After seven years on the Vision Australia Board, Sara Watts was honoured with a Vision Australia Award at the organisation's 2020 Annual General Meeting.
First handed out in 2006, the awards are given in recognition of people and organisations which give up their time and resources to support the work of Vision Australia and the wider blind and low vision community.
Sara was appointed to the Vision Australia Board in 2013 and has worked tirelessly to support the organisation’s corporate governance, including as Chair of the Audit Finance and Risk committee and a director of the Vision Australia Foundation.
Having worked as chief financial officer at IBM Australia, chief operations officer with the University of Sydney and chief executive officer of City West Housing, Sara’s experience and knowledge has been a true asset to the organisation.
Caption: Sara Watts recieved a 2020 Vision Australia Award
“All my roles really led me to develop an interest in corporate governance and I decided to continue using that experience by serving on boards of a number of organisations,” Sara said.
“I didn’t know much about Vision Australia when I was invited to serve as I hadn’t had any lived experience of blindness or low vision, but I did some research and the more I learnt the more I thought I could contribute with my skills and knowledge.”
Vision Australia has benefited greatly from Sara’s years of excellence in corporate governance and her extensive experience serving as a board member and non-executive director.
“What I like about being associated with Vision Australia is that we are providing services to suit people in all stages of life and we care deeply about our clients and staff.”
Vision Australia Chair Andrew Moffat paid tribute to Sara, alongside fellow former Director Heith Mackay-Cruise, who also received a Vision Australia Award at the AGM.
"Heith and Sara joined Vision Australia at the same time, in fact on the same day," Andrew said.
"They have been energetic, both bringing a high level of curiosity and passion, and of course a very deep level of experience from outside the blindness world.
“In Sara’s case a deep expertise in finance and technology from her time at IBM.
"We now have undoubtedly a better, more robust form of governance thanks to Sara and Heith bringing their intellect and governance insights [to Vision Australia].”
Having thoroughly enjoyed her time with Vision Australia, Sara said she felt slightly embarrassed to receive an award for her work.
“It’s such a fabulous thing to be recognised for the work I’ve done over the last seven years with Vision Australia,” she said.