IAPB Young Systems Leader Awards for early-career eye health professionals   

IAPB is proud to launch for a second year, the IAPB Young Systems Leader Awards.  

The award is focused on recognising and supporting early-career eye health professionals who demonstrate an aptitude and motivation to drive systems change.   

“The success of the Young Systems Leader awards in 2024 showed us how vital it is to celebrate talented individuals who have the courage to try and create real change,” said IAPB President Caroline Casey. “I’m thrilled to continue these awards and offer another set of young leaders to raise their profile and showcase their skills to the global eye health sector”.  

The initiative has at its heart IAPB’s ambitions 2030 In Sight Strategy. A strategy driving the eye health sector to move beyond isolated interventions, calling on individuals and organisations to embrace a holistic systems approach, seamlessly integrating eye care within health systems and demonstrating its vital role in other sectors and settings. 

Feedback from our 2024 award winners: 

• “I built life-long relationships” 

• “The program was a full package of professional and personal development.” 

• “It has been a good platform that I can use to take my career to the next level” 

• “It was a journey, not just an award” 

Feedback from IAPB members about the Young Systems Leader awards: 

• “One of this year’s highlights” 

• “I think the Young Systems Leader awards has an impact in the wider eye health sector, bringing new and young leaders together and establishing a network of relationships and support” 

• “It is a good programme that is terrific for the recipients” 

Award recipients will be equipped with invaluable opportunities to: 

• Take centre stage at 2030 INSIGHT LIVE Nepal, the premier eye health conference, by speaking or co-facilitating a workshop. 

• Connect with senior-level professionals and IAPB President, Caroline Casey through pre-arranged networking meetings. 

• Sharpen their skills through a customized online workshop program covering systems leadership, 2030 In Sight, public speaking, networking, and maximising participation in 2030 INSIGHT LIVE. 

• Share their insights with the global eye health community through an opinion piece or Q&A published on the IAPB Knowledge Hub and social media channels. 

Nomination and Selection 

IAPB members are invited to nominate emerging leaders, aged under 35, who they feel demonstrate the aptitude and mindset to shift the paradigm to tackle avoidable sight loss. For example:  

• Embracing opportunities, being adaptable and flexible   

• Working and collaborating across sectors  

• Trying new approaches – experimenting and piloting ideas  

• Building a culture of learning, in which failures are lessons to be shared  

• Shifting from reactive problem solving to collaborative planning for the future 

Candidates for the award must be nominated and seconded by an IAPB member (not necessarily from their own organisation). Up to 10 candidates will be selected for the award.   

• Nominations open on 4^th November 2024

• Nominations close 1^st December 2024

• Candidates must be aged 35 and under as of 3^rd May 2025.

• Candidates must be available from 29^th, 30^th April and 1^st May to attend 2030 INSIGHT LIVE Nepal.

• Candidates must be able to fund their own travel, accommodation, and visa arrangements to attend 2030 INSIGHT LIVE Nepal (registration for the event is free to award winners) 

• Candidates must also be available to attend 6 x online webinars between February – April 2025 (dates to be shared soon)

Nominations close 1st December 2024.