09 March 2015
The chairman of eye care charity Orbis UK has received an accolade for his ‘dedication and contribution to the global fight against preventable blindness’ at the Charity Staff and Volunteer Awards.
Ophthalmologist Rob Walters was named Trustee of the Year at the annual awards ceremony last Thursday (7 March) which celebrates the contributions of people working and volunteering in the charity sector.
Over the last 22 years, Mr Walters has dedicated a vast amount of his time to Orbis UK, initially as a volunteer, a trustee and now as chairman. He has additionally donated thousands of hours to training ophthalmologists in developing countries, lobbying organsiations and speaking at conferences around the world.
Having become involved in Orbis UK in 1994 through a trip to Sudan as a volunteer on board the charity’s Flying Eye Hospital, Mr Walters joined the Orbis board in 2003, before being appointed chair in 2008.
Speaking about the accolade, Mr Walters said: “I am delighted to receive this wonderful award on behalf of the incredible charitable work which Orbis does in the developing world, enabling blind people to see and giving children the precious gift of sight so that they can fulfill their potential.”
CEO of Orbis UK, Rebecca Cronin, added: “As chairman, Rob has overseen a huge expansion in the number of people treated by the charity. In 2008 Orbis delivered 786,606 treatments to children through its global programmes. In 2013 this increased to 2,793,000. Rob’s dedication is evident and we are so pleased that his hard work has been recognised.”
Ophthalmologist Rob Walters was named Trustee of the Year at the annual awards ceremony last Thursday (7 March) which celebrates the contributions of people working and volunteering in the charity sector.
Over the last 22 years, Mr Walters has dedicated a vast amount of his time to Orbis UK, initially as a volunteer, a trustee and now as chairman. He has additionally donated thousands of hours to training ophthalmologists in developing countries, lobbying organsiations and speaking at conferences around the world.
Having become involved in Orbis UK in 1994 through a trip to Sudan as a volunteer on board the charity’s Flying Eye Hospital, Mr Walters joined the Orbis board in 2003, before being appointed chair in 2008.
Speaking about the accolade, Mr Walters said: “I am delighted to receive this wonderful award on behalf of the incredible charitable work which Orbis does in the developing world, enabling blind people to see and giving children the precious gift of sight so that they can fulfill their potential.”
CEO of Orbis UK, Rebecca Cronin, added: “As chairman, Rob has overseen a huge expansion in the number of people treated by the charity. In 2008 Orbis delivered 786,606 treatments to children through its global programmes. In 2013 this increased to 2,793,000. Rob’s dedication is evident and we are so pleased that his hard work has been recognised.”
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