Moorfields Eye Charity is an independent charity which supports pioneering eye health work at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust ("Moorfields") and the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology which, combined, is the oldest and largest centre for ophthalmic treatment, teaching and research in Europe.

The charity's mission is to improve eye health by funding innovation in research, education and patient care to benefit Moorfields’ patients. Over the last year alone, it has awarded £6.4m in grants to support these aims. Ambitious strategic aims for the coming decade are set out in its recent Strategy 2021-2027, with a focus on being the leading charity for research into eye health, supporting patient care and sharing knowledge, and playing a role in shaping national policy.

Moorfields Eye Charity's vision is that its support enables Moorfields and UCL to provide world-leading eye care, research and education from a new integrated centre for advancing eye health called Oriel. Oriel will be located on a site near St Pancras in the Kings Cross Knowledge Quarter; it is a partnership between Moorfields, UCL and the charity. The joint fundraising campaign with UCL is on track to raise £100m towards the cost of Oriel, with construction planned to start in 2023 and the centre expected to open in 2027.

Investments

The charity has total assets of c. £65m (as at 30/9/22) comprising: a long-term investment portfolio of c. £46m; a shorter term ‘Oriel’ investment portfolio of £15.5m for some of the funds committed towards the capital construction costs of Oriel; and a short-term portfolio representing its cash / working capital. 

Following a review of its investment strategy in October 2020, the Board decided to have the portfolio managed wherever possible on a basis which explicitly incorporates sustainable considerations. The transition to sustainable investments was completed in May 2021.

Please find more information about the charity's investments in its Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22, about the impact of its work in its Impact Report 2022, and about Oriel here.

Moorfields Eye Charity is looking to appoint a new member of its Investment Committee, with the expectation that they would have or develop the skills and experience to take on the Committee Chair role by the end of 2024. At this time, they would also be appointed to the Board of Trustees of the charity when the current Trustee and Investment Committee Chair comes to the end of his term.

The Investment Committee, working with an advisor (Charles Franklin, Stanhope Consulting), provides oversight of the investment objective, strategic asset allocation, manager selection and investment performance of the charity, investments. As part of that process, the Committee conducts a rolling programme of meetings with the charity’s fund managers.

The Board currently comprises 12 Trustees under the leadership of Chair, Mervyn Walker. The majority of Trustees are independent, but a minority are appointed by Moorfields.

Trustees will:

• Ensure that the charity pursues its objectives as defined in its Articles and uses its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objectives
• Contribute actively to the Board of Trustees’ role in giving firm strategic direction to the charity, setting overall policy, defining goals and setting targets and evaluating performance against those objectives
• Ensure the financial stability of the charity, making sure that robust systems are in place for internal financial control and the protection of the charity’s funds and assets
• Safeguard the good name and values of the charity and wherever possible play a strong ambassadorial role, helping to raise the profile of the charity and to promote charitable giving for the benefit of the organisation, both with regards to Oriel and generally
• Act in the best interests of the charity, beneficiaries and future beneficiaries at all times and avoid any personal conflict of interest

Moorfields Eye Charity is looking for someone with significant recent experience in multi-asset investment management.

Candidates will be able to bring an informed perspective to the Committee as it makes decisions on manager selection and oversees third party providers. As such, they will have some experience of making similar choices and assessing fit to mandates. Prior experience of chairing is welcome but there is training available for those with the aptitude and willingness to learn.

Above all, applicants will have an interest in and commitment to the mission, vision and values of the charity, and the work which it does to improve the lives of those affected by sight loss. They will inspire confidence and trust, and will bring sound, independent judgement to matters which come before the Committee, as well as a commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion.

Mervyn Walker, Chair
Michael Izza, Vice Chair
Andrew Ballheimer
Tony Briam
Noland Carter, Investment Committee Chair
Dr Lee-Ann Coleman
Vicky Hastings
Dr Robert Jones
Dr Martin Kuper
Professor Dame Carrie MacEwen
Professor Sir Eric Thomas
Miss Louisa Wickham

This role is unremunerated, but reasonable, pre-agreed travel expenses will be reimbursed.

The Investment Committee meets three to four times per year. Meetings normally last two hours. The Committee is occasionally consulted by email by the Director of Finance & Resources (who is the secretary to the Committee, and the member of the senior management team at the charity responsible for the investments) on an ad hoc basis. In addition to the above, the time commitment of the Committee Chair is estimated to be, in total, one half-day per month. Additional time will be needed for induction as a Committee Member.

In-person attendance at Board and Committee meetings is preferred. Board and Committee meetings are held at Moorfields or elsewhere in central London (e.g. one of its Fund Manager’s offices or, if appropriate, at the offices of a member of the Committee).

As the charity is seeking to appoint someone as a Trustee-designate and future Committee Chair, this person will need (from no later than December 2024) to be able to give the necessary time as a full member of the Board and Chair of the Investment Committee. The Board meets four times per year (currently a Monday afternoon in March, July, September and December). In addition, the Board may be consulted between meetings. A Board away day is held every other year. Additional time will be needed for induction as a Trustee, and Committee Chairs are also expected to join the Nominations Committee, which meets twice per year.

The total time commitment for the Trustee and Investment Committee Chair role is expected to be 14-16 days per year.

Candidates will be able to attend in-person meetings and will be UK-based.

Moorfields Eye Charity is committed to the Charity Governance Code, and in line with its recommendations it is committed to greater diversity on its Board and Committees. As such, it has set targets for the appointment of Trustees with respect to gender, diversity of ethnic background and experience of visual impairment (either personal or of a close family member). It also has an aim to appoint younger Trustees (under the age of 40 on appointment). The charity therefore particularly encourages applications from people from these and other diverse backgrounds.