UICC

Benjamin O. Anderson (United States)

Since 1994, I have been a joint faculty member at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle and the University of Washington in the Departments of Surgery and Global Health Medicine, where I care for women with breast cancer and breast health issues. As a practicing surgeon, I keep attuned to current issues in cancer diagnostics and treatment.

Since 1998, I have served on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) breast cancer panel, which develops treatment guidelines for breast cancer in the United States, and am now vice-chair of that internationally recognised guideline panel.

My experience and perspective in global oncology have value for the UICC Board of Directors. In 1995, I started in cancer advocacy as principle scientist for the National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC) advocacy training course ‘Project LEAD’. Since then, I have devoted my research career to the study of best practices in global oncology. In 2002, I founded the Breast Health Global Initiative (BHGI), which pioneered the development of comprehensive resource-stratified, evidence-based guidelines for breast care in LMICs.

Having been involved with UICC since 2003, I am now completing my second two-year term on the UICC Board of Directors.

As recipient of the 2011 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Partners in Progress Award, and the 2013 National Consortium of Breast Centers (NCBC) Inspiration Award, I respectfully request your support in continuing to work with UICC as a board member in our dedicated team efforts to improve the quality and effectiveness of cancer care around the globe. 

Heather Bryant (Canada)

As Vice-President, Cancer Control at the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, I am responsible for leadership of the population health, clinical, and person-centred experience portfolios in Canada.

My team and I have also worked with partners across Canada to develop the first pan-Canadian reports on the functioning of the cancer control system. This work requires stakeholder engagement with patients, health ministries, experts and cancer control leaders along with deep cancer control expertise; similar skills are needed within UICC.

Other national roles have included being the inaugural chair of the Institute Advisory Board for Cancer for the Canadian Institutes for Health Research, the National Colorectal Cancer Screening Network, and participation in many other national committees.

I have been involved in international cancer control activities for many years, including service on the Board of the International Association of Cancer Registries and as Canada’s representative on the governing council of the International Agency for Research in Cancer.

I am currently the Chair of the Programme Board of the International Cancer Benchmarking Program, which is hosted by Cancer Research UK and which works to develop and explain differences in international cancer survival
rates. I believe that this background, coupled with the UICC experience described above, can be put to good service as a Board member continuing to move UICC forward. 

Maira Caleffi (Brazil)

With 30 years of experience as a dedicated breast surgeon, I am deeply involved in population-based research related to breast cancer diagnosis, access and treatment for low- and middle-income patients.

In my career, I have also become deeply passionate about advocating for the rights of Brazilian patients and their access to quality treatment and services. That passion has expanded to include all patients in Latin America and, through my work with UICC, to all patients worldwide.

My clinical experience together with my involvement in patient advocacy gives me a unique perspective that I bring to the UICC Board.

I have spent my career as a surgeon trying to do what is right and best for patients, yet I have found myself in an environment in which cancer is not prioritised. This has motivated me to do everything I can to create change.

As voluntary President of Femama, I work to lead a group of cancer patient associations to whom the organisation provides training and information while also working to influencing the development and implementation of public policies. As Founder and President-Elect (2018/19) of the Unión Latinoamericana Contra el Cáncer de la Mujer (ULACCAM), I am working to draw attention to the differences and singularities in healthcare among Latin American countries.

I believe this background can contribute to UICC’s efforts to identify new strategies for engaging stakeholders to work together toward finding solutions for our patients. 

Eduardo Cazap (Argentina)

One of the topics of my interest is the proactive promotion of North-South, South-North and South-South relationships.

Another important matter at the international level is the integration of governments working together with civil society in the planning and implementation of cancer control actions.

In accordance with the main avenues of work approved by previous Boards, defined as Convening, Capacity Building, Advocacy, Membership, Partners and Resources, I believe that I can collaborate in various areas following the preceding criteria.

In Convening, I could help in promoting networking activities between UICC and our members and partners. Through my contacts with organisations and cancer control colleagues in different parts of the world I will be able to work in this aspect.

With respect to Capacity Building, I have previously worked with GETI, GAPRI, CCI, GICR and other programmes so I will be able to cooperate with these programmes.

Naturally, I will be happy to help in Membership as I did in the past, working in the improvement of our membership and the maintenance of current members with close contacts, mainly in Latin America, Europe and the US.

In a similar way, I can work in the Partners and Resources activities.

If I have the opportunity to be a member of the Board again, I will try to combine my previous experience, helping to maintain the institutional memory of our organisation together with my aspiration to consolidate UICC as THE global leader in cancer control.

Sally Cowal (United States)

I have nearly 50 years of global experience as a United States Diplomat and Ambassador, as a high-level United Nations Official, as the CEO of a non-profit youth exchange organisation (Youth for Understanding), as the chief development officer for a non-profit global health organisation with a US$600 million per year budget (Population Services International) and currently as the senior Vice President for International Cancer Control at the American Cancer Society, the world’s largest voluntary health organisation.

Additionally, I have extensive experience in non-profit governance as a member of the Boards of DePauw University, the Tinker Foundation, the American Diplomacy Foundation, and Grounds For Health. I chair the Audit Committee at the Tinker Foundation. I understand a Board’s fiduciary and governance responsibilities and the distinction between Board and Staff leadership.

I speak fluent Spanish and intermediate French. I have experience in Private Public Partnerships and have worked directly with the private sector and governments and civil society in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean. I believe that UICC needs to embrace and encourage an “all of society” approach to be effective in the fight against the rising tide of cancer. My experience in all of the sectors could be of help in guiding UICC’s strategic plan over the next five years. 

Anil D'Cruz (India)

I am currently the Director at Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai, India, the largest and one of the oldest comprehensive cancer centres in the world. I have been engaged in the field of cancer control at the national level in India for close to thirty years. I have delivered over 350 lectures across the globe and authored more than 200 peer-reviewed publications. I hold numerous leadership positions both nationally and internationally, on boards of directors, governing councils and executive committees of various hospitals, research centres, governmental organisations, cancer care organisations, advocacy groups and professional bodies. In addition, I have served on many of the pivotal committees of the the UICC Board, including Governance, Finance, Membership, Congress and World Cancer Leaders’ Summit. I am Co-chair of the 2016 World Cancer Congress Programme Committee and was on the organising committee of the 2014 World Cancer Congress in Melbourne.

This unique position of being a clinician, researcher, administrator and a leader with a clear understanding of the functioning of UICC, gives me the advantage of bringing the right blend of science and action into the fight on cancer control, identify priority areas that need attention and the potential solutions that need to be worked on.

As a current member of the Board of Directors of UICC, I am actively involved with many ongoing projects and a further two years would give me a chance to see them to completion. 

Jeff Dunn (Australia)

I am CEO of Cancer Council Queensland and have worked with UICC for nearly 30 years.

I currently hold Professorial appointments with the University of Southern Queensland Institute for Resilient Regions and the Griffith University School of Medicine and University of Queensland’s School of Social Science. I have a central focus on the social and behavioural aspects of cancer control, spanning across the continuum of research, prevention, early detection, supportive care and quality of life.

I am actively involved in research in this field and have dedicated my career to the development of novel supportive care strategies that underpin cancer prevention and improve community awareness of the disease.

Currently, I serve as:

• CEO of Cancer Council Queensland (CCQ)
• Secretary and Director of the International Psycho- Oncology Society (IPOS)
• Immediate-past President of the Asia Pacific Organization for Cancer Prevention
• Chair, Asia Pacific Cancer Society Training Grants Program (APCASOT)
• Chair, Reach to Recovery International Board of Management

My distinguished service to cancer control includes policy, programme development, advocacy and translation
of research into community-based collaborations and interventions.

I was appointed an Officer in the Order of Australia in June 2014 for distinguished service to medical administration through leadership roles with cancer control organisations and to the promotion of innovative and integrated cancer care programmes.