In this episode of Voices in Leadership, Marc Workman, CEO of the World Blind Union, speaks with Martine Abel-Williamson, WBU’s Immediate Past President. Martine has served WBU in leadership for many years, including as Treasurer and as President during a period shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Martine reflects on her path into the WBU, how she has seen the organization evolve over time, and what it took for the global movement to stay connected and resilient through the pandemic. The conversation explores the purpose and value of the Immediate Past President role, including continuity and institutional knowledge, and her reflections on WBU’s future—particularly around digital inclusion, grassroots engagement, and mentoring the next generation of leaders.

If you have feedback on this episode or any other episode of the WBU Global Voice Podcast, you can contact us at [email protected].

In this episode of Voices in Leadership, Marc Workman, CEO of the World Blind Union, speaks with Moisés Bauer, Secretary General of the World Blind Union.

Moisés reflects on his journey into advocacy and how his background in law has shaped his approach to advancing the rights of blind and partially sighted people. He shares insights on the current situation in Brazil and across the Latin America region, highlighting priorities such as education, Braille literacy, rehabilitation, employment, and accessible technology.

The conversation also looks back at Brazil’s role in hosting the World Blindness Summit and WBU General Assembly in São Paulo, exploring what the event meant for the national movement and what was learned through the experience. Moisés speaks about his focus on transparent governance, strong member engagement, and building a responsive and accountable global organization.

If you have feedback on this episode or any other episode of the WBU Global Voice Podcast, you can contact us at [email protected].

In this episode of Voices in Leadership, Marc Workman, CEO of the World Blind Union, speaks with Gladys Díaz, Regional President of the Latin American Union of the Blind. Gladys joins the conversation from Honduras, with the support of an interpreter.

Gladys reflects on her personal journey into advocacy and leadership, and shares her perspective on the priorities, challenges, and opportunities facing blind and partially sighted people across the Latin America region. The conversation explores the critical role of education and Braille literacy in empowerment, including the importance of initiatives such as More Braille: More Empowerment. Gladys also discusses women’s leadership and participation, and offers advice for young people, especially young women, who are interested in becoming more active in advocacy at the regional and international levels.

If you have feedback on this episode or any other episode of the WBU Global Voice Podcast, you can contact us at [email protected].

In this episode of Voices in Leadership, Marc Workman speaks with Cristina Chamorro Muñoz, First Vice President of the World Blind Union and a senior leader within the Spanish National Organization of the Blind (ONCE).

Cristina reflects on her personal journey into advocacy and ONCE’s long-standing commitment to international engagement. The conversation explores why global cooperation is essential to advancing the rights of blind and partially sighted people, and how shared learning across regions strengthens the movement as a whole. Cristina also discusses her role in leading the development of WBU’s next Strategic Plan, including the inclusive and participatory process behind it, and shares her priorities around gender equality and addressing the specific challenges faced by blind and partially sighted women worldwide. She concludes with thoughtful advice for young people, especially young women, who are interested in becoming more active in international advocacy.

If you have feedback on this or any other episode of the WBU Global Voice Podcast, you can contact us at [email protected].

In this episode of Voices in Leadership, Marc Workman, CEO of the World Blind Union, is joined by Yaw Ofori-Debra, Second Vice President of the World Blind Union and a long-time advocate from Ghana.

Yaw reflects on his journey into advocacy, from student organizing to national, regional, and global leadership within the blind movement. The conversation explores the importance of inclusive sports, employment, and youth engagement, and why these issues are central to building a strong and sustainable international blind movement. Yaw also shares practical advice for young blind people who want to become more active in advocacy, particularly at the international level. 

Write to us with your feedback at [email protected].

In Episode 2 of Voices in Leadership, Marc Workman, CEO of the World Blind Union, is joined by Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind and Regional President for North America and the Caribbean within the WBU.

Their conversation explores the long and deep connection between the National Federation of the Blind and the World Blind Union, including the historical roots that link the two organizations. Mark reflects on why international engagement matters for national movements, and what blind people gain when we organize and advocate across borders.

They discuss the role of philosophy and lived experience in shaping effective advocacy, examine global priorities such as technology, accessibility, and movement-building, and reflect on the importance of listening, local involvement, and grounded leadership in supporting the next generation of blind leaders.

Resources Mentioned

• National Federation of the Blind: https://www.nfb.org
• NFB Radio Network (audio content and publications by blind people):
  Available via the NFB website and on TuneIn

If you have feedback on this episode or any other episode of the WBU Global Voice Podcast, you can contact us at [email protected].

welcome to the first episode of our new series, Voices In Leadership. This series spotlights the leaders shaping the future of our movement – how they think, what drives their decisions, and where they see the greatest opportunities for blind and partially sighted people worldwide.

This episode is a conversation with WBU President S.K. Rungta about strengthening member participation, modernizing our governance, 

and expanding partnerships with mainstream agencies and companies. He also shares a few interesting insights on employment, education, and technology’s role when it comes to Braille. And finally, listen in to hear some reflections on how younger folks Can get more involved with international advocacy.

We hope you enjoy the conversation. As always, If you have questions or feedback about the series or the podcast, you can reach us at [email protected].

We’re excited to introduce a new series: “Voices in Leadership.”

In this series, we sit down with the elected leaders of the World Blind Union for direct, candid conversations. You’ll hear their personal stories, the priorities guiding their work over the next four years, and their vision for strengthening our global movement.

The goal is simple: to bring WBU’s leadership closer to its membership – so you know who speaks for you, what motivates them, and how they hope to create a more inclusive world for those who are blind or partially sighted.

New episodes will be released twice a month, on the first and the fifteenth, starting on December 1 with a discussion with the newly elected President of WBU, Mr. Santosh Kumar Rungta.

Join us for these conversations each month on the Voices In Leadership series as we introduce the people shaping the future of the World Blind Union.

Should you have any questions or comments, reach out to [email protected].

In this final episode of On the Road to Sao Paulo, we take you inside Plenary Session 3: “The Future of the Global Blindness Movement”, recorded live at the World Blindness Summit & WBU General Assembly. Chaired by Martine Abel-Williamson, the session brings together four global leaders—Gertrude Oforiwa Fefoame, Ana Peláez Narváez, Rosario Galarza, and Hans Jørgen Wiberg to explore the key challenges and opportunities shaping our movement worldwide.

A note for listeners: you may notice a few audio issues where Spanish interpretation moves into English; we’ve done our best to present the discussion clearly. 

You can find recordings of additional sessions on the ONCB YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ONCBnaRede/streams.

Questions or comments? Email [email protected].

In Episode 3 of On the Road to Sao Paulo, Marc Workman speaks with Diane Bergeron, Treasure of WBU and Chair of the WBU Women’s Committee. They discuss the program of the upcoming World Blindness Summit, with a particular focus on the Women’s Forum being held just before the start of the summit. Listen to learn all about the purpose, structure, and goals of this important part of the gathering in Sao Paulo. For questions about the World Blindness Summit and WBU General Assembly, contact [email protected], or visit our website at https://wbu.ngo/events/world-blindness-summit-wbu-general-assembly.