IAPB Announces Winners of the 2025 Young Systems Leader Awards  

IAPB is proud to announce the winners of the Young Systems Leader Award winners for 2025. Now in its second year, the awards shine a spotlight on early-career professionals who are driving transformative change in eye health. The awards celebrate “systems thinkers” — individuals who take innovative approaches to tackling avoidable sight loss and reshaping the future of eye care. 

IAPB’s Board and Executive Committee have selected nine outstanding winners from a diverse range of countries and professional backgrounds. These young leaders bring fresh perspectives, creativity, and determination to accelerate progress towards the 2030 In Sight goals. 

Congratulations to the 2025 Young Systems Leader Award Winners: 

• Keitumetse Thamane, Programme Management Lead – Peek Vision (Botswana) 
• Tigist Tulu Gelashe, Programme Manager, Outreach and Quality – Cure Blindness Project (Ethiopia) 
• Ameer Abou Adela, Founder and President – Vision Care Association (Lebanon) 
• Mehran Memon, Assistant Director IT – Sindh Institute of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences (Pakistan) 
• Mattan Arazi, Ophthalmology Resident – Sheba Medical Centre (Israel) 
• Sabrina Von Wegerer, Research and Development Coordinator – Fundación Visión (Paraguay) 
• Samit Sakib Gore, Director of Operations and Innovation, Co-Founder Vision Friend Eyewear and VCU Series – Vision Friend Sakib Gore (India) 
• Bharti Janyani, Senior Hospital Manager – Operations and Community Eye Care – Sewa Sadan Eye Hospital (India) 
• Ting Fang Tan, Ophthalmology Resident – Singapore Eye Research Institute (Singapore) 

The winners of the Young Systems Leader Awards receive a range of unique opportunities to support their professional growth, including speaking engagements at 2030 IN SIGHT LIVE in Kathmandu, Nepal, where they will share their insights and ideas with global leaders. They will also participate in a leadership masterclass programme delivered by experts from both the eye health sector and related fields and gain exclusive networking opportunities with key stakeholders in global health, policy, and advocacy. 

Caroline Casey, IAPB President, shared her enthusiasm for this year’s winners, by saying, “I’m blown away by the achievements and creativity of this year’s award winners, and I can’t wait to meet them in person at 2030 IN SIGHT LIVE in Kathmandu. It’s so exciting to have young leaders stepping up and reshaping the future of eye care.” 

The Young Systems Leaders will be attending 2030 IN SIGHT LIVE, taking place in Kathmandu, Nepal, from April 29 to May 1, 2025. While at this important eye care conference they will have the opportunity to share their award-winning ideas , lead discussions and collaborate with global leaders to help put 2030 In Sight for everyone, everywhere. 

Award winner Sabrina Von Wegerer (Paraguay) reflected: “It is incredibly encouraging to know that our efforts are being recognized, and I am excited about the opportunity to meet and collaborate with inspiring individuals from all over the world.” 

Award winner Samit Sakib Gore (India) offered his view on the award: “To be recognized by IAPB alongside such extraordinary young leaders from around the world is not only an honor but also a deeply motivating milestone in my journey for our common cause.” 

Learn more about these inspiring individuals and how their innovative approaches are reshaping eye health systems worldwide. 

Registrations for 2030 IN SIGHT LIVE are open now. Join the Young Systems Awards Winners in Kathmandu this April by securing your place today.