Amanda is a founding member of PNG EyeCare – a local NGO in Papua New Guinea dedicated to blindness prevention in the most vulnerable populations.

Sumrana Yasmin is the Technical Director of Inclusive Health at Sightsavers, based in Pakistan. She is a public health professional, and her work focuses on developing scalable, inclusive vision and eye care programmes in low- and middle-income countries to strengthen health and education systems.

She is responsible for leading the Sightsavers Inclusive Health and Vision and Eye Care portfolios, ensuring that these programmes are strategically driven, inclusive and technically sound. She is passionate about gender equity, disability inclusion, and sustainable development. She works closely with WHO, IAPB and other eye care organisations to amplify the efforts to achieve universal eye health coverage.

Ambassador Keisha A. McGuire serves as Chief Global Affairs Officer at RestoringVision, a global nonprofit addressing the massive yet often overlooked vision crisis of presbyopia. She leads the organization’s global government relations and advocacy strategy, strengthening partnerships with policymakers and multilateral institutions to advance eye health worldwide and align global policy agendas with RestoringVision’s mission to expand access to near‑vision care through scalable, community‑based solutions.

Ambassador McGuire plays a leading role in elevating eye health on the global agenda. She is a member of the WHO Global SPECS Network, serves on the Secretariat of the UN Friends of Vision, and is a trustee on the board of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB). She also serves on the Steering Committee of the Coalition for Clear Vision, helping drive coordinated action across public, private, and civil society actors.

From 2016 to 2022, Ambassador McGuire served as Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Grenada to the United Nations. During her tenure, she held senior leadership roles including Vice President of the UN General Assembly, four‑term Chair of the UN Special Committee on Decolonization, and Member of UNICEF’s Executive Board. She co‑facilitated key UN processes, co‑initiated the African Group–CARICOM Collaboration Initiative, and was an inaugural member of the UN Friends of Vision, advancing global eye health on behalf of Grenada.

IAPB Latin America Sub-Regional Co-Chair, committed advocate for eye health and social impact initiatives in Brazil. Actively implementing and supporting health care programs across various NGOs. Works extends to community empowerment, focusing on sustainable project development and access to potable water.

Civil Engineering, an independent social entrepreneur with over a decade of experience orchestrating health expeditions to remote indigenous, quilombolas, and riverside communities. Professionally, serve as an independent consultant specializing in Project Management within the healthcare engineering sector.

Dr. Oteri Eme OKOLO is a visionary public eye health ophthalmologist with expertise in program management and coordination, advocacy, stakeholder engagement and partnership building. A commonwealth scholar, she is a recipient of numerous prestigious awards, including: Hooper Prize: Best Dissertation Public Health in Eye Care, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of London 2022, 3 National awards from the National Postgraduate Medical College, in 2009 and 2012 and the “Highly Commended Finalist” International Alumni of the Year, PIEoneer Awards 2024 UK.

Dr. Oteri has had the unique honor of coordinating the development and implementation of Nigeria’s first ever national eye health policy and strategic plan.

Other Milestones include development of National Guidelines (Glaucoma, Diabetic Retinopathy, child eye health), high-level advocacy repositioning eye health as a national priority, and coordination of the implementation of Nigeria’s largest presbyopia initiative with a strong systems strengthening component, reaching over 1.5m people in the first year.

She had completed the globally acclaimed Global Health Care Leaders Programme 2024-25, Havard Medical School on a fully funded scholarship.

Currently, Dr. Oteri serves as National Coordinator at the National Eye Ear and Sensory Functions Health Programme, Nigeria, driving innovation and excellence, bridging equity gaps and promoting sustainability in Sensory Functions Health services.

Dr. Henry Ebong Nkumbe is a vitreo-retinal surgeon and healthcare executive, serving as CEO and Medical Director of the Magrabi ICO Cameroon Eye Institute (MICEI) in Yaoundé, one of Central Africa’s leading centres for subspecialty eye care.

A Fellow of the West African College of Surgeons and founding member of the African Ophthalmology Council, he brings extensive experience across East, francophone Africa and Madagascar, with a strong focus on translating policy into scalable service delivery models.

At MICEI, he has led the development of a financially sustainable, high-quality eye care model that integrates training, cross-subsidisation, and tertiary care, demonstrating how eye health can be embedded within national systems while expanding access and reducing reliance on medical evacuations.

Dr. Nkumbe serves on the boards of Sightsavers and Ophthalmology Foundation and is a leading voice on integrating eye health into Universal Health Coverage across Africa.

Priya is the Head of Global Programme Development at Peek Vision, working across partnerships, programmes and product to apply her clinical and public health expertise. She has 18 years of experience as a public health optometrist, with extensive experience designing and delivering eye health programmes and research in over 25 countries.

Priya holds a PhD focussed on school eye health services and is an Assistant Professor at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. She is a Fellow of the College of Optometrists and the European Academy of Optometry and Optics. She previously served on the Board and as the Chair of the Public Health Committee at the World Council of Optometry for three terms.

Senior ophthalmologist and global health leader with extensive experience in clinical care, leadership in ophthalmology faculty positions, and multi-country health programs.

Expert in health systems strengthening, quality assurance, strategic planning, with a proven ability to design, lead, and sustain high-impact eye health programs across diverse settings.

Sucheta is an Ophthalmologist and a public health specialist. She hasover 28 years of professional experience in eye care services and a vast experience of training over 300 ophthalmologists and 100 allied ophthalmic personnel. Other than being a trainer for high volume cataract surgery, her areas of interest for training are Diabetic Retinopathy and Retinopathy of Prematurity. Sucheta has led multiple public health programs in these domains and have conducted a few large scale surveys to generate evidence on the need of eye care services in western India.

Dr Stuart Keel leads the work on Vision and Eye Care in the Department of Noncommunicable Diseases, at the World Health Organization headquarters in Geneva. In his current role, key focus areas include implementation of the actions outlined in the 2020 World Health Assembly Resolution on ‘Integrated people-centred eye care’ and coordinating the WHO SPECS 2030 Initiative.

Dr Keel holds a PhD in ophthalmic epidemiology from La Trobe University, Melbourne. Prior to joining WHO in 2019, he held positions as principal investigator in ophthalmic epidemiology at the Centre for Eye Research Australia, and lecturer within the Department of Clinical Vision Sciences at La Trobe University Australia.

I am Dr Nyawira Mwangi, working at the intersection of eye heath, health systems, research, education and administration. This intersection is crucial for improving eye health, and it enables clinician-researcher-educator-administrators to engage with communities and solve local eye health problems.

Fernando Botelho is the Assistive Technology Programme Specialist at the Children with Disability Team in UNICEF's Center of Excellence in Nairobi. He works to increase international cooperation and strengthen national systems to improve screening and access to services and assistive technology (AT) for children that need it.

He also advizes on policy and deployment of digital AT, with particular attention to accessibility, appropriateness, and the training, maintenance, and repair ecosystem that is required.

Professor & Head of Ophthalmology, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital (JDWNRH) / Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences, Bhutan.

Dr. Dechen Wangmo is a dedicated ophthalmologist from Bhutan, committed to advancing eye care and improving visual health outcomes across the country.

She has a Fellowship in Pediatric Ophthalmology and Adult Strabismus from the University of Utah (USA) and Aravind Eye Hospital (India).

As Head of the Department, she provides clinical leadership, mentors junior clinicians, and oversees the delivery of quality eye care services. Her clinical interests include cataract management, refractive errors and pediatric eye diseases . She is known for her patient-centered approach, combining clinical precision with compassionate care to ensure the best possible outcomes for her patients. She is also the technical advisor to the Primary Eyecare Program for the Ministry of Health.

Throughout her career, Dr. Dechen has contributed to strengthening Bhutan’s healthcare system by participating in community outreach programs, raising awareness about preventable blindness, and promoting early detection of eye diseases. Her work reflects a deep commitment to public health and equitable access to quality eye care services, particularly in underserved and rural communities.

She remains engaged in continuous professional development and is respected for her leadership, dedication, and contributions to addressing eye health.

Sarah Khor specializes in international alliance development, advocacy, and government affairs in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sector.

She spent ten years working in the EU Brussels policy environment before shifting focus to an international level, where she has worked in various global pharmaceutical companies, developing and implementing government affairs and advocacy strategies. Sarah is currently Director at the global biotech company, Amgen, and is responsible for international rare diseases government affairs activities.

Dr Anthea Burnett is the Head of Data & Evidence at IAPB, with over 15 years of international public health experience. Her expertise includes evidence synthesis, monitoring, evaluation, and improving access to quality eye care globally, particularly for marginalized populations.

Beatrice Varga is Senior Director, US Programs and Partnerships at The Fred Hollows Foundation, bringing over 17 years of experience across academia, INGOs, and the private sector. She specialises in adaptive programming, systems thinking, and evidence-based design to advance the delivery of high-quality eye health care at scale.

With more than a decade at The Foundation in senior program and research roles, Beatrice leads work at the intersection of data, quality, and system strengthening. Her focus is on shaping data ecosystems that move beyond routine monitoring to generate decision-grade insights—ensuring data is collected once and used to inform multiple levels of decision-making, from service delivery to national policy. She is particularly interested in how the right enabling environment and capabilities can unlock consistent use of high-quality data to improve eye health outcomes.

Beatrice has extensive experience in Southeast Asia, including leading the first USAID and ATscale partnership to expand access to refractive error services in Cambodia through a market-shaping approach.

A skilled collaborator, she is passionate about translating complex ideas into practical, scalable solutions that strengthen systems and improve access to care. I’m looking forward to building my networks at IAPB IL 2026 so please come and have a chat!

Dr. Monicah Bitok is a public health expert and ophthalmologist with over 15 years of experience spanning clinical practice, health policy, and public health programming. She holds a Master of Medicine in Ophthalmology and a Master of Public Health, in addition to a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery. She is also a Fellow of the College of Ophthalmology of Eastern, Central and Southern Africa (COECSA).

An alumna of Strathmore University and Harvard University’s Global Health Delivery Intensive program, Dr. Bitok is deeply committed to strengthening health systems and advancing equitable access to eye care services. She has served as a technical advisor for disability-inclusive eye health programmes with Sightsavers and CBM Global, supporting initiatives across Asia, South America, and Africa.

Currently, she serves as the Head of the Eye Health Section at Kenya’s Ministry of Health, where she leads national efforts to improve eye health outcomes and integrate eye care into the broader health system.

Ola Al-Shurbaji is a Senior Project Manager at the Institute for Family Health, a King Hussein Foundation institution, where she leads a national eye health integration program in Jordan. She oversees the design, implementation, and scale-up of integrated vision services across primary healthcare and public school systems, reaching over 150,000 refugees and underserved populations. She drives system-level change by strengthening service quality, streamlining referral pathways, and ensuring continuity of care at the facility level.

With a background in speech-language and hearing sciences from the University of Jordan, Ola began her career as an audiologist, bringing a strong patient-centered perspective into her leadership.

Ola is a key member of the national steering committee for the school eye health program, where she played a central role in developing the National Vision Screening Manual. She also advocates for eye health in Jordan and has supported the establishment of a national technical committee.

She contributes to evidence generation, including implementation of the WHO ECSAT tool in Jordan (2025), and research on the cost-effectiveness of school eye health and spectacle compliance.

Working with the Fred Hollows Foundation, she strengthens and coordinates eye health services and advocates for integrating eye health into health and rehabilitation programs.

At IAPB 2030 In Sight Live in Nairobi, she will present “Facility Level Realities: Where Quality Happens.”

Jude leads the IAPB knowledge agenda and team. Highlights from recent work include co-authoring The Value of Vision: the Case for Investing in Eye Health, the increase of use of the transformed Vision Atlas, the programme for IN SIGHT LIVE events, the Young Systems Leaders programme and the re-energised member engagement groups.

With 20 years’ experience in global eye care & international development, Jude specialises in knowledge brokering and innovation to drive change in policy and practice. She enjoys connecting leaders & stakeholders to further the knowledge agenda, embed best practices and promote collaboration to accelerate action.

Prior to working at IAPB, she worked as Director of Education at the Brien Holden Vision Institute Foundation, as a clinical research optometrist and as a private practitioner in Sydney, Australia.

Shaifali Sharma is a seasoned development leader with over 20 years of experience spanning national and international organizations, as well as leading corporate CSR initiatives. She currently serves as Country Director, India, and Global Director – Primary Care at the Cure Blindness Project. In her dual role, she leads the strategic direction and execution of the organization’s India portfolio while shaping and advancing global primary eye care strategies.

Shaifali brings deep expertise in program design, systems strengthening, and large-scale implementation, grounded in data-driven decision-making and contextual understanding of diverse geographies. She has a proven track record of building high-impact programs, forging cross-sector partnerships, and scaling sustainable health interventions to underserved communities.

Her leadership in primary eye care focuses on integrating global best practices with local needs, ensuring effective, adaptable, and outcome-oriented interventions across countries. Known for her strategic vision and operational excellence, Shaifali continues to drive innovation and impact in advancing equitable access to quality eye care worldwide.

Gabriel Ogunyemi is VisionSpring’s Africa Region Director. Gabriel is responsible for all business development and operations in our key markets– Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Zambia, Uganda - as well as indirect operations and expansion in other markets in sub-Saharan Africa.

Gabriel brings over 20 years of leadership experience in the healthcare, pharmaceutical, and consumer industries, spanning business development, healthcare policies, advocacy, sales, marketing, and distribution operations. Previously, he served as Country Manager with Johnson & Johnson Nigeria, and as Business Unit Director, Generics, Sanofi, and also as a Marketing Director, Sanofi for East and West Africa.

Gabriel graduated from University of Ibadan in Ibadan, Nigeria with a Bachelor of Pharmacy and has a PGD in Strategic Leadership from Metropolitan School of Business Management in the United Kingdom. He will be based in Lagos, Nigeria.

Academic-Academic excellence in Strategic Human Resource management .Competency skills in Peoples management, work culture, organizational development.

Experience & Competency -Besides Academic qualifications, Raphael skills and expertise span from founding and managing start up grassroots and national initiatives with creation of several NGOs across Nigeria, Tanzania and Kenya .Consulting for grants making and management.

As an alumni of Consulting Community Consulting Practices in Seattle Washington, USA. Raphael defines himself as a hub of knowledge and a catalyst where he has continuously utilized his skills and experiences in transforming and collaborating with the emerging grassroots leaders and organization across Africa namely in Kenya, Nigeria ,Tanzania as a move to scale system level transformation in communities socioeconomic and health agenda.

Employment -At Onesight EssilorLuxottica Foundation (OSELF), we are Empowering Humans. Currently supporting OSELF Africa Mission Team as an Associate Director for Africa Partnership and Advocacy. With 9years at OSELF, Raphael directly supports Partnership Strategy and Government engagement framework for a multilevel system transformation and change in Africa. These include Continuous mapping of Partners and partnership opportunities. Collaboration with NGOs for joint programming. Positioning OSELF as go to partner for an alternative supply chain solutions for NGOs eyeglasses initiatives.

The Key Interest -engaging and accelerating shared ownership through working within coalitions, alliances while networking to drive the current WHO SPECS 2030 Initiative in Africa. This would ensure National government drives the systems transformation while the NGOs remains as the catalyst for continuous access to quality service delivery.

Milestones –

Partnership: Managing a partnership portfolio of over 50 NGOs and Institutions both local and international across Africa for delivery of eye health services that contribute to the global agenda for eye health. Advocacy supporting staff leading the OSELF Priority countries integration of WHO SPECS 2030 Initiative within the National Governments systems and policies.

System Change and Transformation –Human Resource-Supported the creation for Government Approved Optical Training curriculum. Managed its implementation with accredited Government Institutions that resulted to creation of Kenya Leading grassroots of over 150 rural optical network shops distributed in Kenya. This disruptive model has now led to emerging of formal optical business into the rural networks thus scaling ACCESS.

Empowering Humans

The rural network empowers humans by offering livelihood opportunities, community access to refractive services and catalyzing behavior change towards eye health at the grassroots against the traditional urban centered.

Innovations

Piloted the implementation of Tele-Refraction in Kenya with successful validation of the model by WHO as an accelerator for scaling access to refractive errors services through Task shifting and sharing.

A Support staff and link in managing Multilevel NGOs funded Programs for eyeglasses access, Facilitating Partnership Agreements with National Governments. Successful implementation of eyeglasses integration within the Kenyan Government procurement system. Alternative supply chain solutions for donor funded eyeglass programs in Africa.

David Munyendo is the Kenya Country Director and Chief Executive Officer of CBM Christoffel-Blindenmission Christian Blind Mission e.V - Kenya, a leading disability inclusive development.

With 25 years of transformative leadership experience across public benefit organizations, David is a respected authority in strengthening systems for equity and inclusion through multi‑sector and public–private partnerships.

A social scientist and organizational development practitioner, David plays a catalytic role in the design and delivery of integrated, disability inclusive programmes across health, education, humanitarian action, livelihoods, advocacy, and behavior change communication. As a thought leader, David is deeply committed to working in partnership to deliver meaningful and sustainable impact for persons with disabilities.

Andrew is an Ophthalmologist (Eye Surgeon), Professor in Global Eye Health at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Co-Founder & CEO of Peek Vision and Co-Founder of the Vision Catalyst Fund. He has worked and undertaken research in over twenty countries including two years living in Kenya, where he was leading a major eye disease study and the development and testing of the earliest versions of Peek’s smartphone-based eye health systems which has now been used to reach over 20 million people.

Andrew has been listed as one of the world’s 30 most influential people in public health, has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles, is a TED Speaker and TED Fellow, Rolex Laureate, World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, Ashoka Fellow and UBS Global Visionary. In 2023 Andrew was awarded the Tallberg Leadership Prize and an OBE in the UK King’s Birthday Honours.

Anthony Gitau is a Graduate of Egerton University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry. He is the Director Global Program Delivery and Impact, Africa and Middle East, Global Health Equity at Johnson and Johnson with a mandate to deliver the Global Health Equity mission to advance equitable access to quality care in resource-limited settings, strengthened by J&J’s commitment to nurses and community health workers.

He was previously Director East Africa at the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), Country Head Novartis Social Business, Maternal and Child Health Director at PSI Kenya and manager access to medicines and key accounts at Sanofi for Eastern Africa. Anthony has more than twenty years of experience and knowledge of the Pharmaceutical, Impact Investment and development sector in Africa.

Chelsea Andrews has spent her career building community-centered programs from the Middle East to the U.S., and now on a
global scale in eye health. Over the past decade in the nonprofit sector, she has designed initiatives at the crossroads of policy,
advocacy, and systems change aimed at expanding access to education and healthcare for underserved communities. While her
work spans sectors and continents, she has a personal passion for supporting women’s safety, leadership, and opportunity,
believing that when women thrive, the wellness of families and communities often follows. 


Chelsea began her career in higher education and international policy, working across the Middle East on multi-faith and
geopolitical programming. There, she supported dialogue initiatives and policy-informed engagement efforts that strengthened
cross-cultural collaboration. In the U.S., she contributed to national afterschool programs for children in lower-income
communities and advocated for women’s health and safety. This included federal-level involvement in efforts to prevent violence
against women, supporting investigations and policy initiatives designed to protect survivors and expand access to essential
services. These experiences shaped her belief that equitable systems require both thoughtful design and attention to the people
they serve.

In a purposeful career shift, Chelsea brought her background in policy and advocacy to the fight against avoidable blindness.
She now serves as Programs and Partnerships Manager at KeraLink International, where she leads global initiatives to prevent and
treat corneal blindness in low resource settings. Her work includes building partnerships, scaling programs, and highlighting the
voices of frontline providers and patients.

Chelsea has strengthened corneal health systems in East Asia through collaborative training and capacity-building initiatives.
She supports educational workshops for doctors learning to detect infectious keratitis and other corneal conditions early,
creating a pipeline for timely treatment. Understanding that equitable care extends beyond clinical skills, she has also
implemented Prevention of Sexual Harassment and soft skills training for female health workers. Her approach reflects a core
belief that programs must care for the whole person, not just the role they perform, ensuring women feel safe, empowered, and
supported. 


Chelsea is an active member of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness Gender Equity Working Group,
collaborating with peers worldwide to promote inclusive policies and leadership pathways for women in eye health. Through this
work, she contributes to shaping a sector that sees gender equity not as a side issue, but as central to achieving universal eye
care. 


Across every chapter of her career, Chelsea has centered dignity, representation, and long-term impact. Whether advocating at
the federal level, strengthening frontline health systems, or building international partnerships, she remains committed to
advancing opportunities for women and expanding access to care for communities historically left behind.


Soubhik Chel is a dedicated optometrist and myopia practitioner focused on advancing evidence-based clinical care and community eye health in India. He currently serves as a Consultant Optometrist at the INFOR Myopia Centre and leads the UCCM School Screening Program (SSP), where he designs and implements large-scale vision screening models for early detection of refractive errors, keratoconus, and other ocular conditions among children.

After completing his Bachelor’s degree in Clinical Optometry in Kolkata, he trained at L.V. Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI), Hyderabad, gaining exposure to tertiary care, academics, and research. He later established Andhra Pradesh’s first dedicated myopia centre at LVPEI’s KVC Campus in Vijayawada, integrating myopia risk assessment, axial length monitoring, and evidence-based control strategies.

Under his leadership, over 200,000 children have been screened and 60,000 corneal topographies conducted. He is actively involved in research and is committed to building scalable, preventive eye care systems.

Rutul Shah is a Manager – Training and Quality at Mission for Vision, where she leads Mission Saksham, a national initiative focused on strengthening the eyecare workforce in India by training Allied Ophthalmic Personnel (AOPs). Working with over 14 partner institutes across the country, she supports the training of more than 1,600 students, the majority of whom are women from marginalised communities, helping create pathways to sustainable livelihoods in eyecare.

An optometrist by training, Rutul began her career working in community eye health programmes and outreach initiatives, including eye screening camps for children with disabilities. She now works closely with training institutes and hospitals to strengthen competency-based education, improve programme systems, and ensure that students are well prepared to support quality eye care delivery.

She is also a strong advocate for inclusive and gender-responsive programme design. Through her engagement with students and partner institutes, she promotes women’s participation in the eyecare workforce and encourages supportive learning environments that enable young professionals to pursue education, employment, and long-term careers in eye health.

Silvana Torres, 31, was born and raised in San Juan Nepomuceno, Paraguay. She graduated as a Medical Doctor from Universidad del Pacífico in 2018. She later completed her specialization in Ophthalmology and Ophthalmic Surgery at Fundación Visión, accredited by the Universidad Católica “Nuestra Señora de la Asunción,” graduating in 2023. In 2026, she completed her fellowship in Medical and Surgical Retina at Fundación Visión, also accredited by the same university.

Throughout her training, she has demonstrated a strong commitment to eye health, medical education, and equitable access to quality ophthalmic care, particularly for vulnerable populations. Her professional interests focus on medical and surgical retina, as well as the impact of blindness prevention initiatives within Latin American communities.

In 2026, she was selected as a Young Systems Leader by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), an international recognition awarded to emerging leaders committed to strengthening eye health systems and developing sustainable and innovative solutions for blindness prevention worldwide.

Kate Moynihan is an impassioned leader and decision-maker who has overseen programs in networked organizations and social enterprises in resource-constrained settings, internationally and in the United States.

She is a catalyst for institutional and systems change, partnering successfully with diverse international organizations to deliver world-class leadership for mission-based social justice around the globe. Throughout Kate’s career, she has shown an unwavering commitment to improving the lives of people living in disadvantaged, marginalized segments of the world. Kate currently serves as CEO / Executive Director of the Seva Foundation.

She lives in Oakland and is a proud parent of a fierce daughter who herself is engaged in restorative justice. They enjoy life with their dog Spirit.

Mehran Memon is Assistant Director of Information Technology at the Sindh Institute of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences (SIOVS), Pakistan, where he also serves as Certified Master Trainer, IT Lead for Peek Projects, and Focal Person for Safeguarding. He is a systems-focused leader driving digital transformation in eye health through innovation, inclusivity, and data-driven approaches.

Since 2017, he has led the implementation of large-scale, technology-enabled eye care programs across Sindh, including community, school, door-to-door, and driver screening initiatives using Peek solutions. His work has contributed to screening over a 2.3 million individuals and establishing strong referral linkages with an extensive network of health facilities. He has also trained more than 800 healthcare workers, ensuring sustainability and scalability of these programs.

Mehran has played a key role in developing hospital management systems tailored for ophthalmology, improving efficiency and patient-centered care. His contributions extend to integrating safeguarding practices and inclusive data systems, including the adoption of the Washington Group Questions.

Recognized as an IAPB Young Systems Leader Award 2025 recipient, Mehran continues to advance global eye health through technology, research, and system strengthening initiatives.

Cynthia Gape is a Software Trainer and Design Lead at Peek Vision, focused on developing innovative training strategies that strengthen partner capacity and expand access to quality eye health services. Her work centres on combating avoidable blindness by equipping partners with the skills, systems, and technology needed to deliver sustainable programmes.

She has co-led the optimisation of training delivery models, reducing reliance on in-person training while maintaining high quality. By implementing Training of Trainers and Partner-as-Trainer approaches, she has increased the number of trained users, enabling wider reach and more efficient programme onboarding.

Cynthia is also supporting the development of a chatbot platform that provides real-time assistance to users and field teams, improving training and implementation. Known for integrating practical solutions into existing workflows, she focuses on building scalable and sustainable systems.

Passionate about leveraging technology to strengthen health systems, Cynthia is committed to inclusive and adaptable training approaches. Through her work, she demonstrates strong systems thinking and leadership, contributing to more effective eye health delivery and the goal of eliminating avoidable blindness.

Dr. Imran A. Khan has 20 years of experience across international development, academia, and clinical work. He is the Director of Programme Strategy and Development at Sightsavers, where he leads the strategic and technical direction of the organization’s work in eye health, education, and inclusion. Sightsavers works across 30 countries in Africa and Asia to eliminate avoidable blindness and ensure that people with disabilities can participle equally in society. Imran serves as co-chair for the IAPB Climate Action working group.

Imran obtained his Doctorate in Optometry concurrently with an MSc in Low Vision Rehabilitation from Salus University and completed a residency from the University of California, Berkeley. His interest in international eye care led him to complete a Masters in Public Health (MPH) from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and completed a Masters in Business Administration from the EuroMBA consortium. He has held faculty positions in the U.S., New Zealand, and the Netherlands.

While trained as a traditional bureaucrat, holding a degree in political science, Dennis has worked the last twenty years within health development specializing in assistive technology.

Dennis has spent the last eight years with UNICEF and currently lead the assistive technology team in UNICEF SD (part of UNICEF HQ). His team’s primary focus is scaling access to assistive technology in the more than 190 countries and territories UNICEF is present in.

Their work involves market shaping, capacity building, demand generation, policy work and whatever other means necessary to ensure no child is left behind.

Dr. Adnan Abdul Majeed, FCPS (Pakistan), MRCS (Glasgow, UK), FRCS (Glasgow, UK), is a Consultant Ophthalmologist and Academic Coordinator at the Sindh Institute of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences (SIOVS). He is a certified Health Professions Educator with a strong focus on systems strengthening, workforce development, and digital innovation in eye health.

At SIOVS, he has contributed to developing structured postgraduate training programs and strengthening the integration of public eye health with clinical ophthalmology. He has led capacity-building initiatives for healthcare providers from underserved regions, promoting decentralized eye care delivery and improved referral systems.

Dr. Majeed is the author of the book Ocular Investigation and the creator of an academic YouTube channel, Dr. Adnan Abdul Majeed, where he shares over 200 educational videos on clinical ophthalmology, surgical training, and examination preparation, reaching a global audience.

He has published multiple research articles in peer-reviewed journals and regularly presents at international ophthalmology conferences, promoting accessible, high-quality eye care worldwide.

Dr. Simon Arunga is the president of the college of Ophthalmology for Eastern, Central and Southern Africa. He trained as an ophthalmologist in Uganda in 2014 and earned his PhD from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK. He is the founding chairman of Dr. Arunga’s Eye Hospital, the first indigenous private eye hospital in Uganda.

Dr. Arunga is a senior lecturer at Mbarara University of Science and Technology and an assistant professor at the International Centre for Eye Health, LSHTM, UK. He also serves as the Lions Clubs International Foundation Technical Advisor for Anglophone Africa.

Recognized for his contributions to eye health, Dr. Arunga was named the 2019 IAPB Eye Health Hero and the 2010 Volk Eye Health Champion.

Dr May Ho is an Australian registered optometrist working in public health and international eye health. She graduated from optometry at the University of Melbourne, where she also gained her PhD. May is in the Medical Team at the Fred Hollows Foundation as Optometry and Primary Care Adviser. She is based in Melbourne, Australia.

May is working on the implementation of The Foundation’s refractive error strategy and its integration into program activities, including as part of cataract surgery quality improvement. She has worked on the development of sustainable eye care programs in various countries in the Asia Pacific, European, African and Caribbean regions. In her previous role, together with in-country partners, she developed the first optometry education program in Vietnam. In 2025, May was conferred an Honorary Professorship by the Hanoi Medical University for her contribution to the establishment and ongoing support of the optometry program at the university.

May is a member of the IAPB Refractive Error Strategy Core Group and has participated in multiple WHO Technical Working Groups on vision. She currently serves on the World Council of Optometry Public Health Subcommittee and is a member of the WHO SPECS Workforce and Service Delivery Integration Workstreams.

Ameer Abou Adela is an optometrist with ten years of experience in public eye health, optometry education, and professional advocacy. He holds a BS in Optics & Optometry from the American University of Science and Technology, an MBA from Sagesse University, and PhDc in Optometry at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

He is the Founder and President of the Vision Care Association (VCA) / VOSH International Lebanon Chapter, where he has led programs in public health, legislation, research, awareness, environmental sustainability, and education. Under his leadership, VCA has supported more than 16,000 individuals through screenings, spectacles, medications, surgeries, and prosthetic eye care.

Ameer currently serves as Manager – Clinical Services & Patient Optimization at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute Abu Dhabi. He previously served at the Lebanese American University Medical Center and Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. He is an international member of the AOA, EAOO, IACLE, and MCOptom.

He is also a mentor in the Optometry Program of Advocacy & Leadership. He received the 2023 WCO Young Leader Award in memory of Dr. Paul Berman, 2024 Ambassador recognition by the Saudi Society of Optometry, and 2025 IAPB Young Systems Leader Award. He was elected to the WCO Board of Directors for 2 terms and VOSH International Board of Directors and is a co-founder of the Global Optometry Public Health Alliance.

I am a global eye health leader with nearly 20 years of experience driving blindness prevention initiatives across China, Africa, and beyond. I am committed to building a comprehensive, end-to-end ecosystem that empowers eye care professionals across African markets — from community screening to specialized ophthalmology clinic support.

Throughout my career at He Vision Group, I successfully managed over 20 international blindness prevention projects, including a landmark three-year collaboration with Orbis International. As Director of the Blindness Prevention and Treatment Office, I led the 'Precision Poverty Alleviation in Ophthalmology' program — a 12-project initiative in partnership with the National Development and Investment Group.

As principal project leader for the Vision 2020 Office of Liaoning Province and the National Health Commission's Training Base for Blindness Prevention, I have designed and implemented programs that shape blindness prevention policy and planning. I also introduced a community eye public health course at He University in collaboration with the University of Cape Town, helping grow the next generation of eye care talent.

Senior global health and development consultant with over 25 years of leadership and advisory experience across Sub-Saharan Africa, MENA and international contexts. Reshma works at the intersection of strategy, health systems strengthening, organisational transformation, sustainable financing and programme scale — supporting organisations to move from pilots to embedded, government-owned solutions with lasting impact.

She combines clinical credibility and operational depth with senior strategic and business leadership capability.— from clinical governance and workforce development to portfolio strategy, blended finance and executive advisory support. Her approach is pragmatic and systems-oriented, grounded in real-world delivery across low- and middle-income country contexts.

Reshma works as an independent consultant and is a core member of Luméa Collaborative — a women-led network of senior independent consultants with roots across Africa, Asia, MENA and Europe, working at the intersection of strategy, evidence, learning and organisational change

Dr. Hillary Rono is an ophthalmologist and researcher serving as the Eye Coordinator for Trans Nzoia County, Kenya. With over 20 years of experience, Dr. Rono is a pioneer in delivering eye care to remote, underserved regions and a key leader in the global mission to eliminate avoidable blindness.

His work focuses on building sustainable health infrastructure and leveraging digital innovation to improve system performance. Notably, he co-designed and validated Peek Vision’s smartphone-based screening systems, which empower non-specialists to identify and refer patients with vision impairment.

As Peek’s Country Lead for Kenya, he played a key role in establishing partnerships that have allowed Peek to scale up since its introduction in 2015. Today, these technologies have been used to screen approximately 19 million people and connect nearly two million individuals to treatment and services worldwide.

Dr. Rono’s contributions have earned him significant international and national acclaim. In 2022, he received the Ruskell Medal for scientific research in mobile health. He was also named an "Eye Health Hero" by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (2012) and a National Hero by the Kenyan Government (2023).

Dr. Rono holds a PhD in Global Eye Health, an MSc, and a Master of Medicine in Ophthalmology.

Caio Abujamra is the President of the Suel Abujamra Institute and Co-CEO of the Juntos pela Visão alliance. He assumed leadership of the Institute in 2018, transforming it into the largest provider of ophthalmic services within Brazil’s public health system (SUS).

Over five years, he increased the number of consultations fivefold and significantly expanded the organization’s social impact, delivering free eye care to Indigenous and riverine populations in remote regions. Caio leads strategic initiatives in partnership with the Ministry of Health, positioning the Institute as the leading reference in Indigenous eye health in Brazil and expanding access to eye care for thousands of underserved individuals.

Josie Noah serves as Chief Program Officer at Cure Blindness Project, overseeing program strategy, implementation and regional operations. In this role, Josie leads a global team focused on scaling Cure Blindness Project’s work to eliminate avoidable blindness and the inequities that perpetuate it across Asia, Africa and LAC.

Prior to joining Cure Blindness Project, Josie served as Chief Global Officer for SightLife International, overseeing operations in China, Ethiopia, India, and Nepal. Josie has also held positions at Global Impact and the Clinton Global Initiative, developing partnerships with multiple stakeholders to drive collaborative efforts in addressing global challenges. She lives in Seattle with her husband, Tim, and their daughter Kennedy.

I’m a public health professional based in Nairobi County, Kenya, currently serving as a Deputy Sub-County Community Coordinator and Community Health Officer Kibra Subcounty. My work is rooted in strengthening community health systems—especially preventive and promotive services—so that people in underserved communities can access the care and information they need.

Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with partners such as Sightsavers International,City Eye Hospital, AMREF Health Africa, SHOFCO, Save the Children, the Sickle Cell Foundation, and Carolina for Kibera. Through these partnerships, I’ve supported programs in eye health, child health, and other community-led interventions designed to improve access to essential health services.

In my day-to-day role, I focus on community mobilization, health education, coordinating outreach activities, and linking people to care. I’m particularly committed to strengthening primary healthcare and reducing preventable blindness through practical, community-based approaches.

I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Community Health and Development, a Diploma in Leadership and Management. Above all, I’m driven by a passion for equitable access to quality healthcare and empowering communities through sustainable health initiatives. I’m grateful for the chance to contribute to global health conversations, including forums such as the IAPB Global Summit.

Damilola Oyedele works with the Clinton Health Access Initiative, supporting efforts to expand access to affordable vision care through primary health care systems. Her work focuses on increasing access to reading glasses by integrating vision screening and dispensing into community and primary care platforms across Nigeria.

Over the past year, she has contributed to the implementation of Nigeria's Presidential Initiative to scale the distribution of low-cost reading glasses across multiple states, working with government partners, frontline health workers, and community structures to address the large unmet need for near vision correction.

She is passionate about expanding equitable access to essential health services and advancing innovative models that bring vision care closer to the communities that need it most.

Charles Mugendi is a Programme Manager at Sightsavers, based in Nairobi, Kenya. He brings two decades of experience across international NGOs and private sector collaborations, with a strong focus on advancing universal eye health at scale.

His work centres on leading and coordinating complex programmes that strengthen health systems, build durable partnerships, and embed sustainability into service delivery—ensuring equitable eye health impact that can be sustained, replicated, and scaled over time.

Caroline Casey is the businesswoman and activist behind The Valuable 500, the world’s largest CEO collective and business move for disability inclusion.

Casey launched the movement at the World Economic Forum’s Davos Summit in 2019 and since then has signed up 500 multinational organisations with a combined revenue of over $8 trillion, employing 20 million people worldwide to radically transform the business system.

The membership includes 36 of the FTSE 100 companies, 46 of the Fortune 500 and 28 of the Nikkei. As well as being President of the IAPB, Caroline sits on several diversity and inclusion boards to include L’Oréal and Sky and is a much sought-after speaker.

Caroline has received an honorary doctorate as well as multiple awards and accolades for her work as a disability activist.

Samson Waweru is a proven transformational leader as attested by the remarkable achievements undergone by the Kenya Society for the Blind over the last 6 years. He has a background in Political Science and public administration.

Having lived with visual impairment since birth, Samson has not been deterred by any physical or attitudinal barriers in championing for inclusion not only for himself but many persons with disabilities who came into contact with him. He strongly believes that, it is only by empathy and not sympathy in making the world a better place for persons with disabilities.

Mr. Waweru is an elected member of the CBR African Network International Advisory Board (IAB), representing the voices of youth with disabilities in Africa. He also represents persons with disabilities in key ecumenical institutions including: an executive member of the National Council of Churches of Kenya and a commissioner of the Health and Healing commission of the World Council of Churches based in Geneva Switzerland.

He is a believer of positive transformation of the lives of all through a culture of nurturing proactive engagements as a sustainable means of cultivating empathy in addressing issues of persons with disabilities.

Managing large-scale social development programmes with federal and provincial governments, NGOs, and Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) in eye health, inclusive education, and disability sectors. Strongly believe in rights-based principles and systems strengthening approach for sustainable impact.

A social development professional with more than 18 years’ experience in programme development and management. Currently leading the programme team of Sightsavers Pakistan Country Office.

Managing large-scale social development programmes with federal and provincial governments, NGOs, and Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) in eye health, inclusive education, and disability sectors. Strongly believe in rights-based principles and systems strengthening approach for sustainable impact.

Juania Mela Mora Cuna Auguste is an ophthalmic nurse from Haiti dedicated to advancing equitable access to eye care through prevention, education, and community outreach. She serves as School Screening Program Coordinator for AHCD, working alongside pediatric and ophthalmic specialists to deliver school-based vision screening and improve access to care for children.

She is also involved at the Centre Ophtalmologique, Fondation La Vue pour la Vie, where she contributes to training ophthalmic nurse assistants and strengthening clinical and surgical capacity. Juania is an alumna of the IAPB Young System Leader Award 2024, recognized for her leadership in eye health.

She is the Haiti Ambassador for KnowTheGlow, a role inspired by her personal experience with her sister’s amblyopia, which strengthened her commitment to early detection of childhood eye diseases. She has led awareness initiatives and created educational content to promote timely care.

She also founded a glaucoma support group in her community, bringing together over 100 people to foster awareness, peer support, and advocacy. Passionate about leadership and community empowerment, she uses education and digital platforms to amplify eye health awareness and promote the role of women in health.

Jack is an internationally recognised economist with extensive experience in health economics research, policy, advocacy, and evaluation. Jack has undertaken health economic analysis and provided technical advice for some of Australia’s largest health programs and led health economics research and design for eye health projects across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and the Pacific.

Jack’s work focuses on ensuring access to eyecare for some of the world’s most vulnerable populations, through innovative social protection and financing mechanisms, cost-effectiveness analysis of contemporary technology at scale, and demonstration of the economic and development impacts of eye health on individuals, families, and societies. More broadly, his research has focused on the dynamics of international development aid and how donors, recipient governments, and aid beneficiaries can work together to achieve sustainable success.

He has been published in leading international health and development economics journals including Social Science and Medicine, the Patient, and the Journal of the Royal Statistical Society as well as acting as a reviewer for prominent publications and international conferences. Jack has taught economics and health economics at the university graduate level, holds dual bachelor’s degrees in biomedical science and economics (honours, first class) and has been completing a PhD at Monash University’s Centre for Health Economics.

Anshu Singh, based in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India, is a public health professional with nearly a decade of experience in the eye care sector. She holds a B.Tech in Electronics and Communication from Uttar Pradesh Technical University (2012) and an MBA in Information Technology from Sikkim Manipal University (2015).

To further strengthen her expertise in healthcare management, she completed the Certificate in Project Management for Eye Care (CPMEC) from Aravind Eye Care System, Madurai (2017), and a Post Graduate Diploma in Hospital Management (PGDHM) from Sankara Nethralaya Academy, Chennai (2021).

Currently, Anshu serves as Program Manager – Primary Care at Cure Blindness Project, where she oversees program implementation, workforce capacity building, stakeholder coordination, and strategic planning to strengthen community-based eye care services. Previously, she held key roles with VisionSpring Foundation and Sitapur Eye Hospital, leading program implementation, client coordination, and cross-functional project management.

She has worked closely with national and international organizations including Orbis International, CBM, Sightsavers, Seva Foundation, Vision 2020, Jeev Daya Foundation, and Mission for Vision. Her core strengths include leadership, stakeholder engagement, advocacy, and program management, with a strong commitment to expanding equitable access to eye care and preventing avoidable blindness.

Dr Marzieh Katibeh is a medical doctor and global eye health researcher. She completed her PhD at Aarhus University and currently works with Peek Vision and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

Her research focuses on implementation science, digital health innovations, and large-scale eye health programme evaluation, with a particular interest in improving access to eye care in underserved populations. She has experience working across clinical ophthalmology, epidemiology, and global health research, contributing to evidence that supports scalable and sustainable eye health interventions.

Louisa Syrett is a global advocacy and partnerships leader with 20 years’ experience advancing gender equality, social justice and inclusive development through strategic alliances, policy advocacy and narrative change. She is Head of Global Partnerships and Positioning at The Fred Hollows Foundation, where she leads high level advocacy on gender equity in eye health in partnership with UN Women, WHO and international funders.

Louisa played a leading role in The Fred Hollows Foundation’s partnership with UN Women and the joint policy brief No Woman Left Behind: Closing the Gender and Inclusion Gap in Eye Health, and now leads efforts to translate that global guidance into country level action. She has designed and delivered cross sector convenings—bringing together ministers of health and gender, regional civil society leaders and major funders, to work towards securing political commitments and integrate gender into national eye health strategies and financing.

Previously Louisa has held senior roles at the British Council and Save the Children UK. She co chairs the IAPB Gender Equity Work Group and co convenes The Alliance for Gender Equality and UHC.

Nadiya leads International Public Affairs at Santen, a global pharmaceutical company specialising in ophthalmology, where she has established the public affairs function with a focus on elevating eye health as a public health priority.

She has convened a coalition of 14 organisations to advocate for children's eye health, securing dedicated language in EU policy files. Nadiya holds a Master's in Social Innovation from the University of Cambridge and a Bachelor's in International Relations from the London School of Economics.

Prof. Fatima Kyari is the Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), where she provides strategic leadership for the regulation of medical and dental practice, professional conduct, and training standards nationwide.

She is a Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Abuja and an Associate Professor of Ophthalmic Epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). Fatima is internationally recognised for her contributions to glaucoma research and eye health policy.

She currently serves as the Africa Region Chair of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), where her focus is on strengthening political engagement and regional collaboration to ensure that eye health remains a priority within national and regional health agendas. while ensuring that evidence and lived experience from the African region meaningfully inform global advocacy and policy.

Dr. Rohit C Khanna is the Network Director for the Public Health Unit of L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) – The Gullapalli Pratibha Rao International Centre for Advancement of Rural Eye Care. He is also an Adjunct Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at school of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, USA, and Conjoint Associate Professor at the University of New South Wales, Australia. He is also Regional Chair, South-East Asia, IAPB and an active participant in various working groups of the IAPB and World Health Organization (WHO).

He has led multiple studies, including the cohort of Andhra Pradesh Eye Disease Study (APEDS) – a milestone study. He has to his credit over 200 peer-reviewed publications, including in journals such as Lancet Global Health as well as all other major ophthalmology journals. He is on the editorial boards of several journals and has been awarded several prestigious research grants for his work focusing on studying the outcomes of different interventions as well as on geriatric and child eye health.

His research has been supported by the Wellcome Trust DBT-India Alliance, Wellcome Trust UK, USAID and several NGOs like Lions International, CBM etc. A recipient of the IAPB Eye Health Leader Award and Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology's Blindness Prevention Award, Dr Khanna has vast experience in leading capacity building initiatives and working as consultant for both national and global organizations, including IAPB and WHO.

Junu Shrestha is Senior Policy and Advocacy Manager at the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), where she leads global policy and advocacy engagement to advance eye health within global health and development agendas.

She brings almost a decade of experience across national and global health, with expertise spanning health policy, specifically eye health policy, advocacy, and multilateral engagement. Her work has included shaping policy and political engagement across WHO processes, supporting high-level government relations, and advancing the integration of health priorities within broader systems and development agendas.

As a Mexican ophthalmologist and CEO of the Asociación Para Evitar la Ceguera en México (APEC), Valeria is deeply committed to advancing eye health across Mexico and Latin America. Her dedication is reflected in her role as Regional President for Latin America at the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), where she contributes to the goals of the 2030 In Sight initiative.

Her training and experience position her to collaborate effectively and drive meaningful progress in the region. Valeria has led initiatives to combat blindness and visual impairment, working closely with governments, healthcare providers, and communities. This has given her a strong understanding of the region’s challenges, including limited access to care in rural areas and low awareness of eye diseases.

At the IAPB, she promotes effective political engagement, especially in preparation for the First Global Summit on Eye Health in 2026. This event will be key to advancing global eye health goals and requires coordinated political support and clear implementation strategies. Her commitment to engaging world leaders and decision-makers helps elevate eye health as a priority, fostering collaboration and driving impactful change across Latin America.

Jennifer Chen is Chief Executive of The Chen Yet-Sen Family Foundation, the global foundation which champions initiatives focused on vision correction and early childhood literacy. Jennifer led Asia operations for the Clearly campaign, which shifted global public perception of vision correction. The campaign led to the founding of the United Nations (UN) ‘Friends of Vision’ group in 2018 and the UN’s unanimous ‘Vision for Everyone’ resolution in 2021, which set a target for eye care for all by 2030. Jennifer joined the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness Board of Trustees in May 2024.

Jennifer sits on several nonprofit boards, including the IAPB, Clearly, and Social Impact Partners. Previously, she was a board member of Bring Me a Book Hong Kong, an initiative which provided more than 500 bookcase libraries, enabling over 180,000 children easy access to quality books, and engaged over 30,000 parents and educators in training programs.

Dr. Daniel Mwai, is the Presidential Advisor Health in the Executive Office of the President. A leading Health Economist and Health Financing Specialist in Kenya and the region. Dr. Mwai holds a PhD in Health Economics and is a Senior lecturer of Health Economics at the University of Nairobi.

He has great interest in advocating for expansion of disease prevention, health promotion and Primary Health Care, approached as the only pathway to a sustainable health financing mechanism. His work experience and advisory work span the public sector, private sector and international development partners having work in Africa and the Caribbean region. He is merited for crafting the current health care reforms, being undertaken in Kenya.

Jacqueline Grove is a senior executive and global vision health leader serving as President of 20/20 Quest, National Vision’s Charitable Foundation, and Chief Executive Officer of The Coalition for Clear Vision. In these roles, she leads National Vision’s philanthropic strategy and advances global and country level initiatives focused on expanding access to eye care, with a particular emphasis on uncorrected refractive error.

With more than 30 years of executive leadership experience and over 15 years in the vision sector, Jacqueline’s background spans retail operations, training and development, organizational culture, DEIB, and philanthropy. She previously held senior leadership roles at National Vision and Luxottica Retail, overseeing large scale, multi brand operations across the United States and Canada.

As CEO of The Coalition for Clear Vision, Jacqueline is leading efforts to establish Kenya as a country model for accelerating sustainable spectacle coverage through public private collaboration. Jacqueline serves on the IAPB Board of Directors and is a member of the WHO Private Sector Consortium. She also founded the CEO Roundtable for Vision, bringing together global private sector leaders to engage more deeply in solving the global vision crisis. Jacqueline was named one of Vision Monday’s Most Influential Women in Optical in 2021.

Amos is responsible for driving the business growth, development, partnerships and digital transformation at Opportunity Bank Uganda Limited with over 20 years’ experience in Banking especially Micro Finance in Credit management, Business development, Sales and Marketing in both the micro and commercial banking. Amos is passionate about serving underbanked and unbanked communities especially in the rural areas.

A holder of a master’s degree in business administration (Finance) and a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management, tenable at Uganda Martyrs University, Nkozi, Uganda. An alumnus of the Executive Development Program under Opportunity International; fellow of the Board Leadership for Impact program; an alumnus of Digital Frontiers Institute and an alumnus of Agricultural and Rural Finance (FAR2023).

Amos oversees strategic planning, business performance evaluation, customer relationship enhancement, portfolio diversification and business development. He provides critical insights and guidance to senior leadership and the board, helping the bank minimize risk and maximize value across its branches, segments and products with strong belief that our clients' health and well being is paramount for financial inclusion to work.

Graduated from Hitotsubashi University Faculty of Law. Former COO/Vice President of Cross Fields. Experience in infrastructure projects in developing countries for 10 years in Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Mitsubishi Corporation, Joined OUI Inc. from 2019, leading all the domestic and international projects of OUI Inc., a medical startup founded by ophthalmologists in Japan, developing smartphone attachment ophthalmic medical device Smart Eye Camera.

Ex-liaison interpreter of Argentina National Team of Rugby (Los Pumas) in Rugby World Cup 2019. Speaks 4 languages: Japanese/English/Spanish/French. Currently, also working as researcher at the Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine.

Dr. Abeba Tesfay is an Ophthalmologist and current Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Fellow at Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital in New Delhi. She earned her Medical Degree from Mekelle University in 2016 and completed her specialty certification in Ophthalmology at Addis Ababa University in 2021. ​

Following her specialization, Dr. Tesfay dedicated five years to serving as a specialist in her hometown, delivering essential eye care services under the challenging conditions of active conflict and contributing significantly to post conflict rehabilitation efforts. This experience shaped her deep commitment to community-based eye care and the provision of high-quality surgical care in underserved regions. Her current clinical focus and research interests involve advancing pediatric eye care systems and expanding access to specialized services within community frameworks.

Cikũ Mathenge is a Consultant Ophthalmologist and Medical Retina specialist. She is a Co- Founder and Director of Training and Research at the Rwanda International Institute of Ophthalmology (RIIO) in Kigali, Rwanda. Cikũ obtained her medical and ophthalmology education at the University of Nairobi and later a Masters in Community Eye Health and PhD in retina diseases from the University of London.

She trained as a Medical Retina Fellow at the Retina Foundation in Chennai India. Cikũ is a Professor of Ophthalmology at University of Rwanda and currently serves on the Boards of Ophthalmology Foundation and The Fred Hollows Foundation and was a Member of the Board of Trustees of the International Council of Ophthalmology from 2013 to 2021. Ciku is currently the only African member of the Academia Ophthalmologica Internationalis and has over 90 publications in peer reviewed journals. She is also the Medical Advisor for Africa for Orbis international.

She has been on the Ophthalmology Power list of 100 most influential female ophthalmologists winner and in 2026 is in the Top 10 of the Ophthalmology Power List as the only female and only African. She has also been an IAPB Eye Health Hero and Vision Excellence Award. She is the first female President of the African Ophthalmology Council. Ciku has served COECSA as Head of Education in the past and currently heads the Training if Trainers Sub Committee.

Shaffi Mdala is a Malawian ophthalmologist, Honorary Lecturer in Ophthalmology at the Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, and President of the Ophthalmological Society of Malawi. His work focuses on addressing the growing burden of diabetic eye disease in Malawi through clinically relevant and policy-oriented research.

He is currently pursuing a PhD in Global Eye Health at the International Centre for Eye Health (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine), where his research - “Modelling the Health System to Assess the Health Gains of Diabetic Retinopathy Service Delivery Models in Malawi”- explores cost-effective and sustainable approaches to integrating diabetic retinopathy services into the national health system. His work combines health system assessments, epidemiological analysis, and mathematical modelling using the Thanzi La Onse model to generate locally relevant evidence.

Started my eye-care career in 2014 in the Consultancy Division of the Lions Aravind Institute of Community Ophthalmology. I have worked with eye hospitals in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Rwanda, Kenya, and Tanzania in various capacity-building initiatives.

I am currently managing capacity-building initiatives at LAICO and the Collaborative Learning Series for eye hospitals under the banner “LEAP” to bring about tangible outcomes in high-impact areas.

Theoneste is a public health specialist with huge experience in health systems strengthening, with particular expertise in data systems, maternal and child health, and eye health program implementation. He holds a Master of Public Health and a Bachelor’s degree in Community Health.

He currently serves as Sector M&E and Reporting Specialist at the Ministry of Health where he leads the design and strengthening of integrated health information systems, including digital innovations that support service delivery, performance monitoring, and evidence-based decision-making. He has contributed to major national initiatives, including Rwanda’s fifth Health Sector Strategic Plan (2025–2029), and has played a leading role in advancing digital health solutions through DHIS2 and EMR.

Notably, he has been instrumental in the development and scale-up of Rwanda’s National Digital Eye Tracker system, which strengthens the continuum of eye care from community screening to surgical outcomes and follow-up. His work has supported improvements in cataract surgical outcomes, reduced loss to follow-up, and enhanced quality of care through real-time data use and continuous quality improvement frameworks. His work is driven by a commitment to leveraging data and technology to improve equitable access to high-quality healthcare and to strengthen sustainable health systems.

Vinod Daniel is the CEO and Managing Trustee of India Vision Institute. He has been associated with IVI since its inception. He is the recipient of the Association of Community Ophthalmologists of India (ACOIN) Golden Eye Award in 2012 and the ASTRA (Association of Soft Skills Trainers) Service Excellence Award (2014) for sustainable contribution to the field of Human Resource Development and Human Resource Management relating to Cultural Heritage and Blindness Prevention, 2015 American Academy of Optometry-Essilor Award for Outstanding International Contributions to Optometry, 2019 GEMCO Award for Lifetime Work in India for Heritage and Social Work, and the 2023 Order of Australia Medal, among the honors and recognitions.

Karen Garduno is a Business Development professional with 15+ years of international experience driving market expansion and strategic partnerships across APAC and LatAm.

She has a proven track record in identifying growth opportunities, opening new markets, and managing high-level global stakeholders. Karen has experience in fundraising and social impact initiatives, including collaboration with APEC Hospital de la Ceguera, supporting projects that combine sustainability with organizational growth.

Andreas has a background in ophthalmic research and epidemiology, holding a Ph.D in Vision Sciences (UK) and a Master of Public Health (NZ). For the past 30 years, he has worked in various eye care sectors, including academia, private sector, nongovernment sector, and the UN system.

He joined WHO in 2011, leading the WHO Eye Care Programme at the Regional Office for the Western Pacific Region. He currently acts as Technical Advisor to the Vision and Eye Care Programme at WHO Headquarters.

Dr. Cindy is a dedicated consultant ophthalmologist and public health specialist whose work bridges patient care, research, and education.

Passionate about sharing knowledge and fostering collaboration, she is a peer reviewer for Kenya Eye Health Journal and an active contributor to scientific research, with publications in various journals and presentations at both national and international conferences. Dr Cindy is also a member of Women Leaders in Eye Health- Kenya Circle

Tuwani Rasengane is Head of Optometry at the University of the Free State and Director of Optometric Service, Universitas Academic Hospital. She serves as Co Chair of the WHO SPECS2030 Workforce workstream and is the current interim African region representative for the Global Optometry Public Health Alliance (GOPHA).

She is a trustee of SightSavers, a board member of Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (VOSH) International, and a member of the Global Ophthalmic Institute. Her expertise includes child eye health, electrodiagnostics, and visual perception, with a strong focus on advancing global optometric education and public eye health.

A Gomeroi man from Moree, NSW, Danny is a communications and engagement professional and filmmaker with nearly 25 years’ experience in purpose-driven storytelling. Inspired by the work of Jaki Adams, he brought his skills to The Fred Hollows Foundation to help close the gap in eye health for Indigenous Australians.

Danny has worked as Regional Communications Advisor with The Fred Hollows Foundation and now serves as Engagement and Relations Lead for the Indigenous Australia Program, leading stakeholder engagement and communications to support culturally informed, community-led outcomes.

He began his career in documentary filmmaking, gaining recognition for his award-winning short film Mah and the 2012 documentary Songline to Happiness, which won Best Short Documentary at the ImagineNATIVE Film Festival in Toronto. Danny founded Gondwana Productions in 2008, producing over 200 hours of content for NITV, along with broadcast work for ABC, SBS, BBC Four and the Foxtel Network.

Danny is driven to tell authentic stories from Indigenous Australia that challenge injustice, confront racism, and explore environmental and social issues.

Jaki has over 30 years’ experience in government and non-government/international development sectors. In 2025 joined the Lowitja Institute as the Executive Manager Research and Knowledge Translation. Prior to this, Jaki held several leadership roles across The Fred Hollows Foundation (Australia) over a span of thirteen years. Jaki’s roles included eye health programming, strategic leadership, partnerships and advocacy across the Indigenous Australia Program, the Pacific, Timor Leste, Philippines and Indonesia.

As the Director Social Justice and Regional Engagement, Jaki led The Foundation’s positioning in supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples having the right to sight, good health and self-determination. Jaki also supported the Strategic Partnership with FHF New Zealand and continues to co-convene the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) Indigenous Peoples Special Interest Group.

In 2022 Jaki completed a Masters of Social Change Leadership through the Atlantic Fellowship for Social Equity (AFSE) and is a Global Atlantic Fellow. In 2023 Jaki was awarded the Australian Council for International Development’s (ACFID) Outstanding Contribution to the Sector Award for championing health equity, supporting strategic eye care relationships in Australia and across the Pacific, helping drive the agenda of the Allies for Uluru Coalition and elevating the voices of First Nations people (in Australia and internationally).

Bernard Agbor is a seasoned senior eye care programs professional with vast experience in managing eye care projects. He has transformed the eye care landscape over time through impact driven programs and projects in Africa.

This has led him to access as trustee member of some international eye health organisations, notably: the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) and the African Ophthalmology Council (AOC). His high-level advocacy of the eye health agenda led to his decoration as a Knight of the Cameroon National Order of Valour by the President of the Republic of Cameroon.

Amidst many other exploits, he has been awarded as the most outstanding contribution at the AOC Congress, Kigali, 2024, the Disability and Inclusion Excellency award by Inclusion Actu in 2024 and Eye Care Manager Icon award by the Cameroon Society of Ophthalmology, 2024. So far, he has been involved in catching research work, notably the Diabetic Retinopathy research sponsored by the Lions Club, and greatly contributed to the publication of

1. The Refraction guidelines for Cameroon
2. The cataract surgery guidelines for Cameroon
3. The Cameroon Ophthalmology Journal
4. The Pediatric Ophthalmology guidelines for Cameroon.

In the domain of training, he has installed the IJCAHPO training program for Ophthalmic Assistants in 5 African countries and has started an optometry training program in Cameroon. These aptitudes and attitudes have led to his triumphant entry as board member for Brighter World, a Chinese based eye care organisation as well as the He Eye Vision Group. Bernard Agbor is poised in unting Africa to fight blindness by bringing all stakeholders to the same point for this noble cause.

Jacqui’s research is focused on health equity. Her projects share a common goal of improving access to and outcomes of eye health services, particularly for cataract and refractive error as the leading causes of vision impairment.

In Aotearoa New Zealand, Jacqui is leading a collaborative project aiming to improve eye, hearing, and foot health—and address inequity—for older adults, particularly if they have diabetes. Globally, a key project is developing a method to model eCSC drawing on routinely collected data. Other roles include being the president of ISGEO and the Steering Group of the WHO Global Eye Health Research Agenda.

Joyce Koech is the Global Lead for Inclusive Health Programmes at CBM, where she directs programme strategy across eye health, ear and hearing care, and physical rehabilitation portfolios in more than 30 countries.

A Public Health Specialist with over 20 years of experience, Joy has extensive expertise in public health programming and health system strengthening in low- and middle-income countries. A strong advocate for health equity and enhancing access to care for underserved populations. Joyce’s work involves close collaboration with government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and community groups to ensure CBM programmes are inclusive and equitable.

She is passionate about creating lasting, equitable change in eye care and broader health services, with a firm conviction that strong, inclusive health systems are a critical path toward universal access.

Stella Jane serves as RestoringVision’s Senior Program Manager, Africa, leading the organization’s programs and partnerships across Sub-Saharan Africa. Based in Nairobi, she oversees the design, delivery, and evaluation of initiatives that expand access to vision services and near-vision eyeglasses.

Stella has more than 14 years of project management experience , including nine years of strengthening eye health systems in Kenya. Throughout her career, she has worked alongside donors, government ministries, and international organizations to advance equitable health services. Before joining RestoringVision, Stella was a project manager at PCEA Kikuyu Hospital in Kenya, where she managed eye health and community vision care programs.

She designed and scaled programs for people living in poverty, especially those affected by presbyopia. Prior to that, she worked as an inclusive project advisor for Scandicare Kenya, strengthening policy engagement and advocacy for disability inclusion. Earlier in her career, she worked in child rights and welfare, and HIV/AIDS prevention and advocacy programs. Stella has been recognized internationally as an IAPB Eye Health Hero. Stella holds a Bachelor of Arts in Development Studies from Mt. Kenya University in Kenya and is a certified Project Management Professional. She is currently pursuing a Master of Public Health degree at Amref International University.

Kelly Larson has over 30 years of experience managing local, national, and international public health programs. She currently directs Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Road safety, Drowning Prevention, Partnership for Healthy Cities and Vision programs, while also providing technical support to partners and grantees in the tobacco control initiative.

Kelly supports Mike Bloomberg in his role as the World Health Organization’s Global Ambassador for Noncommunicable Diseases and Injuries. Prior to joining Bloomberg Philanthropies in August 2008, Kelly managed local, national, and international public health programs with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, National Hemophilia Foundation, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Fiji and the Pacific Islands, and served as a U.S.

Peace Corps Volunteer on a remote outer island in the Federated States of Micronesia. Kelly received her Master of Public Health from Columbia University and studied Communications at Pacific Lutheran University.

Kovin Naidoo is the Global Head of Advocacy and Partnerships at the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation and the former CEO of the Brien Holden Vision Institute. He is an optometrist, academic, former anti-apartheid activist and political prisoner and an internationally celebrated public health leader.

Professor Naidoo is Honorary Professor of Optometry at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), and Adjunct Professor at University of New South Wales, Australia as well as a Visiting Professor at Wenzhou Medical School. He has published extensively in epidemiology and public health. Prof. Naidoo served on the 2019 WHO World Report on Vision editorial committee and WHO eMyopia group.

Inaugural Chair of the International Myopia Institute(IMI), co-founder of the Global Myopia Awareness Coalition, Global Ophthalmic Institute and the Global Optometry Public Health Alliance and One School at A Time Program. Prof Naidoo is a Fulbright Scholar, an Ashoka Fellow and a Schwab Fellow. He was jointly awarded with Professor Brien Holden, the Schwab Social Entrepreneur Award for Africa 2010 at the regional World Economic Forum.

He was African Optometrist of the Year in 2002, then International Optometrist of the Year in 2007. He received the Prevention of Blindness (POB) Shield Lecture award from the Saudi Ophthalmology Society and an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters by the State University of New York (SUNY).

Dr Fernandes completed her under- and post-graduate training at Goa Medical College, Goa and did a fellowship in Cornea and Anterior Segment at LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI), Hyderabad in 2001. She completed a post doctoral fellowship in Ocular Surface Immunology, under the mentorship of Professor Reza Dana at Schepens Eye Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston in 2015. She has been the director of LVPEI, GMR Varalakshmi campus at Visakhapatnam from 2008 to 2021 as well as the Medical Director of Mohsin Eye Bank.

She currently is a Network Director of Finance and Accounts and heads the L V Prasad Eye Institute, Kallam Anji Reddy Campus, Hyderabad. She is in charge of Green LVPEI the sustainability program for the organization. Her main foci of interests are corneal transplantation in children, management of infectious diseases of the cornea and ocular surface disorders. Besides this she does cataract and refractive surgery. In addition to clinical service, her research work has led to publications in international and national peer reviewed literature and she has presented several papers in India and abroad.

Oli Barrett is a serial co-founder who enjoys making useful connections between people and ideas. He created Tenner, the UK’s largest schools enterprise challenge, in which over 250,000 pupils have made money and made a difference in a month, starting with just ten pounds. He co-founded Volunteer It Yourself (VIY), the social venture, which has helped thousands of young people to fix their own youth clubs. He is also the founder of TOTS (Turn on the Subtitles), the children’s literacy campaign. His first job was at Walt Disney World in Florida, and his first experience in television was working on the launch of Bob the Builder.

He co-founded The Rainmakers (an innovation and incubation company) in 2004, which continues to operate out of San Francisco. From 2008, he co-created and led eleven international trade missions (including WebMission and the Clean and Cool Mission), to help companies succeed overseas. In 2011, he co-founded StartUp Britain, launched by the British Prime Minister and funded by the private sector. The campaign led to the creation of PitchUp Britain (with John Lewis and Sainsbury’s) and PopUp Britain, with the opening of shops around the UK. Oli hosts The Lens podcast with Business in the Community, which pairs senior leaders with future leaders, to discuss the future of work. He is a regular conference and awards host, for events across education, technology and entrepreneurship. He is on the advisory boards of Tech London Advocates, One Million Mentors and Troubadour Theatres, and is a Fellow of impact incubator and business builder Zinc.  His latest venture, The Connector Unit, founded in 2016, forges valuable and creative connections across a range of sectors and industries.

Dhivya Ramasamy is the Executive Director at LAICO, the training and consulting arm of Aravind Eye Care System, based in Madurai, India. She has experience in healthcare management and training within the eye care sector, working on consultancy projects with hospitals in India, Bangladesh, and Zambia.

Dhivya has played a key role in designing and implementing management training programs for various roles in eye care. She also oversees strategic initiatives at Aravind Eye Care System in patient engagement and strengthening training systems. Dhivya serves on the boards of Vision 2020 INDIA and Seva Foundation, USA

Dr. Chundak Tenzing, MD, DO, MBBS, MPH, is the Worldwide Medical Director at Seva Foundation. He has worked with Seva and its partners for almost three decades, overseeing programs worldwide and advocating high-quality care. He is passionate about providing eye care to people living in places where it is nonexistent. He has worked with partner eye hospitals, mainly in Nepal, India, China, Cambodia, and Myanmar.

Throughout his career, Chundak has been instrumental in helping to establish multiple eye institutes. These include, but are not limited to, Lumbini Eye Institute, Bharatpur Eye Institute, and eye care centers in remote hills of Nepal where there was no service. When he is not traveling, Chundak takes the time to write beautiful poetry and stories, reflecting the world that he sees.

Pamela Clapp, Associate Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, joined the Cure Blindness Project in 2010, developing collaborative relationships with implementing partners to design, implement, and evaluate programs in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Pamela played a key role in partner expansion in Ghana and Ethiopia and strengthening capacity of ophthalmology training programs.

In her current role as Associate Vice President for Strategic Initiatives, she is responsible for developing the strategy and leading initiatives that are cross-cutting, supporting Cure Blindness Project’s programs and partnerships globally. These initiatives include Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning, Quality, Research and Advocacy.

As a member of the global programmatic leadership team, Pamela contributes to shaping global strategy in collaboration with other regional and programmatic team members to serve long-term organizational and global ophthalmology needs with government officials, key opinion leaders, hospitals, NGOs and the public. Pam is committed to working closely with multiple stakeholders to generate evidence to change policy and behavior, leading to improved access to quality eye care.

Esmael Habtamu is a public eye health academic and clinical trialist with research interests in trachoma elimination and primary eye care. He is an Assistant Professor at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), UK; Co-Founder and Executive Director of Eyu-Ethiopia; and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia.

He trained as an Ophthalmic Officer at the University of Gondar, graduating with Great Distinction, and completed the MSc in Public Health for Eye Care at LSHTM, where he graduated top of his class and received the Gordon Johnson Prize. He obtained his PhD from LSHTM in 2016, focusing on trachomatous trichiasis surgery and quality of life, and was awarded the LSHTM Woodruff Medal for the most outstanding doctoral thesis of the year. Dr Esmael has led multiple large-scale eye health projects, including clinical trials, cohort studies, and implementation research, securing 11 research grants totalling approximately USD 4.5 million and publishing over 50 peer-reviewed articles.

In 2021, he was awarded a Wellcome Trust International Intermediate Fellowship to develop sustainable Primary Eye Care interventions integrated within Primary Health Care systems. He serves on several national and international advisory committees related to trachoma and eye health and contributes to guideline development, ethics review, and journal editorial activities.

Ross Piper is the Chief Executive Officer of the Fred Hollows Foundation. In this role he provides global leadership for the Foundation, which has operations in over 25 countries, a global board and entity boards in the USA, UK, Hong Kong and Kenya. Prior to his role with the Fred Hollows Foundation, Ross served as the Chief Executive Superannuation at Australian Ethical Investment, overseeing approximately $12bn funds under management on behalf of 130,000 members across Australia.

He has over 30 years of leadership and management experience in corporate and non-profit contexts. He has held senior leadership roles with World Vision International, Macquarie Group and Rio Tinto, working in countries across the Middle East, Eastern Europe and the former Yugoslavia, as well as extensive experience gained living and working in remote Indigenous communities across Australia.

He also has extensive governance experience, including serving as Founding Chair of AgroInvest, a microfinance bank serving rural families in Serbia and Montenegro, and various other boards for organisations focused on impact investing, social enterprise and technology. More recently he served for several years as Chair of the Responsible Investment Association of Australasia (RIAA) and Paydock, a UK based payments orchestration business. Ross’ formal qualifications include a BSc (Geophysics), GradDipEd, and MBA (Deakin University).

Brenda Mareri is a Systems Change Practitioner, Engagement Curator and moderator with 14+ years of cross-sectoral experience in regional food and nutrition development and sustainable development.

She architects ecosystems of engagement, using a systems approach to transform complex challenges into collective action. With major events curated across Africa including TEDx and COP-aligned forums, Brenda brings together farmers, policymakers, youth, and researchers to co-create sustainable solutions. 

Her methodology is built around a systems approach that enables her to weave complex topics — from climate-smart agriculture and nutrition paradoxes to gender equity — into cohesive, action-oriented narratives that resonate across diverse stakeholder groups. 

Jissa James connects knowledge, people, and strategy to drive impact in global eye health. She is passionate about shaping spaces where professionals and organisations can share evidence, build capability, and drive collective action towards eye health for all.

As Senior Knowledge & Capability Manager at IAPB, Jissa leads the programme of 2030 IN SIGHT LIVE, works across knowledge exchange, stakeholder engagement, member collaboration, and capacity-building initiatives that support the sector’s 2030 In Sight strategy. Her work focuses on turning insight into action through practical platforms, tools, and learning opportunities that help the global eye health community collaborate better and move faster.

With over 15 years of experience across global health, professional development, advocacy, and programme design, Jissa brings a strong grounding in optometry, systems thinking, and inclusive sector engagement. An optometry educator turned global health advocate, Jissa also contributes to sector thought leadership through the Community Eye Health Journal, the IAPB Refractive Error Strategy Group, and the World Council of Optometry’s Education Committee.

Muhammad Babar Qureshi, originally from Pakistan, has dedicated his career to improving the quality of life for those affected by vision impairment and blindness worldwide.

He pursued his education in Nigeria, Austria, and London, specialising in Ophthalmology and Community Eye Health. After practising in Nigeria for eight years, he returned to Pakistan, holding prominent roles in blindness prevention and community ophthalmology.

Since 1997, he has served as the Medical Advisor for CBM, focusing on inclusive eye health and neglected tropical diseases from Cambridge, UK. Qureshi holds leadership positions in various organisations, including the Eastern Mediterranean Region Alliance for Trachoma Control and the Ophthalmology Foundation Board.

In 2021, he was appointed Vice President of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB). His contributions have earned him prestigious awards, such as the Prince Abdulaziz Bin Ahmed Al Saud Award, the Champalimaud Vision Award, and the IAPB Vision Excellence Award.

Drew Keys is the Director of Regions Engagement for IAPB, the global peak body for the eye health sector. He has degrees in Law and Asian Studies; now with 15 years’ experience across a range of eye health activities and advocacy initiatives he has worked with members, governments and multilateral stakeholders across the Pacific Islands, East Asia, Latin America and Europe.

Matthew Burton is the Director of the International Centre for Eye Health (ICEH) and Professor of Global Eye Health at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. ICEH is an international team of clinicians, scientists, economists and public health specialists, focused on research, education and capacity strengthening for global eye health. In 2026 ICEH became a WHO Collaborating Centre for Eye Care and Vision.

Professor Burton trained as an ophthalmologist and has worked in global eye health since 2000, when he joined ICEH. He was based in The Gambia (2001-2003), whilst doing his PhD on trachoma, and was later was based in Tanzania (2008-2012). His major research focus is on infectious causes of blindness, including trachoma and microbial keratitis, working closely with colleagues in Ethiopia, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, The Gambia, Nepal and India.

He also works on cataract, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, population-based surveys, global data and oculomics. He has led 20 international clinical trials and published 350 scientific publications on ophthalmology and eye health. Professor Burton was co-chair and lead author of the Lancet Global Health Commission on Global Eye Health, published in 2021. He is an Honorary Consultant Ophthalmologist at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London. In 2022 he was elected a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Science.

Dr Tsedeke is a consultant ophthalmologist and vitreoretinal surgeon with a Master’s degree in Medical Education. He is an active researcher with publications in ophthalmology and medical education, focusing on practical challenges in training, service delivery, and health systems to inform policy and practice. He has presented at national and international conferences, contributing to global discussions on eye health, education, and quality improvement.

He has demonstrated strong professional leadership through roles in key organizations, including the Standing Committee on Medical Education of the Ethiopian Medical Association and as immediate past president of the Ophthalmological Society of Ethiopia, advancing collaboration, advocacy, and capacity building. He has served as Director of Clinical Teaching at the Rwanda International Institute of Ophthalmology, strengthening clinical training and promoting excellence in ophthalmic education.

He also contributed as a consultant to the Accelerate Project funded by the Fred Hollows Foundation, focusing on continuous quality improvement and mentorship. Currently, he is Medical Advisor for Africa and the Middle East at the Fred Hollows Foundation and Chair of the Education and Accreditation Committee of COECSA, leading efforts to strengthen training standards and the ophthalmic workforce across the region.

Fabrizio is the IAPB Head of Region for the Western Pacific Region. He is a public health specialist with over 15 years’ experience in advocacy, policy, program delivery, and research across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and the Pacific. His work has focused on system-wide responses to eye health, noncommunicable diseases, and neglected tropical diseases, with a strong emphasis on equity and universal health coverage.

Fabrizio has led public health initiatives in partnership with governments, NGOs, multilaterals, and academia — most notably with WHO’s Western Pacific Regional Office. He holds a Doctorate from the University of Sydney, an MPH from the University of Melbourne, and is a Graduate of the Vincent Fairfax Ethical Leadership Program.

Adam Askew is Chief Executive of the Vision Catalyst Fund, a resource mobilisation platform supporting low- and middle-income governments to access sustainable finance for eye care. He brings nearly 20 years of experience in partnerships, campaigns, and funding, with deep expertise in philanthropy and innovative finance.

Adam previously led funding partnerships at Comic Relief, overseeing more than £100 million in collaborations with trusts, foundations, governments, and companies to drive large-scale social impact. He has also worked with philanthropists including James Chen on global eye health initiatives and Natalia Vodianova on equality and social impact advocacy.

He is Co-Founder of a prostate cancer charity, which has raised over £2.5 million to improve early diagnosis of the disease. He began his career as a youth worker and then at Oxfam and continues to support the youth and education sector as Chair of Governors at a UK primary school and as a board member of Global Dignity.

Alemayehu Sisay is a senior ophthalmologist and public health leader serving as Country Director of Orbis International in Ethiopia, where he provides strategic leadership for one of the largest comprehensive eye care and trachoma elimination programs globally.

With over 20 years of experience in clinical medicine and public health, he has led large-scale initiatives implementing the SAFE strategy to combat trachoma, reaching millions of people annually and supporting thousands of surgeries each year.

He has played a key role in training health workers, strengthening eye care systems, advancing research on trichiasis surgery, and building partnerships with governments, donors, and international stakeholders. His work spans community-level interventions to national policy engagement, with a strong focus on equity, sustainability, and expanding access to quality eye care across Ethiopia and Africa.

Graeme MacKenzie is Director of Riemann Ltd, an ophthalmic research consultancy, through which he works with the Chen Yet-Sen Family Foundation to lead its portfolio of ophthalmic research. His work focuses on the design, delivery, and interpretation of clinical trials examining how access to vision correction affects health, livelihoods, and wider social outcomes.

A clinical research specialist with experience across China, Bangladesh, India, Vietnam, and Africa, he has played a central role in randomised controlled trials linking the correction of refractive error to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, exploring how vision influences outcomes well beyond the conventional health silo, including road safety, education, and cognitive performance. He works at the boundary between science, operations, and communication, coordinating multi-institution collaborations and translating findings into evidence that funders and policymakers can act on.

On the commercial side, he has worked extensively with adjustable-focus eyewear, including how adjustable-focus lens systems interact with the vergence and accommodative systems, and brings particular expertise in statistical process control, ophthalmic modelling, and the regulation of spectacle sales across high-income and low- and middle-income settings.

Jackson T. Smith, is a public health practitioner, health systems strategist, and social entrepreneur serving as Country Director of Good Vision Liberia. He leads efforts to expand access to high-quality, affordable eye care services, particularly for underserved communities. With a master’s in healthcare policy and management, he combines policy expertise with practical implementation to deliver sustainable health interventions.

Mr. Smith is recognized for advancing solutions to uncorrected refractive errors, a leading cause of visual impairment. Under his leadership, Good Vision Liberia has scaled outreach programs providing free eye screenings, affordable eyeglasses, and referrals for advanced care including cataract and glaucoma treatment. He applies a system-thinking approach, strengthening partnerships with the Ministry of Health and key stakeholders to align programs with national priorities. A strong advocate for workforce development, he has led training initiatives for Good Vision Technicians and frontline health workers, expanding access to primary eye care across multiple counties.

In addition, he contributes to health policy dialogue, promotes public-private partnerships, and supports evidence-based planning through monitoring and evaluation systems. Known for his collaborative leadership, Mr. Smith continues to drive impactful, sustainable improvements in Liberia’s eye health sector, working toward equitable access to vision care for all.

Marco Antonio Otaviano Soares is a technology entrepreneur, systems leader, and the Project Manager for Brazil at Global Vision 2020. Recognized as a recent award nominee for his commitment to solving global health issues in eyecare, Marco is dedicated to democratizing access to clear vision.

Through Global Vision Brasil LTDA, he applies rigorous, innovative systems-thinking to tackle the logistical and operational challenges of delivering vital eyecare to underserved populations across Brazil.

Marco brings a wealth of expertise in scaling complex operations from his role as President and CEO of JasperVOCAL Inc. At JasperVOCAL, he pioneered advanced mass communication infrastructure using conversational AI, disrupting the InsurTech space by reducing customer acquisition costs by up to 85%. Marco now translates this experience in architecting high-volume operational systems directly into the humanitarian sector, treating the deployment of health resources with the same efficiency used to scale enterprise AI.

A Brazilian immigrant to Canada, Marco’s drive for impactful innovation began early as a young founder developing software and apps for education and political campaigns. Today, he operates at the intersection of technology and global health, building scalable systems that not only transform industries but profoundly improve human lives.

Dr. Hunter Cherwek is a global ophthalmologist with a specific career interest on how training and technologies can be used to eliminate avoidable blindness in low resource communities around the world. Dr. Cherwek received his undergraduate degree in Biology from the University of North Carolina (UNC)- Chapel Hill and his medical degree from Duke University.

After his transitional year at Scripps Hospital, he completed his residency in ophthalmology at Emory University where he was elected Chief Resident. Immediately upon graduating from Emory, Hunter joined Orbis International (www.orbis.org) where he was able to lecture and work in over 20 countries aboard the Flying Eye Hospital (FEH) and help build the telemedicine/distance learning platform (www.cybersight.org).

After working with Orbis International, he was based in Beijing, China, for six years working with Alcon as the Medical Director of Strategic Markets to help improve surgical training efforts and access to quality cataract care in Asia & Russia. Most recently, Dr. Cherwek has returned to Orbis International to continue to support its clinical training efforts and patient care programs as Vice President, Clinical Services & Technologies.

Dr Sonia is a public health specialist with over a decade of experience, specializing in Monitoring, Evaluation, and Research (MER), strategic program management, and capacity building.

She ensures programs are data-driven and impact-focused and has served as a Principal Investigator and Co-Principal Investigator on both RCT and non-RCT studies. With a strong portfolio of published research, she excels at translating complex data into actionable policies, high-quality reports, and successful grant proposals that drive sustainable community outcomes.

I began my career as a Refraction Technician, spending years in clinical settings dedicated to restoring clear vision for individual patients. However, witnessing firsthand how many people remain in darkness simply due to a lack of access to basic eye care, I realized that sitting at a diagnostic table limited the scale of help I could provide. This deep-seated desire to bring light to a greater number of people drove me to transition from the clinic to community eye care.

With a strong clinical foundation trained at Aravind Eye Hospital (India), I have applied my technical expertise to managing and operating large-scale projects. Instead of prescribing glasses for one person at a time, I now coordinate strategic initiatives like School Eye Health and Low Vision Capacity Building at Orbis International, establishing sustainable care networks for entire regions.

Throughout my journey, I have led over 100 community eye camps, providing essential services to approximately 10,000 patients of all ages. For me, moving from the exam room to the community is not about leaving my profession behind—it is about leveraging that expertise to create broader, more impactful changes in the fight against avoidable blindness in Vietnam.

With more than 25 years of leadership experience in global health and development, Kathleen is committed to advancing eye health as a global priority and accelerating Orbis International’s impact worldwide as President & CEO.

Throughout her career, Kathleen has focused on health equity, sustainable systems, and strategic partnerships that expand access to essential services and opportunity, particularly for women and girls. Her leadership has driven large-scale, cross-sector initiatives and multi-million-dollar partnerships that have improved health and education outcomes for millions globally. Prior to joining Orbis International, Kathleen served as Chief Strategy & Engagement Officer at Plan International, where she oversaw global strategy, partnerships, fundraising, communications, and policy engagement.

She also held senior leadership roles at Women Deliver, including Interim President & CEO, and at Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Kathleen has worked extensively with multilateral institutions including the United Nations, African Union, and European Union to advance health rights and systems change. She currently serves on several global boards and advisory groups, including the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health and the World Economic Forum’s Global Alliance for Women’s Health.

Peter Milo is the Country Director of The Fred Hollows Foundation in Kenya, where he leads efforts to end avoidable blindness through stronger, more accessible, and integrated eye care services.

The Foundation works across 22 of Kenya’s 47 counties and National MOH, strengthening the eye health workforce, improving leadership and coordination, and elevating eye health as a national development priority. Peter brings 20 years of experience supporting the Government of Kenya in governance and health systems strengthening, with expertise in human resources for health, medical education, and Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health and Nutrition.

Since 2013, he has led major country and health programmes providing technical assistance to county governments. Before joining the Foundation in 2024, he served as Chief of Party for USAID-funded programmes in Kenya and previously held senior leadership roles at Concern Worldwide and IntraHealth International.

For over a decade, I have had the privilege of working with the patient and policy community to build sustainable, trusting relationships between people living with different conditions and the private sector. My passion has always been to ensure that the patient perspective is embedded into decision-making at all levels of healthcare.

I joined Roche as Global Patient Partnership Leader with the mission to strengthen collaboration between Roche and the eye health patient and policy community. A key part of my role is working closely with the vision loss community to ensure their needs and experiences help shape and drive our work in this space. I am equally passionate about inspiring colleagues to bring more of the patient perspective into their everyday work.

Together, I believe we can move closer towards our shared vision of saving sight. Through these collaborations, I have come to understand the profound impact vision loss can have, not only on individuals but also on their loved ones. I am grateful to work in a role where I can contribute to solutions that have the potential to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.

As the Country Director of Orbis Vietnam, Pham Kim Ngoc leads the strategic and operational management of the country office, ensuring the successful implementation of Orbis’s mission in Vietnam.

With two decades of experience in the development sector—21 of which have been dedicated to eye health and 10 years to nutrition-sensitive agriculture—Ngoc brings a wealth of expertise in working with government agencies, local partners, and international donors.

She is deeply committed to improving the lives of women, children, and disadvantaged communities. Ngoc holds an MBA from Troy University (USA), in collaboration with the National University of Vietnam, and dual bachelor’s degrees in international economics from the Vietnam Institute of International Relations and the National University of Vietnam.

Snider Mugese is a finance and investment professional with 9+ years of experience supporting early-stage ventures across Sub-Saharan Africa, with a focus on healthcare and life sciences. She is currently serving as the Director of Finance and Incubation at Villgro Africa, where she leads financial strategy, operational systems, and program delivery across incubation initiatives.

Her work focuses on building strong financial management systems, improving accountability across programs, and ensuring donor compliance. She also works closely with startups on investment readiness, due diligence, and growth planning—supporting over 100 ventures to date, including women-led healthcare enterprises.

She collaborates with entrepreneurs, funders, and global partners across multi-country programs to strengthen innovation pipelines and move promising ideas toward scale. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Investment and Financial Analyst (CIFA), currently completing my Master’s in Development Finance at Strathmore Business School.

I am a dedicated digital health professional passionate about leveraging technology to improve healthcare delivery and outcomes.

With a deep understanding of health informatics, system design, and data-driven solutions, I aim to bridge the digital solution to improve provision of healthcare.

Benjamin des Gachons is an international development and global health leader with over 20 years of experience designing and delivering high-impact programs across NGOs, philanthropic organizations, and digital civic platforms. He currently serves as Executive Director of the Organisation pour la Prévention de la Cécité (OPC), where he leads large-scale health programs to expand access to quality eye care and combat preventable blindness across francophone Africa.

He brings deep expertise in program execution, strategic partnerships, and scaling interventions in complex environments, with a strong focus on health systems strengthening and equitable access to care. Throughout his career, Benjamin has driven citizen engagement and advocacy at scale. As Country Director of Change.org France, he helped grow one of the world’s largest civic platforms, empowering millions to influence public policy.

He also contributed to the global expansion of Avaaz and held senior leadership roles at The ONE Campaign, advancing international efforts to tackle extreme poverty and global health challenges. He began his career supporting programs in West Africa and India with ActionAid. Benjamin is a graduate of Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne.

Dr Caroline Harper CBE joined Sightsavers as CEO of Sightsavers in 2005, Since then Sightsavers that has grown significantly in the areas of eye health, neglected tropical diseases and disability. Income and impact have dramatically increased, and the organisation has developed a reputation for managing large consortia (of both donors and partners), efficient support to implementing partners (particularly governments) and effective advocacy (especially in conjunction with organisations of people with disabilities).

Dr Harper graduated in Physics from Bristol University in 1981, and went on to Churchill College, Cambridge to do a PhD in Energy Studies. She worked in the gas industry until 2002. As Managing Director she built Hess UK's gas and electricity trading and marketing business from scratch, until it was sold in 2002 for £120 million. From 2002 to 2005 Dr Harper ran her own interim management business, specialising in turnaround and sale of energy businesses (with a bit of a gap year in the middle to travel to a number of interesting places ranging from Egypt, to the Galapagos, to China and Antarctica}.

Caroline was awarded an OBE for services to the gas industry in 2000, an honorary doctorate from Bristol University in 2013 and a CBE for services to visually impaired people abroad in 2016. She is also a Fellow of the Institute of Physics.

Renata Watene is a therapeutically qualified Māori optometrist, award-winning Indigenous eye health leader, and strategic clinical health leader from Aotearoa, with tribal affiliations to Ngā Puhi and Tainui. She is internationally recognised for her leadership across clinical optometry, academia, governance, workforce development, and equitable health system transformation.

Renata is President of the New Zealand Association of Optometrists, Chair of the Indigenous Strategy Taskforce, and co-convenor of the Indigenous Peoples Special Interest Group (IPSIG) alongside proud Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander woman Jaki Adams, working to elevate Indigenous voices within the global eye health agenda.

She currently serves as Regional Clinical Lead for Allied Health, Scientific and Technical for the Te Ikaroa region at Hauora Māori Services within Health New Zealand, supporting equitable access to care Māori and advocating for the inclusion of 43 allied health professions within health system planning and delivery. Renata is also completing a PhD, Karu Ora, focused on Indigenous approaches to equitable eye health outcomes, and works as a Kaiāwhina Professional Teaching Fellow supporting workforce development and Indigenous health education.

Outside of work, Renata is a proud mother of two, enjoys the outdoors and sport, and represented New Zealand at the 2024 Touch Rugby World Cup, where her team won silver and she was the tournament’s top try scorer for New Zealand.

Brandon is the Director of Global Policy and Advocacy at The Fred Hollows Foundation, with more than 20 years’ experience across the health, disability, human rights, and international development sectors.

For the past 10 years, he has led The Foundation’s global advocacy efforts with multilateral institutions including the World Health Organization and the United Nations, advancing policies that promote equitable access to eye health and accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals. Previously with the national peak body Vision 2020, Brandon’s responsibilities spanned prevention, early intervention, Indigenous Peoples health, disability and development within the Asia Pacific region.

Prior to that, He also spent eight years in the blindness disability sector promoting the human rights of people who are blind or vision impaired and was recognised with a Victorian Government award in 2014 for his leadership in disability advocacy. Brandon also serves as Regional Chair for the Western Pacific with the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, is a Board Director of Vision 2020 and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Science (Policy & Research) from RMIT University.

Thierry Rock Nassouri is a distinguished Burkinabè professional who currently serves as the Country Director of GoodVision Burkina Faso. Since taking the helm in November 2021, he has dedicated his leadership to expanding access to essential vision care and cataract surgeries for vulnerable communities, particularly in the country's rural regions.

His work involves close collaboration with the Ministries of Health and Economy to ensure that NGO initiatives align with national development priorities. With over 15 years of experience in finance, administration, and project management, Nassouri built a formidable career foundation within major international corporations. Before his transition to the non-profit sector, he held senior roles at firms such as SeedRock and the mining giant NordGold.

His professional excellence was notably recognized in 2017 when he was awarded the "Employé d’Or" (Employee of the Year) at NordGold for his skill in cost optimization and organizational leadership. Today, Nassouri is recognized for his strategic vision and financial acumen, using his corporate expertise to drive social impact. Based in Ouagadougou, he continues to lead GoodVision through innovative projects aimed at fostering sustainable development and improving the quality of life for underprivileged populations across Burkina Faso.

Anne Coolen is a seasoned public health leader, systems architect, and Chief Impact Officer at VisionSpring, a global social enterprise on a mission to bring affordable, quality eyeglasses to the 1.1 billion people who need them but cannot access them.

With over 20 years of experience spanning humanitarian response, reproductive health, health systems strengthening, and eye care, Anne has built a career defined by one consistent ambition: creating change that lasts long after any single program, intervention, or leader moves on. At VisionSpring, Anne leads the organization's global strategy, country programs, and technical delivery across nine markets, including India, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, Zambia, Ghana, and Nigeria.

She oversees a portfolio that integrates monitoring and evaluation, quality assurance, partner success, and innovation, ensuring that the evidence behind VisionSpring's work is as strong as the impact it generates. An anthropologist by training, Anne is a passionate advocate for women's rights, a committed mentor to emerging women leaders, and a firm believer that lasting change is built through strong systems, trusted teams, and deep cultural understanding.

Aurelia Tanki is a Certified Human Resources practitioner working as a Human Resource Business Partner at Amaco Insurance. She is also a Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) advocate with lived experience of navigating the challenges of visible eye-related conditions.

She combines professional HR expertise with lived experience to contribute to conversations on diversity, inclusion, leadership, and workplace transformation.

Njoki Wachira has over 15 years of experience working in the health sector in East Africa. She joined Seva Foundation in 2024 as our Africa region Program Officer. The Program Officer plays a vital role within our implementation team, supervising an expanding portfolio of programs across Africa working with partners in Tanzania, Burundi, Uganda, and Malawi.

A paediatrician and public health practitioner with a special focus on leveraging big data to build predictive models that assist clinicians in diagnosis and treatment, with a particular emphasis on integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into frontline healthcare to elevate the quality, accessibility, and efficiency of primary care services. Leads research and public health initiatives on youth vision health, particularly myopia prevention and control. Her and her research team to implement school-based digital vision screening programmes including collaborative work

Marsha de Cordova is a British Labour Party Member of Parliament, having served Battersea since 2017. In the British Parliament, Marsha advocates for a range of issues including disability rights, securing better relations with the European Union, the cost of living, a greener future and opportunities for young people.

Marsha was born in Bristol with the eye condition nystagmus, which means she is registered blind. She went onto study Law and European Policy at London South Bank University before building a formidable career in the voluntary sector. Marsha worked for the eye health charity Thomas Pocklington Trust before founding her own charity, South East London Vision.

Her journey into politics began at Lambeth Council where she served as a Councillor from 2014-2018. In Parliament, she has held numerous roles including Shadow Minister for Disabled People (2017–2020) and Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities (2020–2021) and in 2024 Marsha was appointed by the King as the Second Church Estates Commissioner, representing the Church of England in Parliament.

Claxton Duberry is a senior diplomat serving with the Permanent Mission of Antigua and Barbuda to the United Nations in New York. With more than a decade of experience in multilateral diplomacy, he has played an active role in advancing the priorities of Small Island Developing States (SIDS), particularly in sustainable development, climate advocacy, and international cooperation.

Currently serving as First Secretary and Personal Assistant to the Permanent Representative, Duberry has represented Antigua and Barbuda in numerous United Nations meetings and high-level forums, while contributing extensively to policy development, diplomatic negotiations, and strategic coordination. He previously served as Coordinator for the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), helping to strengthen collaboration among SIDS in global negotiations.

Prior to his diplomatic career, Duberry worked in the field of education from 2007 to 2014, specializing in support for blind and visually impaired children. His work extended beyond the classroom to include engagement with parents and the wider community, advocating for inclusive education and accessibility. He was instrumental in organizing the first vision screening initiative at the United Nations and has served as a key driving force behind the United Friends of Vision Group. He holds a Master of Public Administration and a Bachelor of Education graduating with First Class Honours and as Valedictorian.

Since the award’s launch in 2006, André has contributed to its development and international growth, working closely with the Foundation's leadership and its independent international jury. Widely regarded as the world's largest distinction in vision, the €1 million award alternates annually between recognizing groundbreaking scientific advances in vision research and transformative programs combating blindness and visual impairment worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

André graduated in Natural Sciences from the University of Cambridge and in Medicine from the University of Algarve. With the Gulbenkian PhD Program in Biomedicine, he researched the neurobiology of visual learning behaviors with Florian Engert at Harvard University. In Lisbon since 2015, he helped establish the Foundation's Institutional Review Board and Ethics Council and develop international vision and translational research initiatives, such as UM Cure 2020. In the past 20 years, he has collaborated with leading researchers, NGOs, eye hospitals, policymakers and global health organizations, to identify, celebrate, and amplify initiatives that restore sight, prevent blindness and improve equitable access to eye care worldwide.