LONDON—The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) has announced Dr. Jemilah Mahmood and ambassador Walton Aubrey Webson as keynote speakers for 2030 IN SIGHT LIVE hosted in Singapore June 25-26, in partnership with the Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI). 2030 IN SIGHT LIVE will attract hundreds of delegates from around the world to address one of the world’s most pressing development issues—eyecare for all. This year the 2030 IN SIGHT LIVE program builds on discussions from the first event in 2022, to further define the strategies and research that will elevate vision as a fundamental economic, social and development issue, integrate eye health into wider health care systems and activate patient, consumer and market change, the organization said.

The inclusion of Dr. Jemilah Mahmood, previously the special advisor to the Prime Minister of Malaysia on Public Health, signifies the growing awareness of the critical links between eye health, development and successful public health outcomes.

Joining Dr. Mahmood is his excellency, ambassador Walton Aubrey Webson, permanent representative of Antigua and Barbuda to the United Nations and co-chair of the UN Friends of Vision Group. Ambassador Webson, who has previously served as president for UNICEF, UNDP, UNFPA and UNOPS and is a founder of the UN Friends of Vision at the United Nations group, is a world-renowned champion and leading voice on disabilities issues.

“At 2030 IN SIGHT LIVE we underscore the importance of eye health in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The world is now listening. Let’s take this opportunity and create once in a lifetime change,” added ambassador Webson.

Peter Holland, CEO of IAPB stated, “It is fantastic to have the voices and expertise of Dr Mahmood and ambassador Webson joining us for 2030 IN SIGHT. Their leadership is instrumental to achieving strategies outlined in the 2030 In Sight Strategy.”

Dr. Mahood and ambassador Webson are joined by a host of other experts and thought leaders in the eyecare sector and beyond. IAPB invites everyone to learn more about the program, speakers and how to register at iapb.org/2030LIVE.

The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) is the overarching alliance for the global eyecare sector with almost 200 members worldwide drawn from NGOs and civil society, corporate organizations, professional bodies and research and eyecare institutions.

2030 IN SIGHT LIVE is IAPBs global flagship event. For the second consecutive year, 2030 IN SIGHT LIVE will gather hundreds of delegates from around the world to mobilize action on the 2030 In Sight Strategy.

Singapore Eye Research Institute's (SERI) mission is to conduct high-impact eye research that prevents blindness, low vision and major eye disease common to Singaporeans and Asians. SERI has over 220 adjunct facilities from various eye departments, biomedical institutes and tertiary centres in Singapore.

Dr. Jemilah Mahmood is a medical professional with more than two decades of experience managing crises in health, disasters and conflict settings. She is currently professor and executive director of the newly established Sunway Centre for Planetary Health at Sunway University in Malaysia. She holds advisory roles at the Consultative Council for Foreign Policy Malaysia and is currently a member of the Health White Paper Advisory Council at the Ministry of Health Malaysia. 

Dr. Mahmood is on the board of the Employers Provident Fund Malaysia, the CVS Foundation and ALAM Foundation in Malaysia, the National Advisor to the Malaysia Red Crescent Society and the Sustainability Advisor to Air Asia. Globally, she is a member of the board of Roche in Switzerland and the Norwegian Refugee Council.

In 2023, she was appointed to the World Economic Forum's Global Future Council of Responsible Resource Use. She is a strong advocate of planetary health and sustainability and actively advises on Environment, Social and Governance in the advisory and board roles she holds.

H.E. ambassador Walton Webson is the permanent representative of Antigua and Barbuda to the United Nations and Founder/Co-chair of the UN Friends of Vision Group. Previously, Ambassador Webson worked for several international nongovernment organizations including Sightsavers International of the (UK), The Caribbean Council for the Blind, (Antigua and Barbuda), Hellen Keller International of New York and Perkins International.
 
At the UN, ambassador Webson has served as president for UNICEF, UNDP, UNFPA and UNOPS, chaired numerous steering committees and was the lead sponsor on two resolutions affecting the lives of persons with disabilities around the world and is considered  a champion on disabilities issues and a leading voice on issues of Small States.