LONDON—The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) has announced the winners of the Young Systems Leader Award winners for 2025. Now in its second year, the awards honor early-career professionals who are driving transformative change in eye health. According to the announcement, the awards celebrate "systems thinkers"—individuals who take innovative approaches to tackling avoidable sight loss and reshaping the future of eyecare. IAPB’s board and executive committee selected nine winners from a diverse range of countries and professional backgrounds.

These young leaders bring fresh perspectives, creativity, and determination to accelerate progress toward the 2030 In Sight goals, the organization said. The 2025 Young Systems Leader Award Winners are:

● Keitumetse Thamane, program management Lead – Peek Vision (Botswana)

● Tigist Tulu Gelashe, program manager, outreach and quality – Cure Blindness Project (Ethiopia)

● Ameer Abou Adela, founder and president – Vision Care Association (Lebanon)

● Mehran Memon, assistant director IT – Sindh Institute of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences (Pakistan)

● Mattan Arazi, ophthalmology resident – Sheba Medical Centre (Israel)

● Sabrina Von Wegerer, research and development coordinator – Fundación Visión (Paraguay)

● Samit Sakib Gore, director of operations and innovation, cofounder, Vision Friend Eyewear and VCU Series – Vision Friend Sakib Gore (India)

● Bharti Janyani, senior hospital manager - Operations and Community Eye Care – Sewa Sadan Eye Hospital (India)

● Ting Fang Tan, ophthalmology resident – Singapore Eye Research Institute (Singapore)

According to the announcement, the winners of the Young Systems Leader Awards receive a range of unique opportunities to support their professional growth, including speaking engagements at 2030 IN SIGHT LIVE in Kathmandu, Nepal, where they will share their insights and ideas with global leaders. They will also participate in a leadership master class program delivered by experts from both the eye health sector and related fields and gain exclusive networking opportunities with key stakeholders in global health, policy and advocacy.

“I’m blown away by the achievements and creativity of this year’s award winners, and I can’t wait to meet them in person at 2030 IN SIGHT LIVE in Kathmandu. It’s so exciting to have young leaders stepping up and reshaping the future of eyecare,” said Caroline Casey, IAPB president.

The Young Systems Leaders will be attending 2030 IN SIGHT LIVE, taking place in Kathmandu, Nepal, from April 29 to May 1, 2025. There they will have the opportunity to share their award-winning ideas, lead discussions and collaborate with global leaders.

Award winner Von Wegerer said, “It is incredibly encouraging to know that our efforts are being recognized, and I am excited about the opportunity to meet and collaborate with inspiring individuals from all over the world.”

Award winner Samit Sakib Gore added, “To be recognized by IAPB alongside such extraordinary young leaders from around the world is not only an honor but also a deeply motivating milestone in my journey for our common cause.”

To learn more about how these individuals and their innovative approaches are reshaping eye health systems worldwide, click here.

Registration for 2030 IN SIGHT LIVE is now open.