1) Julie Heraghty took the role of CEO of the Macular Disease Foundation Australia in 2004 with little knowledge of macular degeneration. 2) Over the past 10 years, she has grown the Foundation significantly and raised awareness of macular degeneration in Australia to 92% of adults over 50. 3) Heraghty has also helped organizations in other countries like Latin America and Poland develop their own awareness campaigns and strategies for addressing macular degeneration.

1. mivision• ISSUE 99 • MAR 15
a former teacher and a trained
psychologist, Ms. Heraghty says when
appointed CEO she drew heavily on her
past experience to grow what was then
known as the Macular Degeneration
Foundation – a small not-for-profit –
into the Foundation it is today.
“Before joining the Foundation I had been
working as a senior policy advisor in the
government and had decided it was time
for a new challenge. I saw an advert for the
position of Foundation CEO and applied.
To be honest, like most Australians at
the time, I had no idea about macular
degeneration and the impact it had on
the lives of so many Australians,” Ms.
Heraghty told mivison over a cup of tea
in her Sydney CBD office.
Ms. Heraghty had previously volunteered
for not-for-profit organisations, been
engaged with her community as deputy
mayor of Manly, and with a background
in government, administration, education
and psychology; was passionate about
outcomes that make a real difference –
especially in education and health.
Julie Heraghty
Taking the Macular Disease
Message
GlobalWhen Julie Heraghty took up the role of CEO of the Macular Disease
Foundation Australia in 2004, little did she know she was about to
influence the way the world would approach macular degeneration,
the leading cause of blindness in people over the age of 50.
Ten years on, in Australia 92 per cent of adults over 50 years
are aware of the disease. In the countries of Latin America, as
well as Poland and New Zealand, eye health professionals and
Foundations are emulating the Foundation’s efforts, promoting
awareness and early detection and working for access and
affordability of treatment and rehabilitation.
WRITER Melanie Kell
“If we can save sight
every day, by the work
we do in prevention,
treatment and
rehabilitation, then
that’s our greatest
achievement”
mifeature 37

2. mivision• ISSUE 99 • MAR 15
“After being offered the role of CEO,
I stepped into what was essentially the
unknown… it was an enormous learning
curve. I had to draw on all my past
learnings and experiences, not only in the
workplace but also my community and
policy work.”
Ms. Heraghty found working at the
Foundation vastly different from the
ministerial office she’d come from, where
resources were far greater. However, with
a small staff of two, working from a single
office, she set her sights high.
“Every charity starts as a small entity
with the best of intentions, but there is
an enormous amount of work required
to build a robust, enduring organisation.
You need the right governance and the
right activities, you need the right people,
and funding to provide for sustainability.
It’s like building a house – you lay the
foundations, make sure they’re solid, then
you add rooms, get the furniture in place,
check the house is in good working order
and then you add more rooms. Technology
is the wiring in the house and in 10 years
that has changed dramatically.
“Throughout I’ve been able to draw on the
expertise, guidance and support of people
around me, both personal networks and
those involved with the Foundation. The
support of amazing people like patron Ita
Buttrose and Ambassadors Jean Kittson
and Jan Utzon is inspiring.”
Benchmarking Integral
to Success
Ms. Heraghty said a structured and
strategic approach to raising awareness
of the Foundation’s work has been
integral to its success.
“Very early on I decided everything we
did would be measured, that we would
track outcomes of activities, and how we
impacted the eye health of Australians.
“By clearly targeting and communicating
the Foundation’s overarching key message,
‘have an eye test and macula check’, and by
measuring and tracking our outcomes, we
have been able to make a huge impact.
“As a result of our ongoing national
campaigns, Australia now leads the
world in raising awareness of macular
degeneration. Our independent national
polling has awareness levels for those in
the over 50 at-risk age group at 92 per
cent, and two out of every three people
over 50 now claim to have had an eye
test and macula check in the past two
years. Furthermore, optometrists have
told us that as a result of our work, not
only has macular degeneration been
detected earlier in many of their clients,
but also many other eye diseases,”
said Ms. Heraghty.
Broadening Horizons
In 2012 the Foundation changed its name
to Macular Disease Foundation Australia
and broadened its focus to cover all
diseases of the macula, concentrating on
what Ms. Heraghty defines as the three
‘circles’ that directly relate to the macular
disease community: prevention and early
detection; treatment; and rehabilitation.
“There is a massive 8.5 million people
at risk of macular disease due to the
ageing population and a range of other
risk factors. People with low vision must
have the services and support they need.
So our work to educate on prevention
strategies and the importance of early
detection and treatment, raise awareness,
support research, provide client services,
and advocate for the best interests of
the macular disease community are
all important objectives in meeting
our strategic goal – to build healthy
communities in this country.”
International Impact
Ms. Heraghty’s outlook is not solely on
Australia. In 2014 the Foundation helped
other countries by sharing strategies and
experiences with ophthalmologists and
macular disease representative bodies in
Latin America, Poland, Germany and Italy.
“Meeting other organisations like ours
from countries in Latin America was a real
privilege. They wanted to hear how we had
grown the Foundation, the activities we had
undertaken and our outcomes. Importantly
they wanted to know how to build healthier
communities and impact public health
policies. Latin American countries have
enormous challenges in meeting the health
needs of their citizens, so it was incredibly
rewarding to be able to help.
“I also had the privilege of helping three
dedicated ophthalmologists from the
Mexican Centre for Low Vision develop
strategies for servicing patients in the public
hospital system,” she said. “And I spent
extra time with an amazing Foundation
leader from Argentina who had been
working in the area for 15 years with
passion and commitment. We collaborated
to enhance the work she did through a
different strategic model.
“We helped many countries work through
options in remodeling their own ‘house’
using an Australian blueprint as a guide,"
added Ms. Heraghty.
She said, importantly, attendees at
the meeting agreed upon high level
principles and on the need for an umbrella
organisation which represented their
interests and supported their work in a
real and visible way.
“we have been able to
make a huge impact”
CEO Julie Heraghty with Foundation friend Margaret Gannon and grant recipient Damien Harkin at
Sydney Opera House Research Grants Event.
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3. mivision• ISSUE 99 • MAR 15
While the economy of Poland, and its
approach to eye health were vastly
different from the situation in Latin
America, Ms. Heraghty said meetings
were equally rewarding.
“Poland is changing dramatically. We had
the opportunity to share our work, and
to work with enthusiastic and committed
people. There was passion, skills and
expertise and a real interest in how to raise
awareness – it was an excellent opportunity
to work together to create something that
can be sustained for the future.
“In Italy, we have had a very strong
relationship for a number of years with
the Italian branch of the International
Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, so
there was so much to observe, to learn and
share.” said Ms. Heraghty. “Their National
Centre of Services and Research for the
Prevention of Blindness and Rehabilitation
of the Visually Impaired is the only
collaborating centre for visual rehabilitation
recognised globally by the World
Health Organisation. They are presently
leading critical work on International
Rehabilitation Standards, which will have
important implications for our work in low
vision in Australia.”
She said the opportunity to exchange
ideas and experiences at an international
level was “incredibly helpful and
valuable” and that the relationships
formed through the Foundation’s work
would be relationships for life.
Proud Achievements
Ms.Heraghty said she is proud of the many
achievements of the Foundation, especially
in awareness raising and the fight to ensure
access to registered treatment.
“The cost of blindness will always
outweigh the cost of treatment and the
cost of blindness is not only economic
– it’s an emotional and social cost to the
person, family, carers and the community.
We are very proud of the fact that since
2011, the Foundation has committed over
$1.5 million through our Research Grants
Program. If every day we can save sight
by the work we do in prevention and early
detection, treatment and rehabilitation,
then that’s our greatest achievement.”
She said being able to help people and make
a difference is what drives her. "Having
great people who share your vision; and the
support to advocate for what you know is
right for the macular disease community,
is what sustains me in my role.
“Every day is different and always exciting
– I am constantly challenged by new ideas,
hard decisions and differing opinions –
which is good because where everyone
agrees, no-one thinks very much. We have
great partners who respect our independence
and support our vision, and I have great
staff who are committed to the journey we
have chartered. I like to think we have a
great balance between a “steady as you go”
approach and being innovative and able to
push the boundaries to find new ways to
meet our objectives,” said Ms. Heraghty.
“I think loving your job is really important
– you can sustain your interest but you have
to love your job – and to feel proud of what
you’re doing.
“On a personal level, I feel I’ve had a great
opportunity to do something really valuable.
As a person who loves people, this is where
it all comes together... but there are still
many more horizons to conquer.”
“there are still many more
horizons to conquer”
Julie Heraghty interviewing Ambassador Jean Kittson’s mother Elaine who lives with macular degeneration.
mifeature 39
Harvard Club of Australia
Nonprofit Fellowship
In 2013, Ms. Heraghty was awarded the prestigious Harvard
Club of Australia Nonprofit Fellowship to attend the Harvard
Business School to undertake a course in Strategic
Perspectives in Nonprofit Management.
The Harvard Club Nonprofit Fellowship has been awarded to
32 leaders of nonprofits since its inception in 2001.
Ms. Heraghty said the Fellowship supported the continued
growth and development of Macular Disease Foundation
Australia while also fulfilling her own personal goals and
her strong commitment to education.
“It’s important to never stop learning and to never stop sharing
and helping others. There is, in my view, a lifelong commitment
to continuing to grow, to be open to new ideas and to take every
opportunity that comes your way to be better informed and to
be better educated,” said Ms. Heraghty.