David Scott-Ralphs steps down as Chair of Vision Aid Overseas

After six years at Vision Aid Overseas, on Saturday 22nd September during the Vision Aid Overseas’ Annual General Meeting, David Scott-Ralphs stepped down as Chair of the eye care charity.

A spokesperson for the charity told us;

“When David joined Vision Aid Overseas in 2012, he joined us at a really challenging time. However, over the past few years he has led the organisation with integrity, humility and vision enabling us to grow from strength to strength both financially and operationally.”

Under his leadership, Mr Scott-Ralphs has not only ensured long term financial and operational viability in an increasingly challenging public and institutional funding environment, he has also embedded a robust, forward thinking and progressive strategic vision for the organisation.

Peter Corbett Treasurer of Vision Aid Overseas continued; “David has provided great leadership for Vision Aid Overseas over the last 6 years enabling us to reach many more people with desperately needed eye care”.

Since the foundation of Vision Aid Overseas 33 years ago, the charity has evolved its model from providing ‘aid’ delivered by Professional Optical Volunteers from the UK a few times a year to fully utilising their skills and expertise in helping to train local staff to provide quality eye care and in establishing much needed services. Volunteers now support Vision Aid Overseas to establish sustainable comprehensive eye care programmes that enable people living with poor eye sight across Africa to access affordable eye care and glasses from locally trained eye care workers.

On the same day, Professor Nora Colton was appointed by the Vision Aid Overseas’ Board as the new Chair and four new trustees (Dr Hannah Faal, Mr Ian Davies, Mr Stephen Thompson and Mr Ronnie Graham) were elected to the board by Members.

David Scott-Ralph told us;

“It’s been a great privilege to chair Vision Aid Overseas for the past 6 years and I’m really delighted that Nora Colton will be taking over from me. I know that Nora will be a huge asset as the charity continues its growth and development over the next period. I wish her all the very best and hope she enjoys the role as much as I have.”

Nora is a distinguished academic and educational leader. She has recently taken on the role of Professor and Director of Education at University College London Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Eye Hospital, where she will be developing the national and international education programme for these two institutions working together.  Prior to this she was Deputy Vice Chancellor and Acting Vice Chancellor at the University of East London, where she transformed the academic programme and oversaw the institution rise in the league table.

“We warmly welcome Nora as the new Chair of Vision Aid Overseas and together with the Board, under her leadership we will continue to take Vision Aid Overseas from strength to strength, to ensure no-one lives in poverty because of poor eyesight; and no one lives with poor eyesight because of poverty”. Nicola Chevis, CEO

To find out more about the work of Vision Aid Overseas, click here