A Win for Blind Leadership
Yesterday marked an important win for United Blind Leaders, (UBL), as Vision Australia announced the appointment of a CEO with low vision. The announcement is the result of a successful campaign led by UBL which convinced Vision Australia to change course and conduct an external CEO recruitment process in order to appoint a blind leader to the role.
Vision Australia, formally established in 2004 through the merger of several organisations, has appointed David Williamson as Chief Executive Officer. We also acknowledge that the organisations that came together in 2004 carry more than 150 years of service to our community.
We are delighted to learn that Mr Williamson identifies as having low vision. We look forward to seeing how lived experience enhances his leadership.
UBL welcomes the opportunity to partner with Mr Williamson and Vision Australia to ensure this appointment translates into tangible progress for blind leadership across the organisation and the sector. We are also eager to learn more about Mr Williamson’s connection to and engagement with our community; we look forward to facilitating connections for him with a diverse group of blind leaders so he is well-placed to actively champion and elevate blind leadership within Vision Australia.
One appointment, however significant, does not by itself deliver systemic change. UBL will continue working for a future where blind and vision-impaired people lead at all levels: on boards, in executive roles, and throughout the pipeline. To that end, we invite Vision Australia to work with us on practical next steps, including:
Establishing regular roundtables between the CEO and blind leaders from across Australia;
Setting measurable targets and timelines to increase blind leadership at all levels within Vision Australia;
Creating a CEO-sponsored co-design mechanism led by blind people to inform strategy, culture, and service design; and
Publishing transparent progress updates so the community can see change taking root.
UBL thanks the thousands of supporters and allies who continue to back our work, in particular, the 1408 signatories to our petition, who have made blind leadership of Vision Australia a reality. We look forward to meeting with Mr Williamson at the earliest opportunity and to building a constructive partnership that centres blind leadership, so that today’s milestone becomes the foundation for lasting, systemic change.
Media Contact
Graeme Innes
Ph: 0412 369 963
Email: graeme@graemeinnes.com
About United Blind Leaders
United Blind Leaders is shaping the future of blind leadership. Co-founded in 2024 in response to vision Australia’s decision to appoint its new CEO through an internal recruitment process, UBL is an international movement working to increase blind leadership, particularly in organisations that exist to serve blind people.
For further information, visit www.unitedblindleaders.org and follow UBL on social media.