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Meet our Board of Directors

TROG Researchers, Our Board, TROG Cancer Research

A/Prof Purnima Sundaresan

President

Puma is a consultant radiation oncologist at Westmead Hospital, A/Prof at The University of Sydney and graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.  Her clinical and research specialities are head and neck, skin, lower gastrointestinal and haematological malignancies. Puma has served on the TROG Scientific Committee, Publications Committee (chair), RANZR Radiation Oncology Research Committee and Cancer Symptom Control Trials group’s Management Advisory Committee, and is currently chair of the Board of Head and Neck Cancer Australia. She is Facilitator of the annual RANZCR / TROG SMART workshop and the ACORD concept /protocol development workshops.

TROG Researchers, Our Board, TROG Cancer Research

Prof Trevor Leong

Full Member Director

Trevor is a consultant Radiation Oncologist and immediate past Director of Radiation Oncology at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.  He is previous President/Board Chair of TROG and has chaired the TROG Scientific Committee. Trevor  is also a Board Director of AGITG. 

Professor Leong is an active clinician researcher who is involved in both translational research programs as well as clinical research. He is internationally recognized as a leader in the management and research of gastrointestinal cancers.

TROG Researchers, Our Board, TROG Cancer Research

A/Prof Sasha Senthi

Scientific Committee Chair

Sasha is a Radiation Oncologist at Alfred Health and an A/Prof at Monash University. He has a PhD in the use of Stereotactic Radiotherapy and a Masters in Public Health from Harvard University. Sahsha started a biobank and co-supervises a lab looking for immunoloigic biomarkers of response and supervises two PhD students. Sasha was appointed Chair of the TROG Scientific Comittee in August 2021 and as a member of the TROG Board of Directors he aims to promote make it easier than ever for investigators to gain funding and initiate trials through the TROG trial development pathway.

TROG Researchers, Our Board, TROG Cancer Research

Dr Tim Kuypers

Independent Director & Chair of Finance, Audit & Risk Committee

Tim works as a Special Advisor for HoustonKemp Economists and the Principal at Walbrook Partners. He is an experienced and well-respected rail safety expert. Tim contributes his vast understanding of regulation to the TROG Board. 

 

TROG Researchers, Our Board, TROG Cancer Research

Mr Andrew Beck

Independent Director

Andrew is an experienced in-house lawyer and is currently General Counsel at Pacific National, Australia’s largest private rail freight operator. Andrew is energised by working wth people, improving processes and generating valuable outcomes.  He recognises the importance and value of diversity of thought and brings this to his position on the TROG Board. He is a current member of the Finance Audit & Risk Management Committee

TROG Researchers, Our Board, TROG Cancer Research

Dr Gerry Adams

RANZCR FRO Director

Dr Gerry Adams is a UK trained clinical oncologist who arrived in Australia in 2010. After completing his Fellowship he has worked as a consultant in regional Queensland for 9 years and was involved in various positions within the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR) during that time. For the last 3 years he has been a member of RANZCR Council and Chair of the Economics and Work Force Committee (EWC). As RANZCR Dean Gerry’s position on the Board of Directors of TROG will help maintain the important strategic links and shared values of our two organisations. Gerry has a particular interest in improving access to quality radiation therapy in regional areas.

TROG Researchers, Our Board, TROG Cancer Research

Prof Annette Haworth

Full Member Director

Annette is a Professor of Medical Physics and Director, Institute of Medical Physics at the University of Sydney (NSW) and has more than 20 years of hospital-based clinical experience. She has been involved in   TROG Cancer Research activities for over 15 years including members of the New Techniques and Technologies Committee, the TROG Scientific Committee, TROG Radiation Therapy Quality   Assurance team, a TROG representative on the Global Harmonisation Group as well as being a member of multiple Trial Management   Committees. 

 

TROG Researchers, Our Board, TROG Cancer Research

Mr Murray McLachlan

Independent Consumer Representative

Murray is a Deputy Chair of Cancer Voices NSW and a Health Consumer NSW Board member. He has previously volunteered with Cancer Council NSW, drawing on his professional life experience in the NSW public sector around policy and advocacy. His personal cancer experiences include the death of his long term partner from pancreatic cancer in 2007, and successful surgical intervention for prostate cancer in 2009.

TROG Researchers, Our Board, TROG Cancer Research

Mrs Sue Naeyaert

Independent Director

Sue is an experienced international executive in the pharmaceutical industry.  She has worked in research as a health economist and in outcomes research in various cancers, and currently consults to the pharmaceutical industry. Sue has previously held Board positions internationally and is passionate about quality care for cancer patients. She is a current member of the Finance Audit & Risk Management Committee.

TROG Researchers, Our Board, TROG Cancer Research

Dr Melissa James

Independent Director New Zealand

Melissa is a radiation oncologist practicing in Christchurch, having completed her RANZCR fellowship training in Australia (Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney) and New Zealand. She has an interest in radiation treatment for brain, breast and skin cancers. Melissa has been involved in recruiting patients to TROG trials since she was a registrar and has been an active member of the TROG urology and breast working parties.

 

TROG Researchers, Our Board, TROG Cancer Research

A/Prof Georgia Halkett

Full Member Director

Georgia is a senior research fellow at Curtin University and is Co-Lead for the Cancer Domain in the Curtin Health innovation Research Institute.  Her current research program is focused on patients and carers psychosocial and information needs, cancer survivorship and research into radiation therapy.  

Georgia is the WA Board Director for ASMIRT and Board member for COGNO.  In joining the TROG Board she aims to help increase radiation therapists involvement in leading and conducting research.