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 Hon Greg Hunt MP shares a message with the Blood Cancer Taskforce and the whole blood cancer community as part of Blood Cancer Awareness Month 2021.
Uniting the blood cancer community
Co-chaired by Chris Tanti (CEO, Leukaemia Foundation) and Professor John Seymour (Director Department of Clinical Haematology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre & Royal Melbourne Hospital), the Taskforce unites 32 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, Consumer representative
Dr Sharon Avery, Cairns Base Hospital
Dr John Bashford, Icon Group; Private Cancer Physicians of Australia
A/Professor Kate Burbury, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Dr Joe Collins AM, Lions Club International
Dr Michael Dickinson, Lymphoma Australia, Chair Medical Subcommittee
Dr Chris Fraser, Australian and New Zealand Children’s Haematology/Oncology Group (ANZCHOG)
Professor Maher Gandhi, Mater Research Institute
Professor David Gottlieb, Westmead Hospital
Dr Nada Hamad, Australia New Zealand Transplant and Cellular Therapies (ANZTCT) society
Professor Tim Hughes, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute
A/Professor Steven Lane , Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital; QIMR Berghofer; Haematology Society of Australia and New Zealand Council (HSANZ)
Professor Paula Marlton, Princess Alexandra Hospital
Kirstee Macbeth, Snowdome Foundation
Dr Robert Menz, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
Sharon Millman, Lymphoma Australia
A/Professor Peter Mollee , Australasian Leukaemia & Lymphoma Group (ALLG)
Carmel O’Kane, Cancer Nurses Society of Australia
Professor Miles Prince AM, Snowdome Foundation; Myeloma Australia; Epworth Hospital
Steve Roach, Myeloma Australia
Professor Andrew Roberts AM, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
Professor John Seymour AM (co-chair), Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre & Royal Melbourne Hospital
Deborah Sims, Blood cancer survivor
Delaine Smith, ALLG
Elizabeth de Somer , Medicines Australia
Megan Varlow, Cancer Council Australia
Richard Vines, Chairman, Rare Cancers Australia
Dr Meg Wall, 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.
