Chair 

Dr James Todd

Medical Oncologist, Bathurst Health Service, NSW
 

Dr Todd completed his medical oncology training at Westmead, Blacktown and Nepean Hospitals, and has also completed his PhD at the Westmead Institute for Medical Research, studying the use of patients own immune cells to recognise and kill cancer. He has been the recipient of multiple awards for his research work throughout his PhD and has been an active member of the Working Committee of the Cancer Research Network, mentoring the next generation of cancer researchers in Sydney. As a medical oncologist, his focus is on treating patients with breast and gynaecological cancers.

Speakers

Professor Sabe Sabesan BMBS PhD FRACP
Senior Medical Oncologist Townsville Cancer Centre

Professor Sabesan is a senior Medical Oncologist at the Townsville Cancer Centre and the Clinical Director of the Australian Teletrial Program, Office of Research and Innovation, Queensland Health. He led the development of various teleoncology models including the Australasian Teletrial model to improve access to high quality care closer to home for RRR communities. As the President of COSA, he plans to advocate for creating equitable health system in Australia and healthier workplace culture as the foundation for workforce wellbeing. Prof Sabesan is actively involved in research that looks to enhance rural oncology outcomes and has received several grants to support his research and develop systems that better serve rural patients. He is an Associate Professor at James Cook University and is actively involved in curriculum design and coordinating oncology education. Prof Sabesan became a fellow of the Royal Australian College of Physicians in 2003.

Narelle McPhee
Cancer Research Manager, Bendigo Health; PhD Candidate, Monash University

Narelle's career in healthcare began as a dietitian in rural, regional, and metropolitan Victoria. Working as an oncology dietitian at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre provided her with research opportunities and led her to Bendigo Health. She has worked in project management and allied health education before her current position at Bendigo Cancer Centre, managing the clinical trials unit. Narelle's PhD research centres on improving the understanding of clinical trial participation barriers and enablers for rural Victorian residents.

Nada Bechara

District Clinical Trial Coordinator, Southern NSW Local Health District 

 Nada Bechara is the District Clinical Trial Coordinator for Southern NSW Local Health District and a Steering Group member for the VCCC Alliance National Regional Cancer program. 
Nada is passionate about medical research and adapting evidence-based practice and has been conducting clinical trials since commencing at Blacktown Hospital in 2019. Nada has a clinical podiatry background, most recently working as a senior podiatrist with Western Sydney Local Health District.

 

Additional Reading: 

Alexander, M., Collins, I., Abraham, P., Underhill, C., Harris, S., Torres, J., ... & Burbury, K. (2023). Telehealth in oncology: a cost analysis to evaluate the financial impact of implementing regional trial hubs within a phase 3 cancer clinical trial. Internal medicine journal, 53(12), 2346-2349.

McPhee, N. J., Hughes, D., & Ristevski, E. (2025). “It’sa reasonable gamble”—rural residents’ experience participating in cancer clinical trials at a single rural trial unit. Trials, 26(1), 1-10

Sabesan, S., Underhill, C., Thota, R., Sundquist, S., & Adewole, T. (2025). Decentralising clinical trial access requires a culture of health equity. The Lancet, 405(10492), 1816.