UICC opens World Cancer Leaders’ Summit in Melbourne to address global priorities in cancer control

The World Cancer Leaders’ Summit opened today in Melbourne, Australia. From 18-20 November, over 400 global health leaders from 86 countries will address key challenges in cancer control shared across regions, notably improving equity and access for underserved populations, and looking at promising innovations and initiatives in prevention, treatment, and care.

The Summit programme is guided by the theme “Bridging divides, building futures,” and includes six plenary sessions and 15 partner-developed sessions, with 90 speakers confirmed.

Plenary sessions will dive into topics aligned with UICC’s strategic priorities in women’s cancers, lung cancer, integrating people-centred care into national cancer control plans, strengthening health systems, and improving access to services, notably essential and new cancer medicines and technologies.

Further sessions will explore culturally safe care and Indigenous data sovereignty, cancer planning and financing, and the equitable implementation of artificial intelligence. Representatives from the World Health Organization, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, and the International Atomic Energy Agency – key partners of the Summit – will address the issue of multilateral cooperation and look at takeaways from the recent UN high-level meeting on non-communicable diseases.

“The World Cancer Leaders’ Summit is a remarkable opportunity every two years for the global cancer community to meet, share ideas, learn from other countries’ approaches, and most importantly think about how we can apply this knowledge to help patients and their loved ones affected by this terrible disease.”
– Todd Harper, AM, CEO of Cancer Council Victoria and UICC Board Member

The Summit will notably feature the launch of the World Cancer Declaration 2025–2035. Developed through consultation with UICC’s global network, the Declaration introduces a framework built around five global targets, five domains for national action, and five core principles for delivery. It will be presented at a plenary session on Thursday 20 November at 1.15pm by UICC President Ulrika Årehed Kågström, and made available throughout the Summit at a digital consultation station in the Networking Hub, where those who have not done so already will be invited to review and endorse its content.

‘Spotlight Interviews’ with leaders will highlight advances and barriers in equitable access to care, integrative oncology, innovation in clinical trials, storytelling for effective advocacy, and more. Sessions sponsored by UICC and Summit partners will examine specific cancers, including childhood, liver, lung, and skin, as well as cross-cutting topics such as supportive care, patient navigation, and the integration of cancer and non-communicable disease services.

 "The World Cancer Leaders' Summit is a rare opportunity for leading cancer organisations around the globe to listen, learn, reflect on the real-world challenges of cancer control together, to understand where the gaps are and how we can support each other to do better. It’s also a moment to recognise the leadership already happening in communities around the world, and to remember that real progress takes not just good ideas, but the political will and shared commitment to turn them into action."
– Cary Adams, CEO of UICC

Just over half of participants are from the Asia-Pacific region, 17% from Europe, 13% each from Africa and North America, 4% from the Eastern Mediterranean, and 2% from Latin America. Around 60% of participants represent UICC member organisations.

Speakers include Ana Akauola, Minister of Health of Tonga; Jenny Atta, Secretary of the Department of Health, State of Victoria; Dr Hj Muhd Abdullah, Director of the Brunei Cancer Centre; and Elisabete Weiderpass, Director of the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Other confirmed speakers include Kalinda Griffiths, epidemiologist and expert in Indigenous data sovereignty; Rami Rahal, CEO of New Zealand’s Cancer Control Agency; Anu Agrawal of the American Cancer Society; Dato’ Dr Saunthari Somasundaram, President of the National Cancer Society of Malaysia and President-Elect of the NCD Alliance; and Eric Bouffet of SickKids, Canada.