Clare Gilbert is a leading figure in the prevention of childhood blindness, running large-scale projects all around the world. She is a Professor of International Eye Health in the International Centre for Eye Health (ICEH) at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and has 10 years of experience working as a clinical Ophthalmologist, holding an MD in Surgical Retina. Prior, she completed the MSc in Epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Currently, Gilbert is also a research advisor for the Eye Health Sightsavers UK, as well as a Scientific Program Advisor under the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust.

“Having a shared goal is vitally important to good team working.” – Clare Gilbert

The focus of Gilbert’s research is on blindness and the eye diseases of children in low and middle income countries. Since 2006, she has been a member of the ICEH’s Ethics Committee where she also co-directs the eye group.

Arun Bharat Ram is a leader in scientific innovation, product development and manufacturing. He is the Chairman of SRF Limited, a leading industrial group specializing in the manufacturing of technical textiles, fluorochemicals, packaging films and furor specialities. He set up SRF in 1970 as a manufacturer of nylon and tire cord and since then has watched the company grow into a global Deming Award winning company.

“We are always looking for good ideas that we can use.” – Arun Bharat Ram

From 2000-2011, Ram was the president of CII and is currently Chairman of CII Education Council, and the Indian Co-Chairman of the Indo German Consultative Group. In 2006, Ram was presented with the Officer’s Cross of the Order of Merit, which he received from the Federal Government in Germany in 2008. A graduate of the University of Michigan, Arun Bharat Ram is a man of business, science and art. In addition to his sizable business venture, he is an accomplished sitar player and supporter of classical art.

Additional Information

• Mr. Bharat Ram hails from the renowned business family of Delhi, the owner of the famous Shri Ram Group and DCM with a legacy of more than 100 years.
• Member of the Governing body of SPIC–Macay – a society for the promotion of Indian Classical Arts.
• Member of the Governing body of The Doon School, Dehradun
• An accomplished Sitar player, learnt it from Late Pt. Ravi Shankar

Dr. Wang Wei brings significant business leadership experience, financial expertise, and entrepreneurship to the Vision Impact Institute board. As an expert in innovative financial tools, corporate restructuring, and industry integration, he has organized and supervised IPO underwritings for over 40 Chinese companies in both domestic and international markets. His business career has taken him to a number of international corporations including Nomura Securities Co. Ltd. in Tokyo, the World Bank in Washington D.C., and Chase Bank in New York. He currently serves as an economic advisor to a number of ministerial and provincial governments in China, and as an independent director of several listed companies.

In addition to his work at well-known companies, Dr. Wang is also the founder of both China Mergers & Acquisitions Association (CMAA), has served as a member of the Shanghai Stock Exchange Corporate Governance Advisory Committee, and was elected as the Chairman of Asia M&A Association (AMAA).

In 2010 he created the Chinese Museum of Finance Group which now operates six museums in five major cities in China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Shenyang, and Suzhou.

Dr. Wang received his bachelor’s degree in accounting and master’s degree in finance in China and a Ph.D. in economics from Fordham University in New York. In addition to his career success, he has also successfully reached the summit of Mount Everest, accomplishing this achievement in 2013.

Recognition

Dr. Wang has been named:

• “Top Five Chinese Investment Bankers” by Talents Magazine in 2003
• “The Most Influential Independent Director” by Directors & Boards Magazine in 2006
• “The Most Influential Investment Banker” by China Finance Network in 2006

Awards

• The 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award from The M&A Advisor
• The 2013 Social Innovator Award from The Wall Street Journal
• The 2015 IFFM Financial Literacy Award

BSc, BOptom (UDW), MPH (Temple), OD (PCO), PhD (UNSW), FAAO, FBCO

Former student leader, political detainee, banned and house arrested during apartheid, Prof. Naidoo has continued his social consciousness through his academic career. He is a National Research Foundation B-rated researcher, educator and internationally celebrated public health leader and has been revolutionising access and delivery to eye care in Africa and for the disadvantaged throughout the world. A powerful public health advocate, he has devoted his working life to reducing avoidable blindness and vision impairment, with specific emphasis on refractive error.

“By investing in education and training in Latin America, we can create skills and implement optometry education on a local level.” – Kovin Naido

Professor Naidoo is Senior Vice President – 2.5 NVG, Inclusive Business, Philanthropy and Social Impact at Essilor, the former CEO of the Brien Holden Vision Institute and former Chairperson of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (Africa), Associate Professor of Optometry at the University of KwaZulu Natal (UKZN), Adjunct Faculty at Salus University in Philadelphia and Senior Visiting Fellow at the University of New South Wales (Australia).

Kovin is a researcher who enjoys considerable international recognition by his peers for the high quality and impact of his recent research outputs and has been awarded a B-rating from the National Research Foundation. His research has spanned a plethora of focus areas, however, public health optometry remains at the core. Recognizing the need to develop research capacity in Africa, Prof Naidoo founded the African Vision Research Institute (AVRI). Among his notable contributions in research has been the Global Burden of Blindness articles which provide the most recent additions to the global burden of uncorrected refractive error.

His headship at the Brien Holden Vision Institute spearheaded several initiatives to support eye care, education and employment. Professor Naidoo founded the Global Resource Centre, an important innovation that works to overcome the significant barriers of cost and availability of spectacles and optical equipment, which limits the ability of eye care programmes across the globe from delivering appropriate vision correction. Under his leadership the Public Health Division expanded with programs in Africa, Latin America, India, China and the Western Pacific (53 countries). He initiated the Global Optometry Resource Platform which is developing and supporting schools in Malawi, Mozambique, Eritrea, Cameroon, Mali, Gambia and Guyana with new schools soon in Zimbabwe, Uganda and Haiti. This program is a sustainable solution to the human resources for eye health crises that the developing world faces.

Prof Naidoo is a Fulbright Scholar and was elected as an Ashoka Fellow and a Schwab Fellow and was a co-recipient of the African Social Entrepreneur of the year award in 2010 for his social entrepreneurial efforts in addressing the needs of those less privileged. The American Academy of Optometry awarded him the Essilor Award for outstanding contributions to Optometry in 2010, and the British College of Optometrists awarded him an honorary fellowship in 2009 for his contribution to the development of optometry in Africa and the developing world. He was awarded African Optometrist of the Year (2002), International Optometrist of the Year (2007) and University of KwaZulu Natal’s Convocation Award (2010).

Among Prof Naidoo’s many esteemed affiliations are; Member of the World Council of Optometry Governing Board; WHO Refractive Error Working Group; Founder and Chair of African Vision and Chair of the Red Cross Air Mercy Services board of Trustees.