Monday September 30, 2019

The Leukaemia Foundation established the Blood Cancer Taskforce with the support of the Federal Government to develop Australia’s first National Strategic Action Plan for Blood Cancer.

The Taskforce unites Australia’s leading haematologists, researchers, patients and members of the blood cancer ecosystem for the first time. Their role is to provide a blueprint to help tackle the key issues facing the blood cancer community today and into the future.

The formation of the Taskforce and development of the Plan mark a major milestone for the blood cancer community and will set the national agenda around blood cancer for many years to come.

They met for the first time on 30 September 2019, giving them the opportunity to discuss and agree on how they will achieve the publication and distribution of the National Strategic Action Plan for Blood Cancer Plan by June 2020.

The first step will see the formation of Working Groups led by members of the Taskforce to focus on key priorities identified in the State of the Nation: Blood Cancer in Australia report. These Working Groups will engage in consultation with key blood cancer stakeholders, review existing services, programs and literature, and commence the early stages of drafting the National Strategic Action Plan for Blood Cancer.

The members of the first National Blood Cancer Taskforce are:

• Professor Sanchia Aranda AM
  CEO
  Cancer Council Australia
  
• Dr Sharon Avery
  Haematologist
  Cairns Base Hospital
• Dr John Bashford
  Director of Research
  Icon Group & PCPA
• A/Professor Kate Burbury
  Consultant Haematologist;
  Deputy Chief Medical Officer
  Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
• Dr Joe Collins
  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
  ANZCHOG
• Professor Maher Gandhi
  CEO and Director of Clinical Research
  Mater Research
• Professor David Gottlieb
  Program Director BMT, Head Cell Therapies
  Westmead Hospital
• Barbie Hartigan
  Advocate
  Leukaemia Foundation Patient Support
• Professor Tim Hughes
  Cancer Theme Leader
  SAHMRI
• Dr Paul Jackson
  General Manager Knowledge Management
  Cancer Australia
• Professor David Joske
  Chairperson
  Solaris Cancer Care
• Melanie Kelly
  Director
  Insight Economics
• Dr Rishi Kotecha
  Consultant Paediatric Oncologist & Clinical Haematologist
  Perth Children’s Hospital; ANZCHOG
• A/Professor Steven Lane
  Head of Cancer Program
  QIMR Berghofer
  
• Professor Paula Marlton
  Head of Leukaemia; Deputy Director Haematology
  Princess Alexandra Hospital
  
• Dr Robert Menz
  SA&NT Council member
  RACGP
• A/Professor Peter Mollee
  Director
  Australasian Leukaemia & Lymphoma Group
• Carmel O’Kane
  Cancer Nurse Practitioner; Vice President & Director Professional Practice
  Cancer Nurses Society of Australia
• Leukaemia Foundation representative
  
• Professor Miles Prince AM
  Director of Molecular Oncology and Cancer Immunology Epworth
  Snowdome Foundation; Myeloma Australia, Epworth Hospital
  
• Professor Andrew Roberts
  Laboratory Head; Joint Leader, Cancer Research and Treatments Theme
  Walter and Eliza Hall Institute
• Professor John Seymour AM
  Director: Department of Haematology
  Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre & Royal Melbourne Hospital
• Deborah Henderson
  Patient and advocate
  Blood Cancer Survivor
• Dr Delaine Smith
  CEO
  Australasian Leukaemia & Lymphoma Group
  
• Elizabeth de Somer
  CEO
  Medicines Australia
• Dr Meg Wall
  Unit Head, Genetics and Molecular Pathology
  Monash Pathology; Haematology Society of Australia & New Zealand
  
• Dr Will Stevenson
  Haematologist
  Royal North Shore Hospital; Haematology Society of Australia & New Zealand
  
• Richard Vines
  Chairman
  Rare Cancers Australia