On June 7, Dr Theresa Smith-Ruig attended the Black & White Committee Women of Achievement Lunch in Sydney in her capacity as Deputy Chair of Vision Australia.

The Black & White Committee raises funds on behalf of Vision Australia to support services to children who are blind or have low vision, through organising fundraising events such as the lunch. This is the Black and White Committee’s 80^th year, and they have raised millions of dollars for Vision Australia. Vision Australia is a large national disability not-for-profit with revenue of more than $80million, 800 staff, and over 30,000 clients who are blind or have low vision.

Dr Smith-Ruig has been serving on the board for 9 years, and was asked to speak on behalf of Vision Australia, and as someone who is vision impaired.

The other guest speakers for the Women of Achievement Lunch included Professor Gillian Triggs (President of the Australian Human Rights Commission), Jenny Brockie (journalist and presentor of the SBS Insight program), and Marta Dusselldorp (acclaimed Australian actress).

There were around 500 attendees, including Mrs Linda Hurley (wife of His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Ret’d), Governor of New South Wales), and The Honourable Gabriel Upton (Minister and NSW Attorney General).

Women of Achievement lunch (L – R: Marta Dusselldorp, Theresa Smith-Ruig, Linda Hurley, and Mrs Susan Diver AOM (President of the Black & White Committee)