Our leaders guide the Ridley mission with a steady hand and a focus on impact. All donate their time and expertise to improve the lives of others.
Chairman
Nicholas is the son of Sir Harold Ridley, the pioneering ophthalmologist who invented the intra-ocular lens (IoL) and performed the first cataract operation. Nicholas is Chairman of the Foundation.
Trustee
Lauretta is married to Nicholas and is the Trustee responsible for Fundraising and Relationship Management.
Trustee
Sarah, a qualified management accountant, is the Foundation’s Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer.
Patron
A former politician and Solicitor General for UK government from 2010-2012, Lord Garnier is a practising barrister. One of his principle specialist areas is International & Human Rights Law.
Special Advisor
FRCS, FRCP, FRCOphth
Prof David Spalton trained at Moorfields Eye Hospital and was appointed as a Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at St Thomas’ Hospital, London. He was Honorary Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon to the Royal Hospital Chelsea, (the Chelsea Pensioners), King Edward VII’s Hospital for Officers, London and Civilian Ophthalmic Advisor to the Metropolitan Police.
Special Advisor
Donald J. Munro is currently Business Development Director for the David J Apple International Laboratory for Ocular Pathology, University of Heidelberg.
Honorary Chaplain
Robert is the Parish Priest of Catsfield and Crowhurst in Sussex and is the author of several books. He is the County Chaplain for Sussex of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem.
Special Advisor
Nicholas has spent over 30 years in stockbroking, managing Advisory and Discretionary portfolios, including a number of charities and formed part of the team with Richard Jackson. Now with approximately £80m of Assets Under Management at Redmayne Bentley. Nicholas is a Chartered Fellow of the Securities Institute.
Special Advisor
MD, FEBO
Gerd is Professor and Chairman at the Department of Ophthalmology of the University of Heidelberg, Germany, and is Head of the David J Apple Centre for Vision Research which includes the David J Apple Laboratory for Ocular Pathology in Heidelberg.
Special Advisor
MRICS
Charlie is a chartered surveyor and Head of the Logistics & Industrial Team at JLL in the Philippines. He has over 8 years experience in commercial real estate spanning the UK and APAC markets. His expertise lies in the disposals, acquisitions, financial analysis, asset selection and strategic asset management of properties within the logistics and industrial sector.
Special Advisor
Abraham is the Creative Director at ODL Agency. He has spent nearly 20 years working with clients in both Canada and the United Kingdom where he and his team work in production, communication, design and branding.
Special Advisor
George is the Partner and Creative Director at ODL Agency UK where he works with clients such as the city of London producing communication and marketing materials to support their activities and growth.
Chief Executive
LVO, MBE, FRGS
Alistair has worked in the government and charity sectors in Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East. He was previously a Trustee for the St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital.
Volunteer
Shirin is a Dental Practice Manager from Lincolnshire. She has a special interest in Nepal having volunteered on Rebuild projects in the country since the 2015 earthquake. Shirin runs the Foundation’s social media platforms.
Chairman and Managing Trustee
Legal Adviser
Teacher and Social Worker
Pharmacist
Medical Research Clinician
Address
Ridley Eye Foundation
Swinstead Hall,
Swinstead,
Lincolnshire, NG33 4PH
Registered charity number 1163293.
Patron
A former politician and Solicitor General for UK government from 2010-2012, Lord Garnier is a practising barrister. One of his principle specialist areas is International & Human Rights Law. He was called to the Bar in 1976, (Middle Temple); appointed a QC in 1995; and a Bencher in 2001. He was MP for Harborough between 1992-2017, and was Knighted in 2012; he was appointed a Privy Counsellor 2015; and granted a Peerage 2018. He is regularly consulted by NGOs and charitable organisations.
FRCS, FRCP, FRCOphth
Prof David Spalton trained at Moorfields Eye Hospital and was appointed as a Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at St Thomas’ Hospital, London. He was Honorary Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon to the Royal Hospital Chelsea (the Chelsea Pensioners), King Edward VII’s Hospital for Officers, London and Civilian Ophthalmic Advisor to the Metropolitan Police. He is a past President of the United Kingdom and Ireland Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons and past President of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons. He is known internationally for his research on intraocular lens design. He lectures widely around the world and has published over 180 scientific papers. His book ‘An Atlas of Clinical Ophthalmology’ won the prize for the Best Medical Textbook of the Year for both the 1st and 3rd editions, a unique feat in medical publishing and has been translated in 10 languages.
Special Advisor
MD, FEBO
Gerd is Professor and Chairman at the Department of Ophthalmology of the University of Heidelberg, Germany, and is Head of the David J Apple Center for Vision Research which includes the David J Apple Laboratory for Ocular Pathology in Heidelberg. His key professional interests include cataract and intraocular lens surgery, IOL-biomaterial laboratory research, ocular pathology, minimal invasive glaucoma surgery, glaucoma implants and stents and corneal surgery.