Orbis International appoints Kathleen Sherwin as President & CEO

Prior to this, Kathleen Sherwin served as Chief Strategy & Engagement Officer at Plan International

by e4m Staff
Published: Jan 27, 2026 5:33 PM | 1 min read

Global eye care NGO Orbis International has appointed Kathleen Sherwin as President & CEO. Sherwin brings more than 25 years of experience advancing health equity, gender equality and sustainable development across the nonprofit and humanitarian sectors.

"Kathleen's passion for meaningful change and her unwavering commitment to equity and access strongly resonate with Orbis's mission to eradicate curable blindness globally," said John Slattery, Chair of the Board of Directors for Orbis International. "We are thrilled to welcome her as CEO and look forward to the impact she will help Orbis achieve for communities around the world."

Sherwin joins Orbis at a pivotal moment as the global health landscape evolves and the need for integrated, resilient health systems becomes increasingly urgent. She is focused on accelerating Orbis's work to prevent blindness and restore sight while elevating eye health as a global health priority.

"Eye health must be understood not as a standalone issue, but as a fundamental driver of equity, education, economic stability, and health system readiness," Sherwin says. "Orbis has a critical role to play in ensuring eye care is fully integrated into broader health and development priorities."

Before joining Orbis, Sherwin most recently served as Chief Strategy & Engagement Officer at Plan International. In that role, she led strategy, partnerships, fundraising, communications, and policy.

She previously held senior roles at Women Deliver, including Interim President & CEO, and at Planned Parenthood Federation of America.