The Fred Hollows Foundation honoured with prestigious global award

The Fred Hollows Foundation has been jointly awarded the 2025 António Champalimaud Vision Award, one of the world’s most significant prizes in the field of eye health.

The €1 million award, presented today in Lisbon, Portugal, celebrates the extraordinary and sustained contributions of three organisations to the global effort to eliminate avoidable blindness and visual impairment, particularly in underserved regions.

The Foundation shares the prize with Lions Clubs International Foundation and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB).

The Fred Hollows Foundation CEO Ross Piper said the award was a powerful affirmation of The Foundation’s mission and impact.

“This recognition is not only a profound privilege it’s also a powerful endorsement of The Fred Hollows Foundation’s work for more than three decades to eliminate avoidable blindness and restore sight to millions of people around the world,” Mr Piper said.

“We accept the award in the spirit of Fred Hollows, a pioneer who believed that every person, no matter where they live or what their background, had the right to sight.

“The award comes at a critical moment. Vision loss is now the fastest-growing cause of disability worldwide, affecting 1.1 billion people, 90% of whom live in low- and middle-income countries. And yet, in nine out of 10 cases, it is preventable or treatable.

“We are proud to be recognised not just for our impact, but for our approach. The Fred Hollows Foundation works alongside governments and communities in more than 25 countries to build lasting change.

“This award will help us to continue to scale up our efforts to reach people in the most vulnerable communities in Australia and globally.”

Chair of the The Fred Hollows Foundation UK Board of Trustees, Nicola Watkinson, accepting the 2025 António Champalimaud Vision Award.

The Foundation’s research shows that every dollar spent on cataract surgery returns over $20 in economic benefit, while refractive error treatments return up to $10 – highlighting the extraordinary value of investing in eye health.

The Champalimaud Vision Award jury praised The Foundation’s deep and respectful partnerships, especially with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and its enduring engagement across Africa, Asia, the Pacific, and the Middle East.

Dr Audrey Aumua, CEO of The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ said: “By working together with our partners, The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ is supporting the transformation of eye health in the Pacific. This award will not only improve access to eye care for local communities but will play a crucial role in building the skills and capacity of the local eye health workforce in the Pacific.”