His Excellency the Honourable Hieu Van Le AC is the Foundation's Custodian of Vision in South Australia.

As Custodian of Vision, I’m honoured to support MDFA in its quest to raise awareness and find cures for the various macular diseases that can have devastating impacts on people’s lives

His Excellency was born in Central Vietnam in 1954 and arrived in Australia in 1977 with his wife, Lan. He spent his first three months in this country at a migrant hostel.

In Australia the Governor returned to study at the University of Adelaide, where he earned a degree in Economics and Accounting and later a Master of Business Administration.

His Excellency worked at the Australian Securities and Investments Commission from 1991 until 2009. In 1995 he was appointed a member to the SA Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Commission, later becoming the Deputy Chairman and then, in 2007, the Chairman – the first person of Asian background to hold the position.

After serving as Lieutenant Governor of South Australian (from August 2007), His Excellency was sworn in as Governor of South Australia in September 2014. It is understood he is the first Vietnamese-born person who has ever been appointed to a Vice-Regal position in the world.

His Excellency is patron of more than 200 organisations. He has been awarded the Australia Day Medal, the Centenary of Federation Medal, was appointed an officer in the Order of Australia (AO) and a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC). He has honorary doctorates from both Adelaide and Flinders universities.