Chair 

A/Prof Wasek Faisal
Senior Medical Oncologist, Clinical Researcher, Ballarat Regional Integrated Cancer Centre

A/Prof Wasek Faisal is a senior Medical Oncologist and a mid-career Clinical Researcher in the field of Medical Oncology and Tumour Immunology. He has spearheaded the clinical trials unit at Grampians Health, which has seen a 280% growth in research activities since he joined the team in 2016. He is also a frequent reviewer of scientific papers submitted to high impact journals including BMJ, BMJ Open and is a current Editorial Review Board Member of the Journal of Cancer Control.

A/Prof Faisal led the first ever community engagement program to raise clinical trials awareness in the Grampians Region in 2024, facilitated by the VCCC Alliance. He continues to be an advocate for regional growth and capacity building through consumer advocacy groups and local fund raising. 

Speaker

Terry Welch
Chief Executive Officer, Mildura Base Public Hospital

Terry Welch is a widely recognised public health leader with over 16 years' experience heading Victorian regional healthcare services. Since joining Mildura Base Public Hospital (MBPH) five years ago, Terry successfully led the transition from private to public management, fundamentally rebuilding the team and reconnecting the service with the Northern Mallee Community.

Under Terry’s leadership, MBPH has undergone a significant cultural transformation, defined by the rollout of the two Strategic Plans and the embedding of the "HEART" core values. His commitment to "care closer to home" is best exemplified by the recent launch of Australia’s first state-of-the-art mobile screening truck. This $3.5 million initiative, which debuted at the 2026 AFL Gather Round, brings life-saving skin, breast, and cardiac screening directly to remote townships, bridging the gap for regional patients.

Terry’s tenure has been marked by a focus on clinical excellence and service expansion, including the establishment of the MBPH Clinical Trials and Research Unit and the implementation of the Aboriginal Health Practitioner role to ensure a culturally safe environment for all patients. His ability to drive engagement is reflected in staff participation rates that consistently sit well above the public sector average.