Dr John Laker AO
BEc (Hons 1) (Syd), MSc (Econ) PhD (London), HonDSc (Syd)
Chair of the Board from 8 December 2021. Chair of the Governance Committee, Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee until 7 December 2021, Cancer Council NSW representative on the Cancer Council Australia Board
Elected to the Board in December 2014, re-elected in December 2017 and re-elected in December 2020
Dr Laker was Chairman of the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), the regulator of the Australian financial services industry, from 2003 to 2014. An economist by training, Dr Laker had an extensive career in the Reserve Bank of Australia, both in Australia and London, before his appointment to APRA. He has also worked in the Commonwealth Treasury and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Currently, Dr Laker is Chairman of ING Bank Australia and Deputy Chancellor and member of the Council of the University of Technology Sydney. He was also Chairman of The Banking and Finance Oath Limited until August 2021. He is a member of the Consultative Panel of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and an External Expert for the IMF, participating in a number of reviews of major banking systems. He also lectures at The University of Sydney. Dr Laker was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2008 and has won other professional awards for his services to the regulation of the Australian financial system.
Mr Nicholas Adams
BCom (Marketing)
Chair of the Fundraising and Marketing Committee, Member of the IT Steering Committee
Elected to the Board in December 2015, re-elected in December 2018 and re-elected in December 2021
Mr Adams is a leading Australian marketer and has 23 years’ experience in financial services and telecommunications marketing with companies such as Allianz, Telstra, Westpac, and American Express.
As a marketing leader, he has expertise in customer relationship management (CRM), loyalty and digital marketing, and building data-driven marketing programs to drive both revenue and customer engagement with brands.
Professor Michael Barton OAM
MBBS, MD, FRANZCR
Member of the Cancer Research Committee
Appointed to the Board in April 2021
Professor Michael Barton OAM is Scientia Professor of Radiation Oncology at UNSW Sydney. He has research interests in Health Services research and is a global leader in the benchmarking of cancer services. He is part of the leadership of the team developing one of the world’s first MRI-guided linear accelerators. Prof Barton has worked for International Atomic Energy Agency on radiotherapy projects in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Prof Barton chaired the National Adult Glioma Guidelines. He has a long track record of working with consumers on the design, execution and publication of research projects including the Ideal Curriculum in Oncology for Medical Students, publications in Lancet Oncology and the Medical Journal of Australia.
In 2007, he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia, for service to medicine, particularly radiation oncology, through a range of clinical, research, education, and professional development roles. In 2021, he received the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Tom Reeve Award for Outstanding Contributions to Cancer Care.
Mr James Butler OAM
Member of the Remuneration and Nomination Committee, Chair of the Consumer Research Review Panel, former Chair of the Relay For Life Steering Committee, Co-Chair of the Aboriginal Advisory Committee
Elected to the Board in December 2014 and re-elected in December 2017, and re-elected in December 2020
Mr Butler has been an active volunteer for Cancer Council NSW for 25 years, holding roles including Chair of the Hills Relay For Life Committee, and Chair of the Western Sydney Cancer Advocacy Network. He is a trained Cancer Council NSW advocate. As a two-time cancer survivor, he understands the need to influence decision-makers around key issues that have an impact on people affected by cancer.
Mr Butler is currently Chair of Cancer Council NSW’s Consumer Research Review Panel. Mr Butler has also been a business owner for 25 years (now retired) and is an active consumer representative on cancer services committees in the Western Sydney Local Health District. Mr Butler was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in June 2022 for his service to people with cancer and his dedication to the work of Cancer Council NSW.
Ms Nerida Dean
BEc Dip Ed (UNE)
Member of the Remuneration and Nomination Committee, Member of the Fundraising and Marketing Committee
Appointed to the Board in October 2018 and then elected December 2018 and re-elected in December 2021
Ms Dean brings a wealth of experience and a strong community perspective. She has spent the bulk of her working life as a secondary teacher and has served on a number of Boards at a local and regional level, including as the Deputy Chair Queanbeyan Local Health Committee for 14 years.
Ms Dean is currently a member of the Rotary Club of Mullumbimby and is involved with the build of the new Tweed Hospital. She has been involved with Cancer Council NSW for eight years, taking on numerous volunteer roles such as Community Speaker, MP Liaison, Relay for Life Committee member, Eat It To Beat It facilitator, Australia’s Biggest morning tea host and Daffodil Day stall holder.
Dr Jo Mitchell
BSc, Post Grad Dip Nut & Diet, MPH, DrPH, GAICD
Member of the Audit and Risk Committee, Member of the Remuneration and Nomination Committee, Cancer Council NSW representative on the Cancer Council Australia Board
Appointed to the Board in November 2019
Dr Jo Mitchell has worked in preventive health for more than 30 years.
Her career has included senior public sector executive experience, most recently as policy lead for population health in NSW. This portfolio covered a range of complex and contested policy issues including drug and alcohol, HIV and sexually transmitted infections, overweight and obesity, tobacco control and viral hepatitis.
In 2018, she was awarded the Public Service Medal for her contribution to population health policy in NSW.
She is currently an independent consultant and senior advisor to The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre. Jo has degrees in science, nutrition and public health.
Ms Carolyn Heise
BN, RN, PGDip Public Health (Leadership), MBA
Chair of the Remuneration and Nomination Committee, Member of the Aboriginal Advisory Committee
Elected to the Board in December 2020
Carolyn is a dedicated registered nurse and health service leader. She is passionate about the nursing profession and the provision of high-quality health services to her community. Carolyn’s dynamic and varied career has included working as a registered nurse, managing district cancer services, public hospitals, and preventative health care services on the Mid North Coast of NSW. She holds additional post-graduate qualifications in Public Health and a Master of Business Administration.
Carolyn has worked alongside Cancer Council in Regional NSW for many years and while in the Position of Nurse Manager for the Mid North Coast Cancer Institute in 2017, she actively participated in fundraising events such as Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea and as a contestant in Coffs Coast Dancing with the Stars.
In 2019, while working as the Director of Nursing, Midwifery and In-Patient Services at Coffs Harbour Base Hospital, Carolyn was diagnosed with cancer. As such, she has a unique perspective on the patient journey – both as a senior health service manager and as a survivor of cancer.
Mr Michael Morgan
BSc (Arch) BArch FRAIA
Chair of the Investment Committee, Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee from 1 May 2022, Member of the Fundraising and Marketing Committee
Appointed to the Board in November 2020 and then elected in December 2020
Michael is a registered architect and a director of nettletontribe where he has worked since 1979. He served as Managing Director for 26 years until commencing a leadership transition process in 2016.
Michael has been a member of the POSH Committee and an active supporter of Cancer Council NSW since 2003 and is the current Chair of the POSH Committee, a position he took up in late 2018.
He is also the Chairman of the Board of St Aloysius’ College Ltd, Chairman of the Advisory Board for MacKillop Grange Retirement Village and a Director of Catholic Healthcare Ltd and The Cardoner Project Limited (a young adult ministry of the Jesuit Province of Australia).
Mr Peeyush Gupta AM
MBA (Finance)
Member of the Investment Committee and Member of the IT Steering Committee
Appointed to the Board in August 2022, Peeyush Gupta AM is the Chairman and non-executive Director on a range of commercial, public sector and not-for-profit boards, including as Chair of Charter Hall Long Wale REIT and Charter Hall Direct Property Management Ltd, and as a Director of National Australia Bank, SBS, Link Administration, Insurance and Care (NSW), Quintessence Labs, and Northern Territory Aboriginal Investment Corporation. This includes serving on various sub-committees of these Boards including in risk, remuneration, and investment. Peeyush was the co-founder and inaugural CEO of IPAC Securities, a wealth management firm providing financial advice and institutional portfolio management in Australia and internationally.
Peeyush holds a Master of Business Administration in Finance from the Australian Graduate School of Management, University of NSW, and is also an alumnus of Harvard and the London Business School. He was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in January 2019 for significant service to business and the community through governance and philanthropic roles.