Candidate Bio
Esther Baker, MA, MBA, joined Iowa Lions Eye Bank as executive director in January 2019. Esther has a background in non-profit management and program administration, strategic planning, change management, external relations, communication, and program evaluation. She was elected to her first term as an at-large member of the EBAA Board of Directors in June 2022 and re-elected in 2024. Her EBAA committee service includes four years on the Donor, Partner and Community Relations Committee and a two-year term on the Finance Committee. Esther also served as the board liaison to the DEI Committee. Esther was appointed to the Lions Club International Lions Eye Bank Core Group, which was formed in early 2020 to help set direction for all Lions eye banks and provide leadership to a larger global Lions Eye Bank working group, of which she is currently a member. Esther earned a master’s degree in Communication and a BA in telecommunications from Michigan State University and an MBA from the University of Iowa. For more than 25 years she has managed teams and led organizational change across a variety of institutions and roles.
Candidate Statement
I am honored to run for Speaker of the House. Having served two terms as an At-Large board member, I bring to the role a deep understanding of EBAA’s governance, a strong commitment to transparent communication, and a proven record of representing the diverse needs of our member eye banks.
As an eye banker who also draws upon decades of leadership experience across the nonprofit, health services, higher education, and communication sectors, I excel at listening deeply, synthesizing complex viewpoints, facilitating productive and focused discussions, and building relationships grounded in trust. My top strengths – Strategic, Ideation, Communication, Learner, and Individualization – help equip me to translate diverse member perspectives into clear direction and actionable insights.
The Speaker plays a vital role in ensuring that all voices are heard and the needs of all member organizations help shape our path forward. I am committed to facilitating effective House of Delegates meetings, communicating board actions with clarity, and serving as a thoughtful, balanced liaison between the HOD and the Board.
Prior Service
- 2022 – 2026 – EBAA Board of Directors
- 2024 – 2026 – Governance Committee
- 2023 – 2024 – EBAA Board Liaison to the DEI Committee
- 2022 – 2024 – Finance Committee
- 2020 – 2024 – Donor, Partner and Community Relations Committee (Vice Chair – 2022 – 2023)
