Helene (Lanie) Hutchison, an Icon of Change in Australia

Icons of Change International Awards 2025
Helene (Lanie) Hutchison
Ambassador, Link Vision Ltd
Former President and Board Member, Blind Alliance Australia
Co-designer, Blind Australian of the Year Award
Vice President and Executive Committee Member of the Geelong Branch, Blind Citizens Australia
Sustainable Development Goal 10 – Reduced Inequalities
Changemaker for Blind and Vision-Impaired Communities (Australia)
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In the global conversation on equality, accessibility is often seen as a technical challenge—ramps, signs, technologies. For Helene (Lanie) Hutchison, accessibility is something far deeper dignity, independence, and the right of every person to participate fully in society. Her career and community service, spanning more than a decade, tell the story of a leader who has consistently transformed systemic barriers into platforms of empowerment for Australians who are blind or vision impaired.
Her current role as Ambassador and long-time volunteer at Link Vision Ltd reflects her commitment to pairing vision with action. Link Vision is a not-for-profit that provides housing, employment, education, and retail opportunities for people with no or low vision. In this capacity, Hutchison has amplified national programs such as the Blind Australian of the Year Awards, ensuring recognition for individuals whose contributions might otherwise go unnoticed. Beyond volunteering, she has contributed to Link Vision’s broader mission—bridging practical support with advocacy, so that those living with vision impairment are not only served, but celebrated.
This national recognition framework did not appear overnight. Its roots trace back to Hutchison’s leadership at Blind Alliance Australia (2015–2019), where she served as President and Board Member. A by-the-blind, for-the-blind social and strategic alliance, the organisation became a proving ground for her vision of inclusive leadership. She co-designed and managed the Blind Australian of the Year Award, a groundbreaking national initiative that attracted sponsorship from organisations like RACQ and Redland City Council. By negotiating Link Vision’s acquisition of Blind Alliance Australia, Hutchison ensured the award’s sustainability and quadrupled its reach—a strategic move that embedded recognition of blind Australians’ achievements within a larger national platform.
Her earlier contributions with Blind Citizens Australia (2012–2015) were equally transformative. Serving as Vice President and Executive Committee Member of the Geelong Branch, she helped create Preferred Pathways, a partnership with Geelong City Council that introduced tactile ground indicators and braille signage connecting public transport to key civic destinations such as libraries, social centres, Centrelink, and NDIS offices. This initiative was not only adopted locally but replicated across councils nationwide, creating lasting improvements in accessibility for thousands of Australians.