“Influencing key influencers across the Commonwealth” webinar that organised by the Commonwealth Future will be held on March 11 at 5:00pm GMT 2021.
Each year, March Commonwealth Future celebrates inspiring women role models during International Women’s Day on 8 March 2021. This year’s event features three women guest speakers who are trail blazeer in instigating positive changes for a better future.
Throughout the pandemic, Commonwealth Future – a not-for-profit non-political organisation striving for an optimistic future for the Commonwealth – has remained focused on its commitment to positively impact communities’ well-being and individual’s lives by making quality eye care accessible to all.
Three influential women
Three influential women who are charging the lead through effective advocacy programmes are Professor Hannah Faal who is an ophthalmologist and former President of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, Kristan Gross is the Global Executive Director of the Vision Impact Institute, Dr Caroline Harper CBE, Chief Executive of Sightsavers International and previously an executive in the private sector.
During the webinar, they will share their strategies to engage, recruit and implement effective advocacy programmes that deliver against set objectives. The Commonwealth Future members, alongside invited guests, hope to learn new customer engagement routes during the session.
Advocacy as a powerful tool
Advocacy is a powerful tool adopted by many corporates, charities and brands to instil trust with target groups. We know from many research deep dives that people are more likely to trust a recommendation from someone they trust over advertising. Advocates are trusted and their opinion is actively sought because they resonate with their audience; their advice is absorbed without cynicism. That is why advocacy outreach and recruitment programmes are an incredibly powerful tool when it comes to telling an important story and distributing a message to people already predisposed to listen to their counsel.
On-hand to chair the session is Professor Kovin Naidoo, a National Research Foundation researcher, educator and internationally celebrated public health leader who has been revolutionising access and delivery to eye care in Africa and for the disadvantaged throughout the world.
Recognising the need to develop research capacity in Africa, Professor Naidoo founded the African Vision Research Institute (AVRI). Among his notable contributions in research have been the Global Burden of Blindness articles, which provide the most recent additions to the global burden of uncorrected refractive error.
Among Professor Naidoo’s many esteemed affiliations are: Member of the World Council of Optometry Governing Board; WHO Refractive Error Working Group; Founder and Chair of African Vision and Chair of the Red Cross Air Mercy Services board of Trustees.
Dr Zimar Sivardeen is the Chairman of Commonwealth Future and is also on the front line of community eye health needs in the UK in his capacity as a store director of Specsavers in New Malden, Surrey and an academic at the University of Portsmouth. He comments: “Every time we host a webinar, we are always delighted to bring together a panel of experts who always open our minds to new approaches, new learning, new aspirations.”
“I am sure the advocacy engagement and policy change discussion will be very informative to our attendees as they seek new ways to engage people who are very distrusting of branded, commercial messages. I know I will learn a lot from them as they inspire new ideas to promote the Commonwealth Future with an advocacy programme.”
“Equally exciting is the attendance of Professor Naidoo and the three outstanding women leaders who have enjoyed an illustrious and varied career. Their insight, research and academic knowledge of eye care health is invaluable to the Commonwealth Future as we strive towards helping others achieve a better life through access to quality vision care.”
Join Professor Hannah Faal, Dr Caroline Harper CBE, Kristan Gross and Professor Kovin Naidoo the theme of ‘Influencing Key Influencers Across the Commonwealth’ on the 11th March 2021 at 5:00 GMT.
Please register free on the following link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/influencing-key-influencers-across-the-commonwealth-commonwealth-future-tickets-142995825363
Commonwealth Future website: www.cwfuture.org
