Presentation to United Blind Leaders Webinar: 12 September 2024

Emma Bennison

Good evening everyone,

It’s a privilege to be here tonight as we continue the conversation on blind leadership. Thank you for taking the time to join us, we really appreciate it.

Many of you will know me as the former CEO of Blind Citizens Australia, the national representative organisation of Australians who are blind or vision impaired. For those who are not aware, during my tenure, the highlight for me was spearheading the implementation of an Executive Leadership Program to build the capacity of blind leaders.

My journey as a champion of disabled leadership goes back much further though. I’d like to start by sharing a personal story about that journey, one that still resonates deeply with me and reminds me why this campaign is so important.

In 2012, I was Chair of Arts Access Australia, an organisation that advocated for people with disabilities in the arts sector. At the time, our CEO was non-disabled, and very publicly, she made the courageous decision to step aside to make room for a disabled person to lead. It was an act of allyship, but it also exposed the deep-seated biases that exist within our society. Concerns were raised about whether we would even be able to find a disabled person capable of doing the job. Some people, in their ignorance, asked whether the current CEO would consider poking her eye out or chopping off a leg to qualify. Yes, that was actually said. Others questioned why it mattered at all if the CEO was disabled.

When I stepped down as Chair and was eventually appointed to the role of CEO, the pushback continued. To my face, people suggested that my appointment was nothing more than tokenism. There were even media reports questioning what I could possibly bring to the table, speculating that my leadership would need careful scrutiny, as if my disability somehow diminished my capability.

It was a challenging time for me as a leader. Like many of us, I struggled with imposter syndrome, questioning whether I deserved to be in that role. The comments, the doubts—they weigh on you, and I carried that for a long time. This experience taught me something important: the way people view disabled leadership isn’t a reflection of our ability—it’s a reflection of their limited understanding.

Ultimately, I changed the minds of my critics though, by leading a grassroots campaign which resulted in the introduction of dedicated funding for disabled artists and the introduction of a national leadership development program for disabled artists and arts workers. I share these achievements not to blow my own trumpet, but to make the point that non-disabled leaders had been advocating for these reforms for decades, but it took a disabled leader to convince the then Minister for the Arts to act.

What’s more, it didn’t have to be me. I know of exceptionally talented blind leaders across the world making an extraordinary difference every day. Some, but not all of them hold traditional leadership positions, but all of them have found the courage to step forward and believe in themselves and their capacity to lead.

This is why I’m so passionate about blind leadership. We cannot let the doubts of others hold us back. As a community, we must back our blind leaders and support them as they dismantle the long-held beliefs that have been perpetuated by our education systems, families, and broader communities—beliefs that suggest we are not a "safe pair of hands." This couldn’t be further from the truth.

It has even been suggested to us of late by some blindness service providers that by campaigning for change, we are sacrificing the sustainability and success of our service providers on the altar of blind leadership. This is nonsense. In fact, it’s the exact opposite. It is through blind leadership that organisations like Vision Australia can gain true credibility and trust—not just from donors and the wider community, (though that’s very important), but most importantly, from us as blind people. After all, we are the ones these organisations exist to serve. Our leadership enhances their sustainability, rather than threatening it.

So, where does United Blind Leaders go from here? Tonight marks just the beginning of what we assert is a global movement. We are committed to campaigning for blind leadership within all blindness organisations, and we are equally committed to developing the capacity, capability, and confidence of blind leaders.

On that note, I’d like to give a special shout out to blind people contributing at all levels of blindness organisations, be they service providers or representative organisations. We understand that for some of you, being involved in public campaigns could pose a threat to your livelihoods and we want you to know you have our understanding, appreciation and support. We welcome you to stay connected with us though, in whatever way feels most comfortable for you and we look forward to your contributions to our movement as we grow.

I’m proud to announce a few key initiatives as part of this movement:

1. Survey of Blindness Organisations – We will conduct a survey to determine how many blind people sit on the boards of these organisations and how many are direct reports to the CEO. This data will help us understand the current landscape and provide a foundation for change.

2. Call for 30-second Audio Submissions – We are inviting blind people and our allies to submit short audio messages on why it matters that blindness organisations are led by blind people. These voices will help shape our narrative and amplify our cause.

3. Podcast Series – We are developing a podcast series that will feature interviews with blind leaders from around the world. Through these conversations, we will highlight the experiences, challenges, and successes of blind leadership.

4. UBL Email Discussion List – To foster ongoing dialogue, we will create an email discussion list where blind leaders and their allies can share ideas, ask questions, and offer support.

These initiatives are only the beginning. Together, we will grow United Blind Leaders into a movement that not only campaigns for change but equips blind leaders with the tools they need to succeed.

The road ahead may not be easy, but I’m absolutely confident that through our collective action, we will create a future where blind leadership is not the exception, but the norm. The time is now to show the world that we are ready, that we are capable, and that we are the best people to lead the organisations that serve us.

Thank you for being here, for being part of this movement, and for standing with us in this global shift towards blind leadership.

Let’s continue to challenge the status quo, support our blind leaders, and back ourselves.