Sydney Australia, 26 February 2019: Sandra Bailey LLB CM GAICD has been elected by the Board of the Brien Holden Vision Institute Foundation to be the Foundation’s new Chairperson. The election took effect on 19 February 2018.

On notifying staff of the change, Sandra thanked former Chairperson, Dr Nag Rao, for his many years of service and for setting a high standard. She said “I am therefore honored to be taking up this role and I am committed to the furtherance of the Foundation’s vision”. Sandra continued to state that the senior executive team, led by Yvette Waddell as CEO, has her full support and confidence.

Sandra Bailey’s association with the Foundation commenced 20 years ago through a strong and enduring partnership between the Brien Holden Vision Institute Foundation, Vision CRC and ICEE working alongside the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council of NSW in the areas of Aboriginal eye health, public health and education. Sandra has been a director on the Foundation’s board since 2014.

– END –

About Brien Holden Vision Institute

Brien Holden Vision Institute is a non-profit, translational research, education and public health organization. It develops new solutions for vision care, especially for myopia and other refractive errors to eliminate vision impairment and avoidable blindness, thereby reducing disability and poverty. Brien Holden Vision Institute is a social enterprise, investing the revenues from its work into creating scientific solutions and developing and delivering eye care and education programs.

About Sandra Bailey LLB CM GAICD

Sandra Bailey is Chairperson of the Brien Holden Vision Institute Foundation. She is a Yorta Yorta woman and former CEO of the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council of NSW, a position she held for 25 years. Ms Bailey has worked as a Solicitor for the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Services, and served as Head of the Aboriginal Issues Unit of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.

Ms Bailey has served on a number of Ministerial Advisory Committees and boards and been involved in several research projects in Aboriginal health including in the areas of child health and resilience. In recognition of her outstanding service in the Aboriginal health sector, Ms Bailey was awarded the Australian Government Centenary Medal for Contribution to Health in 2003. In 2014, Ms Bailey was acknowledged for her service to the Aboriginal health sector, receiving the Hall of Fame award at the 2014 NSW Health Aboriginal Health Awards.