Meet Our Speakers

Dr Alejandro Panotto

Medical Director, Fundación Visión

After several years of working in Public Health with the Ministry of Health, Dr Alejandro Panotto joined the Fundacion Vision in Paraguay to coordinate the activities of one of the clinics in the interior of the country. At the same time, he was the director of the Eye Health Program for several years. At this moment he serves as Institutional Medical Director, where he collaborates with the other health programmes of Fundacion Vision.

Arthur Brant

Physician/Software Engineer, Stanford University / Africa Eye Imaging Centre

Arthur is an ophthalmology resident at Stanford. Arthur co-founded the Africa Eye Imaging Centre in 2023, a non-profit aimed at expanding retinal screenings in Africa, focusing on conditions like DR and sickle cell retinopathy. They plan to include retinopathy of prematurity, age-related macular degeneration, and glaucoma.

Their work is supported by grants such as the 2023 Rosenkranz Prize and the Stanford Center for Innovation in Global Health. Originally from Canfield, Ohio, Arthur studied computer science and pre-med at Stanford, later working at Google. He returned to Stanford for medical school, driven by a passion for global health, and plans to become a vitreoretinal surgeon to expand retinal care globally.

Ashley Mills

Chief Executive Officer, The Vision Council

Ashley Mills leads The Vision Council in helping people achieve better lives through better vision. As Chief Executive Officer, Mills is the voice for the Vision Industry in Washington, DC. Globally, Mills represents The Vision Council within the United Nations Friends of Vision, a group that secured a United Nations General Resolution recognizing vision as a catalyst to achieving the Agenda 2030. Mills started her career working for global public affairs agencies, where she gained extensive experience in media relations, consumer marketing and coalition building.

Mills served on the Board of Directors for the Optical Women’s Association (OWA) for five years. In 2017 she was recognized as one of the Most Influential Women in Optical by 20/20 Magazine and was honoured by the OWA with their Pleiades award, which recognizes exceptional action in advancing the leadership role of women in the optical industry.

Brandon Ah Tong

Director, Policy & Advocacy, Fred Hollows Foundation, The

Brandon has 20 years experience in various policy and advocacy roles within the health, disability and international development sectors in Australia. He previously worked for the national peak body for eye health driving policy reform across prevention and early intervention, Indigenous health, disability and international development.

Prior to that, he spent eight years advancing the human rights of people who are blind or have low vision with Vision Australia, and was recognized with a Victorian Government award in 2014 for his leadership in disability advocacy. For the past eight years with The Foundation, Brandon has been responsible for helping shape the global agenda for eye health with the WHO and United Nations. He sits on the Board of Vision 2020 Australia and holds a Bachelor of Social Science in Policy and Research.

Bruna Gil Ferreira, MD

Ophthalmologist, Good Vision

Current head of ophthalmology at Good Vision International, Bruna is internationally awarded for her contributions to social ophthalmology. Bruna was awarded the Knights Templar Eye Foundation Award in ARVO 2019 (Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology) for the study “Ophthalmological Care and Eyeglasses Distribution in Brazil’s Countryside: Descriptive and Epidemiological Data of Nearly Five Thousand Patients”. This paper describes the largest ophthalmology social outreach known worldwide. For the same work, she was also awarded the 47 Varilux Prize in Brazil (the most important scientific prize in eye care in Brazil). It was presented in the American Academy of Ophthalmology in 2019.Bruna funded the Center of Population and Innovation Studies (CIEP), transforming Renovatio’s campaigns into research and public eye care policies in Brazil, identifying and addressing health issues in vulnerable groups. Key findings include a significant rate of toxoplasmosis in Tocantins, leading to increased health authority focus on the topic.

Currently, CIEP is analyzing the data of a large-scale project from Juntos pela Visão Alliance to provide comprehensive eye care to all children from public schools in São Paulo city (420,000 children), set to be the largest child eyecare study by ophthalmologists worldwide. This project underscores its vital role in shaping effective public health policies for school eyecare practices.Despite her social work, Bruna is the most prominent youth name in Retina Surgery in Brazil. Bruna had her post-graduation in Retina Surgery at the University of Montreal, where she performed more than 2.000 complex surgeries in a two-year program. Bruna had her medical retina fellowship, ophthalmology residence, and medical graduation at UNICAMP in São Paulo, Brazil.

Caio Abujamra

President, Instituto Suel Abujamra

Caio Abujamra assumed the presidency of the Suel Institute in early 2019, succeeding his father, the visionary founder of the hospital. At that time, the Institute served an average of 7,000 patients monthly, performing around 350 surgeries. Under the leadership of Caio and his brother, the hospital underwent a remarkable transformation in its management. Currently, the Suel Abujamra Institute is the second-largest ophthalmological hospital collaborating with the SUS (Unified Health System), serving an average of 23,000 patients, and performing approximately 1,200 surgeries per month. Additionally, it has become a national reference in education and research, offering highly esteemed residency programmes and fellowships.

Under Caio Abujamra’s direction, the Institute has not only expanded its capacity for care but also reinforced its commitment to social impact. Initiatives such as the teleophthalmology project in villages and the distribution of glasses in Sao Paulo’s municipal schools demonstrate its dedication to providing essential ophthalmic care to underserved communities and contributing to equitable visual health.

Dr Caroline Harper

CEO, Sightsavers

Dr Harper has been CEO of Sightsavers since 2005, and in that time it has grown significantly in terms of impact, reach and income. Sightsavers is a leading player in the fields of eye health, neglected tropical diseases and disability rights.

Before joining Sightsavers, Dr Harper worked in the oil and gas industry, for British and US based companies, and as a consultant with her own business. Dr Harper was educated at Churchill College Cambridge where she obtained a PhD in Energy Studies, and Bristol University where she took a degree in Physics.

Dr Covadonga Bascaran

Clinical Research Fellow, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

Dr Covadonga Bascaran is a Clinical Research Fellow at the International Centre for Eye Health (ICEH) at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. She works in research and capacity strengthening in global eye health with a focus on improving eye health in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Cova’s research focus is diabetic retinopathy in low and middle-income countries, including epidemiological research, evidence synthesis, implementation and health systems research.

She is the technical lead for the Diabetic Retinopathy Network (DR-NET) a network of 30 DR programmes in 17 LMICs. She co-chairs the DR Working Group at the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB).

MSP. Daniel Paniagua Herrera

Maestro en Salud Pública y Licenciado en Optometría, AM Diabetes

Con Maestría en Salud Pública con especialización en Epidemiología del Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública y Licenciatura en Optometría de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, mi trayectoria profesional se enfoca en la epidemiología y la salud visual. He liderado iniciativas de promoción y educación en salud visual, así como la prevención y tratamiento de enfermedades oculares.

Laboro como coordinador académico en salud visual y diabetes en la Asociación Mexicana de Diabetes e Investigador en Departamento de Epidemiología y Salud Visual en el Instituto de Oftalmología Fundación Conde de Valenciana, he diseñado e implementado estrategias de salud para mejorar la calidad de vida de la población. Reconocido como vocal y vocero de la Asociación Mexicana de Diabetes y miembro del Consejo Latinoamericano de Investigación en Optometría, he participado como ponente en foros nacionales e internacionales y he contribuido con publicaciones científicas sobre diabetes y salud visual.

Dhivya Ramasamy

Healthcare Consultant, Aravind Eye Care System

Dhivya Ramasamy leads the eye care management training programmes offered by LAICO – the training and consulting wing of Aravind Eye Care System in India. She is interested in studying patient experience and patient engagement in order to improve treatment outcomes.

She heads the Aurosiksha project which is aimed at building a library of competency-based training resources for allied ophthalmic personnel.

Eduardo Avila Sanchez

Judo Paralympic Champion, Influencer and Actor

Eduardo Ávila Sánchez is a Mexican Paralympic judoka, who has more than 15 years of experience in high performance sports and representing Mexico. He has participated in four Paralympic Games where he obtained a medal in each of them, Beijing 2008 gold, London 201 bronze, Rio 2016 gold and Tokyo 2020 bronze and is a four-time Parapan American Games champion.

In 2021, Eduardo received recognition of the CDMX sports merit medal, in the adapted sport modality and became the face of brands such as Adidas, Sports World and BMW Mexico. An acting alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and The Fourth Wall Film Arts Institute, MY EYES is his first acting role and gives a powerful performance.

Elizabeth Kurian

CEO, Mission for Vision

Elizabeth Kurian is the Chief Executive Officer of Mission for Vision, an organization committed to Universal Eye Health. She possesses over three decades experience, spanning areas such as social development, research, policy, leadership and governance, in the corporate and not-for profit sectors.

Elizabeth has successfully led large-scale programmes in complex and diverse environments. With her leadership, her teams and organisations have achieved significant growth and transformation through innovative solutions.Elizabeth serves on various boards and advisory panels, contributing to the shaping of policy and practice. Her accomplishments have been recognized with awards and research publications.

Ella Gudwin

CEO, VisionSpring

Ella Gudwin is CEO of the pioneering social enterprise VisionSpring, which accelerates the use of eyeglasses among people vulnerable to poverty. Under her leadership, VisionSpring has grown to correct the vision of 12 million low-income adults and children and unlocked more than $2.6 billion in income earning potential at the household level. Ella is a social entrepreneur and global health strategist with more than 25 years of experience in international development.

Prior to joining VisionSpring, Ella served as Senior Vice President of Strategy and Program Development at AmeriCares, a global health and emergency response organisation. While there, she led humanitarian operations and managed access to medicine and other health interventions in ten countries. In January 2024, Ella was welcomed onto the IAPB Board of Trustees, and VisionSpring increased their commitment to the IAPB by upgrading their membership of the global alliance to a Band A Member.

Evelyn Diaz Garcia

Managing Director, Instituto Internacional de la Visión (INVIS)

Evelyn Di­az graduated from medical school in 2001 at the Universidad Primada de América (UASD) with Honors Magna Cum Laude. She completed an Observership in Internal Medicine at Bronx Lebanon Hospital in New York and a residency in Ophthalmology at Elias Santana Hospital in the Dominican Republic from 2002 to 2005.

Additionally, she pursued a Master’s degree from the University of London, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, International Centre for Eye Health (ICEH), specializing in Community Eye Health from 2006 to 2008. She is a Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness (RAAB) trainer and has participated in RAAB surveys in the Dominican Republic, the United States, and Latin America.

Evelyn is one of the founders of the Instituto Internacional de la Visión (INVIS) and Fundación Amigos de la Visión. For over 20 years, she has been actively involved in outreach efforts and has performed more than 15,000 anterior segment surgeries. Her career has been dedicated to providing eye care to the most vulnerable populations in the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

Fabrizio D’Esposito

Advocacy and Policy Manager, VISION 2020 Australia

Fabrizio has fifteen years of experience across the public health, higher-education, not-for-profit, and international development sectors. His work has led to improved design and implementation of public health programs, it has informed policy, and ultimately improved population health outcomes. Fabrizio is currently the Policy and Advocacy Manager at Vision 2020 Australia, the National Peak Body for the eye health sector. Previously, he was a consultant with the WHO Office for the Western Pacific, where he led and supported sensory function initiatives across the region.

Fatma F. Shakarchi, MD MSc

Regional Representative, Red Cross Red Crescent Movement

Fatma is the Regional Representative for the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, the National Point of Contact for the Space Generation Advisory Council, and a Member of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) Working Group on Space and Global Health. She’s served as a Council Member of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, while also practising clinically and appreciating the diverse needs at both global and local levels.

Fatma is a Medical Doctor, with an MSc in Public Health for Eye Care from the International Centre for Eye Health (ICEH) as a Chevening Scholar, and a Diploma in Public Policy from the American University of Sharjah.

Francisco Martinez

Regional President, IAPB Latin America, Fundacion + Luz (Fundacion Codet Para La Prevencion de la Ceguera, I.B.P)

Medical specialist in retina, diabetes and inflammatory eye diseases, graduated from the Autonomous University of Mexico, with more than 40 years of professional experience, dedicated to education for the prevention of eye diseases derived from diabetes, member of the Mexican Society of Ophthalmology, the Pan American Association of Ophthalmology and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, founding member of: Mexican Association of Retina and Vitreous, Mexican Centre for Inflammatory Ocular Diseases and Mexican Centre for Preventive Visual Health.

He has held positions such as Former President of the Mexican Society of Ophthalmology, Regional Secretary of the Pan American Association of Ophthalmology for Spanish-speaking countries, Executive Director of the Pan American Association of Ophthalmology, Former President of the Mexican Council of Ophthalmology, current Medical Advisor of the Ver Bien Program to Learn Better, Active member of the IAPB Regional Latin America from 1999 to date, and IAPB Regional President for two periods from 2016 to 2024. In addition, Doctor Martínez Castro has promoted, in Training Centres for new ophthalmologists in the region, to formally integrate the value of prevention and visual rehabilitation into the chair.

Eng. Frank Hida

Independent Social Entepreneur

Civil Engineer and independent social entreprenuer with more than 10 years experience in eye health expeditions in remote indigenous and riverside communities in Brazil. Coordinator on the Social Impact of Eye Health Symposium and also actively involved in implementing high-impact ophthalmology programs in NGOs. Also collaborates in community empowerment for sustainable projects.

Professionally works as independent consultant in Project Management in the filed of healthcare engineering and management.

Gerardo Medina Duarte

Program Manager Latin America & the Caribbean, RestoringVision

Gerardo Medina Duarte joined RestoringVision in 2021 as Program and Monitoring Manager for Latin America and the Caribbean. Raised in a family of opticians, he developed a profound appreciation for visual health, gaining a thorough understanding of the significant impact eyeglasses can have on individuals’ lives. Before joining RestoringVision, Gerardo was a Social Responsibility Coordinator in Mexico’s textile industry.

Prior to this role, he held various directorial positions at the Universidad de las Americas Puebla, overseeing numerous non-profit initiatives for over eight years. Gerardo began his professional journey in the petroleum industry in Siberia, Russia, and later transitioned to the electrical safety sector in Mexico and the United States. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Universidad de las Americas Puebla and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla

Guillermo Güemez

Board Member, APEC

Guillermo Güemez Sarre is a professional with more than 30 years of experience in IT project management, specializing in technological transformation and digitalization. He has held leadership and advisory roles, including leading innovation and serving on boards of directors. He excels in financial management, marketing, and IT strategy development.

He has implemented AI initiatives, digital transformation and improvements in banking processes, demonstrating skills in communication and leadership. His career includes roles at Banorte, Walmart, and as a consultant at Ab Initio and TSYS Mexico. Educated at Stanford, he holds a master’s degree in Business Administration and a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science.

Heidy Linares

Program Officer for Latin America & the Caribbean – SEVA, Seva Foundation

Program Officer for Latin America & the Caribbean at SEVA. She oversees SEVA’s programs in Guatemala, Mexico, and Peru, while providing support to extensive programs on Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Paraguay. This within the framework of the Global Sight Initiative, focusing on preventing blindness and enhancing eye health in the region. With over 15 years of experience, Heidy has empowered small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to expand locally and internationally.

She has managed donor-funded projects for prestigious organizations like KOICA, JICA, USAID, the EU, IDB, and the World Bank. Notably, she spearheaded a coastal erosion mitigation platform for ten Central American and Caribbean countries. Her extensive experience in liaising with both the private and public sectors across the region, coupled with her expertise in business intelligence research, has been instrumental in driving sustainable development. She is committed to improving peoples’ livelihoods, particularly those facing challenges in accessing quality services.

Dr. Imran A. Khan

Director, Programme Strategy & Development, Sightsavers

Dr. Imran A. Khan has 20 years of experience in 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‚ and 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

Iris Van den Brande

Global Patient Partnership Leader – Ophthalmology, Roche

For over a decade, Iris 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. Her goal, and passion is to ensure that we embed the patient perspective into decision-making at all levels of healthcare. She joined Roche as Global Patient Partnership Leader with the mission to build a network for collaboration between Roche and the eye health patient and policy community.

There are two main elements to her job: working with the vision loss community, she strives to ensure their needs are listened to and act as the driving force behind our work in this space. She is also focused on inspiring my colleagues to bring even more of the patient perspective into their day-to-day work. By bringing these elements together, Iris believes we can drive towards our united vision of saving sight. Through her work with the community, she has had the opportunity to learn and understand just how profound the impact of vision loss can be; not just for the individuals but also for their loved ones.

She is grateful to be in a position where she can support deliver solutions to those affected that can make a genuine positive impact. It is an incredibly exciting time to be working in vision health, with the emergence of ground-breaking innovations and further developments on the horizon. Iris looks forward to continuing to work closely with the vision loss community and my exceptional colleagues at Roche as we work to transform lives.

Isabel Hinojosa Muñoz De Cote

Procuración de Fondos y Alianzas Estratégicas, APEC Hospital de la Ceguera

Isabel studied Political Science at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. She has a Diploma in Institutional Strengthening and Fundraising taught by Procura in conjunction with Indiana University; a Diploma in Social Leaders: Management Programme for Non-Profit Organizations from the TEC of Monterrey, Mexico City Campus and a Diploma in Public Policies from the UNAM. From 2002 to 2014 Isabel worked at the Association to Prevent Blindness in Mexico, I.A.P. in the area of Institutional Development.

In 2004 she joined the Association of Fundraising Professionals Mexico City Chapter. Isabel held the Presidency of this association from 2008-2009 and 2021-2022. She was also the Director of Assistance Programs of the Private Assistance Board of Mexico City from June 2014 to February 2020. Since March 2021, she has held the position of Head of Fundraising and Strategic Alliances at the Association to Prevent Blindness in Mexico, IAP.

Jack Hennessy

Senior Health Economist, The Fred Hollows Foundation

Jack is a health economist with over ten years of experience in health economics research,policy, and evaluation. Jack has undertaken health economic analysis and provided technicaladvice for some of Australia‚ Äôs largest health programs, and led health economics research and design for eye health projects across South Asia, South-East Asia, Africa, and the Pacific.

He hasbeen published in leading international health economics journals including Social Science and Medicine, the Patient, and the Journal of the Royal Statistical Society and has lectured in graduate-level courses in economics and health policy. Jack holds dual bachelor‚ Äôs degrees in biomedical science and economics (honours, first class) and has been completing a PhD at Monash University‚ Äôs Centre for Health Economics.

Jacqueline Grove

President, 2020 Quest & Executive Director of the Coalition for Clear Vision, National Vision

Jacqueline has more than 15 year’s experience in the vision sector in a vast array of senior leadership roles consisting of Optical Store Retail Operations, Training & Development, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Corporate and NGO Philanthropy. She is currently the President of National Vision’s Charitable Foundation 2020 Quest, which focuses on sustainable clear vision URE solutions around the world.

She is also the Executive Director of The Coalition for Clear Vision, which is a group of global leaders and organizations focused on building an environment for a thriving private vision sector in developing countries to accelerate the end of the global vision crisis.

Jans Fromow-Guerra. MD, MSc, PhD.

Chief Retina Department-APEC, APEC – Hospital de la Ceguera

Ophthalmologist specialized in Retina. Dr Fromow-Guerra holds a Master and Doctor Degree in Medical Sciences. Chief of Retina Department at the Association for The Prevention of Blindness in Mexico. Professor of Ophthalmology and Mentor in the Master and PhD Degree Program at the National Autonomous University of Mexico UNAM. Dr Fromow-Guerra has published more than 80 original scientific papers. His main topics of interest and research are focused on the clinical and surgical aspects of retina diseases especially in the fields of molecular biology, clinical epidemiology, nutrition and imaging.

He co-chair the first population probabilistic study of prevalence of ocular diseases and a study of validation of Telemedicine for the early diagnosis of blinding diseases in Mexico. Vice President of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW- Nobel Peace Prize 1985) NGO founding member of the International Campaign for the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons (ICAN- Nobel Peace Prize 2017)

Jennifer Chen

Chief Executive, The Chen Yet-Sen Family Foundation

Jennifer Chen is the Chief Executive of The Chen Yet-Sen Family Foundation, the global foundation focusing on initiatives supporting early childhood literacy and vision correction. She led all Asia operations for the Clearly campaign, which shifted global public perception of vision correction. The campaign led to the founding of the UN ‘Friends of Vision’ group in 2018 and the UN’s unanimous ‘Vision for Everyone’ resolution in 2021. Jennifer joined the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness Board of Trustees in 2024.

In response to the significant disruption of funding for Hong Kong NGOs due to COVID-19, Jennifer led the launch of the 2020 #BridgetheGapHK campaign focusing on funders providing access to unrestricted funding that offered a vital lifeline of liquidity to charities across Hong Kong.Jennifer is also the Director of Philanthropic Engagement at Legacy Advisors, a thriving family office in Hong Kong, and is a Board Member and senior advisor to charities including Social Impact Partners and Bring Me a Book Hong Kong.

Jennifer Denisse Tapia Boada

Gender Champion for LAC, Project Coordinator, Orbis International

Jennifer Tapia Boada is a Bolivian national with a solid career in international development. With over five years of experience tracking the formation of international law and treaty negotiations in various international fora, she has worked for diplomatic missions to the United Nations and civil society organisations in the multilateral city of Geneva, Switzerland. Jennifer has gained extensive experience in human rights advocacy before the International Human Rights System.

Currently, she serves as the Project Coordinator for Orbis International in Bolivia, supporting in-country projects. She holds a master’s degree in international relations from the Geneva School of Diplomacy-Switzerland, and a bachelor’s degree in Commercial Engineering from the University of the Valley-Bolivia. As the gender champion for Latin America at Orbis International, her current advocacy work focuses on gender equality and women’s rights at both local and international levels, within the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Jennifer Gersbeck

Executive Director, Global Advocacy, The Fred Hollows Foundation

Jennifer has extensive experience working in government and the not-for-profit sector, leading a wide range of social marketing campaigns aimed at raising awareness, changing behaviour and influencing key decision makers. She has worked across the health, disability and international development sectors and has a reputation for fostering collaboration and delivering results by applying innovative strategic approaches to advocacy.

After a successful decade as CEO of Vision 2020 Australia, Jennifer joined The Fred Hollows Foundation in 2016. In addition to managing sector engagement globally and leading advocacy efforts across The Foundation, she is a champion for gender equity.

Jennifer is a Trustee on the Board of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness where she continues to promote positive action towards gender and inclusion, chairing the Gender Equity Work Group.

Jess Blijkers

International Director of Programmes and Advocacy, Light for the World

Jess Blijkers is the International Director of Programmes and Advocacy at Light for the World. She has been working in the eye health and disability rights sector for 13 years. Her background is in philosophy and global ethics and she has a specific interest and expertise in ethical, sustainable, people-centred approaches. Jess is member of the Executive Committee of IAPB and was part of the taskforce for the elaboration of 2030 In Sight.

Jissa James

Knowledge Manager, IAPB

Jissa is Knowledge Manager at the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB with over 15 years of experience in designing, managing, and delivering knowledge exchanges whilst fostering collaborations and ensuring inclusivity and appropriateness to diverse audiences. She currently helps the agency’s efforts in developing knowledge tools, exchanges in events and other platforms, supports IAPB Work Groups and capability development for 2030 In Sight.

She was previously the General Manager for Professional Development at India Vision Institute and has led several multidimensional and diverse professional development programs, across India for organizations and professionals in the eye health space. An optometry educator earlier, she holds a bachelor’s degree in optometry and certifications in Global Blindness: Planning and Managing Eyecare Services, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (FutureLearn), Systems thinking in Public Health from the Johns Hopkins University (Coursera), Project Management Foundations from Project Management Institute (LinkedIn Learning) etc.

João M. Furtado, MD PhD

Associate Professor, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo

Associate Professor at the Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Brazil. Certified RAAB trainer, and member of the Vision Loss Expert Group and The Lancet Global Health Commission on Global Eye Health. Awardee of the inaugural ARVO Achievements in Eye and Vision Advocacy Award in 2020.

Joel Lopez Ramos

Salud Publica, APEC

Indigenous Masters in Public Health specialised in community and social development. Health and Wellness consultant for obesity, diabetes, dislipidemia and malnutrition. Amuzgo, Mixtec and Nahua interpretation.

Arq. Juan Francisco Yee

Chief Executive Officer, Visualiza

Arq. Juan Francisco Yee, an Architect, is the CEO of Visualiza, an NGO devoted to the prevention and cure of blindness, established in 2002. Visualiza was recognized as a regional demonstration centre by the International Eye Foundation in 2006. Arq. Yee has spent a substantial amount of time observing first-hand the operations of the Aravind Eye Care System in India.

In addition to his role as part of the board of AGEXPORT a private non-profit institution with more than 30 years of being an engine for the growth of Guatemalan exports and plays an important role as a mentor for the global sight initiative programme.

Juania Mela Mora Cuna Auguste

Ophthalmology Nurse Practitioner, National committee for prevention of blindness/CNPC

My name is Juania Mela Mora Cuna AUGUSTE, a specialized Nurse in the field of ophtalmology. I am the co-founder of Fondation Haïtienne de lutte contre le Glaucome (FONHAG) a very recent foundation that fights against glaucoma in Haiti. I work as an ophthalmology nurse practitioner at CNPC. I am passionate and committed to caring for people , helping them as much as I can, and even being their voice .

I enjoy volunteering , I work at Konbit San Pou San KSPS as the outreach and finance manager. KSPS is an association that raises awareness among the Haitian people about the importance of blood donation. Seeing people unnecessarily lose their vision due to glaucoma or any other disease because of lack of education drives me to engage in preventing this. I advocate for better eye care worldwide.

Jude Stern

Director of Knowledge Management, IAPB

Jude leads the knowledge agenda for the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, overseeing work across the domains of data & evidence, capability development, sector guidance and connection of shared learning to implement 2030 In Sight, the global eye health sector strategy.

With 20 years’ experience in global eye care & international development, Jude specialises in knowledge brokering and innovation to drive change in policy and practice. Currently the focus of her work is collecting data and evidence to monitor the progress of global eye health, building the economic case for eye health, the programme for 2030 IN SIGHT LIVE conferences, creating platforms such as the Vision Atlas and Knowledge Hub to make evidence easy to access and use, connecting leaders & stakeholders in AI and digital technology in eye care, and leadership development 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.

Katie Buckley

Global Communications and Public Affairs Leader, J&J Vision

Katie leads a global communications team to help drive the strategic positioning of Johnson & Johnson Vision, its platforms, products, and future pipeline. Within Johnson & Johnson, Katie served as the Global Therapeutic Area Communication Leader, Infectious Diseases and Vaccines (IDV). In this role, Katie was responsible for the development, evolution, and execution of an integrated global communications strategy for Janssen’s IDV therapeutic area spanning the areas of HIV, hepatitis, respiratory infections, bacterial infections, and COVID-19, as well as supporting numerous product launches.

Prior to joining J&J, Katie served as Associate Director at a global public relations consultancy firm and was a member of their Healthcare Senior Leadership Team in London. She served as the client lead across multiple lines of business and provided strategic counsel and led corporate and product communications for leading pharmaceutical and consumer health companies

Dr. Katie McMillan

Product Manager, Technology, SEVA Foundation

Dr. Katie McMillan is an innovative and award-winning manager, who joined Seva Foundation in May, 2023, to manage and advance the worldwide technology portfolio for Seva Foundation’s 100 hospital, 22 country footprint serving over 6 million individuals annually. Working closely with regional colleagues on the programme team, Katie will bring the world’s best technology to the hardest-to-reach communities around the world.

Katie has a doctorate in Medical Physics (University of Wisconsin-Madison) and her post-doc (Vanderbilt) was focused on multi-parametric MRI neuroimaging in oncology; She worked for 10 years at GE Healthcare in research and development and product management for the Global MRI business before managing the healthcare segment for Internet-of-Things sensors for 5 years at a small company in southeast Wisconsin.

Kira Baldonado

Vice President of Public Health and Policy, Prevent Blindness

Kira Baldonado, MPH is the Vice President of Public Health and Policy for Prevent Blindness- responsible for the mission-based work of the organisation, focusing on program outreach, education, and policy directives. Kira, and her team of 7 staff members are working to improve vision and eye health systems in the United States by leading consensus-driven initiatives, creating accountability and improved surveillance for vision while promoting equity and patient engagement in each step of the continuum of vision care.

Kira earned her Master’s Degree in Public Health from Kent State University with a focus on health policy and management. She graduated Cum Laude from Ohio Wesleyan University and holds a BA degree in Psychology and Sociology. Kira is a certified Vision Screening Instructor for Prevent Blindness and was recognized as one of the “50 Most Influential Women in Optical” in 2023. Kira currently resides in Ohio with her husband Andy and their two sons- Adan (age 18) and Sam (age 16).

K-T Overbey

Chief Executive Officer, HCP Cureblindness

K-T serves as CEO of HCP Cureblindness and is deeply committed to the mission of eradicating avoidable blindness in underserved communities. She previously was the President of OneSight and also serves on the IAPB Board of Trustees. Her professional background includes many years in the corporate world at Procter & Gamble and Bain & Company as well as experience in clinical quality improvement as a leader at Cincinnati Childrens Hospital.

K-T believes in the power of collaboration to tackle the world’s toughest challenges and looks forward to working together with others to help ensure that everyone everywhere has access to quality vision care.

Lila Raj Puri

Medical Advisor Asia, Fred Hollows Foundation

Dr Lila Raj Puri is a public health ophthalmologist working in public health and international eye health. As a Medical Advisor at The Fred Hollows Foundation, he supports the development of sustainable and scalable eye care program, cataract quality improvement programs and leads the development and implementation of clinical governance, human resource development and strengthening quality of eye care across the countries where foundation works.

He has more than 16 years of experience in clinical and surgical management of eye diseases and have performed more than 80,000 ocular surgeries including 65000 cataract surgeries and has an extensive experience in developing and delivering surgical training programs as well as overseeing the training of optometrists, residents, and nurses. He has completed M.Sc. in Public Health for Eye Care from LSHTM and is also trained as Institute of Health Care Improvement (IHI) Improvement coach.

He has developed and delivered training of trainers on quality improvement‚ minimum standards for cataract services, five-year cataract quality improvement roadmap, cataract quality improvement workshops in various Asian and African countries. His current focus is on improving and strengthening quality of cataract services, building capacity on cataract quality improvement methodologies, and monitoring the quality of eye care services.

Luisa Enz

Global Director, Social Impact and Sustainability, Alcon

15+ years of experience in multiple disciplines and industries. Certified Public Accountant (CPA), former auditor with a strong reporting background in multi-national enterprises. Win-win, solutions oriented, and long-term thinking mind frame. Born and raised in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, living in the EU and the US for 15+ years. Started her career in high-profile event management (Super Bowl, Olympics, etc.) with a passion for PR and Logistics.

Completed studies and Master’s in Finance and Accounting, moving to work in the Financial Investment Industry and auditing large financial institutions. Joined Alcon manufacturing and sciences in 2015 and has worked across functions globally including: Strategy, Finance, Legal, IT and Engineering.

Luz Elena Concha del Rio

Chief Inflammatory Eye Disease Clinic, APEC – Hospital de la Ceguera

Inflammatory Eye Disease ClinicAsociacion Para Evitar la Ceguera en Mexixo

Luz Marina Melo Sanmiguel

Head of Ocular Community Health Department (Fundación Oftalmológica del Caribe) Clinical Bioethics, Clínica Oftalmológica del Caribe

Specialist in ophthalmology with 30 years of experience, with surgical and clinical skills. Supraspecialist in Cataract Surgery, Ocular Plastic Surgery, Teaching in Medical-Surgical Specialties and Diplomate in Clinical Bioethics. National and international speaker at various conferences and publications in journals and book chapters. Responsible, proactive professional, with a high sense of commitment, respect, human quality and social sensitivity.

Ability to interact at all levels, ability to work in teams and leadership. Constant scientific interest and updating in my working areas with emphasis on teaching, prevention of blindness and research. Inclination towards communications with domain of English and knowledge of French. Lover of the arts, especially dance, sports and pets.

Maria del Pilar Oviedo-Cáceres

Coordinadora Programa Optometría Universidad CES, Universidad CES

Optometrist, PhD in public health, research in low vision. Founder of Colombian National Network for the visual impairment. Head of Optometry School at CES University Colombia. Masters in public health and public development policies.

Dr. Mary Gonzalez Suriel

Head of Comprehensive Ophthalmology Department / Coordinates the Teleophthalmology Project in APEC, Asociación para Evitar la Ceguera en México

Dr. Mary González Suriel is a Dominican ophthalmic surgeon, specializng in Cataract Surgery, Oculoplastics and ophthalmic pathology. She currently practices at the Association to Prevent Blindness in Mexico (APEC), where she leads the comprehensive ophthalmology department and coordinates the Teleophthalmology project. Dr. González Suriel is recognized for her professional excellence and has been nominated for the National Youth Award in the Dominican Republic multiple times.

She is a co-author of an emergency and ocular trauma manual distributed in Latin America and is an adjunct professor at the University of La Salle in Mexico. Dr. González Suriel is certified by the Mexican Council of Ophthalmology and actively participates in associations such as the Pan-American Society of Ocular Trauma and the Mexican Society of Orbit and Oculoplastics. She aims to collaborate with the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) to expand visual health services and promote youth involvement in the fight.

Matthew Bell

Director, Frontier Economics Limited

Matthew Bell is a Board Director at Frontier Economics Limited. He is widely recognised as an expert in the economics of policymaking, markets and regulation. He has served at senior levels in the UK civil service, is a Non-Executive Director at the Energy Saving Trust and is a member of advisory panels and expert groups.

He has worked for over 20 years on the economics of health and care markets and systems. Earlier in his career, he worked widely across South Asia, East and sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean on private sector development and policy.

Dr May Ho

Optometry & Primary Care Adviser, The Fred Hollows Foundation

Dr May Ho is an Australian optometrist working in public health and international eye health. She is currently an Optometry and Primary Care Adviser at the Fred Hollows Foundation where she supports the development of sustainable eye care, refractive error, and cataract quality improvement programs. May has worked extensively in the development and implementation of eye care and education programs in the Asia Pacific and Africa regions. She developed and delivered refraction, low vision, primary eye care, training of trainers‚ and advocacy courses for mid-level eye care personnel, optometrists, nurses, and ophthalmologists.

Her biggest achievement is the introduction of optometry education in Vietnam. More recently she was part of the team that delivered the Scaling Up of Refractive Error Services project in Cambodia funded by ATScale. May is also part of a research team at the Foundation working on the Quality of Refractive Error Care (QREC) and financing of spectacles.

Megan Webber

Co-Founder, Know The Glow

Megan Webber launched Know the Glow after her son, Benjamin, was diagnosed with Coats Disease in 2009. Knowing that most parents don’t understand the risk factors associated with finding the Glow in flash photos of their child’s eyes or the steps to take to safeguard their child’s eye health, she knew she had to take action. Together with the help of friends and family, Megan co-founded Know the Glow as a nonprofit organization focused on building awareness to prevent children worldwide from needlessly going blind.

She is also on the Foundation Board of Trustees at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) and a longtime member of Las Madrinas, a volunteer organization dedicated to supporting the doctors and patients at CHLA. Megan graduated in 1990 from the University of Notre Dame with a BA in Psychology and a second concentration in Business.

Micaela Reis

Vice-President of the Portuguese Association of Optometry Professionals (APLO), Associacao de Profissionais Licenciados de Optometria

Micaela Reis advocates passionately for eye health and has been involved in several projects related to the promotion of eye health and the provision of comprehensive eye care to the communities, with special attention to the most neglected populations, such as the homeless people and inmates, to ensure access to comprehensive eye care with equity, quality and effectiveness. She is also involved in a project to ensure the inclusion and autonomy of people with disabilities.

Gender equality and the impact of health on climate change have also been topics of her work. Micaela Reis is an Optometrist and Vice-President of the Portuguese Association of Optometric Professionals (APLO), where she is one of the founders and promoters of APLO’Youth, the APLO section for optometry students, and takes part in the Lusophone Council of Optometry.

Michael Allen

Senior Advisor, Assistive Health Technologies, USAID

Michael Allen has been working in international development with a focus on disability and access to assistive technologies (AT) for the past 19 years. Michael is currently the Senior Advisor for Assistive Technologies for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Within this role Michael oversees and supports an annual budget of $14.5M USD supporting global and country-based initiatives which develop sustainable access to assistive technologies such as wheelchairs, eyeglasses, prosthetics and hearing aids.

Michael was a founding member of ATscale, the Global Partnership for Assistive Technology and now serves as a Board Member alternate on behalf of USAID. Previously, Michael held the position of Executive Director at UCP Wheels for Humanity. Throughout his tenure he developed and oversaw innovative approaches in the areas of product innovation, procurement, service delivery and integration of services within healthcare systems. Michael played a pivotal role in the development of Indonesia’s first government insurance program to fund and deliver assistive devices.

MSc Olivia Gomez

Master es Gerencia Hospitalaria y Salud Publica, Fundación Visión

Directora del Programa Vision en Fundación Vision, Paraguay y Vicepresidente del CONAVIP, Comité Nacional de la Vision en Paraguay. Desde el rol en el que me encuentro actualmente creo con firmeza que la colaboración de experiencias entre Instituciones y el trabajo en equipo nos ayudan a reducir el tiempo y hacer más provechoso el camino hacia la mejora de la salud ocular en nuestros países.

Oteri Okolo MD, MSc. FWACS, FMCoph

Director/National Coordinator, National Eye Health Programme, Nigeria, Federal Ministry of Health Abuja

Dr Okolo was appointed the National Coordinator at the National Eye Health Programme , Federal Ministry of Health to coordinate the national drive for blindness prevention in 2018 in recognition of her excellent service and dedication to improving eye care services in the Nigeria. A public health ophthalmologist with an MSc from LSHTM, Public Health for Eye Care, she is passionate about improving access to comprehensive eye care services in Nigeria. She coordinated the development of Nigeria’s first eye health policy document in 2019. Since assuming office till date, Okolo and her team have strengthened the governance structure and eye health information system at national and subnational levels.

Other areas that have received unprecedented attention is the integration of Primary Eye Care (PEC) into the Primary Health System by training of national/state level master trainers and over 300 Primary Health workers in 6 states. She is a key figure in obtaining a presidential commitment to the improvement of eye care services in Nigeria and since then key documents have been developed under her supervision and launched in Nigeria’s first ever high-level commemoration of World Sight Day on October 12th, 2023. At the event three key national documents (The National Eye Health Strategic Development Plan 2024-2028, the Nigeria Glaucoma Guideline & Toolkit and National Guidelines for Screening and Management of Diabetic Retinopathy) and a national initiative to increase spectacle coverage were launched.

She is presently coordinating the dispensing of the highest donation of reading glasses to Nigeria through the Primary Health Care System. She has also served as a board member of the foremost tertiary eye care Centre in Nigeria, National Eye Centre, Kaduna, contributing to strengthening its capacity in service delivery, training of manpower for eye health and research.She is married with 2 boys.

Peter Holland

Chief Executive Officer, IAPB

Peter Holland is the Chief Executive of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB). IAPB is the overarching alliance for the global eye care sector with more than 200 members from the NGO and corporate sectors worldwide leading the effort to provide eye care to more than a billion people who do not have access.

He has senior leadership experience in a number of major organisations, and a background in developing international policy, building effective partnerships, and tackling complex and controversial international issues.

He joined IAPB from OPM Group, a UK-based research and engagement consultancy, where he was Chief Executive. Before that he led on strategy at the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB). He previously worked for the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office where he had a range of roles including postings to India and senior policy positions on counter narcotics, Afghanistan, and international intellectual property policy.

He began his career in the UK’s National Health Service, spending 10 years developing primary services in south London.

Dr Rainer Brockhaus

Chief Executive Officer, CBM Christian Blind Mission

The human rights based approach of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as well as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with their principle to leave no one behind make it mandatory for signatory states and consequently for all organisations in health care to include persons with disabilities in their considerations.

We are called to design our work in a way that offers inclusion, participation and benefits to all in an accessible and affordable way. Yet, this is still not the norm in too many cases. We need to understand the why and co-create the what and the how of a truly inclusive offering in our work.

Raul Velez-Montoya

Associate Professor, APEC

Dr. Raul Velez-Montoya is a distinguished retina specialist renowned for his expertise in diagnosing and treating retinal diseases. He earned his medical degree from Universidad Anahuac and completed his ophthalmology residency at Instituto de Oftalmología Conde de Valenciana. He further specialized with a vitreoretinal fellowship at the Sue Anschutz-Rodgers eye center in Colorado US.

Dr. Velez-Montoya focuses on age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and retinal detachment. An accomplished researcher, he has contributed to numerous publications and presented at international conferences. Dr. Velez-Montoya is dedicated to advancing retinal care and improving patient outcomes.

Renata Watene

Kaiāwhina | PhD Candidate, University of Auckland

Renata Watene, a Māori Optometrist with Ngā Puhi and Tainui heritage, boasts a 23-year career spanning various Optics sectors in New Zealand and Australia. Currently, she holds pivotal roles in healthcare and academia. Renata serves as the Senior Optometrist and Director of Occhiali Optometrist, the only 100% Māori-owned clinic.

She is also a PhD candidate at the University of Auckland, investigating indigenous perspectives in optometry for equitable outcomes under the title “Karu Ora.” Renata’s leadership extends to governance, chairing Te Whiri Kaha – Māori Clinical Senate and co-chairing the Strategic Indigenous Taskforce for Optometry Council of Australia and New Zealand.

She is the Vice President of NZAO and previously served on the Waitematā DHB. Renata’s commitment to Indigenous health strategies prioritises Te Tiriti values and sustainable futures, showcasing her dedication to advancing health equity for Indigenous communities locally and globally.

M.A. Rita Kotov

Chief Executive Officer, MATIZart

CEO of MATIZart, Energy Coach, Consciousness training for companies international Speaker, trainer and academic teacher in System Theory and System thinking with integral concepts. International Facilitator for multi-stakeholder processes for strategy- and politics building with systemic and integral approaches. The former Regional Director for the German International Cooperation in the Andean Countries.

Since 1998 career in the international cooperation and diplomatic sector. From 2012 on, the private and academic sectors. German nationality, with more than 30 years’ experience in several countries of Latin America, currently living in Colombia.

Ryan Toews

Chief Executive Officer, Fundación Visión

Currently the CEO of Fundación Vision Paraguay. Previously Ryan Toews have served as member of the council of Fundación Vision, for the last 5 years prior being appointed as Board Representative and supervising the companies related to the institution.

For 7 years he was CEO of Meister, an Optic Store Chain, Pharmacy and Laboratory and before he was involved in different companies/businesses from different sectors as i.e. hardware/construction import, grains and charcoal export, organization of an international event related to church and as consulter for different institutions.

Satish Mishra

Satish Mishra, ATscale, Global Partnership for Assistive Technology (Hosted by UNOPS)

Dr. Satish Mishra has over 25 years’ of experience in assistive technology, rehabilitation and disability inclusion in global public health at country, regional and global levels. Most recently, Dr. Satish Mishra was the Regional Technical Lead for the Disability, Assistive Technology, Rehabilitation, Palliative and Long-Term Care unit at the WHO Regional Office for Europe. Dr. Satish Mishra is an Occupational Therapist by training with a Diploma in Business Management from India, along with a Masters in Public Health and Doctorate of Public Health from the United Kingdom.

Satish has worked to increase access to health care; strengthen rehabilitation services and improve access to assistive products for people with disabilities, older people, people with noncommunicable diseases, and people with various other health conditions. He has worked in over seventy countries. Satish has authored several publications.

Sofia Maldonado

Ophthalmologist, Fundacion Vision

Ophthalmologist Director of the National Eye Health Program of the Ministry of Public Health an Social Welfare of Paraguay Ophthalmological Clinical Director for Opening Your Eyes of Special Olympics Paraguay Member of the Paraguayan Society of Ophthalmology.

Stuart Cockerill

Head of LCM for Myopia Management, CooperVision

Stuart has been in the contact lens industry for over 30 years and is one of the early commercial pioneers in the need to manage the myopia pandemic. He was instrumental in establishing the longest continuous contact lens study for the control of myopia in children which is now in its tenth year which has shown that it can slow myopia to reduce the future risk of sight loss from high myopia.

He is passionate about the wider adoption of vision screening for the early detection of refractive error issues.

Stuart Keel

Technical Officer, World Health Organization

Dr Stuart Keel is a Technical Officer within the Vision and Eye Care Programme, Department of Noncommunicable Diseases, at the World Health Organization Geneva. In his current role, Dr Keel leads the implementation of the actions outlined in the 2020 World Health Resolution Integrated people-centred eye care, including preventable vision impairment and blindness.

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.

Sumrana Yasmin

Deputy Technical Director: Eye Health, Sightsavers

Sumrana Yasmin is a public health professional working as Deputy Technical Director for Eye Health at Sightsavers. Since 2004, she has been working with various international non-profit organisations to lead and manage programmes in South Asia, Africa, Asia Pacific and the Middle East. Her work focuses on developing equitable and scalable eye health programmes in low- and middle-income countries to strengthen health and education systems. In her current role, she is responsible for leading the Sightsavers Eye Health and Refractive Error thematic portfolios, ensuring that these programmes are strategically driven, gender-responsive, disability-inclusive, and technically sound.

Sumrana is passionate about gender equity, social inclusion, and sustainable development. She promotes these by networking with like-minded organisations; advocating for gender equity and social inclusion in developmental policies; and supporting women’s empowerment in programmes. Sumrana closely collaborates with the WHO and IAPB and supports their initiatives related to eye health vision rehabilitation, and advocacy.

Tsu Shan Chambers

Actor/Writer/Producer, Wise Goat Productions

Tsu Shan, is an Optometrist turned Actor/Writer/Producer, passionate about bringing awareness to issues that matter through telling provoking stories. One of the founders of The Humanity Fund, she was also elected to the SPA Council, IF Magazine’s Rising Talent List 2023 and was included in the inaugural AA122 list – recognising Asian Australians who have had the most impact on Australian culture. Tsu Shan was also awarded the Charlies Grant Residency with AiF in 2021. In 2022, Tsu Shan was selected in the AWG/Create NSW’s “First Break”. She has also been selected to be on numerous industry committees, including the Diversity Justice Lens group for screen equity and inclusion and the AFTRS Alumni Advisory Group.

Tsu Shan produced the romance drama feature, UNSOUND, about deaf culture and pride. It won and was nominated for a raft of key industry awards including ‘Best Indie Film’ at the AACTA awards in 2020 and has obtained distribution in multiple international territories, including Netflx in ANZ and Fuse TV in the US. She produced SUKA, a multi-cultural action drama, supported by ScreenNSW broadcasting on Ch9 in 2023. Tsu Shan recently completed MY EYES, a heartfelt family drama inspired by true events. It received VICScreen development support, due to be released in 2024.

Dr Valeria Sánchez Huerta

General Director, Asociación para Evitar la Ceguera en México

Dr. Valeria Sánchez was born in Mexico City. She studied medicine at Lasalle University School of Medicine, later the Ophthalmology Specialty at the Association to Prevent Blindness in Mexico. From 2003 to 2006, she carried out the Subspecialty of Cornea and Refractive Surgery in the same Institution. Since the beginning of her Social Service, Doctor Sánchez has always been interested in the research field, which is the reason why she has developed several Protocols along her trajectory, as well as published a great number of indexed journals and many Chapters of books as author and co-author. She has performed an outstanding trajectory in the academic field, being Professor of Course A and Assistant Professor of the School of Medicine at the UNAM (National University of Mexico). Also, she is a guest professor of the Ophthalmology Course for undergraduate students at the Lasalle and Anahuac Universities. Dr. Valeria Sánchez has been a member of several Societies and Councils like the Pan American Society, the Mexican Society of Ophthalmology and her outstanding participation in 2017 as Secretary of the Mexican Cornea Refractive Surgery.

Currently is the Secretary of the Mexican Ophthalmology Council. She has held a great number of Academic Positions including Attached Doctor to the Cornea and Refractive Surgery Centre, Coordinator of Imaging Department in the Cornea and Refractive Service. In 2010 she was Head of the Ophthalmology Tissue Department in the same Service, and Head of the Academic Area. Currently Doctor Sánchez is the Managing Director of the Association to Prevent Blindness in Mexico. Dr. Valeria Sánchez has shown great interest in the Ophthalmology policy, which is the reason why she has held various positions in the Mexican Society of Ophthalmology, at the Mexican Council of Ophthalmology as well as the Mexican Center of her specialty. Currently she is a counselor in the field of health and addictions at the Private Assistance Board of Mexico City.

Dr Ving Fai Chan

Lecturer, Queen’s University, Belfast

Dr. Ving Fai Chan, a Lecturer in Global Eye Health at Queen’s University Belfast, passionately advocates for global eye health through his MAD4VISION research group. With 17 years of experience in refractive error program design across Sub-Saharan Africa, he has established optometry education programs, spearheaded eye health initiatives, and influenced policies locally and internationally.

Dr. Chan’s dedication to data-driven decision-making is evident in his development of innovative tools for health data monitoring and intervention evaluation. His research focuses on integrated school eye health programs, women’s empowerment through eye health, and arts-based eye health education initiatives. Presently, he is exploring the use of behavioral economics to develop a cross-subsidization spectacle scheme to tackle delivery challenges related to refractive errors. Dr. Chan’s work underscores ethics, equity, and sustainability, prioritizing the needs of vulnerable populations and advocating for gender and diversity balance within research teams

Vinod Daniel

Chief Executive Officer, India Vision Institute

Vinod Daniel is the CEO and Managing Trustee of the India Vision Institute (IVI) not-for-profit, established in 2012. IVI‚ Äôs initiatives have benefited one million Indians across 22 states. IVI works through two flagship programs: Eye See & amp; I Learn for school children and Eye See & amp; I Work for adults. IVI also works in creating awareness, advocacy, and helps develop and build the Optometry sector, vital for India which has a shortfall in human resources to take on the challenge of public eye health.

He is also a leader in heritage and museums and has worked with partners in over 55 countries on museum related projects. He was on the board of the global museum peak body ICOM and has worked in key museum roles at the Getty (Los Angeles) and the Australian Museum (Sydney). He has won several awards and recognitions including the Order of Australia Medal.

Ximena Andion

Deputy Director, Ford Foundation

Ximena Andion Ibanez, the Deputy Director in the Mexico and Central America office and part of the Civic Engagement and Government team. She has over 20 years experience working on issues related to human rights and gender equality. Before joining Ford in 2019, Ximena served as Executive Director of the feminist organization Instituto de Liderazgo Simone de Beauvoir for seven years.

Prior to that, she worked at various civil society organizations in Mexico including Comision Mexicana de Defensa y Promocion de los Derechos Humanos and Grupo de Informacion en Reproduccion Elegida as well as at the international level with the Center for Reproductive Rights. She has also worked with the United Nations Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Mexico and Guatemala, and she has consulted for various private philanthropic foundations and UN agencies.

Ximena is a Professor of Women’s Rights at the Universidad Iberoamericana and has published various articles on issues related to gender equality and human rights. She has an LLM in International Human Rights Law from the University of Essex and a specialization in human rights and democratization processes from the Universidad de Chile.

Zeehan Abedin

Senior Program Manager, The Fred Hollows Foundation

Zeehan Abedin is a development sector professional with over twelve years of experience in project management, strategic thinking, communication, and project development. As the Senior Program Manager at The Fred Hollows Foundation (FHF) in Bangladesh, she has a proven track record of leading program teams to advance eye health initiatives. Her work with UN-affiliated organizations-the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and coordination of various forums has endowed her with a wealth of transferable skills.

Zeehan holds a Master’s degree in International Development from the University of Bath (UK) and is passionate about sustainable approaches in development and public health. She continually seeks new challenges to apply her expertise in innovative initiatives such as System Leadership and leverage her skills for substantial impact.