Dr. Ivo Kocur, MD, MSc, MA, MBA

Chief Executive Officer

International Council of Ophthalmology

Dr. Ivo Kocur is an ophthalmologist and Chief Executive Officer of the International Council of Ophthalmology. Dr. Kocur coordinates the World Ophthalmology Congresses, as well as the activities of the International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO). The ICO brings together over 180 national, subspecialty and regional societies of ophthalmology and represents ophthalmologists to the World Health Organization. The ICO works with the world’s ophthalmology societies and other stakeholders to enhance ophthalmic education and improve access to the highest quality eye care. Previously Dr. Kocur served as a Senior Medical Officer at the World Health Organization Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, for nearly two decades, overseeing the WHO international eye health agenda.

Along with his skills in clinical ophthalmology, Dr. Kocur carries with him more than 25 years of experience in international eye care, including public, private, and not-for-profit eye care sectors. In addition to his medical degree, he has a degree in public health and a degree in international relations and diplomacy, both from the United Kingdom universities, as well as a degree in management and public relations and communication in healthcare from Switzerland. In 2002, Dr. Kocur was appointed by the World Health Organization as the WHO Global Coordinator of the VISION 2020 Global Initiative - The Right to Sight, where he fostered international collaborations among key global stakeholders to set the global public eye health agenda. Since then, he has facilitated at the WHO the development of four eye health and prevention of vision loss resolutions and two global eye care action plans endorsed by all WHO Member States at several World Health Assemblies. Throughout his career at the WHO, Dr. Kocur has been instrumental in working with ministries of health in over 70 countries around the world to assess national eye care services and develop national eye care plans.

Dr. Kocur has received numerous international awards, including honorary membership in the Czech Society of Ophthalmology, the American Academy of Ophthalmology Secretariat Award and Achievement Award, the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness Vision Excellence Award, and the Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology Achievement Award, among others.