Our Board of Trustees provides strategic oversight and ensures robust governance at Sight Cymru. They bring a strong mix of professional expertise, strategic insight, and unwavering commitment to the charity’s vision of a more inclusive society for people with sight loss. Their leadership helps us maintain transparency, secure long-term sustainability, and deliver measurable impact in the communities we serve.

I worked in Education throughout my career and taught in inner city schools in Cardiff. Teaching Technology and Catering to pupils aged 11 years to mature students. Many of my past students have careers as chefs.

When I retired, my family and various hobbies of gardening, WI, Soroptomist, travelling and crafts kept me busy, but I decided to volunteer for Sight Cymru as well. I have a weekly ring around and help with two visually impaired groups in Risca and Newport. I’ve filled shopping bags in supermarkets, enveloped newsletters and worked on summer fayre stalls, not to mention being a trustee, so you might guess I support the charity 100%, as I know how they help those who need it.

I have worked in the Visual Impairment sector throughout my career; my last role being the Senior Manager leading the Guide Dogs service in Wales. My work has centered on the re-enablement of visually impaired people, as a practitioner, manager and then senior leader. My time was focused on supporting customers and leading teams through cultural and operational change.

I am passionate about supporting all early intervention work (Rehabilitation / Habilitation) and have always been impressed with Sight Cymru’s work helping people through early diagnosis towards better independence. I have represented the Visual Impairment sector on the Welsh Government’s National Eye Care Steering group for a number of years; additionally, supporting their Low Vision and Children’s Services groups where I have championed the needs of visually impaired adults and children. I presently help with Sight Cymru’s visually impaired club in Abergavenny which is great fun.

I am an optometrist in the School of Optometry & Vision Sciences, Cardiff University. My research interests have focused on eye diseases, primarily the early detection of diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and age-related maculopathy. I have also been involved in the evaluation of community eye care services provided for patients with wet age related maculopathy and glaucoma.

Mr Raghu Ram   MD, Dip NBE, FRCS, FRCOphth, PG Cert Med Education, Cardiff University

Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, Cwm Taff Morgannwg University Health Board

My specialist interests are small incision cataract surgery, diabetic eye diseases, and medical retinal conditions, including macular degeneration and lachrymal disorders and laser treatment for watering eyes. I have been actively involved in the Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Service, which has been successfully running on a Wales basis since 2003. I have been instrumental in delivering and developing the medical retina service within the trust. I have successfully set up fast-track diabetic eye clinics, and in the process of developing a new macular service for macular degeneration. A recent peer assessment in “Clinical 360 degree” appraisal shows I have sc DRSS Advisory Committee: I am an active member of the DRSS advisory committee and the All Wales consultants committee. This group advises the Welsh Assembly government on policy issues of DRSS in Wales. I have been involved in designing tools for quality assurance and benchmarking for the service. An all-Wales audit of the service is in process. This service has been commended as a model framework for screening by the National Audit Commission report. (Testing times review of diabetes service in England and Wales 2002)

I run a specialist diabetes and uveitis clinic once a week. I am a Fellow of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists and a member of the British Medical Association.

Research interests: Diabetes and diabetic retinopathy

Personal profile: I have a keen interest in cricket, golf, swimming and travelling.  I have also been involved in charity work in India.

My name is Susan Hughes, and I was born in Newport, South Wales, in 1954.  I was educated in Cwmbran Croesyceiliog and afterwards worked in the horological and jewellery trade till 1981.

The diagnosis of my sight loss resulted in retraining to become a rehabilitation officer at North Regional Association for the Blind in 1982.

My subsequent career continued in Social Services in Devon, and this was followed by working for the Guide Dogs in their Resource Centre in Exeter.  For a short time, I volunteered at a rehabilitation program in a school in Kenya.

I then studied religion and history at the University of Wales, graduating in 2008.  Since then, I have retired and now enjoy learning to play chess and also participating in the weekly 5K Park Run locally.

I have been a trustee of Sight Cymru for several years.

Retired from the Public sector in 2013. Qualified as an accountant in 1978 and held various roles within Finance, IT, Property services and communications, including media. Experience of leading a multi-disciplinary department within a local authority. Represented Welsh Heads of ICT for many years, liaising with Welsh Government at the Director level. Advisor to WLGA for many years on ICT and related matters, particularly in the social services and education areas. Awarded MBE for service to the public sector in Wales.

My name is Himalee and I have over 20 years’ experience in global branding, marketing, design and communications. I pride myself on being an empathetic and culturally astute mult-skilled marketing professional and have lived and worked in a number of regions outside of the UK, including Asia and the Middle East. I’ve been fortunate enough to work on some of the world’s best-known brands across the years, but equally, I have loved helping start-up brands and SMEs to find their brand voice and position in the market. Brand storytelling and digital transformation are two elements I particularly enjoy.

I currently work at Oxford University Press (OUP), where I lead the global marketing team for academic science research journals and books. I have experience of working in the charity sector myself, and OUP is a mission-led nonprofit organisation. I have built a number of European and global marketing teams and currently manage a team of 10 multi-location marketers.

On a personal note, my grandmother lost her sight due to macular degeneration, my mum is starting to lose hers and is having treatment, so I know this may be part of my future too.

I live in Cardiff with my husband and four children aged between 7 and 14. I speak Sinhalese, and my aim is to

relearn Welsh, which I could speak as a child. If there’s a way I could describe the way I work, it would be with

a huge amount of empathy and a sense of humour. I look forward to meeting you soon!

I have spent thirty years working in Leisure and retired in 2003. I am a school governor, sports trustee and swimming coach.

Matt Thomas is a Global HR Director for a Fortune 500 Company and one of the world’s best brands. With over 20 years’ experience in Human Resources, he is a trained mediator with specialist knowledge of global employment laws, organisational culture, engagement and management. Achievements include leading large-scale change programs, employee engagement projects, which include the development of a disability network for one of the Big 4 accounting firms, supporting materials for the creation and running of employee disability networks, and work for the Minister of Disabled People at the Department for Work and Pensions.