RI Executive Team

Avril Daly
Chief Executive Officer

Avril Daly is CEO of the patient-led global umbrella organisation, Retina International, which represents the voice of charities and foundations concerned with the promotion of retina research and related health policy in 43 countries.

Avril has worked in health policy for rare and common eye disease since 2000 and was CEO of the Irish NGO, Fighting Blindness for eight years. She was Chairperson of Rare Disease Ireland from 2006-2019. In 2009 she was elected to the Board of Directors of Rare Disease Europe – EURORDIS, and has been the organisations Vice-President since 2012.

In 2011 Avril was appointed by the Irish Minister for Health to a steering committee working towards the development of the Irish National Plan for Rare Diseases. The plan was published in 2014. She was appointed to the Irish Clinical Programme for Rare Diseases at the Health Service Executive (HSE) in Ireland in 2014 and was recently appointed to the Rare Disease Technology Review Committee and the National Centre of Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE) to review orphan therapies that fail initial Health Technologies Assessment (HTA) for statutory reimbursement.

Avril has held board positions with the European Patient Forum, The European Platform for Patient Organisation Science and Industry (EPPOSI), the HRCI (formerly Medical Research Charities Group) in Ireland and IPPOSI, the Irish Platform for Patients Organisation Science and industry. She believes that patients have a critical role to play in aiding the development of appropriate interventions from concept to delivery.

Avril holds a Bachelors Degree in Business and International relations, she is affected by Retinitis Pigmentosa.

Fiona Waters
Education & Engagement Manager

Fiona Waters is the Education & Engagement Manager for Retina International and is based in Dublin, Ireland. Fiona has a degree in Molecular Medicine, and a strong background in fostering multi-stakeholder communities through science education, communication, and public engagement.

In addition to overseeing the Community Engagement, Education, & Capacity Building aspects of Retina International’s work, she is also the Project Manager of the Retina International Education Hub, and coordinates the Retina International Youth Council.

Petia Stratieva, MD/Ph.D.
Policy Manager

Petia Stratieva is Founder and Chairperson of Retina Bulgaria and a member of the ePAG at ERN-EYE.

Petia joins Retina International as an MD with a specialty in Immunology from the Medical University in Sofia, Bulgaria and holds a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the Shemyakin & Ovchinnikov Institute of Bio-organic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Science in Moscow, Russia.

With over 10 years experience in Research and 20 years in the Pharmaceutical Industry in various managerial and multicultural roles and a strong focus on public & governmental affairs, policies implementation and people development, Petia offers a wealth of experience to the Retina International team.

Petia also has personal experience of living with Retinitis Pigmentosa, being diagnosed at the age of 25.

Kelly McVicker
Operations Manager

Kelly McVicker is the Operations Manager for Retina International, based in the Dublin office.

Kelly has been in the charity sector for over eight years providing support to clients and members alike.

Her previous roles have included working for Active Retirement Ireland and Dublin Simon Community. Initially working in donor care, her growth in her role has now allowed her to work in Communications, Fundraising, Member Support and also aspects of Finance. Her main focus has been on member’s communication and maintenance of information, striving to bring better facilities and understanding to the charity sector to those that need it.

Dana Hufe
Communications Officer

Dana Hufe is the Communications Officer for Retina International. With a Communications degree from the University of Delaware, she has experience working in a number of nonprofits including the Delaware Museum of Natural History and the Delaware SPCA.

Having lived and worked in the U.S, Austria, and Spain, Dana is now based in Dublin and has just completed her MFA in Creative Writing. She strives to bring a creative edge to all her work and enjoys working in an international environment. Dana is passionate about promoting the personal perspective behind Retina International’s mission.