Introducing our Speakers for #BCT2026
The Annual Scientific Meeting brings together Breast Cancer Trials (BCT) members, breast cancer researchers, and those involved in the conduct of clinical trials, to learn more about recent advances in breast cancer research worldwide, and the developments in BCT-conducted clinical trials.
Jana de Boniface
International Guest Speaker
Jana de Boniface
International Guest Speaker
Jana de Boniface is a general surgeon trained in Berlin, Germany, and Stockholm, Sweden.
Her clinical dedication lies in breast surgery and specifically in oncoplastic and reconstructive breast surgery, which she practices as a consultant at Capio Saint Göran’s Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden.
She is a passionate teacher with annual oncoplastic courses attracting an international faculty. As a clinical professor at Karolinska Institutet, she is well known for her large international SENOMAC trial in axillary surgery de-escalation and conducts both register-based and prospective clinical research aiming to individualise breast and axillary surgery in breast cancer to minimise its potentially negative impact on patients' quality of life without compromising survival outcomes.
Recently, she also dove into the area of exercise oncology, where she runs the largest internationally randomised trial on exercise as an addition to primary systemic therapy.
In recognition of her patient-centred and implementation-focused work, she received both the Annual Award by the patients’ national breast cancer association of Sweden and the Jubilee Award by the Swedish Medical Association in 2024.
Giuseppe Curigliano
International Guest Speaker
Giuseppe Curigliano
International Guest Speaker
Giuseppe Curigliano, MD, PhD, is the director of the Early Drug Development Division and holds the co-chair for Experimental Therapeutics Program at the European Institute of Oncology, a comprehensive cancer center in Milano, Italy. He is a steering committee member of the Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology at the University of Milano. Moreover, he is a member of the Italian National Health Council, serving as advisor of the Ministry of Health for cancer policy issues.
He worked at the Columbia University Comprehensive Cancer Center in New York, USA, developing experience in preclinical and translational research. He was also a visiting scholar at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School in Boston, USA. At the European Institute of Oncology, he served as Co-Director of the Division of Medical Oncology until 2014.
Professor Curigliano obtained his medical and specialist degree from the Catholic University in Rome, Italy. He is a specialist in Medical Oncology. He obtained a PhD in Clinical Pharmacology at the University of Pisa, Italy.
Professor Curigliano served as an expert panel member issuing the AIOM, ESMO, and ASCO guidelines in breast cancer and germline gene testing recommendations. He co-chaired for several years the scientific committee of the St Gallen Early Breast Cancer Conference. He is also a scientific board member of EUSOMA (European Society of Breast Cancer Specialists). He is serving as a member of the Scientific Board of the International Breast Cancer Study Group (IBCSG). He is serving on the executive board of the Breast International Group (BIG).
Professor Curigliano is the principal investigator and steering committee member of numerous breast and early development clinical trials, particularly with innovative targeted compounds and individualized treatment strategies. His translational research focusses on the field of biomarkers and personalised therapies, biomarker discovery, development of targeted agents, and implementation of personalised medicine. His team includes 40 people (including medical staff, research nurse, oncology nurse, and medical oncology residents) working on basic sciences, bioinformatics, biotechnologies, and clinical research. He is also leading phase I-III trials testing targeted agents in the field of breast cancer, agnostic and large national trials testing the implementation of high-throughput technologies in the health care system.
He has a strong interest in artificial intelligence and established in the University of Milano the first Master's in Artificial Intelligence in Cancer Medicine.
Bruce Mann
Conference Guest Speaker
Bruce Mann
Conference Guest Speaker
Bruce Mann is Professor of Surgery at the University of Melbourne and Director of the Breast Service at the Royal Melbourne and Royal Women’s Hospitals.
He is also Director of Research at Breast Cancer Trials – Australia and New Zealand’s cooperative breast cancer clinical trials organisation.
His interests relate to systems for optimal breast cancer care and research to improve early diagnosis and tailor the extent of breast cancer treatment to the individual patient.
Sunil Lakhani
Conference Guest Speaker
Sunil Lakhani
Conference Guest Speaker
Professor Sunil Lakhani is a clinical diagnostic and molecular pathologist. He is a Senior Staff Specialist, at Pathology Queensland and a Group Leader, at Molecular Breast Pathology, University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, Brisbane, Australia.
Research interests include lobular carcinoma, triple negative and metaplastic breast cancer, and therapeutic development of brain metastases.
He was the Editor of the WHO 4th and 5th Ed Tumours of the Breast (2012, 2019). He is the recipient of the Distinguished Pathologist Medal, Australasian Division of IAP, and the Distinguished Fellow Award from the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia. In 2017, he was elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences.
He is the current Chair, of the Board of Directors, Breast Cancer Trials (BCT).
Neda Haghighi
Conference Guest Speaker
Neda Haghighi
Conference Guest Speaker
Dr Neda Haghighi is an experienced radiation oncologist at Icon Cancer Centre Richmond and Icon Cancer Centre Holmesglen. She has superior knowledge in the management and treatment of brain and spinal tumours and has completed an extended fellowship in intracranial and extracranial stereotactic radiation therapy.
Dr Haghighi maintains a strong interest in clinical research relating to stereotactic treatment of CNS conditions and oligometastatic disease. She is the primary investigator; co-investigator and trial management committee member of several clinical trials in the field of CNS-related malignancies at Icon Cancer Centre and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.
She is an active member of Trans Tasmanian Radiation Oncology Group (TROG), Cooperative Trials Group for Neuro-Oncology (COGNO) and International Society of Radiosurgery (ISRS) and is a committee member on several CNS-related interest groups. She has a special interest in radiosurgery for the treatment of benign base of skull conditions as well as functional neurological disorders.
Dr Haghighi has published journal articles relating to stereotactic radiotherapy and has been an invited speaker at conferences and meetings relating to intracranial conditions and radiosurgery. She has written several of the departmental protocols relating to stereotactic radiation therapy treatment of benign and malignant conditions.
Jocelyn Lippey
Conference Guest Speaker
Jocelyn Lippey
Conference Guest Speaker
Dr Jocelyn Lippey is committed to providing expert, quality, comprehensive, and compassionate care to all her patients. As a fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, she is a qualified general surgeon with subspecialty training in breast surgery. She specialises in the care of all breast conditions, including benign breast conditions and breast cancer. She is passionate about patient outcomes and satisfaction and has a strong interest in oncoplastic and reconstructive breast surgery.
Jocelyn obtained a Bachelor of Medicine from the University of Newcastle and became a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in 2013. She undertook surgical training at The Austin Hospital, followed by a Fellowship in breast cancer surgery through BreastSurgANZ at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Royal Perth and Fiona Stanley Hospitals.
She is actively involved in medical education and research, currently completing a PhD into improving Breast cancer screening for which she received an NBCF practitioners grant and is the current recipient of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons Herbert and Gloria Keys Scholarship. She was the 2015 recipient of the John Collins Medal from the ANZBCTG for young surgical researchers. Her research interests include early breast cancer, risk communication, tailored breast screening and DCIS as well as oncoplastic and reconstructive surgery.
Jocelyn is a board member of BreastScreen Victoria and sits on the Scientific Advisory Committee for Breast Cancer Trials. She is a passionate educator, being the prior coordinator of a unit of study for The University of Sydney’s Masters of Breast Surgery, and is an instructor on two Royal Australasian College of Surgeon courses for junior surgical trainees. She also teaches medical students at St. Vincent’s Clinical School.
She practices at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, BreastScreen Victoria and VBOC.
Rachel Dear
Conference Guest Speaker
Rachel Dear
Conference Guest Speaker
Associate Professor Rachel Dear MBBS (Hons I), PhD, FRACP is a senior staff specialist and medical oncologist at The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, St Vincent's Hospital Sydney, where she has been dedicated to the care of breast cancer patients for over a decade.
An Associate Professor at UNSW Sydney, Associate Professor Dear’s research focuses on breast cancer dormancy and plasticity, bone health, and the impact of bone fractures on cancer recurrence. She is deeply committed to advancing patient care and improving quality of life.
In partnership with the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, she leads investigator-initiated clinical trials and brings significant expertise as a principal investigator on numerous industry-sponsored studies.
Sara Hurvitz
International Guest Speaker
Sara Hurvitz
International Guest Speaker
Dr Sara Hurvitz is a medical oncologist and clinical research leader who is senior vice president of the Clinical Research Division at Fred Hutch and head of the Division of Hematology and Oncology at the University of Washington Department of Medicine.
A graduate of the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, Hurvitz is an international expert in breast oncology and a leader in clinical and laboratory-based oncology research, with extensive experience leading clinical trials in all phases.
Dr Hurvitz works to boost the national reputation of the solid tumor clinical research program and oversees the continued growth of clinical research programs in stem cell transplantation and cell therapy, hematologic cancers and nonmalignant hematology.
Dr Hurvitz has contributed extensively to the growth of clinical research programs since joining the University of California, Los Angeles as a resident in 1999. She is a member of the American College of Physicians, the American Society of Hematology, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Association for Cancer Research and the European Society of Medical Oncology.
Chihwan David Cha
International Guest Speaker
Chihwan David Cha
International Guest Speaker
Dr Chihwan David Cha is a breast surgeon and clinician scientist at Hanyang University Hospital in Seoul, South Korea, with specialised expertise in hereditary breast cancer, male breast cancer, and translational research integrating multi-omics data.
He is an active member of the Korean Breast Cancer Study Group (KBCSG) and plays a leading role in the international collaborative research initiatives, including the Oceania-Asia Collaboration Study (OASIS) project.
Dr Cha is a co-principal investigator of the male breast cancer study within the OASIS, which is dedicated to advancing the understanding of male breast cancer in Asian populations.
Through this initiative, he contributes to multinational cohort analyses aimed at elucidating clinicopathologic features, treatment patterns, and long-term survival outcomes across diverse populations.
In parallel, he is a key investigator in the Korea Robot-endoscopic minimal access Breast Surgery Study Group (KoREa-BSG)–led BRCA carrier cohort study, a large-scale, multicenter research program focusing on long-term oncologic outcomes and contralateral breast cancer risk in patients with BRCA1/2 mutations. His research interests include recurrence patterns and long-term surgical outcomes, with the goal of refining risk stratification for BRCA mutation carriers.
In the translational research domain, his work integrates multi-omics approaches with spatial transcriptomic analyses, particularly in triple-negative breast cancer and male breast cancer, to investigate tumor heterogeneity and immune microenvironmental features. He also serves as Executive Secretary of the Surgical Procedure and Technique Committee of the Korean Breast Cancer Society.
In recognition of his research contributions, Dr Cha received the Academic Achievement Award at the Global Breast Cancer Conference (GBCC) in 2025 and was selected for the 2026-2027 ASCO International Clinical Research Scholars Program.
Haryana Dhillon
Conference Guest Speaker
Haryana Dhillon
Conference Guest Speaker
Professor Haryana Dhillon is a behavioural scientist and psycho-oncologist at the University of Sydney, working with people who are living with cancer or working through cancer survivorship. She is President Elect of the Cancer Survivorship Group at Clinical Oncology Society of Australia (COSA) and Chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee at Psycho-oncology Co-operative Research Group (PoCoG).
Professor Dhillon is also Co-Chair of the OXTOX trial. She was Co-Chair of the CHALLENGE trial, a study endorsed by the AGITG, and one of the earliest pioneers of the AGITG.
Amy McCart Reed
Conference Guest Speaker
Amy McCart Reed
Conference Guest Speaker
Associate Professor Amy McCart Reed holds a PhD in molecular biology from The University of Queensland. She is a Fellow of the Faculty of Science of the Royal College of Pathologists Australasia.
Her early postdoctoral work focused on understanding the genetic basis of colorectal cancer using experimental disease models, as part of a Cancer Research UK-funded colorectal cancer program led by Professors Ian Tomlinson and Andrew Silver.
After returning to Australia, she was recruited to the Molecular Breast Pathology group at UQ’s Centre for Clinical Research and has undertaken a series of studies investigating the genomic landscape of breast cancer special types.
Amy's research program includes studies on Metaplastic breast cancer and Invasive Lobular Carcinoma, two breast cancer special types in need of targetted therapy options.
Associate Professor McCart Reed is the scientific lead on an MRFF-funded genomics program investigating the potential for the application of Whole Genome Sequencing in the breast cancer care pathway in Australia, 'Q-IMPROvE'. She applies genomics and spatial transcriptomics methodologies to archival clinical samples to understand the differences between tumour types and their potential for treatment. Amy is passionate about clinical research, biobanking and precision oncology.
In addition to her breast cancer research portfolio, she is on the steering committee for the Brisbane Breast Bank and the Scientific Advisory Board for Breast Cancer Trials.
Nicola Lowrey
Conference Guest Speaker
Nicola Lowrey
Conference Guest Speaker
Dr Nicola Lowrey is a Radiation Oncologist offering treatment to Mater Private Hospital Brisbane and Mater Hospital Brisbane patients at Princess Alexandra Hospital Raymond Terrace (ROPART), located on Mater’s South Brisbane campus, Mater Hill.
Dr Lowrey completed her Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery at The University of Queensland.
Prior to this, she worked as a Radiographer after completing a Bachelor of Applied Science in Medical Imaging Technology at the Queensland University of Technology.
Following radiation oncology training in tertiary hospitals across Brisbane, Dr Lowrey was awarded a fellowship with the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR).
She is also a member of the RANZCR Breast Cancer Special Interest Group.
Dr Lowrey gained specialty experience managing breast cancer, while investigating the use of advanced technologies in breast radiation planning during a 12-month clinical research fellowship with the University of Toronto and the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto, Canada — the largest cancer care centre in Canada and one of the five largest in the world.
She is an Associate Lecturer with the University of Queensland and is involved in the national accreditation of Radiation Oncology training sites around Australia.
She is dedicated to patient-centred, equitable care for all, while promoting the use of advanced technologies to improve outcomes for patients.
Peter Croucher
Conference Guest Speaker
Peter Croucher
Conference Guest Speaker
Professor Peter Croucher is the Director of the Cancer Plasticity and Dormancy Program and Head of the Bone Biology laboratory at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research.
His postdoctoral training was at the University of Cambridge and the University of Sheffield. He relocated to the University of Oxford’s Institute of Musculoskeletal Sciences as a Senior Research Fellow in 2001, returning to the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Sheffield in 2003 as Professor of Bone Biology. In 2009 he formed and led the new Department of Human Metabolism, and became the inaugural co-Director of the Mellanby Centre for Bone Research.
In 2011, Prof Croucher moved to Garvan to lead its Division of Bone Biology and to take up the inaugural Mrs Janice Gibson & the Ernest Heine Family Foundation Chair in Osteoporosis.
Prof Croucher is a leading international authority in cancer cell dormancy, mechanisms of cancer-associated bone disease and bone biology, publishing >180 peer-reviewed publications. He has made major contributions that have seen bone-targeted therapies adopted in clinical practice globally, including zoledronic acid and anti-RANKL therapies.
His esteem is evidenced by his leadership of international research consortia, including ProMis (PROstate Cancer MetastasIS co-funded by Movember and the Prostate Cancer Foundation) and the Wellcome Trust-funded Origins of Bone & Cartilage Disease program. From 2011-2016 he was Chair of the Cancer and Bone Society, the peak international body. Subsequently, from 2017-2019 he was President of the Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society, the premier Australasian society in bone and mineral metabolism.
Heath Badger
TC Forum Guest Speaker
Heath Badger
TC Forum Guest Speaker
Heath Badger is the Chief Operating Officer – Research at Breast Cancer Trials (BCT). In this role, he provides senior leadership across BCT’s national and international clinical trials portfolio, with responsibility for research operations, governance, and strategic delivery.
Heath has more than 24 years of experience in clinical trials operations, research governance, and organisational leadership, working closely with investigators, hospitals, cooperative trial groups, government agencies, and international partners to support the conduct of high‑quality, investigator‑initiated research.
Heath has a strong interest in patient‑centred research, cross‑sector collaboration, and the responsible adoption of innovation to strengthen the design, delivery, and impact of clinical trials.
Nadia Harbeck
International Guest Speaker
Nadia Harbeck
International Guest Speaker
Nadia Harbeck, MD, PhD, is Director of the Breast Center, the Center for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer, and holds the chair for Conservative Oncology at the Deptartment of OB&GYN, LMU University Hospital, Munich, Germany. She obtained her specialist degree (OB&GYN) at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and her medical degree from the Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich (LMU).
Professor Harbeck is the current chair of the ESMO (European Society for Medical Oncology) Early Breast Cancer Faculty; she served as ESMO Director of Education and member of the ESMO Executive Board (2023-2025) as well as Subject Editor of the ESMO Breast Cancer Guidelines (2022-2025). She was a member of the ASCO Annual Meeting Educational Committee (2022-2025). She is a member of the expert panel issuing the German AGO recommendations for breast cancer therapy (www.ago-online.de). She is co-director of the West German Study Group (www.wsg-online.com). From 2009-2015, she served on the EORTC Executive Board as chair of the Translational Research Division. Professor Harbeck is a principal investigator or steering committee member of numerous breast cancer trials, particularly with novel targeted compounds and individualized treatment strategies. She has a strong interest in eHealth and is a co-developer of CANKADO, an international digital patient diary (www.cankado.com).
Professor Harbeck is one of the most frequently cited clinical researchers worldwide (Highly Cited Researcher 2021-2024). She has authored more than 780 papers in peer-reviewed journals (h-index 103) and is coordinating editor-in-chief of Breast Care (Karger Publishers). She co-directed the annual ESMO AACR EORTC Methods in Clinical Cancer Research Workshop (MCCR) from 20218-2019 and 2022-2024 and is a panel member of several international breast cancer consensus conferences.
In 2025, Prof. Harbeck received the Bavarian Order of Merit from the Governor of Bavaria, Germany. She is an Adjunct Professor of the University of Vienna, Austria, and a recipient of the 2023 German Cancer Award and the 2020 ESMO Lifetime Achievement Award. She received several additional recognitions of her clinical and translational research, such as the 2021 UPO Award for Women in Academy and Research, the 2015 Bavarian Cancer Patient Award, the 2012 Claudia von Schilling Award, the 2008 EBCC Award, the 2002 AGO Schmidt-Matthiesen Award, a 2001 AACR Award, and the 2001 ASCO Fellowship Merit Award for the highest ranking abstract.
Nick Zdenkowski
Conference Guest Speaker
Nick Zdenkowski
Conference Guest Speaker
Dr Zdenkowski is a Medical Oncologist and Medical Advisor with Breast Cancer Trials.
He is the Chair of the BCT Scientific Advisory Committee and sits on the international PALLAS trial Steering Committee. He works on a broad range of breast cancer research, including shared decision-making, clinical trials, and patient-reported outcomes, particularly around neoadjuvant systemic therapy.
His PhD project resulted in the development of a decision aid for patients considering neoadjuvant systemic therapy for breast cancer. He has published widely, from patient-reported outcomes, and systematic reviews through to clinical trial outcomes. His clinical practice is at Lake Macquarie Private Hospital and Maitland Private Hospital in the Hunter Region in NSW Australia.
Elisabeth Elder
Conference Guest Speaker
Elisabeth Elder
Conference Guest Speaker
Professor Elisabeth Elder graduated from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden in 1992. She then completed her general surgical training together with a PhD in tumour biology in 2002.
After migrating to Australia, she specialised in breast cancer surgery at Concord Hospital, the Royal Hospital for Women and Royal North Shore Hospital. She completed her Australian surgical fellowship (FRACS) before taking up a staff specialist position in the Breast Cancer Institute at Westmead Hospital. Elisabeth returned to the Karolinska Hospital during 2009 to develop skills in oncoplastic breast surgery techniques.
Elisabeth is a Clinical Professor at University of Sydney and head of research at the Westmead Breast Cancer Institute. She is involved in numerous research projects and clinical trials as well as teaching of medical students and trainees.
Elisabeth is President of the Australasian Society of Breast Disease (ASBD) and one of the clinical leads to the Australian Breast Device Registry (ABDR). She is also an active member of Breast Surgeons in Australia and New Zealand (BreastSurgANZ) and previous chair of the oncoplastic committee. She is a former council member of Breast Surgeons International and on the editorial board of World Journal of Surgery and The Breast.
Carolyn Nickson
Conference Guest Speaker
Carolyn Nickson
Conference Guest Speaker
Associate Professor Carolyn Nickson leads a group of breast cancer researchers at the Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics in the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, as an extension to her role as lead of the Breast Cancer Policy and Evaluation stream at the Daffodil Centre, a joint venture between the University of Sydney and Cancer Council NSW.
She is a cancer epidemiologist with a background in mathematics, recognised for her expertise in cancer screening evaluation and her novel and multidisciplinary approaches to solving problems in this domain.
She has led major multidisciplinary research and policy projects, including the ROSA project (2018-2023) which was the first initiative in Australia to combine evidence reviews, data analysis, population modelling, health service provider surveys, policy analysis and stakeholder engagement to systematically investigate options for risk-based breast screening in Australian health policy and practice.www.cancer.org.au/go/rosabreast.
Her current projects include cohort studies of breast cancer risk factors and screening outcomes, modelling genetic testing to help direct higher-risk people to targetted screening programs, and clinical collaborations evaluating contrast-based breast imaging for routine surveillance. Her team is located in Melbourne and Sydney.
Belinda Yeo
Conference Guest Speaker
Belinda Yeo
Conference Guest Speaker
Dr Belinda Yeo is jointly appointed to the Austin Hospital in Melbourne, Australia, as a Medical Oncologist and to the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute as a Clinician Scientist with a specific interest in breast cancer.
She trained in Sydney before joining the Breast Unit at The Royal Marsden Hospital, London as a Clinical and Research Fellow. She completed a Master’s Degree at The University of London and The Institute of Cancer Research in novel genomic and non-molecular breast cancer risk assays.
She is co-lead of the VCCC Research and Education of the Breast Tumour Stream, she is a clinical trial investigator and continues her translational research investigating improving personalisation and minimising toxicities for patients with breast cancer.
Rebekah Laidsaar-Powell
Conference Guest Speaker
Rebekah Laidsaar-Powell
Conference Guest Speaker
Dr Rebekah Laidsaar-Powell is a Senior Lecturer and Cancer Institute NSW Early Career Research Fellow within the School of Psychology. She is dedicated to developing and conducting clinically relevant and impactful research which improves the clinical care and psychosocial well-being of individuals living with chronic physical and/or mental health conditions, and their family carers. She has over 15 years' experience in conducting both qualitative and quantitative research in the healthcare setting. Since 2012, Rebekah has published more than 50 articles in international scientific journals and has been a Chief Investigator on grants totalling over $2.5 million in research funding.
Dr Laidsaar-Powell is internationally recognised for her research in the involvement of carers in the medical system and developed the first published clinical strategies for health professionals to manage and enhance communication with carers in oncology. She has lived experience as a family carer, and a deep understanding of the challenges and rewards of supporting a loved one with a chronic illness.
Rebekah is also an experienced and dedicated educator within the School of Psychology, as a Unit of Study Coordinator and Lecturer across the areas of health psychology and mental health conditions. In addition, she feels fortunate to educate and mentor the next generation of researchers as an Honours, Masters, and PhD student supervisor.
Julia White
International Guest Speaker
Julia White
International Guest Speaker
Julia White, MD, FACR, FASTRO is a Tenured Professor of Radiation Oncology, Vice Chair of Clinical Operations, Hall Family Foundation Endowed Professor of Clinical Science, in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Kansas Medical Center, and Professor Emeritus at The Ohio State University.
She is internationally recognized for her expertise in the local regional management of Breast Cancer and has a clinical practice dedicated to breast cancer management.
Her research focus is in the development, execution, analysis, and oversight of clinical trials for local regional management of breast cancer. She serves as Co-Chair of the Breast Cancer Committee for NRG Oncology, chaired the legacy Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) Breast Cancer Committee, and has served as a member of the NCI Breast Cancer Steering Committee.
Dr White has led numerous clinical trials addressing local regional management of breast cancer that have significantly impacted standards of care. She is extensively published and a frequently invited speaker nationally and internationally.
Marina Reeves
Conference Guest Speaker
Marina Reeves
Conference Guest Speaker
Professor Marina Reeves joins the Queensland University of Technology from the School of Public Health at the University of Queensland, where she is a Professor and Deputy Associate Dean Research (Researcher Development) in the Faculty of Medicine. An experienced academic leader, Marina is also an Advanced Accredited Practicing Dietitian and in 2021 was awarded the Dietitians Australia Barbara Chester Award for her leadership in dietetics in Queensland.
Her program of research is focused on the role of diet, physical activity, and weight/body composition in improving outcomes and quality of life for women diagnosed with breast cancer. Marina and her team have recently been awarded a $2M MRFF Rare Cancers Rare Diseases and Unmet Need grant to conduct a Queensland-wide phase III trial of an exercise and dietary intervention to improve the quality of life of women diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer (2022-2027). Marina completed her PhD at QUT and she is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Gillian Lamoury
Conference Guest Speaker
Gillian Lamoury
Conference Guest Speaker
A/Prof Gillian Lamoury is a Senior Staff Specialist and radiation Oncologist at Royal North Shore Hospital, and a VMO at GenesisCare, the Mater Hospital, Frenchs Forest, and North Shore Health Hub with a subspecialty interest in the treatment of breast cancer.
Gillian is the recent past Chair of the Breast Cancer Advisory Group (Cancer Australia 2018 -2020) and in 2014 was the inaugural Chair of the Breast Interest Group - Faculty of Radiation Oncology (BIG-FRO). She is also a member of the Strategic Advisory Group for Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA).
Gillian is a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Sydney, and is keenly involved in education, teaching, and research. She is the Principal Investigator on several international, national, and investigator-led trials at Royal North Shore Hospital and the Mater Hospital.
She is passionate about patient-centered and evidence-based care, including the delivery of high-quality treatments through advanced radiation therapy techniques for breast cancer.
Her philanthropic interests and passion for equitable access to high-quality cancer treatments led her to accept a Board position at the GenesisCare Foundation in 2020.
Josh Wiley
Conference Guest Speaker
Josh Wiley
Conference Guest Speaker
Dr Joshua Wiley is a behavioural medicine researcher with a focus on understanding and improving sleep and mental health, particularly in people after a cancer diagnosis.
Dr Wiley is currently appointed as a senior research fellow (equivalent to Asst. Professor) at Monash University in the School of Psychological Sciences and Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health (2016-present).
He studied health psychology and behavioural medicine, completing his PhD at the University of California at Los Angeles in 2015.
Subsequently, he trained in pragmatic randomised controlled trials (RCTs) through post doctoral with a primary care and prevention group.
Roslyn Francis
Conference Guest Speaker
Roslyn Francis
Conference Guest Speaker
Professor Francis is the Clinical Director of NCARD, leading a group of about 35 researchers and staff to conduct asbestos-related disease research. Roslyn’s specialty is in nuclear medicine, specifically medical imaging. Her areas of interest include novel molecular imaging and PET tracers. In addition to asbestos diseases, Roslyn is also active in oncology, cardiology, neurology and inflammatory disease.
Apart from her role at NCARD, Roslyn is the Deputy Director of the WA National Imaging Facility node. She was a co-founder of the Australian Centre for Quantitative Imaging and the Australasian Radiopharmaceutical Trials Network.
Michael Wagels
Conference Guest Speaker
Michael Wagels
Conference Guest Speaker
Dr Michael Wagels is a plastic and reconstructive surgeon known for his commitment to innovation, research, and complex surgical care. He operates at the Mater Private Hospital, Mackay.
Dr Wagels completed his surgical training in Adelaide, Brisbane, and Perth, and was awarded Fellowship in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in 2012. He holds a PhD from The University of Queensland, where his research into auto-transplanted muscle - aimed at preventing late surgical failures - continues to inform reconstructive practice today.
In 2014, he undertook a Fellowship in Hand Surgery at St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne, enhancing his expertise in microsurgery and upper limb reconstruction.
A leader in surgical innovation, Dr Wagels founded the Skin Lesion Assessment and Management (SLAM) model of care, which enables same-day assessment and surgical treatment of skin lesions across multiple Queensland Health services. He also established the Australian Centre for Complex Integrated Surgical Solutions and serves as Clinical Director of the Herston Biofabrication Institute—Australia’s first public health initiative dedicated to point-of-care medical device manufacturing and bio fabrication research.
Dr Wagels is a passionate educator and researcher. He has supervised 12 postgraduate research candidates and overseen more than 40 minor research projects. He also holds an academic appointment as Senior Lecturer at The University of Queensland.