Dr Andy Cassels-Brown has been announced as the Fred Hollows Foundation’s new global medical director.
As part of the role Cassels-Brown will oversee the organisation’s team of medical advisors, as well as be responsible for driving medical advice, research and innovation.
He was formally a consultant ophthalmologist for the UK’s National Health Service, overseeing cataract services, general, medical retina and glaucoma service redesign.
Cassels-Brown said he is excited to join an organisation as renowned as the Fred Hollows Foundation.
“As a practising ophthalmologist, Fred is someone I’ve always deeply respected. He knew eye health was integral to a person’s overall health and economic welfare, and he challenged the establishment to argue that high quality eye health was available to everyone no matter where they lived.
“I can think of nothing better than working with a talented international team to scale up our efforts and test new approaches to affordable eye care,” Cassels-Brown said.
“For many years, The Foundation has led the way internationally in addressing blindness and vision loss. Going forward, strengthening our approach to innovation and sustainability are two key areas that I see us focusing on to increase our impact.
“With the number of blind and vision impaired people set to triple over the next 30 years, our work is certainly cut out for us.”
Cassels-Brown replaces Dr Richard Le Mesurier, who is stepping down next year. Le Mesurier has a history with the organisation dating back to 1995 when he set up the Foundation’s cataract surgical training program in Africa. The two will work together throughout the transition period.
