Morning Plenary

Keith Valentine, Chief Executive, Vision UK

Having worked for many years leading urban renewal programmes Keith has directed his energies to the sight loss sector as his own loss of sight progressed, affording him a unique perspective on the needs and aspirations of the people who are served by the eye health and sight loss pathway..

Keith is a Trustee for RNIB and RP Fighting Blindness.

Simon Wheatcroft

Simon Wheatcroft refuses to let blindness hold him back. Whether he is competing in ultra-marathons, climbing mountains or going about his day to day life, he combines the use of technology and his fundamental belief and trust in his own abilities and body to overcome what many would consider insurmountable barriers and achieve his goals. Simon's unique blend of ferocious drive, along with his background in technology and psychology, enables him to push the boundaries of possibility and challenge the audience to explore what they can achieve.

Born with a genetic eye disorder (Retinitis Pigmentosa) resulted in Simon becoming blind at 17. After a number of difficult years of adaptation, he headed to California in order to climb a mountain. After an unsuccessful attempt due to his lack of vision, he vowed never to quit again because he was unable to see. Making use of technology, he began a remarkable journey of learning to run outdoors totally unaided aside from the Smartphone app RunKeeper and his remaining senses as a guide.

Partnering with leading technology firms and using social media to find running partners Simon has gone on to run marathons and ultramarathons. Leveraging his experience of working with leading technology firms (IBM, MIT and Google), Simon is creating the next generation of technology that will continue to enable himself and others to achieve what many bystanders would consider unattainable. Much of this technology was put to the test when he became the first ever blind person to run solo the 4 Deserts Marathon in Namibia in May 2016.

Phil Freeman - Dementia Action Alliance

Phil is the Executive Lead of the Dementia Action Alliance. Prior to joining the DAA Phil was part of Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Friendly Communities team where he led on partnerships. He also worked as part of their Corporate Partnerships team, where he managed a number of key accounts with clients such as Deloitte and Lilly. Projects he worked on included the review of the National Dementia Strategy of England (NDSE) and the Worried About Your Memory? campaign.

Prior to joining the Alzheimer’s Society Phil spent four years working for a leadership development organisation, Common Purpose, where he headed up the Emerging Leaders programme. Here he was responsible for recruiting cross sector groups and facilitating the programmes, equipping the members with the knowledge, skills and connections to be more effective leaders, both within their organisations and in wider civil society. He also led on projects to raise the profile of social enterprises and to increase diversity across the public sector.

Fazilet Hadi, Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Advocacy, RNIB

Fazilet Hadi has worked at RNIB for 19 years, during which time she has overseen RNIB's research, marketing, communication and political campaigning. She has also been the lead officer for the UK Vision Strategy and played a key role in the consultation on the initial UK Vision Strategy and its launch in 2008. Fazilet commissioned the recent evaluation of the UK Vision Strategy and is strongly committed to ensuring that the UK Vision Strategy, in its new articulation as the UK Ambition Statement, drives change across eye health and sight loss and wider society.

Fazilet recently assumed the role of Deputy Chief Executive at RNIB and Director of its new Advocacy Directorate. Prior to RNIB, Fazilet worked as a solicitor in law centres and as an equality specialist in local government. She is passionate about influencing change for the benefit of communities, whether on a local or societal level.

Fazilet recently completed a 37km fundraising trek across Iceland with RNIB colleagues and supporters.

Stream 1

David Cartwright, Chair National Eye Health Week (NEHW)

David is an optometrist of 35 years standing and is Chair of Eyecare Trust which is the organisation that runs National Eye Health Week. He has previously worked in all spheres of optometric practice, the majority of his career with Boots Opticians as Professional Services Director.

David is past president of the College of Optometrists and a College examiner. He is currently chair of Derby/Notts eye health Local Professional Network, is a College examiner, is a non-executive director of Nottingham University Hospitals Trust and a General Optical Council Hearings Panel member.

David is married to Yvonne, a practising optometrist and has two children. His hobbies include golf, tennis and occasional triathlons.

Stream 2

Phil Richardson, Director of Transformation

Phil Richardson joined the NHS in September 2014 with 30 years commercial experience in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, digital and consulting industries. Phil is the Programme Director for the Clinical Services Review (CSR), lead director for Dorset’s Sustainability Transformation Plan (STP) and Senior Responsible Officer for the Local Digital Roadmap (LDR).

In addition to setting up a boutique strategy and change consultancy, previous employers include Amersham International, Deloitte, IBM, Pfizer and BUPA, where he worked in a number of senior roles both nationally and internationally on complex strategy and change programmes.

Phil is a Chartered Scientist and a Chartered Biologist he has a PhD from the University of Bath in biomimetics and the application of biological modelling to innovation, strategy and change. He also teaches strategy on the Open University MBA and is an examiner for the final year MBA thesis. Originally from Newcastle, Phil has lived with his family in the South West for nearly 20 years.

Stream 3

Matt Marsh

Matt Marsh has a background in behavioural sciences & user-centered innovation, and is recognised internationally for his people-shaped(TM) approach to new product and service innovation.

Matt is expert at providing innovation teams with the missing customer perspective that helps correctly link new forms of product and service to successful commercialisation. He is Creative Director at Firsthand Experience, a visiting professor at Ravensbourne University in London, and serves on the Professional Affairs Board of the Institute for Human Factors and Ergonomics.

Prior to setting up Firsthand Experience in 2002, Matt was studio leader and then marketing director at IDEO, and then served as an innovation envoy at the Design Council. With a wide range of experience in many fields including transportation, healthcare, government, technology and telecommunication sectors, Matt has created award-winning customer centred services, products, software, systems and environments.

Matt's clients include: Novartis, NHS, Microsoft, HSBC, PwC, Samsung, BBC, BMW, Innovate UK, Channel 4, BBH, SC Johnson.

Afternoon Plenary

Sue Baker OBE - Director, Time to Change

Sue leads Time to Change, England’s largest ever programme to end mental health stigma and discrimination. She is responsible for leading and delivering this exciting social movement in England.

Time to Change is an ambitious programme (funded by the Department of Health, Comic Relief and the Big Lottery Fund) being delivered by leading mental health charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness.

Sue previously worked for the leading mental health charity in New Zealand setting up marketing, campaigns and fundraising programmes and supporting the ground-breaking campaign to address the discrimination experienced by people with mental health problems, using human rights and mental health promotion models. She also worked for nine years as Head of Media at Mind, in particular carrying out the UK’s first survey of the extent and impact of discrimination (in the mid-90s).

She has also been a Director of a leading substance misuse charity where she was responsible for marketing treatment services, delivering business growth and developing marketing and fundraising.

Sue studied marketing and advertising at the University of the West of England and in her career has worked in charities, councils and in PR and advertising agencies.

She is open about her experiences of anxiety and depression as a way of encouraging others to do the same.

Marc Powell - RNIB Business Team

Marc Powell was 4 years old when his family were informed that he had inherited his father’s eye condition, cone-rod dystrophy, which caused him to have significant acuity issues and resulted in him being registered as blind.

From a young age, Marc was exposed to Paralympic sport as his father, Terry Powell, was a double-Paralympic bronze medallist in Judo, and also ran an inclusive sports business, where Marc worked with him part-time.

Marc’s own sporting ability was spotted in 2009 and he was given the opportunity to leave his hometown of Liverpool, and move to a Judo ‘Centre of Excellence’ in Dartford. Marc went on to represent Great Britain in Judo for over 5 years, winning numerous international medals (both visually impaired, and mainstream) and competing at major international tournaments, including the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

In 2014, Marc retired from professional Judo and began to seek employment. In 2015, through the RNIB’s Trainee Grade Scheme, Marc gained a 50 week position as a ‘Community and Corporate Fundraising Officer’ for the RNIB. After being in the role for four months, Marc was offered a permanent role at the charity, and since then has progressed to becoming a ‘New Business Development Executive’, which involves him working with companies and organisations to help them become more accessible across a range of commercial solutions.

Georgie Bullen - Team Insight

Georgie Bullen was 5 years old when it was discovered that she had a very rare form of Macular Degeneration which resulted in her being registered as blind.

At the age of 14, having never participated in adapted sports, Georgie attended a Paralympic Talent Identification Day, where she was selected to join the GB Women’s Goalball team. In the space of three and a half years, Georgie went from not knowing the sport, to being in the starting line-up which competed in the London 2012 Paralympics. The team reached the quarter-finals in, only being knocked out in Golden Goal by Sweden, who went on to win Bronze.

After the Paralympics, Georgie began to seek employment but quickly discovered how difficult it was to get a job when you’re visually impaired, as over 73% of Visually Impaired and Blind people of working age are unemployed. Georgie felt this was down to a lack of awareness and so decided to do something to try and educate employers in VI awareness in the hope that she could change their perceptions and improve employment levels.

In 2014, Georgie combined her skills in Goalball, as well as her desire to educate the public in visual impairment awareness, to launch her own business, Team Insight. Team Insight uses Goalball, as well as other blindfolded activities, to deliver team building and visual impairment awareness training events for corporates. The company has won national awards and gained well-known clients such as; O2, Atos and Great Northern Rail.

Whilst starting and running her own business, Georgie has continued to compete as part of the GB Women’s Goalball team.

Keith Valentine - Chief Executive, Vision UK

Having worked for many years leading urban renewal programmes Keith has directed his energies to the sight loss sector as his own loss of sight progressed, affording him a unique perspective on the needs and aspirations of the people who are served by the eye health and sight loss pathway..

Keith is a Trustee for RNIB and RP Fighting Blindness.

David Parkins - Chair, Clinical Council for Eye Health Commissioning for England and Chair, London Eye Health Network (NHS England)

David is the Chair of the Clinical Council for Eye Health Commissioning for England, Chair of the London Eye Health Network (NHS England) and a registrant member of the General Optical Council (UK). He has extensive experience in NHS commissioning and works part time in independent and hospital practice in South East London.

David was the President of the College of Optometrists from March 2014 until March 2016. He is currently conducting doctoral research into the clinical decision making and the referral practice of UK optometrists with London South Bank University and the Institute of Optometry. Previous published research provided the evidence for commissioning glaucoma services.

David is a Fellow of the European Academy of Optometry and Optics, a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers and has been awarded Honorary Life Membership of Vision Aid Overseas.

Peter Corbett - CEO, Thomas Pocklington Trust and Chair, England Vision Strategy

Peter Corbett is Chief Executive of the Thomas Pocklington Trust (TPT), where he has worked since 2009. Over that time, the charity has changed its focus from being a small housing provider to a national mainstream organisation reaching over 20 times as many people with sight loss. As well as directly supporting a number of local sight loss societies, mainly in London and the Midlands, TPT is a strategic partner of Visionary, supporting local sight loss societies across the country.

TPT’s Research and Policy team continue to manage projects focused on key evidence and impact and its recently established Engagement and Advocacy team seeks to ensure that the voice of people with and at risk of sight loss is clearly heard and that key service providers are properly “held to account” where appropriate.

Peter is involved in several collaborative ventures in the eye health and sight loss sector; he is Chair of the London Visual Impairment Forum, Co-Chair of the England Vision Strategy and Treasurer of VISION 2020 UK and Vision Aid Overseas.

Peter previously spent 2 decades in the commercial sector, mainly with Sony Music, and almost one decade in the public sector, after qualifying as a Chartered Accountant.

Peter grew up in Bolton and is a keen Bolton Wanderers supporter. He is married with 4 grown up daughters and lives in Epsom.

Sally Harvey - Acting CEO, RNIB

Sally was appointed Interim Chief Executive at RNIB in October 2016 in order to deliver RNIB Group’s ambition to make every day better for everyone affected by sight loss: by being there when people need us, supporting independent living, creating an inclusive society and preventing sight loss.

In her previous role as Managing Director for RNIB Places Sally oversaw the management of RNIB's Care Homes, Schools, Further Education College, Supported Living Service and Supported Housing and was strategic lead for children, young people and families.

In past roles at RNIB, Sally has been the strategic lead for Independent Living and has managed RNIB’s services in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. Sally was also seconded for a period of 18 months to lead the development and creation of what is known as RNIB Solutions set up to lead RNIB’s business to business work amongst other things.

In her previous career Sally held various positions within the Housing Association sector and local government and in addition to her work at RNIB is currently the Board Chair of Sapphire Independent Housing, a small Housing Association providing accommodation and support to vulnerable people in London and Hertfordshire.

Michael Burdon - Consultant Ophthalmologist, Royal Oak Hospital, Birmingham and President, The Royal College of Ophthalmologists

Mr Michael (Mike) Burdon is a consultant ophthalmologist with an interest in neuro-ophthalmology at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham. He underwent subspecialty training in Brisbane, St Thomas' Hospital, Moorfields Eye Hospital, and the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery.

Mike was chair of the RCOphth Scientific Committee and remains chair of the British Isles Neuro-Ophthalmology Club. He has an established reputation as a teacher of neuro-ophthalmology, speaking at numerous national and international meetings, and co-authoring "The Neuro-Ophthalmology Survival Guide" with Anthony Pane and Neil Miller and has extensive experience in the diagnosis and management (including surgical correction) of adult motility disorders. His main research interests are papilloedema and idiopathic intracranial hypertension.

Mike took over as President of The Royal College of Ophthalmologists on 24 May 2017. He is committed to RCOphth maintaining the high standards of education, training and assessment to ensure that the development and delivery of world-class eye care for all patients is at the heart of the ophthalmology profession.

Ken Reid - Scottish Vision Strategy Ambassador

Ken Reid was born and raised in Edinburgh. After studying Business Studies in Dundee, he worked for National Farmers Union Mutual Insurance Society, Stratford upon Avon for three years as a business analyst. In 1986, he joined Scottish & Newcastle in Edinburgh, in the distribution operations function. Over 22 years he worked in a variety of areas, including Marketing and Human Resources, and was involved in several major projects, for example the development of a new head office site for over 800 people.

Shortly after joining S&N Ken was diagnosed with the degenerative, genetic condition: Retinitis Pigmentosa. This led to him being registered blind in 1990, and eventually retiring in 2008. He now focusses much of his time on voluntary work including rolls with Royal National Institute of Blind People, UK's leading sight loss charity, and UK Vision Strategy.

Ken’s years of progressive sight loss mean he has experienced the good, the bad and the downright ugly of services for blind and partially sighted people. He uses his years of experience in a commercial environment to understand the needs of the business world. This helps him fulfil roles with RNIB, including volunteer public speaker and member of the Scotland committee.