{"id":3180,"date":"2023-10-06T01:07:18","date_gmt":"2023-10-06T01:07:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bct2023.org\/?page_id=3180"},"modified":"2026-07-28T23:29:07","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T23:29:07","slug":"guest-speakers","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bct2026.org\/?page_id=3180","title":{"rendered":"Guest Speakers"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Introducing our Speakers for #BCT2026<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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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.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Jana de Boniface <\/a> <\/h3>\n

\n International Guest Speaker <\/p>\n <\/div>\n \n \n

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Jana de Boniface <\/a> <\/h3>\n International Guest Speaker<\/span>\n

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Jana de Boniface is a general surgeon trained in Berlin, Germany, and Stockholm, Sweden.<\/p>

Her clinical dedication lies in breast surgery and specifically in oncoplastic and reconstructive breast surgery, which she practices as a consultant at Capio Saint G\u00f6ran\u2019s Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden.<\/p>

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.<\/p>

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.<\/p>

In recognition of her patient-centred and implementation-focused work, she received both the Annual Award by the patients\u2019 national breast cancer association of Sweden and the Jubilee Award by the Swedish Medical Association in 2024.<\/p> <\/p>\n

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Giuseppe Curigliano <\/a> <\/h3>\n

\n International Guest Speaker <\/p>\n <\/div>\n \n \n

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Giuseppe Curigliano <\/a> <\/h3>\n International Guest Speaker<\/span>\n

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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.<\/p>

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.<\/p>

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.<\/p>

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).<\/p>

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.<\/p>

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.<\/p> <\/p>\n

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Bruce Mann <\/a> <\/h3>\n

\n Conference Guest Speaker <\/p>\n <\/div>\n \n \n

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Bruce Mann <\/a> <\/h3>\n Conference Guest Speaker<\/span>\n

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Bruce Mann is Professor of Surgery at the University of Melbourne and Director of the Breast Service at the Royal Melbourne and Royal Women\u2019s Hospitals.<\/p>

He is also Director of Research at Breast Cancer Trials \u2013 Australia and New Zealand\u2019s cooperative breast cancer clinical trials organisation.<\/p>

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.<\/p><\/div> <\/p>\n

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Sunil Lakhani <\/a> <\/h3>\n

\n Conference Guest Speaker <\/p>\n <\/div>\n \n \n

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Sunil Lakhani <\/a> <\/h3>\n Conference Guest Speaker<\/span>\n

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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.<\/p>

Research interests include lobular carcinoma, triple negative and metaplastic breast cancer, and therapeutic development of brain metastases.<\/p>

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.<\/p>

He is the current Chair, of the Board of Directors, Breast Cancer Trials (BCT).<\/p><\/div><\/div> <\/p>\n

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Neda Haghighi <\/a> <\/h3>\n

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Neda Haghighi <\/a> <\/h3>\n Conference Guest Speaker<\/span>\n

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Dr\u00a0Neda\u00a0Haghighi\u00a0graduated from the\u00a0faculty of health sciences,\u00a0University of Copenhagen, Denmark. After gaining the FRANZCR, she completed an extended\u00a0fellowship in\u00a0intra-cranial and extra-cranial Stereotactic Radiotherapy at\u00a0the Alfred\u00a0Hospital in Melbourne.<\/p>

She leads the Victorian Gamma Knife service and the neuro-oncology unit at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre\u00a0and at Icon Cancer Centre\u00a0in Richmond.<\/p>

Dr\u00a0Haghighi\u00a0is a primary investigator and co-investigator of international and local clinical trials, relating to\u00a0radiation\u00a0treatment\u00a0and radiosurgery for primary and secondary brain tumors.<\/p>

Dr Haghighi has published several peer-reviewed journal articles in high-impact neuro-oncology journals. She is an active member of the International Society of Radiosurgery (ISRS), the International Radiosurgery Research Foundation (IRRF), Trans Tasmanian Radiation Oncology Group (TROG), and Cooperative Trials Group for Neuro-Oncology (COGNO).<\/p>

Dr Haghighi chairs the Stereotactic Interest Group of Australasia (SIGA) and is a committee member on CNS disease-specific interest groups. She possesses superior knowledge in the management of tumors of the brain and spine, with special interest in radiosurgery for the treatment of skull base tumors as well as functional neurological disorders.<\/p> <\/p>\n

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Jocelyn Lippey <\/a> <\/h3>\n

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Jocelyn Lippey <\/a> <\/h3>\n Conference Guest Speaker<\/span>\n

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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.<\/p>

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.<\/p>

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.<\/p>

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\u00a0of study for The University of Sydney\u2019s 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\u2019s Clinical School.<\/p>

She practices at St Vincent\u2019s Hospital Melbourne, BreastScreen Victoria and VBOC.<\/p>

 <\/p> <\/p>\n

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Rachel Dear <\/a> <\/h3>\n

\n Conference Guest Speaker <\/p>\n <\/div>\n \n \n

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Rachel Dear <\/a> <\/h3>\n Conference Guest Speaker<\/span>\n

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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.<\/p>

An Associate Professor at UNSW Sydney, Associate Professor Dear\u2019s 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.<\/p>

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.<\/p> <\/p>\n

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Tadahiko Shien <\/a> <\/h3>\n

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Tadahiko Shien <\/a> <\/h3>\n Conference Guest Speaker<\/span>\n

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Dr Tadahiko Shien has been a faculty member at Okayama University Hospital since 2008 and was appointed Professor and Chief of the Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgery in 2023. <\/span><\/div>
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Dr Shien is a leading figure in Japan's breast cancer research and surgery, serving as the Representative of the JCOG Breast Cancer Study Group and a Council Member of Breast Surgery International.<\/span><\/div><\/div> <\/p>\n
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Heath Badger <\/a> <\/h3>\n

\n TC Forum Guest Speaker <\/p>\n <\/div>\n \n \n

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Heath Badger <\/a> <\/h3>\n TC Forum Guest Speaker<\/span>\n

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Heath Badger is the Chief Operating Officer \u2013 Research at Breast Cancer Trials (BCT). In this role, he provides senior leadership across BCT\u2019s national and international clinical trials portfolio, with responsibility for research operations, governance, and strategic delivery.<\/p>

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\u2011quality, investigator\u2011initiated research.<\/p>

Heath has a strong interest in patient\u2011centred research, cross\u2011sector collaboration, and the responsible adoption of innovation to strengthen the design, delivery, and impact of clinical trials.<\/p> <\/p>\n

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Julia Dixon-Douglas <\/a> <\/h3>\n

\n TC Forum Guest Speaker <\/p>\n <\/div>\n \n \n

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Julia Dixon-Douglas <\/a> <\/h3>\n TC Forum Guest Speaker<\/span>\n

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Dr Julia-Dixon Douglas is a Medical Oncologist at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, working within the breast cancer unit.<\/p>

Julia is also a clinical fellow with Breast Cancer Trials, and is currently undertaking a fellowship project titled: UNRAVEL-TNBC - Uncovering Regulators of Response and Resistance to Immunotherapy in Early-Stage Triple Negative Breast Cancer.<\/p>

The overall aim is to identify potential biomarkers to individually tailor neoadjuvant immunotherapy in early-stage TNBC. The specific aims to be investigated separately for each cohort are to:<\/p>