ASBD 14th Scientific Meeting

LOCAL SPEAKERS

Virginia Baird

Virginia works as a GP with specific interest in the Breast Clinic at the Royal Hobart Hospital, and BreastScreen Tasmania, in addition to being a surgical assistant in breast surgery, and a tutor in vulvovaginal health at UTAS. Ginny combines her expertise in menopause management with her breast medicine training, to provide personalised care for women with benign and malignant breast disease.

Dr. Robyn Box

Robyn completed her PhD investigating effects of Physiotherapy for Breast Cancer Rehabilitation and Early Detection of Lymphoedema, introduced in clinical care during 1993. Having participated in senior clinical, research, education and advisory roles across health sectors, her prospective surveillance model was translated into private clinical practice in 2005. Physiotherapy rehabilitation, exercise prescription with lymphoedema awareness, early detection/management is provided within an individual evidence-based treatment plan to optimize health and well-being following a cancer diagnosis.

Dr. Matt Burrage

Dr Matt Burrage is a cardiologist with subspecialty training and expertise in Cardio-Oncology, Heart Failure, and Advanced Cardiovascular Imaging. He holds a PhD in Cardiovascular Medicine (with a focus on cardio-oncology) from the University of Oxford, alongside clinical cardio-oncology experience across leading hospitals in Oxford and Cambridge. He has particular interest in the assessment and management of patients with heart disease or those developing cardiovascular complications during cancer therapy. He practices at the Wesley Hospital in Brisbane.

A/Prof. Christine Chaffer

A renowned cancer biologist recognised globally for her pioneering work in cancer cell plasticity—the ability of cancer cells to shift between states, driving metastasis and therapy-resistance. Based at Garvan, she leads basic and translational research bridging fundamental biology and clinical trials. Christine holds multiple leadership roles, influencing cancer research, trials and biotech, advancing personalized therapies through innovative, bench-to-bedside approaches. She is leading the AllClear initiative focused on preventing breast cancer relapse by eradicating dormant cancer cells in bones.

Dr. Joseph Chan

Joseph is clinician-scientist and a radiation oncologist by training. He is currently a Research Fellow at Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney where his research is primarily focused on the development and translation of machine learning tools to advance cancer care. Joseph holds a PhD in Cancer Biomarkers from the University of Sydney as well as a Masters in Data Science from UC Berkeley.

Dr. Daniel de Viana

Emily Duncan

Emily is a founding member and co-chair of the Consumer Advisory Group for Breast Cancer Network Australia, where her lived experience of breast cancer and her passion for effective leadership align. Her advocacy interests lie in equity, consumer agency, and a human-first care approach. In addition to her volunteer position with BCNA Emily is a leader of digital transformation and has worked with executive stakeholders across multiple sectors to implement and support effective change.

Laura Hatton

Laura makes AI easy to understand, and even easier to use. She’s an AI Educator & Facilitator at Pathfindr, named one of AFR’s Most Innovative Companies of 2024.Laura works with teams across industries to unlock the practical power of AI, whether that’s training them to use tools like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot, or helping design solutions tailored to their workflow. From corporate brands to not-for-profits, she helps teams cut through the hype and actually get value from AI.

Dr. Nehmat Housami

Prof Houssami is a clinician researcher and Public Health physician & Professor of Public Health. She leads the Breast Cancer Clinical and Population Health Research group. She has worked in breast imaging and screening services for 30 years and is a clinician at Royal Hospital for Women. Her research interests include population screening, screening women at increased risk, and evaluation of new technologies. She is a global leader in cancer screening trials and cohort studies and has led/co-led international and national collaborative studies of tomosynthesis screening, breast MRI staging and screening, and artificial intelligence. Nehmat is the inaugural NBCF Chair in Breast Cancer Prevention, and a NHMRC Leader Fellow.

Dr. Rewena Keegan

Dr Rewa Keegan is a Consultant Breast Specialist and internationally board-certified Lifestyle Medicine Physician. A Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, she integrates surgical expertise with evidence-based nutrition, behaviour change, and preventative care. Dr Keegan has a special interest in supporting breast cancer survivors through holistic, lifestyle-focused approaches. She is the founder of ReVital Lifestyle Medicine and a frequent speaker on women’s health and wellbeing.

Natasha Keir

Natasha Keir is a Nurse Practitioner in breast oncology with over 30 years of nursing experience. She leads Breast Cancer Wellness Clinics for GenesisCare in Queensland, providing comprehensive support to patients navigating treatment and survivorship. With a career dedicated to compassionate, evidenced based care, Natasha is now expanding her expertise as a Sexologist. Her practice unites oncology and sexual health, guiding patients to manage symptoms, restore wellbeing and intimacy beyond breast cancer treatment.

Kim Kerin-Ayres

Kim has been working as a cancer nurse for over 30 years and has a special interest in addressing unmet needs, improving symptom burden and improving long term outcomes for cancer survivors. Her research interest focuses on the experience of cancer survivors and the difference that multidisciplinary care can make.

Dr. Tivya Kulasegaran

Dr. Tivya Kulasegaran is a Consultant Medical Oncologist at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and The Prince Charles Hospital, and a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. She has been awarded the prestigious Breast Cancer Trials Clinical Fellowship for 2024 and 2025. Her research focuses on the identification and validation of biomarkers in Lobular Breast Cancer, aiming to enhance the precision of diagnosis and support the development of targeted therapies within the field.

A/Prof Gillian Lamoury

A/Prof Gillian Lamoury is a Senior Staff Specialist, Radiation Oncologist at Royal North Shore Hospital, and a VMO at the Mater Hospital, with a subspecialty interest in the treatment of breast cancer. Gillian is Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Sydney, and Principal Investigator on several international, national, and investigator-led trials. Gillian advocates for better patient care through her work with several strategic groups. She was the inaugural Chair of the Breast Interest Group - Faculty of Radiation Oncology.

Dr. Rhea Liang

Rhea is a general and breast surgeon on the Gold Coast, RACS educator, and Clinical Curriculum Lead at Bond University medical school. She serves on the British Journal of Surgery editorial board and the American College of Surgeons International Relations Committee. She is the past Chair of the RACS Operate With Respect Education committee and the Commonwealth A Better Culture Curriculum Design group, and in 2023 became the first Australian woman awarded RCSEng(Hon) for contributions to surgical education and diversity over the past two decades.

Dr. Remy Lim

Remy is a radiologist based in Auckland NZ. Following completion of his radiology training in Auckland, he underwent a 2 year fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, gaining skills in Oncology reporting and found his calling in life with PET/CT reporting and research. In 2024, Remy was awarded a research grant from Breast Cancer Foundation NZ and is currently the principal investigator for LUMINA study, which aims to evaluate the impact of FAPI PET/CT on patients with locally advanced lobular breast cancer.

Dr. Mike Lin

Mike is a Consultant Endocrinologist and Staff Specialist at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, and a PhD Candidate at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research and St Vincent’s Clinical School of Medicine. He has a clinical and academic focus on metabolic bone disease, with his doctoral research centred on optimising osteoporosis treatment strategies in individuals with multimorbidity.

A/Prof. Farid Meybodi

A/Prof. Farid Meybodi is a breast surgeon and Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Sydney. He specialises in optimising outcomes after breast surgery, delivering personalised care, and advancing innovation in breast surgery.

Prof. Vivienne Milch

Professor Vivienne Milch is Medical Director and Head, Clinical Policy Advice Branch, at Cancer Australia. She provides strategic clinical policy leadership to support Cancer Australia’s work to minimise the impact of cancer, address disparities, and improve the health outcomes of people affected by cancer. Professor Milch is also the medical advisor on cancer screening policy at the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, and Chair of both the Clinical Advisory Group for BreastScreen Australia, and the Expert Advisory Committee for the new National Lung Cancer Screening Program. She holds professorial appointments at the Caring Futures Institute at Flinders University and the School of Medicine at University of Notre Dame, Sydney.

Dawid Naude

Dawid Naude is a trailblazer in business, disruption, and innovation, shaping the future by translating AI’s potential into real world impact. Committed to making AI exciting, accessible, and impossible to ignore, he helps organisations to make every employee more productive, reimagine what’s possible, and achieve breakthrough innovation. As the CEO and Founder of Pathfindr - Australia’s leading, AFR Award-Winning AI accelerator, Dawid is one of the country’s foremost AI innovators, educators, and implementers.

Lindsay Page

AI is daunting to most people, but Lindsay breaks it down so it's easy to understand and most importantly easy to use. With a background in system's design, she now is the AI Upskilling Lead at Pathfindr which was announced as one of AFR's Most Innovative Companies of 2024. Lindsay works with teams to get the most out of AI, from training them how to use off the shelf tools, to designing new ones specifically for their needs.

Prof. Kelly-Anne Phillips

Professor Kelly-Anne Phillips is Co-Lead of Breast Medical Oncology at the Peter Mac. She is an NHMRC Leadership Fellow and Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences. Her research focuses on precision breast cancer prevention. She chairs the Prevention Group of the Lancet Breast Cancer Commission. She has developed two key digital enablers of precision breast cancer prevention. iPrevent (www.petermac.org/iprevent) is a free web-based breast cancer risk assessment and management tool, recommended by Cancer Australia.

Dr. Dhanusha Sabanathan

Dhanusha is a Medical Oncologist and clinical triallist at Macquarie University and Nepean Cancer Care Centre. She also holds an academic appointment as an Associate Professor at Macquarie University. Her clinical practice and research are devoted to the treatment of breast cancer with a personalised holistic approach using the latest evidence based medicine.

Ashlee Stirling

Ashlee is a Nursing Academic at the University of Southern Queensland and a former McGrath Breast Care Nurse. She is a provisional PhD candidate investigating the impact of menopause-related health literacy on young breast cancer survivors experiencing menopausal symptoms. Drawing on both professional expertise and lived experience of endocrine deprivation through surgical menopause, Ashlee brings a unique perspective on the profound physical and psychosocial impacts of oestrogen deprivation in breast cancer treatment.

Prof. Owen Ung

Owen Ung is the Mayne Chair and Head, Mayne Academy of Surgery at The University of Queensland Medical School. He is a breast and endocrine surgeon, Director of the Metro North Comprehensive Breast Cancer Institute (CBCI) and Breast Reconstruction Program lead at the Herston Biofabrication Institute (HBI). He is a committed clinician, researcher and educator. He has over 100 peer reviewed publications and is a lead investigator for a number of significant trials of international significance.

Matthew Warner-Smith

Matthew Warner-Smith is the Manager of Business Intelligence and Information Systems at the Cancer Institute NSW and has 30 years’ experience in public health in a diverse range of government and multilateral settings. Prior to joining the Cancer Institute in 2013 Matthew worked in the United Nations system in a variety of roles, largely focused on behavioural surveillance, national capacity building in monitoring and evaluation, and health system strengthening in the fields of HIV and illicit drug use.

A/Prof. Nicholas Wilcken

Nicholas Wilcken is Senior Staff Specialist at the Crown Princess Mary Cancer Centre Westmead, and Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Sydney, Australia. He is currently the Co-ordinating Editor of the Cochrane Collaboration’s Breast Cancer Group and outgoing board member of Breast Cancer Trials (ANZ). He is a member of the Steering Committee of the Early Breast Cancer Trialists’ Collaborative Group, based in Oxford, UK.

Dr. Belinda Yeo

Belinda Yeo is a Medical Oncologist specialising in breast cancer and the Deputy Director of Medical Oncology at Austin Health in Melbourne. She is also a Clinician Scientist at the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute. Belinda was co-lead of the VCCC Research and Education Stream for Breast Cancer until 2023. She actively supervises PhD students, serves as a clinical trial investigator, and continues her translational research at the ONJ Centre, focusing on improving personalised care and minimising treatment toxicities for patients with breast cancer.

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