Chair 

Professor Mei Krishnasamy
Professor of Nursing (Cancer), Department of Nursing, University of Melbourne; VCCC Alliance Cancer Nursing Lead

Prof Krishnasamy is Professor of Nursing in the Department of Nursing at the University of Melbourne, the VCCC Alliance Cancer Nursing Lead, and honorary Research Fellow in the Centre for Health Services Research in Cancer at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. Her career has been defined by a commitment to advancing equity of access to evidence-informed cancer care by developing the capability of nurses to develop and implement value-based health service innovation. She has an established record of collaborative co-design research focusing on the development and evaluation of approaches of care and strategies targeted at improving patient and carer experiences of living with cancer, demands of treatment and symptom profiles, linking experience of care innovation to improved patient outcomes. 

Speakers

Kate Whittaker
Acting Director, Cancer Care Policy, Cancer Council Australia 

Kate has spent over 10 years in cancer-related roles. She has overseen the development of national policies across the cancer continuum to influence health and social support systems, and the social determinants on equitable cancer outcomes. She has published and presented on the topics of the financial costs of cancer, and socioeconomic cancer disparities, and is currently involved in the development of four population based Optimal Care Pathways, including the Optimal Care Pathway for people with disability which is being developed by Cancer Council Australia in partnership with the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations and the Melbourne Disability Institute. This project is funded by the Commonwealth of Australia represented by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.

Louise Pearson
Lived Experience Leader

Louise is an experienced grief and bereavement Counsellor and Mental Health Social Worker, specialising in Gestalt Psychotherapy. She runs a private practice providing counselling to people who are bereaved, support to people with disabilities, and those who have chronic or life-limiting illnesses. She assists them to adjust to the often-changing nature of their conditions as they progress.

Louise has lived experience of both disability and diagnoses of cancer. At ten months old, her eyes were both removed, leaving her totally blind, when it was discovered that she had a cancer called Retinoblastoma. Some fifty years later, she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and has been lucky enough to live with it (through the treatments on offer), for over four-and-a-half years now.

Over this time, she has gained valuable insight into how the system works; where things are done well with inclusion in mind, and also where the gaps in service provision are felt by people with disabilities. As someone who is passionate about creating change, she will be happy to share some of these insights with you, believing that if she encourages even a small number of professionals to pause, reflect, or try something new, it will have achieved its purpose.

Alison Stanyer
Client Participation Manager, Scope Australia

Alison Stanyer holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Disability Studies and is an experienced professional with over 15 years in the disability sector. She has a background in case management and leadership and is committed to amplifying the voices and aspirations of people with disability. Alison’s work with Scope enables her to play a pivotal role in creating an inclusive environment that ensures meaningful participation for individuals with disability.