United Blind Leaders Webinar Recap: A Bold Step Toward Inclusive Leadership

On Thursday, 12 September, more than 80 blind people and our allies registered to attend the United Blind Leaders webinar, underscoring the growing movement for blind leadership within Vision Australia and beyond. With the petition now boasting over 1,300 signatures, it's clear that our message is resonating with Blind people globally: it’s time for a blind or vision-impaired CEO to take the helm of vision Australia and other blindness organisations across the world as they refresh CEO or senior leadership roles.

We were expertly guided through the proceedings by Vaughn Bennison, who opened by acknowledging traditional elders and blind leaders, both present and past. Vaughn reminded us that leadership isn’t defined by any position we hold, but by how we see ourselves and the contributions we make. “Leadership is independence and agency. It is expressing the right to make decisions that affect our own lives and how we live in our community.” This theme of self-empowerment set the tone for an inspiring evening.

Graeme Innes delivered a passionate call to action, urging people to join Vision Australia. "Blind people and our sighted allies are entitled to have our say" at the upcoming AGM, he declared, emphasising the importance of being active participants in the organisation’s future. Emma Bennison followed by expanding on our broader mission, stressing the importance of putting blind leaders at the forefront of decision-making, especially when those decisions are about Blind people.

Reflecting on her own leadership journey, she shared a pivotal story from when she was Chair of Arts Access Australia. She spoke of how a non-disabled CEO made the bold decision to step aside for a disabled leader, and how she herself, as a Blind person, faced pushback when she eventually became the CEO. “People questioned if my appointment was just tokenism,” she said. “But I changed the minds of my critics through leading a grassroots campaign that resulted in dedicated funding for disabled artists and more. It wasn’t about my disability—it was about my capacity to lead.” Emma’s story is a powerful reminder that it often takes a disabled leader to enact real change for disabled people.

Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), shared international insights, reminding us of the power of standing firm on our values. "We should not just be at the table, we should be setting the agenda," he said, inspiring everyone to take bold steps for change. Mark also offered a crucial reminder: "Nobody can take our dignity away from us."

Renowned international podcaster and advocate, Jonathan Mosen, who officially launched the United Blind Leaders website during the event, left us with powerful words: "We carry a unique responsibility, not just working for ourselves, but for those who come after us." He declared to anyone who sought to thwart our movement that we will not be deterred.

The evening concluded with a lively Q&A session, led by John Simpson and Naomi Barber, where attendees shared their thoughts and posed insightful questions. The exchange of ideas highlighted the strength and unity of our community.

For those unable to attend, the full recording is now available below. We encourage you to catch up on the discussion and join the conversation using the #BlindLeadership hashtag, where participants have shared key moments and personal reflections.

This movement continues to grow, and we need your voice. Visit unitedblindleaders.org for updates, and help us spread the word. Together, we’re making history, and this is just the beginning.