Our people
We’re proud and privileged to be able to count on so many people across Australia who share our values and want to help make change.
Our staff, leadership team and Board work tirelessly every day to cure and conquer blood cancer – with care.
We don’t have the space here to introduce all our staff but we’d like you to meet our CEO and Board.
Need help?
Leukaemia Foundation CEO
Chris Tanti
Chris has a long-held passion for improving health outcomes by making sure everyone gets the care they need, regardless of their circumstances and background.
His career has been characterised by the development of game-changing health services and he’s an accomplished CEO both in Australia and America, working across mental health, disability and aged care.
Chris has a background in social work and over the last 25 years has held national and international senior executive positions, including as CEO of Australia’s National Disability Services and Headspace.
In recent years he has managed his own consultancy, working with universities and health services.
Chris has considerable experience working with governments and in advocacy, program and organisational innovation, with qualifications from La Trobe and Melbourne universities and the Harvard Business School.
Chair of board
Lucio Di Giallonardo (Board Chair)
FCA, MAICD, BBus
Lucio has been a long-standing Board Director of the Leukaemia Foundation. Lucio is a Chartered Accountant and Managing Partner of HLB Mann Judd, Chartered Accountants in Perth, and brings vast financial, governance and strategy experience to the Board.
Lucio is very passionate about the work of the Leukaemia Foundation. In the mid-1990s Lucio was approached by one of his clients, Tim Goyder (who had just been diagnosed with Leukaemia) to join the Board of LFWA with Tim and to help in growing the organisation in Western Australia.
Lucio’s father-in-law was then diagnosed 10 years ago with a blood cancer, Myelodysplastic Syndrome and sadly passed away three years ago.
Board Director
Dr Angela Milligan
PhD Clin Psy, BSc (Hons), GradCert PolicyDev, MAICD
Dr Angela (Ange) Milligan has been a passionate supporter of the Leukaemia Foundation since 2011, when she first joined the Albany Creek Branch. She became the Branch Convenor in 2018, and in 2024, was honoured with Life Membership of the Leukaemia Foundation — a recognition of her outstanding service and dedication, nominated by her fellow Branch members.
Ange is deeply inspired by the Foundation’s Vision and Mission and has been profoundly moved by the personal stories of patients shared at conferences over the years — stories that highlight the life-changing impact of the Foundation’s support and fundraising efforts.
Since joining the Leukaemia Foundation Board in 2021, Ange has proudly represented members and stakeholders. She has also served as Chair of the Members, Branch, and Stakeholder sub-Committee of the Board, contributing to the organisation’s strategic direction and community engagement.
Professionally, Ange holds a PhD in Clinical Psychology and is an Industry Fellow at the University of Queensland. She is also a Partner Investigator on several Australian Research Council Linkage Grants and has previously worked as an Early Intervention Psychologist with Queensland Health.
In the Department of Education, Queensland, Ange has held senior leadership roles since 2015, including Director and Executive Director positions in Research and Policy. Her responsibilities have included overseeing ethics and risk reviews for research involving students and staff in state schools, as well as managing Education Horizon — the only dedicated education research grant scheme in Australia.
In 2022, Ange was appointed as a Non-Executive Director of the AEIOU Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation providing vital early intervention services to children with autism.
Ange’s commitment to the Leukaemia Foundation is also deeply personal. Over the years, she has supported several loved ones affected by blood cancer. In 2024, this connection became even more profound when her partner, Adrian, was diagnosed with Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL). As a carer, she now finds herself walking the same path as many others in the Leukaemia Foundation community.
Ange lives in Brisbane.
Board Director
Professor James Ward
PHD, FAHMS
Professor James Ward is a Pitjantjatjara and Narungga man and Director of the University of Queensland Poche Centre for Indigenous Health (2020-).
A national leader in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research, James has spent close to three decades building community-led programs, policy and research partnerships to improve outcomes in infectious diseases and public health.
His work spans more than 100 communities and has influenced national guidelines and clinical practice. James was previously Head of Infection and Immunity – Aboriginal Health, at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute 2014-2019 in Adelaide.
He is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences and an Australian Research Council Laureate Fellow.
James brings extensive expertise in equity, systems change and collaboration with the Aboriginal community-controlled health sector, helping the Leukaemia Foundation tackle the unacceptable disparities in cancer diagnosis, treatment and survivorship experienced by First Nations peoples.
Professor James Ward joined our Board in November 2025.
Board Director
Adjunct Professor Jane Hancock
EMPA (Exec MPA) MBA (Health), BEd (Nursing), DipAppSc Distinction (Nursing Education), EFP (ANZSOG), GAICD
Jane is the Chief Operating Officer atMetro North Health Hospital, Queensland Health.
She is strongly committed to value-based health care and the role of culture, strategy, measurement, and funding to deliver positive outcomes that matter to patients. Jane has a deep understanding of service delivery in metropolitan and rural and remote Queensland. Jane enjoys supporting and working in partnership with all members of the healthcare team and is committed to working in partnership to address the health inequalities and inequities that exist for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Jane was educated as a registered nurse and specialised in adult and paediatric critical care. Jane has an MBA (Health), Bachelor Education (Nursing). Dip App Science (Nursing) and is currently studying an Executive Masters Public Administration. Jane is a non-Executive Director of the Leukaemia Foundation Board Australia and is a Graduate Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).
Board Director
Professor John Seymour AM
MBBS, FRACP, FAHMS, PhD
Professor John Seymour is an internationally recognised haematologist whose leadership and research have shaped clinical practice for people with blood cancer for more than three decades.
Until recently he led the Haematology Department at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Royal Melbourne Hospital, and serves as an Honorary Professorial Fellow at the University of Melbourne’s Department of Medicine, bringing deep experience in translational research and patient-centred care.
John (MBBS, FRACP, FAHMS, PhD) co-chaired Australia’s National Blood Cancer Taskforce and was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2015 for significant service to haematology.
He is passionate about equitable access to world-class treatment and cancer support and is helping the Leukaemia Foundation accelerate the translation of evidence and discoveries into real-world cancer care.
Professor John Seymour joined our Board in November 2025.
Board director
Professor Mark Cormack
MHealthMan, BAppSc, GAICD
Professor Mark Cormack was appointed to the Australian National University (ANU) College of Health and Medicine in 2020, following a long career in the Commonwealth, ACT, and NSW government services. His professional background began as an allied health professional and health services manager. Over the years, he has held significant roles, including Chief Executive of ACT Health and Health Workforce Australia, and Deputy Secretary in the Commonwealth Departments of Health, Veterans’ Affairs, and Home Affairs.
In these positions, Mark’s portfolio has overseen a wide array of public and national health policy, including mental health, health financing, primary healthcare, workforce, research, health provider and public hospitals. As Deputy Secretary of the Australian Department of Health, he managed intergovernmental relations at Commonwealth, State and Territory levels, contributing to National Health Reform Agreements and numerous National Partnership Agreements. His work also extended to national program delivery, including oversight of Medicare, Primary Health Networks, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, and the Medical Research Future Fund.
In the area of national health workforce, he led policy, clinical training and workforce reform as the CEO of Health Workforce Australia. Internationally, he represented Australia at the OECD Health Committee and the WHO Western Pacific Region.
Additionally, Mark has contributed to national security as Deputy Secretary within the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (now Home Affairs) and responsible for Australian Defence Force workers compensation, veterans’ policy and program delivery through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Mark holds a professorial appointment at the National Centre for Health Workforce Studies at ANU and is pursuing a PhD researching policy change through intergovernmental health financing agreements.
His current roles include Independent Review Lead for the “Unleashing the Potential of our Health Professionals – Scope of Practice Review 2023” (appointed by Minister for Health & Aged Care); Non-Executive Director of the Leukaemia Foundation, and Associate Editor for the Australian Health Review. Mark’s interests lie in public policy, health system governance, and intergovernmental relations.
Board Director
Michelle Beveridge
MBA (Exec), BBus, FCPA, FACS, FGIA, FAICD
Michelle is a Chairperson, Committee and Board Director with over fifteen years of Board level experience across the commercial, government and not-for-profit sectors.
She has been a Chief Information Officer and Chief Operations Officer across a number of industries. Michelle has had a direct experience with cancer and is pleased to be able to apply her skills and experience to the Leukaemia Foundation.
Board Director
Nigel Harris AM
MBA, CFRE, FFIA, GAICD
Nigel Harris is Managing Director of Nigel Harris & Associates, an advisory practice specialising in philanthropy and fundraising leadership.
In a 40-year career, Nigel has held several executive leadership roles in non-profit organisations, most notably Chief Executive Officer of Mater Foundation (Queensland) for 24 years. Under Nigel’s leadership, Mater Foundation’s annual fundraising revenue grew from $2m to $73m, becoming one of Australia’s largest health charities and a major funder of medical research and clinical services.
Holding an MBA as well as qualifications in Public Relations and Marketing, Nigel is also a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD). In 2012 he was recognised as the Arthur Venn Australian Fundraising Professional of the Year and has also been recognised through other non-profit management awards.
Currently Chair of Act for Kids and a director of Leukaemia Foundation Australia, Nigel also serves on the Board of the Institute for Sustainable Philanthropy and the Management Committee of Braille House. He is a Fellow and Past Chair of Fundraising Institute Australia, a Fellow of the Institute of Managers and Leaders and Certified CEO through the CEO Institute. He has been active in community and sporting organisations for over four decades.
In June 2022, Nigel was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in recognition of his contribution to the non-profit sector and the broader community.
Board Director
Peter Hodgett
BSc (Hons)
Peter is a highly experienced non-executive Director who has previously served on the Boards of a number of substantial commercial organisations, including Medibank Private Limited.
With a professional background as an actuary, Peter provided his expertise with AMP from 1985 through until 2007. As Chief Actuary he had a leading role through the process of demutualisation and listing in 1998 with later roles including General Manager Strategy and Human Resources.
Peter has strong functional skills in finance, strategy and people and brings these three perspectives together in a coaching/challenging role as a Director.
Having spent many years engaging with senior leaders in business and government, Peter is committed to being a strong advocate for the Leukaemia Foundation in these circles, in both business and social contexts.
Peter’s strong interest in supporting the work of the Leukaemia Foundation primarily arises through the journey of two sisters who have each experienced (unrelated) leukaemia. His younger sister is a survivor from 20 years ago when Peter was fortunately able to donate bone marrow, and his elder sister was diagnosed 12 months ago.
Board Director
Siân Slade
BSc (Hons), MBA (Exec), MPH, GAICD
Nossal Institute for Global Health, University of Melbourne
Siân is a UK-trained pharmacist, MPH, MBA, GAICD qualified and PhD candidate in health navigation and global health systems and Enterprise Fellow (Honorary) at the University of Melbourne. With formative career years as a pharmacist in community and hospital, Siân joined the pharmaceutical industry in clinical development in the 1990s and spent 25 years in leadership roles (in research, development and commercialisation) based out of the UK, France, the USA and Australia. Siân’s interest in global health systems is based on being part of the collaborative global change working in HIV/AIDS in the 1990s and subsequently seeing family and friends navigate the challenges of being diagnosed with cancer. As well as publications in the academic and public health arena, Siân started a global collaborative social impact project #NavigatingHealth in 2021 alongside the PhD. Siân is a Board Director at the Leukaemia Foundation, Chair of LiverWELL, Chair of The Bridge Inc in Australia and Co-Chair of the International Social Prescribing Collaborative Steering Group. Siân is a past Chair of the Precision Health Community of Practice at the Australasian Institute of Digital Health. Siân is an active member of the American Cancer Society Global Alliance for Cancer Patient Navigation which formed in 2025.
A board director with the Leukaemia Foundation since 2021, Siân Chairs the Remuneration, Nominations and People Committee and is a member of the Clinical Governance Committee. Siân’s focus is ensuring patient are enabled to navigate the health care system from the first point of concern about symptoms and support them and their community wherever they live in Australia.
