World Cancer Leaders' Summit 2027

Head of Knowledge, Advocacy and Policy at UICC, co-author of the study on cancer stigma

Senior Technical Officer at Women's Health, former Senior Manager at UICC, co-author of the study on cancer stigma

I am a passionate nurse, researcher and educator with a clinical background in medical and radiation oncology. I am an Associate Professor in Nursing and a member of the European Cancer Mission Board. I am committed to the development of cancer services which are responsive to patients’ needs from pre-diagnosis to survivorship and end of life care. Over the next ten years, I aspire to build a world-class research group to provide evidence to inform the development and implementation of integrated health services for cancer patients and survivors.

I am a child of the Caribbean - born in Barbados, raised in Jamaica and now residing in Antigua and Barbuda – and I am passionate about improving the healthcare experiences of women affected by gynaecological cancers in the Caribbean. In my current position I play an integral role in strengthening Antigua and Barbuda’s national strategy to achieve cervical cancer elimination. It is my hope that the eventual success of eliminating cervical cancer will pave the way for strategies to decrease mortality associated with other cancers in our twin island state and the region.

My area of focus is in modelling cervical cancer prevention strategies to help identify the best ways to prevent cervical cancer. I have been involved in evaluations that directly informed national policy decisions in many countries. I was also part of the Cervical Cancer Elimination Modelling Consortium, which directly informed WHO’s global strategy for cervical cancer elimination. I wish to continue to leverage my expertise in mathematical modelling to help more countries identify the best ways to reach the cervical cancer elimination goals outlined by the WHO.

I am a Medical Doctor of preventive medicine, currently the Head of the Cancer Epidemiology Department at the National Cancer Institute in Vietnam. My area of expertise lies in cancer epidemiology, specifically in cancer registry management and cancer control policy. In addition to my work in Vietnam, I am also an active participant in the Asian National Cancer Centers Alliance (ANCCA), where I collaborate with other experts in the region. My ultimate career vision is to help close the care gap between countries and promote health equity in cancer control.

As a public health expert and a gender, equity and rights consultant, my work has always been oriented toward health equity and social justice. I have co-developed and I lead the Women in Global Health Network in Francophone West Africa, advocating for francophone women’s contribution to decision-making in health. My career vision is to influence the way cancer is perceived and controlled in Africa. I believe that cancer surveillance and primary prevention at community level with a gender lens are key elements that need more attention.

I am primarily a clinical oncologist involved in cancer diagnosis, treatment, and palliative care, but my role also encompasses research, advocacy and leadership. I led the establishment in 2018 of the first cancer treatment centre in the underserved region of Adama and founded Ethiopia's first psychosocial support group for women with breast cancer in 2020. My long-term ambition is to reduce disparities in access to quality care and to improve outcomes for underserved populations.