21 February, 2026
I am thrilled to write to you as the new CEO of Retina Australia. It has been an exciting first few weeks, and I’ve been deeply inspired by the dedication, passion, and expertise I’ve seen across our team, our community, and our network of supporters.
A little about me: I’ve worked across both the corporate and not-for-profit sectors, most recently at Eating Disorders Victoria. I’m a father of three and have been happily married to Belinda for 32 years. I bring a learning-oriented approach to this role and am committed to understanding the challenges faced by Australians who are vision impaired or blind—a group described to me as experiencing an ‘invisible disability’ and heightened vulnerability, with impacts that extend beyond vision loss to include mental health challenges, social isolation, reduced independence, and barriers to workforce participation. Inherited Retinal Diseases (IRD) are the leading cause of blindness among working-age adults in Australia, which highlights the personal, social, and economic impacts of these conditions.
I was delighted to start in February, coinciding with Retinitis Pigmentosa Awareness Month, a time to highlight the experiences of those living with IRDs and the ongoing research aimed at preventing or treating vision loss. One of my early highlights was visiting the Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA), where I had the opportunity to see firsthand the remarkable progress being made in IRD research and the dedication of the teams working to transform lives.
Although I am new to this role, I have quickly come to appreciate the incredible work Retina Australia has undertaken over the years to support people living with inherited retinal diseases, raise awareness, and fund research that can make a real difference. It is a privilege to join an organisation with such a clear mission and meaningful impact.
In my first few weeks, I’ve been meeting with staff, Board members, researchers, and community representatives to understand the challenges and opportunities ahead. I am particularly excited about building stronger connections with the IRD community, amplifying lived experience voices, and fostering collaboration across research, advocacy, and awareness initiatives. I believe that by listening, learning, and working together, we can achieve more for individuals and families affected by IRDs, including supporting improved workforce participation and equitable opportunities for those living with vision impairment.
Over the coming months, I look forward to sharing updates on our programs, research, and community initiatives, and to hearing from you, our community, about how we can continue to grow and strengthen our impact. I welcome you to contact me directly at jonathan.brookes@retinaaustralia.com.au—consider this my ‘open-door’ email.
Thank you for welcoming me into this remarkable community. I am excited about the journey ahead and to working with all of you to support people affected by IRD’s by funding and promoting research into their detection, treatment, and cure, and by improving outcomes through information, education, advocacy, and support—as we work towards a world without inherited blindness.
Warm regards,
Jono Brookes
CEO, Retina Australia
