Our Leaders

Ross is a non-profit and commercial leader who has over 30 years of leadership and management experience in complex domestic and international environments, including in-country development.

Ross joined The Fred Hollows Foundation as new CEO in March 2025. He is motivated by purpose, social justice and positive human impact, and committed to The Foundation’s vision of a world where no person is needlessly blind or vision impaired.

Before The Foundation, Ross was Chief Executive Officer, Superannuation at Australian Ethical Investment, where he managed $13 billion in funds and over 120,000 members, as well as ethical and impact investing. Previously, Ross was the Chief Executive Officer of Christian Super, a $2 billion superannuation fund with over 30,000 members across Australia.

He previously worked at World Vision Australia and World Vision International for over 10 years in several roles, including Chief Operating Officer and Senior Director of Operations for the Middle East and Eastern Europe region. His key achievements include establishing and growing new country programs in Jordan, Turkey and Iraq, as well as growing the organisation’s grants portfolio to approximately $150 million.

During his career Ross has held a number of positions in the corporate and not-for-profit sector, primarily in investment banking, superannuation, mining and community development. He was Head of Corporate Risk for Macquarie Bank for several years, and his early professional experience was gained living and working in Indigenous communities in the Western Desert, Arnhem Land and the Pilbara regions of Australia.

For six years he served as a Director and Founding Chair of AgroInvest, a microfinance bank serving rural families in Serbia and Montenegro and he currently sits on various other boards for organisations focused on social enterprise and technology. He is the current board chair of the Responsible Investment Association of Australasia (RIAA).

Ross’ formal qualifications include a Bachelor of Science (Geology/Geophysics), GradDipEd, and MBA (Deakin University). He is also a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Joanna is an experienced Human Resources professional with a wealth of expertise across finance and health sectors having started her career in not-for-profit organisations including Royal Flying Doctors and Mater Health Services. She also brings invaluable commercial experience in law and financial services and now welcomes the chance to return to a mission-based organisation with The Foundation.

Joanna has a well-rounded skillset in building inspiring teams and creating world class talent development programs. She also has a strong operational base in employment law, governance and compliance in multiple global jurisdictions, and a successful track record of influencing and coaching boards and executive teams. She has a passion for working with leaders to drive and improve the performance of their business through their people. 

Joanna has a Bachelor of Business degree majoring in Human Resources Management, is a Certified Member of the Australian Human Resources Institute and is a Certified Practitioner Coach, Europe Mentoring & Coaching Council. 

Jon has previously held senior positions in international organisations around the world. Some of these include Global Program Director at CBM International, Program Director at Marie Stopes International South Sudan, Manager, Public Health & Advocacy Projects at the FDI World Dental Federation and Regional Director for Mexico, Central America & the Caribbean at Amigos de las Américas.

Jon also founded an NGO called Digital Roots, an organisation that empowers communities to document their history by using digital technologies to create virtual museums.

Jon holds a M.Sc. Health, Community & Development from The London School of Economics and a B.A. in Political Science and Economics.

Alison Hill joined The Fred Hollows Foundation in 2015 after a career as a newspaper journalist and editor, a media adviser and chief of staff to State and Federal Government Ministers and working as a communications and government relations specialist.

She oversees the global team which is responsible for telling Fred Hollows’ inspiring and life-changing stories and maintaining the strength of The Foundation’s brand.

Alison is passionate about The Foundation’s mission to end avoidable blindness and championing equity for women to access eye health care and to be leaders in the sector. She has taken a leading role in helping other NGOs understand the value of communications through various sector-wide working groups.

Alison is often called on as a guest lecturer at universities in Sydney and Brisbane to speak about crisis communications, how to ensure good policy is not swamped by poor communication and how to use media and social media to campaign for people in the legal system.

Amanda is a visionary leader with over 20 years of impactful experience in international development, dedicated to advancing children’s welfare, community resilience, and equitable eye health access across China and the Asia-Pacific region. Currently serving as Chief Representative of The Fred Hollows Foundation’s China program, she spearheads innovative initiatives that bridge policy, research, and grassroots action, while strategically guiding cross-country collaborations in Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and Indonesia.

Renowned for her expertise in health systems strengthening, Amanda has cultivated robust partnerships with government bodies, healthcare institutions, academia, and rural communities, driving sustainable solutions that address systemic challenges and elevate public health outcomes. Her hands-on approach and deep regional insight have positioned her as a trusted advocate for marginalized populations, championing inclusive policies and capacity-building programs that empower local stakeholders.

Amanda holds a master degree in Public Health for Eye Care from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She merges academic rigor with decades of frontline experience to catalyze transformative change. Her work exemplifies a commitment to bridge gaps between global health standards and community needs, fostering resilience and equity in every initiative she leads.

Passionate about sustainable development, Amanda continues to shape the future of health and social justice through collaborative leadership, strategic innovation, and an unwavering dedication to leaving no one behind.

As a senior fundraising professional, Nicola Stewart has more than 20 years’ experience in major Australian charities including The Fred Hollows Foundation, The Heart Foundation and Mission Australia.

In her current role of Chief of Public Affairs at The Fred Hollows Foundation, Nicola heads up fundraising in Australia and internationally.

Supported by a talented fundraising team, Nicola has lifted annual fundraising income from $8 million to over $70 million in 14 years, with a diverse fundraising portfolio including face-to-face, direct marketing, telemarketing, major donor and corporate programs, digital fundraising and community campaigns.

Kelvin Storey joined the Foundation in 2014 following a very successful 10 years’ experience in leading the design and delivery of comprehensive development and health programmes across Africa and beyond. Kelvin has served in several local and international capacities and roles including CEO, Research & Policy Director, Economist, Technical Advisor and Consultant with local, regional, and global organisations. 

Kelvin is currently The Foundation’s Director of Development UK and Europe and is responsible for providing front line leadership and strategic support to the global network of The Foundation's country programs covering over 25. He brings expertise in strengthening program implementation modalities for greater efficiency and impact; capacity building and developing project winning teams and culture; and strengthening country and global partnerships to tackle the current burden of avoidable blindness and building systems for sustainable comprehensive eye health services for the future. 

Mesfin Tadesse is a seasoned senior leader with over 28 years of experience driving strategic programs and organizational transformation across development, humanitarian, and corporate sectors. He has proven expertise in multi-country leadership, multi-million-dollar portfolio management, program design, operations, human resource and leadership development, and capacity building. His sectoral experience spans health, WASH, agriculture, renewable energy, youth employment, education, child protection, and safeguarding. Skilled in stakeholder engagement, partnership management, risk mitigation, and compliance, Mesfin collaborates with governments, donors, local partners, and international organizations to deliver measurable impact.

He joined The Fred Hollows Foundation (FHF) as Country Director for Ethiopia and Eritrea in May 2021 and later serving as Cluster Director. Mesfin combines a strong technical foundation in diverse sectors, business management, IT, and information systems with deep humanitarian expertise, including emergency program setup, risk management, and operational efficiency. He has held senior leadership roles at The Fred Hollows Foundation, SNV Netherlands Development Organization, Oxfam GB, and Save the Children UK & US, primarily across Africa, delivering high-impact results while navigating complex multi-stakeholder contexts. His work consistently focuses on building resilient systems, strengthening human and organizational capacity, and creating sustainable changes that improve lives and communities.

Recognized for fostering high-performance cultures, driving sustainable solutions, and enhancing organizational effectiveness, Mesfin has led initiatives across public institutions, corporate enterprises, and development and humanitarian programs — including organizational transformation and safeguarding frameworks.

Mesfin is committed to driving strategic, inclusive, and sustainable change, enhancing organizational effectiveness, and improving outcomes for communities. He thrives in environments that demand strategic thinking, operational excellence, and results-driven leadership, with a focus on enabling communities, organizations, and sectors to achieve sustainable, long-term progress.