2 hours ago
April has been another important month of building momentum — strengthening our connection with the community, growing our organisational capability, and continuing to position Retina Australia within the broader eye health sector.
A highlight was attending the Guide Dogs Victoria Community Day. It was a wonderful opportunity to connect directly with members of the community, hear lived experiences, and see firsthand the impact of organisations working across the vision sector. What stood out most was the strength, resilience and openness of the community, and the importance of ensuring people feel informed, supported and connected throughout their journey.
My thanks to Nicky Long, CEO of Guide Dogs Victoria, and her team for hosting such a thoughtful and well-run event. These events are a powerful reminder of why our work matters, and the role Retina Australia can play in complementing and strengthening the broader system of care.
I am also very pleased to welcome two new members to the Retina Australia team. Michael Dulaney has joined as Manager, Communications & Advocacy, bringing extensive experience from the ABC and a strong background in storytelling, media and public engagement. Sara McKenzie has joined as Operations Assistant, with experience at Dementia Australia and a strong foundation in supporting service delivery and organisational operations. Together, Michael and Sara will strengthen our capability as we move from planning into delivery, particularly in enhancing our communications, advocacy and operational effectiveness.
Across the sector, I attended the Vision 2020 CEO Forum, which focused on current sector priorities, including the political landscape and its implications for eye health in Australia. The discussion also highlighted the important role that inherited retinal diseases can play in strengthening the broader case for investment in eye health and vision care — helping to build a clearer and more compelling economic narrative, particularly around early intervention, rehabilitation, participation, workforce engagement and integrated care.
This was followed by the Barry Jones Vision 2020 Oration, where Professor Hugh Taylor AC delivered a compelling address. As one of Australia’s most influential leaders in ophthalmology and global eye health, Professor Taylor’s lifelong commitment to eliminating avoidable blindness continues to shape policy, research and practice both nationally and internationally. His reflections reinforced the importance of sustained advocacy, system-wide collaboration, and a strong focus on equity and access.
Following the oration, the CEO roundtable provided a valuable opportunity to continue these discussions, with a focus on aligning advocacy priorities for 2026 and exploring how we can work collectively to improve outcomes across the sector.
Internally, we are now preparing for our Board Strategy and Planning Day on 2 May. The focus of the day will be on operationalising our Strategic Plan — moving from strategy into delivery, identifying clear priorities, and ensuring we have the structures, capability and focus required to support sustainable growth and impact. It is an important step in positioning Retina Australia for the next phase of its development.
Overall, April has been about building on strong foundations — strengthening our team, deepening sector engagement, and continuing to clarify where Retina Australia can have the greatest impact.
Warm regards,
Jono
