Eye Surgeons International Leadership

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Conrad Hewitt, C.P.A.

Con is a businessman and accountant with many years of experience in finance,

regulatory and supervisory issues, private, public, and non-profit boards and

philanthropy.

Con graduated from the University of Illinois with a B.S. in Economics and Finance.

He performed Executive MBA Program studies at the University of Southern

California and attended the Stanford Executive Program, the Aspen Institute for

Humanistic Studies and the Kellogg School of Business (Northwestern University)

Executive Program.

Con served as Area Managing Partner (Hawaii, Northwest and Northern

California) for Ernst & Young; First Commissioner, Department of Financial

Institutions, State of California; and Chief Accountant, United States Securities &

Exchange Commission in Washington D.C.

He has held many directorships and chairman of boards including the U.S.

Government Accountability Office (GAO), Providence Health Care System,

Northern California, Queen of the Valley Medical System and is currently on the

board of the County of Napa Assessment Appeal Board.

  Garen Staglin is a private equity investor and philanthropist with more than 40 years of experience in building and starting companies in the financial services and payment industries. He has served on numerous public, private and non-profit boards. He is currently a Senior Advisor to FTV Capital. Garen is a graduate of UCLA, B.S. in Engineering (1966), and the Stanford Graduate School of Business, MBA (1968). He is a recipient of the Gold Spike Award, Stanford University’s highest award for volunteer service, and the UCLA Alumni of the year award. He was Co-Chairman of the $5.5 Billion UCLA Centennial Capital Campaign. Garen is the Co-Founder and Board Chairman of One Mind, a nonprofit funding large-scale public-private partnerships in schizophrenia, TBI, and PTS, as well as funding cutting-edge research.  He and his family own and operate the acclaimed Staglin Family Vineyard in Rutherford, CA.  Their family motto is “great wine for great causes” and in support of that they have raised $1.2 Billion for causes they have chaired and donations of their wines have generated.  

Chuck Hess, a strategic business leader with over 40 years of experience in ophthalmology, currently serves as the Vice President of Global Development and Operations at Bausch + Lomb. His remarkable journey has seen him hold pivotal roles in Product Development, Marketing, Sales, Business Development, and General Management. 

He has played an instrumental role in developing and launching cutting-edge ophthalmic surgical platform technologies, including the Millennium Microsurgical System, the Stellaris Vision Enhancement System, eyeTelligence software for surgical planning in addition to designing well over 500 ophthalmic surgical instruments and patented devices.

Chuck’s unwavering commitment to patient care drives his work. Chuck firmly believes that technology and services in ophthalmology should enhance patients’ quality of life. He actively collaborates with leading experts in the field through strong relationships with physicians and providers, industry professionals and through memberships in the American and European Council of Ophthalmic Surgery and support of the ASCRS Foundation AAO Corporate Advisory Council.

 David F. Chang, M.D., is widely recognized as one of the top cataract surgeons in the world. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Harvard College and earned his medical degree from Harvard Medical School. He completed his ophthalmology residency at the University of California, San Francisco, where he was promoted to Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology in 1999. As one of the most prominent international experts, David regularly lectures on cataract techniques and the newest lens implants to other surgeons in the U.S. and abroad and has received numerous prestigious national and international awards. 

Mary is the CEO, founder, and creator of the award winning Kollab Youth program is a dedicated and compassionate leader with a strong commitment to empowering underserved youth in Los Angeles County. With a wealth of experience in the nonprofit sector, Mary has spent over a decade spearheading innovative programs and services to support under-resourced communities.

Among many talents, Mary is an award-winning driven expert in media, marketing, and communications. She has been a director of communications for several national and international companies, as well as a press secretary and public affairs specialist for the U.S. Congress and the U.S. Department of Treasury, respectively.

Mary serves as a Commissioner for the Los Angeles County Workforce Development Board, T-Mobile Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council, National Academy Finance (NAF) Compton Board Member, member of the Southern California Apprenticeship Network (SCAN) Steering Committee.

  Dennis Sisto is a seasoned healthcare executive and leader with 35 years of experience in healthcare administration, both domestically and internationally. He holds a Master's Degree in Business (1990) and a Bachelor's Degree in Healthcare Management (1982), both from the University of La Verne. 

Jim White is an award-winning writer, journalist, and photojournalist with a diverse career spanning several fields. He spent a decade in Africa as a foreign correspondent, covering wars, famine, and environmental issues. Upon returning to North America, Jim became the food editor and restaurant critic for one of the continent’s largest newspapers, traveling globally to review restaurants and profile chefs.

Following his journalism career, Jim transitioned into food product development, successfully creating and launching over 10,000 food and beverage products, many of which are household staples. In 2003, dissatisfied with the unhealthy ingredients in commercial muffins, he co-founded a bakery focused on producing all-natural, preservative-free muffins. Today, that bakery supplies all 18,000 Starbucks locations across North America and has grown into the world’s largest muffin producer.

Richard C Hachoose is a retired executive in the Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical industries. He has more than 40 years of experience in engineering design, construction, commissioning and operations of new and refurbished manufacturing facilities for both small and large molecules.  In the biotechnology field, he served as a highly skilled subject matter expert as projects and process engineering lead for numerous mammalian cell production and fill finish plants. Richard was also a leading process engineering expert for small molecule facilities including pilot, bulk production, solid dosage, filling and packaging. He has worked with major biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies in Europe, Asia, America and Australia. Richard retired in October, 2024 after a successful career with Genentech, Vacaville, CA as a Senior Director and Head of Engineering and Capital Projects. Under his leadership, Richard's team successfully launched the manufacture of Ronapreve, a drug used for therapeutic treatment of Covid 19, in a record time of 4 months. 

Richard attended the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST), which is now part of the University of Manchester in Manchester in England.  He received The Victoria University of Manchester degree of Bachelor of Science certificate in the Faculty of Technology in 1982 as he completed the studies with an Honors degree in Chemical Engineering.

Richard is a citizen of the USA, born and raised in Zambia in central Africa where he completed his high school studies in 1976. 

Ren Harris, a pioneer of Napa Valley winemaking and owner of Paradigm Winery, brings a deep sense of heritage and innovation to his leadership role with Eye Surgeons International. Ren’s family history is rooted in California’s rich past, including connections to figures such as General Mariano Vallejo and contributors to San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. His career began in agriculture and real estate before founding Paradigm Winery, where his commitment to sustainable farming and quality winemaking has earned widespread respect. A founding member of the Napa Valley Grapegrowers, Ren has championed initiatives to support farmworkers and protect the region’s agricultural identity. His leadership experience and dedication to community development and healthcare for all align seamlessly with ESI’s mission to transform lives through improved eye care and education.

Mark Nicoletti serves as the Chief Development Officer of Eye Surgeons

International, where he leads efforts to raise philanthropic revenue in support of its

mission to cure preventable blindness. He is deeply committed to expanding

resources for sustainable, high-impact eye care and believes that increasing support

for ESI’s projects will transform lives and communities by restoring sight. He

volunteers his time in this role while continuing his career in finance.

Mark is Managing Director of the Family Office Group at Evergreen Gavekal,

where he oversees the firm’s family office services for ultra-high-net-worth

clientele and plays a key role in its investment strategy. He is also a member of

Evergreen Gavekal’s Investment Team.

Before joining Evergreen, he was Regional Vice President at Forward

Management, an asset management firm founded by the Getty Family in San

Francisco. There, he led a successful expansion effort that grew the firm’s assets

from $500 million to over $6 billion. Earlier in his career, Mark worked as a

Specialist Equity Trader at UBS/PaineWebber in Los Angeles.

He earned his BA in Business Finance from the University of Southern California,

where he was a scholarship athlete on the golf team and a four-time USC Scholar-

Athlete Award winner. Golf remains one of his passions, and he continues to

compete in USGA amateur events. Mark is based in Napa, California, where he

lives with his wife, and enjoys golf, investment strategy, and supporting

philanthropic initiatives that create lasting impact.

Dr. Kanwal Singh Matharu serves as Director of International Ophthalmology Training Programs, Eye Surgeons International.

Dr. Matharu is an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Iowa’s Carver College of Medicine. He specializes in cornea and

refractive surgery and serves as the Co Director of the UI Global Eye Program.

Dr. Matharu earned his Bachelor of Arts in Molecular Biology from Princeton University, where he also obtained certificates in Global Health and Health Policy and

Neuroscience. He completed his medical degree at McGovern Medical School in Houston, Texas. Following this, he pursued an ophthalmology residency at Baylor College of Medicine’s Cullen Eye Institute, a cornea

fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and a global ophthalmology fellowship at Stanford University, collaborating with the Himalayan Cataract Project.

Dr. Matharu served on the Princeton University Board of Trustees. His clinical expertise encompasses corneal transplantation, refractive surgery, and the management of complex anterior segment diseases. Dr. Matharu is deeply committed to global health equity, focusing on reducing barriers to eye

care both locally and internationally. At the University of Iowa, he is actively involved in expanding global ophthalmology initiatives, including educational collaborations and telemedicine outreach to underserved regions.

Dr. Matharu teaches, performs surgery, and improves systems to deliver high quality medical care in Iowa and now in Zambia with ESI, endeavoring to share the skills and knowledge he has gained for the benefit of all.

Racheal is Zambian footballer and global sports icon. She currently holds the current record as the fastest female footballer as of FIFA women’s World Cup 2023, and is one of the world’s most expensive female players,

having joined Bay FC in the U.S. for a record fee. Racheal has represented Zambia at the Olympic Games in 2021 and 2024 and the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Her journey—from playing barefoot in Zambian streets with

plastic bag balls to international stardom embodies resilience, determination, and triumph over adversity. Raised by a strong-willed mother, Racheal’s story reflects the struggles of young women in the Global South. Her experiences with poverty, gender

inequality, and racial discrimination—especially during her time in Kazakhstan—have shaped her warrior spirit and passion for justice. Her

mantra, “A soldier will always survive in any situation,” defines both her personal and professional life. Through the Racheal Kundananji Legacy Foundation, she tackles

gender-based violence, child marriage, and reproductive health issues—using sport as a transformative tool. She is a United Nations

Goodwill ambassador and also an active voice in global health, contributing to efforts like a WHO/FIFA concussion awareness campaigns.

Her life story and continued advocacy offer hope and representation to women and girls globally, and vulnerable communities.

Bernadette is a public-policy strategist and government-relations leader with experience spanning economic policy, regional integration, research, advocacy, and business development. As former Executive Director of the Policy Monitoring and Research Centre (PMRC) and adviser to NEPAD-AUDA, as well as Presidential Policy advisor at country level, she has guided high-level national and international institutions, driving policy reforms that foster inclusive and sustainable growth across Africa.

Currently a PhD Fellow in Economic and Public Policy, Ms. Deka Zulu has spoken at various conferences and forums of the United Nations,

African Union, AfDB Annual Meetings, and other premier forums, championing primary healthcare, women’s empowerment, economic

transformation, and sustainable development for Africa.

Her civic leadership includes serving as co-founder and Global Lead of the Racheal Kundananji Legacy Foundation, founding President of Shaping Futures Zambia, Board Member of the Business & Professional Women-Africa Chapter, and past Chairperson of the Kenneth Kaunda Legacy Foundation.

Recognized among Zambia’s most influential women, she has won many awards to her name, and is a weekly newspaper columnist and steadfast advocate for good governance, girls’ and women’s rights, utilizing sport as a vehicle for social change and progress. 

Distinguished by her expertise in stakeholder engagement, strategic communications, public-

private dialogue, fundraising, and governance advocacy, Bernadette pairs rigorous, evidence-based analysis with visionary leadership to deliver lasting impact across the continent and internationally.

  Lyson is a FIFA award winning football technical leader and sports development & management professional whose journey from the streets of Kalingalinga in Lusaka, Zambia, to international stages is a testament to the power of sport to transform lives. Currently serving as the Technical

Director of the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ), Lyson has built a career dedicated to empowering young people, shaping elite football structures, and promoting values-based leadership through sport.

Lyson’s early love for football led to national recognition and international opportunity. He earned a scholarship to study in the UK, where he became a passionate advocate of the Youth Sport Trust, discovering the life-changing potential of sport for development. With academic qualifications that include a FIFA Technical Leadership Diploma, a Master of Science in Peace, Leadership and Conflict

Resolution, a BSc in Sport Science with Management from Loughborough University, and a Foundation Degree in Sports Performance from the University of Bath, Lyson combines elite technical training with a strong

academic grounding in sport and leadership. 

Lyson previously led youth and community programs at the Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC), where he headed football development and launched leadership programs that impacted hundreds of young lives. As a CAF Instructor, university lecturer, and presenter at global conferences, Lyson continues to champion inclusive football, grassroots development, and coach education across Zambia. His leadership has elevated the technical standards of national teams—both men’s and women’s—and fostered sustainable pathways for player and coach

progression and development.

Through mentoring the next generation and shaping national football policies, Lyson remains a powerful advocate for the role of sport in education, peacebuilding, and social transformation.