Supported by the Federal Government, the Blood Cancer Taskforce was established in September 2019 to deliver Australia’s first National Strategic Action Plan for Blood Cancer.
The Blood Cancer Taskforce and Secretariat team in a recent virtual meeting.
Uniting the blood cancer community
Co-chaired by Carrie Hillyard (Chairman, Leukaemia Foundation) and Professor John Seymour (Director Department of Clinical Haematology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre & Royal Melbourne Hospital), the Taskforce unites 29 of Australia’s leading haematologists, researchers, patients and members of the blood cancer community.
They are working together to provide the blueprint that will help tackle the key issues in blood cancer, today and into the future.
Current Blood Cancer Taskforce Members
Professor Sanchia Aranda AM, former CEO, Cancer Council Australia
Dr Sharon Avery, Haematologist, Cairns Base Hospital
Dr John Bashford, Director of Research, Icon Group; Private Cancer Physicians of Australia
A/Professor Kate Burbury, Consultant Haematologist; Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Dr Joe Collins AM, Representative, Lions Club International
Dr Michael Dickinson, Haematologist and Disease Group Lead Aggressive Lymphoma (Peter MacCallum); Lymphoma Australia, Chair Medical Subcommittee
Dr Chris Fraser, Chair Executive Council, Australian and New Zealand Children’s Haematology/Oncology Group (ANZCHOG)
Professor Maher Gandhi, CEO and Director of Clinical Research, Mater Research Institute
Professor David Gottlieb, Program Director BMT, Head Cell Therapies, Westmead Hospital
Barbie Hartigan, Advocate, Leukaemia Foundation Patient Support
Dr Carrie Hillyard AM (co-chair), Chair, Leukaemia Foundation
Professor Tim Hughes, Cancer Theme Leader, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute
Dr Paul Jackson , General Manager Knowledge Management, Cancer Australia
Professor David Joske, Chairperson, Solaris Cancer Care
A/Professor Steven Lane , Head of Cancer Program, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital; QIMR Berghofer; Haematology Society of Australia and New Zealand Council (HSANZ)
Professor Paula Marlton, Head of Leukaemia; Deputy Director Haematology, Princess Alexandra Hospital
Dr Robert Menz, SA&NT Council member, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
A/Professor Peter Mollee , Director, Australasian Leukaemia & Lymphoma Group (ALLG)
Carmel O’Kane, Cancer Nurse Practitioner; Vice President & Director Professional Practice, Cancer Nurses Society of Australia
Professor Miles Prince AM, Director of Molecular Oncology and Cancer Immunology Epworth, Snowdome Foundation; Myeloma Australia, Epworth Hospital
Professor Andrew Roberts AM, Laboratory Head; Joint Leader, Cancer Research and Treatments Theme, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
Professor John Seymour AM (co-chair), Director Department of Clinical Haematology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre & Royal Melbourne Hospital
Deborah Sims, Patient and advocate, Blood cancer survivor
Delaine Smith, CEO, ALLG
Elizabeth de Somer , CEO, Medicines Australia
Richard Vines, Chairman, Rare Cancers Australia
Dr Meg Wall, Unit Head, Genetics and Molecular Pathology, Monash Pathology; HSANZ
The Taskforce was supported by seven specialist Working Groups, led by members of the Taskforce and drawing on almost 100 external experts to contribute to the preparation of the National Strategic Action Plan for Blood Cancer.
We look forward to working together with the blood cancer community to launch and implement the National Action Plan and achieve zero lives lost to blood cancer by 2035.
