The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), an alliance of NGOs, civil societies, corporate organisations, professional bodies, and research and eye care institutions worldwide, announced this year’s cohort of Eye Health Heroes. IAPB’s annual development programme celebrate and nurture young and upcoming talent in the eye health sector and provides a unique opportunity to connect, develop and celebrate leaders from the global eye health community.

Eighty nominees who represent innovation and leadership were awarded in a set of ceremonies by the IAPB. The recipients aim to deliver eye care in diverse environments, while overcoming a myriad of challenges, and they become part of a year-long training and mentorship programme, learning from some of the eye health sectors most prominent leaders.

As one of the three categories, the ‘Leaders’ category recognizes that leaders can emerge at all levels and in all roles across eye health but share essential characteristics: they are high performers in their roles, influence others, show potential and are open to learning and growing from each experience.

The ‘Change-makers’ category consist of those that are motivated to act and who turn good ideas into action. This could be by embedding eye health in health systems, changing corporate behaviour or bringing about policy change – winners in this category bring about positive change through action.

Finally, ‘Innovators’ are individuals who embrace new ideas and create new possibilities and outcomes, whilst challenging the status quo and pushing their boundaries of knowledge to develop new approaches, systems or technologies in eye health.

“These heroes should be very proud of their achievements, and I look forward to seeing the role they and their organisations will play in implementing the new sector strategy ‘2030 In Sight’ where innovation, creating change and strong leadership are the answer.  Their commitment and energy and will be critical to ensure that by 2030 no one experiences unnecessary sight loss, that everyone has the support and services to achieve their full potential and that we all understand the importance of caring for our own eye health,” said Joanna Conlon, Director of Development and Communications at IAPB.