A Proud Transition in Leadership Across the Western Pacific Region

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Brandon Ah Tong as the new Regional Chair for the Western Pacific at the IAPB. Brandon has spent the past twenty years shaping policy and advocacy for eye health both regionally and globally. He brings deep expertise and a strong vision for advancing equitable, people-centred care across the Western Pacific.

Brandon brings a remarkable blend of experience, insight, and advocacy expertise to his new role. From his early years with Vision Australia championing the human rights of people who are blind or have low vision, to his sector leadership with the national peak body Vision 2020 Australia, advancing policy in blindness independence, prevention and early intervention, Indigenous health, and development across the Asia-Pacific, to his more than nine years at The Fred Hollows Foundation, where he leads efforts to advance global eye-health norms and policy in multilateral forums such as WHO and the UN General Assembly, Brandon’s leadership has been both principled and impactful. He also serves as a Board Director of Vision 2020 Australia and is a member of Blind Citizens Australia.

In his new capacity as Regional Chair, Brandon will connect IAPB members across countries in the Western Pacific, working to drive integrated, people-centred eye care and to elevate eye health as a social, economic and development issue. Living with blindness from a degenerative retinal disease, he also brings a lived-experience perspective to the role of Regional Chair for the first time that bridges the global with the local and between the imperative to address avoidable blindness with the dignity of living with vision-related disability.

Brandon will play a central role in steering regional strategies toward the objectives of the 2030 In Sight vision, including dealing with key priorities like cataract, myopia, diabetic retinopathy, rehabilitation, and workforce development. His leadership will also be pivotal in building momentum toward the Global Summit for Eye Health.

With Brandon’s appointment comes new energy and continuity. His leadership is poised to enhance regional coordination, amplify policy advocacy, and promote inclusive eye care throughout the Western Pacific.

We congratulate Brandon Ah Tong as he steps into this new role. Together, we will advance toward a future where no one is needlessly vision impaired, and everyone everywhere has access to the eye health they have a right to expect and deserve.
Please join us in celebrating this leadership transition and in supporting our continued commitment to eye health across the Western Pacific and beyond.

A Heartfelt Thank You to Amanda Davis

We extend our deepest gratitude to Amanda Davis, who has served as Regional Chair for the Western Pacific with distinction, devoting eight years to fostering collaboration, strengthening regional engagement, and shaping the global eye health agenda. Her contribution, energy and passion have been instrumental in advancing the IAPB’s mission within the complex and diverse Western Pacific landscape.

While stepping into this new chapter, we are thrilled that Amanda will remain a vital leader within the IAPB, continuing her invaluable service as Co Chair of the Refractive Error Work Group and as Chair of the Political and Institutional Engagement Group for the Global Summit for Eye Health. Her ongoing leadership ensures that her passion and expertise continue shaping the IAPB’s strategic direction on refractive error and institutional engagement beyond her regional chair tenure.