Our Board of Directors
Ian White
Director and Chair of the Board
Ian White became a dedicated advocate for people living with vision loss after going blind as an adult. In 2011, he co-founded the Visionaries Peer Support Group, which was later chartered as a Chapter of the Canadian Council of the Blind (CCB), and has led its growth as Chapter President. Ian also founded the Experience Expo, Canada’s only exposition and consumer show for those living with vision loss, and helped establish the Toronto branch of the CCB's Get Together with Technology program.
A respected leader in the blind and low vision community, Ian has served in provincial and national roles with the CCB and has been recognized with the CCB’s Person of the Year award (2023) and Ontario’s June Callwood Outstanding Achievement Award for Voluntarism (2025). In 2024, he addressed the Senate of Canada on the importance of a national eye health and rehabilitation strategy. Ian continues to champion inclusion, connection, and advocacy for Canadians with vision loss.
Michael Baillargeon
Director, President, and Chief Executive Officer
Michael Baillargeon is a leader in the vision health community with over 20 years serving blind, DeafBlind, and partially-sighted Canadians. As Senior Manager of Eye Care Initiatives at the Canadian Council of the Blind (CCB), he managed advocacy, research, and stakeholder and government relations, served as publisher of White Cane Magazine, and supported White Cane Week and Vision Month events.
Michael grew the CCB’s research department, co-leading CCB studies and reports, notably “The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Canadians Who Are Blind, Deaf-Blind, and Partially-Sighted” (2020), “The Cost of Vision Loss and Blindness in Canada” (2021), its COVID-19 Addendum (2021), and the Ontario Assistive Devices Program (ADP) Survey Report (2022). He continues to lead the Vision Loss ADP Reform Working Group, working with partners to recommend ADP reforms.
Michael played a key role in passing Bill C-284, An Act to establish a national strategy for eye care, and was recognized in the House of Commons and the Senate. As Special Advisor to the Vision Health Partners Coalition, he continues to champion accessibility, inclusion, and improved quality of life for people living with vision loss.
Keith Gordon
Ph.D., M.Sc. (Epid), Director and Vice-President of Research
Dr. Keith Gordon has held senior leadership roles in vision research and advocacy, including Vice-President of Research at the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB), Senior Research Officer at the Canadian Council of the Blind, Board of Directors Chair at BALANCE for Blind Adults, Director of Research at Blind Low Vision New Zealand, and Vice-President of Scientific Affairs at Alcon Canada.
Keith’s primary research interests lie in ophthalmic epidemiology, and he has been instrumental in executing studies on accessible technology and assistive devices, “The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Canadians Who Are Blind, Deaf-Blind, and Partially-Sighted” (2020), “The Cost of Vision Loss and Blindness in Canada” (2021), two report cards on the state of vision health in Canada, and others. He also played a key role in formulating Bill C-284, An Act to establish a national strategy for eye care.
Keith is an adjunct professor in the Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences at the University of Toronto. He holds an M.Sc. in epidemiology, a Ph.D. in bio-organic chemistry, and an MBA.
James Hall
Director and Chief Financial Officer
James Hall is a marketing specialist with a financial background. His career focus has been on the healthcare sector in Canada, the USA, and Europe. His expertise lies in knowledge translation and transfer among key stakeholders, utilizing media, events, and accredited education as delivery platforms.
At Rogers Media (1979–2003), James served as President of Healthcare and Financial Media, directing business units providing information services to health professionals through magazines, websites, digital media, tradeshows, and events. He was President of the Medical Education Network International (a Rogers Media subsidiary, 1996–2003), managing a database of medical research and knowledge-sharing programs for healthcare practitioner and pharmaceutical audiences. As owner of Keith Communications Inc. (2003–present), James provides media services to healthcare associations, including sponsorship, advertising, events, and accredited learning. He is currently a Director and Treasurer of the Pharmaceutical Advertising Advisory Board (PAAB), a Health Canada-endorsed regulatory service for marketing communications.
Luna Bengio
Director and Senior Accessibility Consultant and Strategic Advisor
Luna Bengio is a seasoned leader in accessibility and inclusion with over 35 years of experience as a senior executive in the federal public service. As a blind person, Luna combines personal perspective with professional expertise to drive meaningful change.
In government, she served as Principal Advisor to the Deputy Minister of Public Service Accessibility at the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, where she led the creation of the Government of Canada Workplace Accessibility Passport. She has since supported departments as a senior accessibility advisor, designing training, communications, and guidance on culture change and workplace accommodations.
Luna has delivered hundreds of workshops, published articles on accessibility, and serves on technical committees for Accessibility Standards Canada. She also contributes to governance at Hôpital Montfort.
Through strategic advisory work and community partnerships, Luna continues to advance accessibility, strengthen inclusive workplaces, and amplify the voices of people with disabilities across Canada.
Jim Sanders
C.M., Director
Jim Sanders is a respected leader in the blindness and disability community with over four decades of service at the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB), where he retired as President and Chief Executive Officer in 2009. Over his career, he also served as Executive Director of the Alberta-Northwest Territories and British Columbia-Yukon divisions, and as CNIB’s National Vice-President of Services.
Born with congenital glaucoma, Jim describes himself as an able-bodied person who is blind. His lived experience has guided his leadership in advancing accessibility, technology adoption, and support for Canadians with vision loss. Post-retirement, he has chaired the Minister’s Advisory Council on the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and the National Disability Advisory Council on Medical Assistance in Dying, and served as President of the North America-Caribbean Region of the World Blind Union. Jim continues to be a sought-after speaker on leadership and living successfully with blindness.