The board
Professor Tracey O’Brien FRACP, MBA, LLM (Health), GAICD, MBChB, BSc
Chief Cancer Officer and Chief Executive Officer of the Cancer Institute NSW
Professor Tracey O’Brien is a paediatric and adolescent haematologist and oncologist with more than 25 years of experience improving the outcomes of people with cancer in NSW, Australia and internationally.
Prior to her appointment in July 2022 as the NSW Chief Cancer Officer and Chief Executive Officer of the Cancer Institute NSW, Professor O’Brien was the Director of the Kids Cancer Centre at the Sydney Children’s Hospital for six years and Director of the Transplant and Cellular Therapies Program for 18 years, leading a team of more than 200 clinical and research staff. Professor O’Brien was instrumental in driving the vision for Australia's first Children's Comprehensive Cancer Centre at the Randwick Precinct and the Zero Childhood Cancer Precision Medicine Program.
Professor O’Brien has held numerous national and international executive and advisory board positions, including Chair of the Cancer Australia Advisory Board, Vice Chair (Asia, Africa and Australia) Advisory Committee of the Centre for International Bone Marrow Transplant Research, Vice Chair and Board Director, Australian and New Zealand Children’s Haematology and Oncology Group (ANZCHOG), Board Director, Australian & New Zealand Transplant and Cellular Therapies, and Board Director, Children’s Cancer Institute.
Professor O’Brien is a Conjoint Professor in Oncology within the School of Women’s and Children’s Health, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW, and has authored more than 110 publications on leukaemia, transplant, cellular therapies and health system research.
In addition to her medical qualifications and roles, she holds an MBA and Master of Law (Health). In 2019, Professor O’Brien was named one of the top 10 Australian Women of Influence, winning the Innovation category.
The Hon Morris Iemma BEc LLB
Chairperson of the Board of the Cancer Institute NSW
Mr Iemma served as a Member of Parliament in the NSW Legislative Assembly for more than 17 years from May 1991 until September 2008.
He held a number of Ministerial portfolios including Premier (2005-2008), Treasurer, Minister for Health, Minister for Sport and Recreation, Minister for Public Works and Services, Minister for State Development and Minister Assisting the Premier on Citizenship.
Mr Iemma has held several Board positions across the public and private sectors, and is currently Chair of Clean Energy Partnerships, Director of Football NSW, and Director of the Ingham Medical Research Institute.
He has a BEc degree from the University of Sydney and an LLB from the University of Technology, Sydney.
Professor Christine Clarke PhD
Professor Clarke is Emeritus Professor, University of Sydney and Distinguished Scientist, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research. Professor Clarke has been internationally recognized for research on hormone action in normal breast and breast cancer, and held continuous major national grant support since 1991. She has been awarded the National Breast Cancer Foundation Pink Circle Award; the National Breast Cancer Foundation Patron’s Award for Excellence in Breast Cancer Research; and received recognition as NHMRC High Achiever in Health and Medical Research.
Her translational contributions included the establishment of the Australian Breast Cancer Tissue Bank, now a major national and international resource for breast cancer research; and founding membership of the Kathleen Cuningham Consortium for Research into Familial Breast Cancer.
Professor Clarke has contributed to numerous scientific or health-related organisations including major roles on peer-review committees, and to national and state peak bodies, including through membership of the Boards of the National Breast Cancer Foundation and the Cancer Council NSW, and of the NHMRC principal committee, the Health Advisory Committee.
She has contributed to research advocacy through executive office in the Australian Society for Medical Research, and to national strategic development, through membership of the Commonwealth Cancer Strategies Group, and National Breast Cancer Centre and National Breast Cancer Foundation working parties.
Mr Keith Cox OAM NP RN ONC CERT
Mr Cox has been a registered nurse practitioner since 2006, with extensive experience in oncology and cancer treatments. He has worked at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPA) in the Sydney Local Health District and the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse.
Mr Cox was a Senior Clinical Lecturer at the University of Sydney and travelled to Nepal and Papua New Guinea to establish oncology units and assist with nursing education. He is a lifetime member of the Cancer Nursing Society of Australia and held various roles, which included Chair of their Winter Congress Committee and Chair of the Nurse Practitioner group. Throughout his nursing career he has contributed to research and has had several publications.
He has undertaken several volunteering roles in various organisations that include CanTeen, St Vincent de Paul and St Mark’s local parish. Mr Cox was awarded an OAM in 2007 for his services to nursing and community volunteer work.
Sally Goss MA, Grad Dip Nurs, RN
Ms Goss has previous board experience with the National Gynaecological Cancer Foundation, Family Planning NSW, Mental Illness Education Australia and Petrea King's Quest for Life. Ms Goss's professional career has included working in women’s health, both at BreastScreen NSW at state level and at Family Planning NSW where she worked in a range of clinical, research and management roles culminating in her appointment as Manager Clinical Services and Chief Nurse.
In semi-retirement, after completing a Cancer Australia research project assessing the needs of those living with late diagnosis and poor prognosis cancers Ms Goss has become a strong advocate for all cancer consumers and carers. Ms Goss was awarded a Churchill Fellowship in 2009 travelling to Canada, USA and UK to examine differing models of psychosocial care and support.
Dr Paul Moy PhD(Ec)
Dr Paul Moy is an experienced non-executive Director of commercial and not-for-profit organisations. He has extensive senior executive experience in investment banking and private market investment management both in Australia and internationally with the global financial services firm UBS. Dr Moy was a senior NSW Treasury official in his early career and has been involved in major infrastructure reforms including in the electricity sector. He is a former member of the National Competition Council and was chair or member of a number of public inquiries into infrastructure reform.
Dr Moy’s current non-executive roles include Chair AEMO Services, Chair QIC Global Infrastructure Investment Committee, Director Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute.
Professor Michael Solomon MB BCH (Hons), BAO, MSc (Tor), DMedSc (USYD), DMed (NUI), FRCSI, FRACS, FASCRS, LRCPI
Professor Michael Solomon is a Consultant Surgeon and Academic Head of the Department of Colorectal Surgery at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney. He is Professor of Surgical Research at the University of Sydney and is a past President of the Colorectal Surgical Society of Australia & New Zealand (CSSANZ) and Chairman of the RACS/CSSANZ Training Board in Colorectal Surgery.
Professor Solomon has extensive experience in clinical surgical research and has published over 350 papers, multiple chapters in books, and has been invited to present 15 internationally named lectures. He has supervised over 50 higher degree students, and for his own career research has been awarded the highest research doctorate degree from the National University of Ireland (DMed:Minimally Invasive Colorectal Surgery) and from the University of Sydney (DMedSc:Pelvic Exenteration).
He has a Masters in Clinical Epidemiology (MSc) from the University of Toronto and has focused his career on evidence-based surgery and clinical trials. He is now concentrating on mentoring young academic surgeons as Chairman of the Institute of Academic Surgery at RPA and Head of the Surgical Outcomes Research Centre (SOuRCe) at the University of Sydney.
Michael Still MBA
Mr Michael Still has enjoyed a 30 year career in investment banking, corporate finance, equity investment and infrastructure in Australia and globally. He has led infrastructure and property companies, and projects of many types. These have included large-scale urban renewal and Public Private Partnerships for social infrastructures, as well as major economic infrastructures. Mr Still has advised governments, offshore corporates and investment funds on strategic matters and ownership and financing issues across many industries and asset types.
Mr Still is Chair of the Board of the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District, a member of the NSW Health Ministerial Advisory Committee, and a past member of the NSW Government’s Medical Devices Fund Expert Group. He is also a Director of the Silver Chain Group, providers of health and community care services.
Mr John Stubbs AM BA Dip Acct
Mr John Stubbs holds government positions at both board and committee levels. He is a survivor of Leukaemia and an active representative of cancer consumers.
He is an Honorary Associate of the University of Sydney, School of Medicine and member of the Therapeutic Goods Administration. Mr Stubbs is the Australian Consumer representative on the International Colon Cancer Familial Register funded through the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in the US.
He has contributed to many research paper and booklets, including Cancer - how are you travelling? Mr Stubbs edited booklets for the Cancer Council, The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare, and is an active contributor to Government policy on cancer, cancer services and the value of consumer involvement.
Emeritus Prof Les White AM MB BS, FRACP, MHA, AFACHSM, DSc, DUniv
Professor Les White was the inaugural NSW Chief Paediatrician from 2010 to 2016. He was previously Executive Director of Sydney Children's Hospital (1995–2010), following a clinical and academic career, with emphasis on childhood cancer.
Other positions have included President of Children’s Hospitals Australasia (1999–2004) and the John Beveridge Professor of Paediatrics (2005–2010).
Professor White has over 140 publications and a range of abstracts, awards, grants and invited presentations in his CV. He has served on 18 not-for-profit boards (currently serves on 5) and other organisations, relating to children’s health or medical research.
He was awarded a Doctorate of Science for research contributions related to childhood cancer and holds a Master of Health Administration. In 2007, he was made a Member of the Order of Australia for service to medicine, medical administration and the community in the field of paediatrics. Professor White was awarded a Doctorate of the University (UNSW) Honoris Causa in 2019.
