Executive Committee
The Executive Committee comprises of a Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer. These are all voluntary positions. They are elected annually at the Annual General Meeting of Retina South Africa and are eligible for re-election. The EXCO is responsible for the daily administration of the Foundation.
Manny Moodley (National Chairman)
Manny Moodley is a practicing attorney who has Stargardts Dystrophy, a juvenile form of Macular Degeneration.
He first joined Retina South Africa as a member in 1999 when he was 11 years old.
He joined the Retina SA Eastern Cape Branch committee at age 15 in the role of Youth Portfolio Leader, since then he has served at both the provincial and national level of Retina SA, as Chairperson of the Western Cape and Vice Chairperson of the National Office.
Manny serves on many boards and committees of various organisation’s in the disability sector, and his interests and passions are in advocacy, inclusion and equality for persons with disabilities, he also has a special interest in scientific research to find treatments for Inherited Retinal Disorders.
Mariza Jurgens (Vice Chair)
Mariza Jurgens, BA (Hons) International Politics from Nelson Mandela University in 1991, is a prominent figure in the disability community of South Africa. She has held various leadership roles, including being the past chairperson of Retina South Africa Northern Gauteng and a former National Vice-Chairperson of Retina South Africa. Her contributions extend to advocacy and policy work, such as serving as Chairperson of the Working Group on Affordable and Accessible ICT for Persons with Disabilities and convening the Subcommittee on Taxation Matters for Persons with Disabilities.
Currently, Mrs. Jurgens is actively involved in several committees and panels related to disability rights:
She serves on the Technical Committee on ICT Equipment for Persons with Disabilities of the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS).
She is a member of the Consumer Advisory Panel of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), where she represents persons with disabilities.
Claudette Medefindt, National Secretary and Head of Science
Claudette has been involved with the Retina Patient Movement since 1980. She heads the patient support division and is a trained peer counsellor. She lectures on IRD extensively and is the Deputy President of Retina International. Claudette has Dominant RP.
Jean Bowler, National Treasurer
Jean has been involved with the Foundation since it’s inception. Her fiscal control is total and this has ensured sound financial management over the past 36 years. Neither Jean or her family have IRD and her contribution to furthering the aims of the Foundation mark her as a very special person.
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