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Advocacy and policy Blood Cancer Taskforce

Blood Cancer Taskforce

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.

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
  • Prof John Seymour AM (co-chair), Director Department of Clinical Haematology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre & Royal Melbourne Hospital
  • Chris Tanti (co-chair), CEO Leukaemia Foundation
  • Dr Sharon Avery, Haematologist, Alfred Health
  • Dr John Bashford, Director, Icon Research and Foundation President, Private Cancer Physicians of Australia
  • A/Prof Kate Burbury, Consultant Haematologist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
  • Dr Joe Collins AM, Lions Club International
  • Dr Michael Dickinson, Disease Group Lead of Aggressive Lymphoma, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre; Chair Medical Subcommittee, Lymphoma Australia
  • Prof Wendy Erber, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean of Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Western Australia
  • Dr Chris Fraser, Immediate Past Chair, Australian and New Zealand Children’s Haematology/Oncology Group (ANZCHOG)
  • Prof Maher Gandhi, Executive Director and Director of Clinical Research, Mater Research
  • Prof David Gottlieb, Director Blood Transplant and Cell Therapies Program, Westmead Hospital Sydney
  • Dr Nada Hamad, President, Australia New Zealand Transplant & Cellular Therapies (ANZTCT)
  • Deborah Henderson, Patient advocate
  • Prof Tim Hughes, Precision Medicine Theme Leader, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI); Consultant Haematologist, SA Pathology
  • Prof David Joske, Chairperson and Founder, Solaris Cancer Care
  • A/Prof Rishi Kotecha, Honorary Research Fellow and Consultant, Child and Adolescent Haematology and Oncology, Telethon Kids Institute
  • Dr Hui-Peng Lee, Lymphoma Lead Clinician; Flinders Medical Centre; President, HSANZ
  • Prof Paula Marlton, Head of Leukaemia, Princess Alexandra Hospital
  • Kirstee Macbeth, CEO Snowdome Foundation
  • Dr Robert Menz, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
  • Sharon Millman, CEO Lymphoma Australia
  • A/Prof Peter Mollee, Chair, Myeloma Disease Group Committee, and Co-Chair, High Grade Lymphoma Group, Australasian Leukaemia & Lymphoma Group (ALLG)
  • Carmel O’Kane, Cancer Nurse Practitioner, Cancer Nurses Society of Australia
  • Prof Miles Prince AM, Director Molecular Oncology and Cancer Immunology, Epworth Hospital
  • Prof Andrew Roberts AM, Laboratory Head, Joint Leader, Cancer Research and Treatments theme, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
  • Delaine Smith, CEO ALLG
  • Elizabeth de Somer, CEO Medicines Australia
  • Cindy Toms, Head of National Research and Data, Cancer Australia
  • Megan Varlow, Director Cancer Control Policy, Cancer Council Australia
  • Richard Vines, Chairman, Rare Cancers Australia
  • Dr Meg Wall, Genetic Pathologist and Haematologist Victorian Clinical Genetics Services; HSANZ Councillor; Monash Health

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.

Join the movement

Become a Leukaemia Foundation member

Meet some of our Taskforce members

Professor Tim Hughes

Meet the Blood Cancer Taskforce: Prof. Tim Hughes
Taskforce member Professor Tim Hughes

Carmel O’Kane

Meet the Blood Cancer Taskforce: Carmel O’Kane
Carmel O'Kane, Cancer Nurse Practitioner and Manager of the Wimmera Cancer Centre and the Vice President & Director Professional Practice for the Cancer Nurses Society of Australia.

Dr Rishi Kotecha

Meet the Blood Cancer Taskforce: Dr Rishi Kotecha
Taskforce member Dr Rishi Kotecha

Last updated on October 4th, 2024

Developed by the Leukaemia Foundation in consultation with people living with a blood cancer, Leukaemia Foundation support staff, haematology nursing staff and/or Australian clinical haematologists. This content is provided for information purposes only and we urge you to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis, treatment and answers to your medical questions, including the suitability of a particular therapy, service, product or treatment in your circumstances. The Leukaemia Foundation shall not bear any liability for any person relying on the materials contained on this website.