Lead with Impact: The Global Summit for Eye Health

Elevate eye care on a global scale at the Global Summit for Eye Health! Engage in bold discussions with government representatives, policymakers, and global health leaders to accelerate action towards 2030 In Sight goals. Learn how to build multisector collaborations, influence national commitments, secure funding, and foster collective accountability for integrated and people centered eye care.

LEAD WITH IMPACT: THE GLOBAL SUMMIT FOR EYE HEALTH

Towards the Global Summit for Eye Health: How to get involved

The Global Summit for Eye Health, is a leadership call to break boundaries, broaden engagement, and strengthen our influence across sectors. How can you be part of the bold, external-facing discussions that seek to elevate eyecare at a global, regional & national level?

A diverse group of panellists will answer your questions on how you can help to build multisector collaboration and commitment to policy actions that ensure accessible eye care, secure funding, and ultimately foster collective accountability.

Join us to explore ways to contribute and be part of the event whilst making lasting change in global eye care.

Room: IAPB Auditorium

Speakers

Amanda Davis
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Amanda Davis

Amanda Davis has been working in the area of blindness prevention and public health since 2006. Her experience spans advocacy, education, research, and infrastructure development. She has developed and managed relationships with key stakeholders and partners including NGOs, industry, government departments and universities.
K-T Overbey
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K-T Overbey

K-T serves as CEO of Cure Blindness Project and is deeply committed to the mission of eradicating avoidable blindness in underserved communities. She was previously the President of OneSight and serves on the IAPB Board of Trustees. During her tenure at Cure Blindness Project, K-T has overseen a significant expansion of the organization, both in terms of revenues and impact, and she has launched a long-term strategic plan that will continue this growth.
Associate Professor Anna Tan
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Associate Professor Anna Tan

Clinical A/Prof Anna CS TAN is a master clinician, avid researcher and advocate for the visually impaired, women in ophthalmology and young ophthalmologists. She currently is the Director of Global Eye Health for the Singapore National Eye Centre and leads numerous projects and initiatives to improve eye health in the ASEAN region.
Caio Abujamra
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Caio Abujamra

Caio Abujamra is an executive and entrepreneur in visual health in Brazil since 2019. After his father's passing, he assumed the presidency of the Suel Abujamra Institute, rescuing it from a severe financial crisis.
Fiona Lawless
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Fiona Lawless

Fiona is a health policy adviser with Sightsavers covering areas such as eye health, inclusive data, climate and health and health equity. She works to ensure that eye health is included in broader health and development conversations at a global level in the UN and WHO and ensuring that equity is at the heart of the discussions.
Anil Gorkhaly
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Anil Gorkhaly

Mr. Gorkhaly, Graduated from Delhi University, India and holds Master of Business Administration and Master of Development Management from Asian Institute of Management, Manila Philippines.
Jonathan Craig
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Jonathan Craig

Jonathan is Policy and Advocacy Manager at Vision 2020 Australia
Sarah Beeching
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Sarah Beeching

Sarah Beeching is the Founder and Executive Director of Oshun Partnership, a social enterprise committed to international development campaigning.
Ella Gudwin
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Ella Gudwin

Ella Gudwin, CEO of VisionSpring, is a social entrepreneur and global health strategist with more than 25 years of experience in international development.

Reflections on Global Initiatives and Legacies

This session invites participants to take a thoughtful look back at the lessons learned from some of the most impactful eye health initiatives across the globe, as well as at regional and country levels. It’s an opportunity to reflect on the stories behind these efforts—the successes that made a difference, the challenges that sparked resilience, and the legacies that continue to inspire.

By exploring these experiences, we can uncover practical strategies that have driven meaningful change and find ways to apply them as we work toward a future of better eye health for all. This session is not just about policies and strategies but about the people and partnerships that made them possible.

Room: IAPB Auditorium

Speakers

Mario Bustos Rubilar
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Mario Bustos Rubilar

Originally from Chile and based in Manila, Philippines, with an undergraduate degree in Rehabilitation Sciences from the University of Concepcion, Chile, and a PhD in Psychology and Science Languages from University College London.
Dr Caroline Casey
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Dr Caroline Casey

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

Nitin is a Clinical Professor at the School of Medicine, University of Tasmania and Sydney and has a special interest in international health, macular disease, and teleophthalmology and has contributed to the development of undergraduate and postgraduate education at the Universities of Sydney, Timor Leste, and Papua New Guinea. He was a, Vice President, and President of RANZCO.
Louisa Syrett
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Louisa Syrett

Louisa Syrett is a seasoned advocacy and strategy leader with 20 years of experience driving social justice, international development, and health initiatives across multilateral, INGO, public, and private sectors.
Aaron Magava
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Aaron Magava

Dr Aaron Thembinkosi Magava is an Ophthalmologist and Public Health Expert based in Zimbabwe. He works in the Ministry of Health and Childcare at Marondera Provincial Hospital. He is the outgoing IAPB Sub-Saharan Africa Chair.
Gail Grant
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Gail Grant

Gail Grant works as an External Affairs Director, Intercontinental Region for AbbVie, a global biopharmaceutical company.
Sarity Dodson
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Sarity Dodson

The Fred Hollows Foundation undertakes and supports health services research that improves the quality, productivity and accessibility of eye care for those living in low resource settings.

Invest in Sight

Investing in eye health isn’t just a health priority—it’s a transformative opportunity to drive economic growth, improve social outcomes, and achieve global development goals. This session will spotlight the latest evidence on the economic and social returns of prioritizing eye health, exploring how early intervention can prevent costly consequences. As governments and organizations navigate competing demands, the case for integrating eye health into policy frameworks like the SDGs, UHC, and national budgets has never been stronger.

From leveraging data and storytelling to tailoring messages for diverse audiences, this session will provide practical guidance to engage policymakers and overcome barriers to investment. Hear from experts and learn from success stories as you gain the insights needed to inspire action and strengthen the narrative for eye health across varied contexts.

Room: IAPB Auditorium

Speakers

Brad Wong
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Brad Wong

Brad Wong is the Chief Economist at the Seva Foundation, President of Mettalytics, and a Non-Resident Fellow at the Center for Global Development.
Brandon Ah Tong
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Brandon Ah Tong

Brandon has 20 years experience working in various human rights based policy and advocacy roles within the health, disability and international development sectors. Previously with the national peak body Vision 2020 Australia, Brandon’s responsibilities spanned prevention, early intervention, Indigenous Peoples health, disability and development within the Asia Pacific region.
Dr Yeni Dwi Lestari
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Dr Yeni Dwi Lestari

Yeni Dwi Lestari, MD, MSc is an ophthalmologist at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (RSCM). She completed her residency in Faculty of Medicine Universitas Indonesia (FMUI) and holds a master’s degree in Public Health for Eye Care from London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK, and is currently a doctoral candidate in FMUI.
Sarah Beeching
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Sarah Beeching

Sarah Beeching is the Founder and Executive Director of Oshun Partnership, a social enterprise committed to international development campaigning.

Activating Global Issues at a National and Regional Level

Let's look beneath the bonnet of the Global Summit.

There is an engine of policies and initiatives driving national action. But how do we fuel that action? What global policies are driving national leadership and how are we bringing them together in a Summit framework?

Hear from the WHO, along with national and regional actors, on how we’ve supported local efforts to implement integrated, people-centered eye care. Learn how these efforts are transforming global eye health priorities into meaningful progress and creating tangible outcomes that resonate within communities everywhere.

Room: IAPB Auditorium

Speakers

Azra Herceg
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Azra Herceg

Azra Herceg is a dedicated EBO-certified ophthalmologist and public health advocate, with a strong commitment to fighting preventable blindness.
Thulasiraj Ravilla
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Thulasiraj Ravilla

Thulasiraj is an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management- Calcutta. After eight years in Industry, he joined Aravind Eye Hospital in 1981 to lead the administration as a member of its start-up team. Aravind Eye Hospitals now annually handle over six million outpatient visits and perform over 700,000 surgeries and other interventions.
Khamsay Detleuxay
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Khamsay Detleuxay

I was working in the ICU in Mahosot hospital since 1999. I was as Anesthesia, Intensive care and Emergency residency program from 2002-2005. In 2006 I was deputy director of the Adult ICU ward.
Stuart Keel
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Stuart Keel

Dr Stuart Keel is a Technical Officer within the Vision and Eye Care Programme, Department of Noncommunicable Diseases, at the World Health Organization Geneva.

Seeing the Future: a Summit with BIG IMPACT

What is our vision for a transformative shift in eyecare? We have made strides in positioning eye health as a critical issue in international social, political & financial consciousness. How do we sustain the momentum that we have achieved and build resilience?

Engage in a dialogue with our young systems leaders, visionaries and experts; learn how the summit will advocate for impactful legacies on a global scale. This session explores how the Global Summit for Eye Health can catalyse a step change in global eye health advocacy. Now it is time to take us BIG – to turbo-charge our efforts into tangible change.

Room: IAPB Auditorium

Speakers

H.E., Ambassador Walton Webson
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H.E., Ambassador Walton Webson

H.E. Dr. Walton Webson is the Permanent Representative of the Mission of Antigua and Barbuda and Founder/Co-chair of the UN Friends of Vision Group.
Samit Sakib Gore
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Samit Sakib Gore

At just 26 years old, Samit Sakib Gore is transforming affordable eye health through innovative, sustainable solutions.
Tigist Tulu
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Tigist Tulu

Tigist Tulu Gelashe serves as the Program Manager for Outreach and Quality at the Cure Blindness Project in Ethiopia, where she plays a pivotal role in advancing eye care services and addressing preventable blindness.
Sabrina von Wegerer Elizeche
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Sabrina von Wegerer Elizeche

Sabrina von Wegerer Elizeche is the manager of the Research and Development department at Fundación Visión in Paraguay. She holds a degree in Economics from National Taiwan University in Taipei. She is fluent in German, English, Spanish, and Mandarin Chinese.
Dr. Mattan Arazi
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Dr. Mattan Arazi

Dr. Mattan Arazi is an ophthalmology resident, global health researcher, and Co-Founder of Sheba Global Ophthalmology (SGO) at Sheba Medical Center, Israel. Based in the Middle East, SGO provides sustainable eye care solutions while supporting global efforts to end preventable blindness.
Keitumetse Thamane
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Keitumetse Thamane

Keitumetse Thamane began her eye health career at Botswana's Ministry of Health in 2015. She acted as the key liaison between the National Eye Health Programme, Botswana-UPenn Partnership, and Peek Vision on the Peek Goodhope Pilot, which laid the groundwork for Botswana's current national school eye health programme.
Ameer Abou Adela
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Ameer Abou Adela

Ameer Abou Adela is an optometrist with nine years of experience in advancing public health and optometry. He holds a BS in Optics & Optometry from the American University of Science and Technology (AUST), an MBA from Sagesse University, and is pursuing a PhD at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN).
Dr. Sanduk Ruit
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Dr. Sanduk Ruit

An ophthalmologist dedicated to making high-quality eye care accessible to those who need it most.
Engr Mehran Memon
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Engr Mehran Memon

Mehran Memon, Assistant Director Information Technology, Certified Master Trainer IT Lead Peek Projects Pakistan and Focal Person for safeguarding at the SIOVS, Pakistan, stands out as a forward-thinking leader who is passionate about driving systems change within eye health.
Bharti Janyani
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Bharti Janyani

Bharti Janyani began her journey in Community Eye Care in 2015. She is currently associated with Sewa Sadan Eye Hospital, where she leads the Community Ophthalmology department.
Dr Ting Fang Tan
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Dr Ting Fang Tan

Ting Fang is an Ophthalmology Resident at the Singapore National Eye Center. As a part of the Singhealth Artificial Intelligence and Digital Health team, she works closely with engineers to explore and integrate digital technology into healthcare and Ophthalmology.

Insights for Impact: Elevating Lived Experience in Eyecare

Addressing the global challenge of eye care requires a participatory approach—one where individuals with lived experience are not just beneficiaries but active contributors to shaping solutions that impact their health and well-being. How can we create collaborative spaces that ensure their voices are embedded in decision-making at all levels?

This session will explore practical strategies for integrating lived experience into policy, service delivery, and advocacy. Through compelling stories and real-world case studies, we’ll showcase successful approaches that have led to more inclusive, patient-centered eye care. Join us to gain actionable insights on how to foster meaningful engagement and drive sustainable impact in global eye health.

Room: IAPB Auditorium

Speakers

Aaisha Sanjayal
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Aaisha Sanjayal

Hello, Im aaisha sanjayal, the permanent resident of kohalpur banke but recently im staying at kadaghari kathmandu. In tilganga My journey start when i was 12. Im the old patient of tilganga hospital since 2010.
Khodanath Chapagain
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Khodanath Chapagain

With over 40 years of teaching experience spanning from primary to secondary levels, I have dedicated a lifetime to education, shaping young minds and contributing to academic growth.
Kiran Pyakuryal
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Kiran Pyakuryal

I served the United Nations as international civil servant for more than 25 years.
Prof. Dr. Raba Thapa
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Prof. Dr. Raba Thapa

Dr. Raba Thapa MD, PhD is a Professor of Ophthalmology at National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS), and a senior consultant vitreo-retinal surgeon at Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology (TIO), Kathmandu, Nepal.
Jonathan Craig
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Jonathan Craig

Jonathan is Policy and Advocacy Manager at Vision 2020 Australia
Iris Van den Brande
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Iris Van den Brande

For over a decade, I have had the privilege of working closely with the patient and policy community to build trusting, sustainable relationships between people living with different conditions and the private sector.