15 January 2026
Orbis International has announced Kathleen Sherwin as its new president and chief executive officer.
Sherwin, who has more than 25 years of experience working in health equity, gender equality and sustainable development across the non-profit and humanitarian sectors, was previously chief strategy and engagement officer at Plan International.
She has also held senior roles at the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and at New York-based non-profit, Women Deliver, where she was interim president and CEO.
Her role at Orbis International will accelerate the charity’s efforts “to prevent blindness and restore sight, while elevating eye health as a global health priority,” Orbis International said.
Sherwin began her role this month (January 2026) and is based at Orbis International’s headquarters in New York.
Speaking about her appointment, Sherwin said: “Eye health must be understood not as a standalone issue, but as a fundamental driver of equity, education, economic stability, and health system readiness.”
She added: “Orbis has a critical role to play in ensuring eye care is fully integrated into broader health and development priorities.”
John Slattery, chair of the board of directors at Orbis International, said that the charity is “thrilled” to welcome Sherwin as its new president and chief executive officer.
“Kathleen’s passion for meaningful change and her unwavering commitment to equity and access strongly resonate with Orbis’s mission to eradicate curable blindness globally,” Slattery said.
Orbis International is looking forward to the impact that Sherwin will help the charity to achieve for communities around the world, he added.
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