Chair 

Dr Sam Harris  

Medical Oncologist, Bendigo Regional Cancer Centre, Bendigo Health 

Regional and Rural Research and Education Lead, VCCC Alliance  

Dr Harris graduated from Adelaide University Medical School and has extensive postgraduate general medical, oncological and palliative care experience. In 2013, he completed medical oncology advanced training at Bendigo Health, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and the Austin Repatriation Hospital. His final year was a clinical trials fellowship in breast cancer, gastro-intestinal tumours and genitourinary cancers.

Between 2014 and 2016, Dr Harris undertook a fellowship at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London, United Kingdom, working initially in the Sarcoma Unit and subsequently with Professor Johann De Bono in the Drug Development Unit (phase 1 trials) and the prostate team.

Dr Harris is a medical oncologist at the Bendigo Health Cancer Centre and also has a fortnightly visiting clinic to Kyneton Regional Health. He is the Clinical Lead for the Oncology Trials Unit. His specialty areas are in breast cancer, melanoma, lung cancer and general oncology.

Speakers

A/Prof Wasek Faisal 

Medical Oncologist and Oncology Research Lead, Grampians Health 

Deputy-Lead, Regional and Rural Research and Education Lead, VCCC Alliance 

Dr Wasek Faisal is a senior medical oncologist and a mid-career clinical researcher in the field of medical oncology and tumour immunology. He is a Fellow of Royal Australasian College of Physicians and completed his tumour immunology research thesis at the University of Nottingham, UK prior to completing his advanced training in oncology in Australia. He is the current Clinical Director of Grampians Integrated Cancer Services as well as being the Clinical Lead and Chair of the Thoracic Tumour Stream at Grampians Health. Dr Faisal has been a principal investigator for 25 international multicenter phase II and III randomised clinical trials in lung cancer to date, investigating novel therapies including immunotherapy and drug conjugates, as well as being sub-investigator for more than 50 clinical trials in oncology.

Kathy McCann

Lung Care Coordinator, Grampians Health 

Kath McCann is the Lung Care Coordinator at Grampians Health, where she leads the coordination of the Rapid Access Lung Lesion Clinic—a multidisciplinary service designed to streamline care for patients in the Grampians region with suspected lung cancer. She also plays a key role in Grampians Health’s response to the National Lung Cancer Screening Program through her involvement with the Grampians Integrated Cancer Service.
Kath is committed to creating clear, accessible pathways within the health system and providing compassionate navigation, support, and advocacy for patients throughout their care journey. In addition to her clinical work, she is actively involved in undergraduate teaching and staff education and is a member of research teams focused on lung cancer clinical biomarkers and the service benefits of the Rapid Access Lung clinic.
 

Anna Burnham

NCSR Lung Program Lead, Telstra Health, National Cancer Screening Register

Anna Burnham is a cancer screening register and program leader with state and national expertise in the design, delivery and governance of register enabled screening programs. Between 2011 and 2016, she led the NSW Cervical and Bowel Screening Programs at the Cancer Institute NSW, where she oversaw improvements to the NSW Pap Test Register and led the establishment of the NSW Bowel Screening Program.
Since 2016, Anna has held senior register leadership roles at Telstra Health, where she has been responsible for establishing the bowel screening register and, more recently, enabling the National Lung Cancer Screening Program through the National Cancer Screening Register.
 

Charlotte Ratu

Director, Cancer, National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO)

Charlotte Ratu is the Director of Cancer at the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO). She leads the national peak body’s strategic initiatives in addressing cancer care equity, investing in community-controlled, self-determined health pathways, and improving cancer outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across their care journey. 

Kellie Giannarelli 

Lived Experience Advocate 

Kellie is self-employed in the Mining and Agriculture sector, Secretary for her two local Business Chambers of Commerce in Nagambie and Seymour and on the Board of the Goulburn Regional Partnership. Kellie has completed the Lead from Lived Experience: Enhancing cancer care program and has assisted as a Consumer Advocate for Cancer Council VIC, Cancer Council NSW, VCCC Alliance, RTN Every Voice Can as well as Melbourne and Monash Universities. She was diagnosed with a Carcinoid Tumour of the Lung in 2024 and after completing surgery is a lung cancer survivor with a keen interest in improving regional care, diagnosis communications and survivorship experience.

Deborah Guion 

Head of Community and Stakeholder Engagement, Heart of Australia 

Deborah Guion is the Head of Stakeholder and Community Engagement at Heart of Australia, the official provider to the Commonwealth for the National Lung Cancer Screening Program mobile service. In this role, she leads collaboration with state and territory governments, as well as regional and local health services, to co-design and implement screening programs tailored to priority populations, including those in remote and very remote communities.
Deb brings over 15 years of experience across ESG, stakeholder engagement, strategy, program design, and governance. Her work is grounded in building meaningful partnerships that drive sustainable outcomes and improve access to essential services.
A significant focus of Deb’s career has been working alongside First Nations communities in both healthcare and business development. She has led the design and delivery of privately funded initiatives that expand equitable access to healthcare in remote Aboriginal communities, with a strong emphasis on long-term impact and shared value.