After a little more than twelve months in the role, Vision 2020 Australia CEO Ms Patricia Sparrow is departing at the end of the year to return to the aged care sector.
Sparrow has accepted a new role as CEO of Council on the Ageing (COTA), Australia’s national peak body for older Australians. Prior to joining Vision 2020, she was CEO of Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA) for five years.
Sparrow commenced as Vision 2020 Australia CEO in September 2021, leading the development of a new ambitious strategic plan, including a refreshed policy and advocacy strategy.
Chair of the Vision 2020 Australia board, retired politician Mr Christopher Pyne, thanked Sparrow for her leadership.
“Patricia has brought an ambitious approach and renewed energy to Vision 2020 Australia.
“We are extremely grateful for her passion and hard work on behalf of our members and for Australians who deserve better from our eye health system, who are blind or have low vision,” he said.
Vision 2020 Australia policy and advocacy manager, Ms Carly Iles, has been appointed acting CEO.
Iles has been intimately involved in the development of the new strategy and she is well-placed to realise the organisation’s ambitious aims over the next year.
Pyne said the board is excited for the year ahead and the team’s ability under Iles to drive the implementation of the new strategic plan. This includes getting Government action on preventing avoidable blindness and ensuring people who are blind or have vision loss can participate fully in society.
He said Sparrow and Iles will work closely together over the coming months to ensure an effective leadership transition.
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