St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group is the oldest and only charitable provider of expert eye care in the Middle East. It transforms lives by saving sight and treating patients regardless of ethnicity, religion or the ability to pay. In the first part of this event, join CEO Dr Ahmad Ma’ali to learn about the historic foundations of the Eye Hospital and the achievements and challenges faced by its expert team today.

In 2016 the Eye Hospital Group embarked on a creative venture with renowned sculptor Mark Coreth. The result was a beautiful and thought-provoking work of art in bronze. Described as a ‘beacon of hope’, a gnarled and ancient olive tree bustling with majestic swifts stands proudly in the Muristan Clinic Garden. For the second part of this event, we are delighted to hear from the sculptor himself. In a pre-recorded exclusive conversation with Dr Matthew Glozier, Mark will consider and discuss the inspiration for the Swifts, and his reflections on this moving project that now has a global reach.

Mark Coreth is an internationally acclaimed artist (the lifesize sculpture of Frankel at Royal Ascot, unveiled by HM the Queen is among his work). He can count many of the Royal Family, as well as the Natural History Museum in London, amongst his collectors.

Dr Matthew Glozier is the Honorary Archivist for St John Ambulance Australia (NSW), and one of three expert authors of an upcoming book on the history of the St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group.

All proceeds from this talk will be split equally between St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group and the Museum. The Museum portion will go towards the conservation of the books and bound manuscripts in the Museum’s internationally significant library collection.