Building Systems Leadership in Eye Health: Highlights from the IAPB – Sight For All Workshop

On October 31^st, 2024, during the week of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmology (RANZCO) Congress, the IAPB held a workshop on systems leadership in eye health, hosted by Sight For All. Led by Drew Keys (Director of Policy, Advocacy, & Strategy, IAPB) and Fabrizio D’Esposito (Head of Western Pacific Region, IAPB), this engaging workshop brought together eye health leaders from across Asia and the Pacific in Adelaide, Australia. This half-day session provided a unique space for exchanging ideas, fostering collaboration, and empowering advocates committed to making a lasting impact in eye health.

The workshop introduced participants to systems thinking — a critical approach to navigating complex and interconnected challenges in eye health. Through exploring practical strategies and tools, this workshop aimed to empower participants to drive sustainable systematic advancements in eye health that go beyond immediate needs, and equip them to achieve ambitious global goals, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the effective Refractive Error Coverage (eREC )/effective Cataract Surgical Coverage (eCSC) targets.

Through group work and discussions, participants collaborated to design strategies for engaging stakeholders, from government ministries to community health providers, demonstrating how systemic change can impact outcomes. This exchange of ideas and expertise laid a foundation for future partnerships and initiatives that will strengthen eye health systems across the region.

As we look forward to the 2026 Global Summit on Eye Health, sessions like this are essential in building cross-regional partnerships and empowering leaders to drive impactful change. Together, we’re not only addressing today’s challenges but setting the stage for a brighter future in eye health.

Stay tuned for updates on our journey toward the Global Summit!