2026 Speakers

Amsterdam University Medical Center

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Joost Verhoeff MD PhD is Professor and Head of the Department of Radiation Oncology at Amsterdam UMC—one of Europe’s largest radiotherapy centers where he leads a multidisciplinary team advancing precision cancer care. He also serves on the executive board of Cancer Center Amsterdam, the Supervisory Board of Radiotherapiegroep, and he chairs the Radiation Oncology Science Council (ROSC) of the EORTC.

His clinical and research work focuses on brain tumors, lung cancer, and cardiac arrhythmias (STOPSTORM.eu), leveraging high-precision radiotherapy and MR-Linac innovation to deliver personalized, quality-of-life-centered treatments.

Professor Verhoeff’s leadership in redefining radiotherapy standards aligns closely with TROG 2026’s theme, “Driving Intelligent Trials”, particularly the Precision & Performance sub-theme on AI-enabled and efficient trial designs. His EORTC collaborations underscore the importance of international synergy—fittingly resonating with the new TROG–EORTC MOU and the shared ambition to co-develop smarter, globally connected clinical research.

Western Sydney Local Health District

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Verity is the Director of Radiation Oncology Network in WSLHD. Her clinical practice is in breast and paediatric radiation oncology. Over the last few years, she has worked to bring particle therapy to Australia. She was the inaugural Chair of the RANZCR Particle Therapy Special Interest Group and has been involved in various national committees for particle therapy.

Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

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A/Prof Alexander is the Deputy Director of Pharmacy (Quality and Research) at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and an Associate Professor at The University of Melbourne. She has a research focus in thoracic cancers and co-leads AURORA, the Australasian Thoracic Cancers Longitudinal Cohort Study and Biobank. As a pharmacist-researcher, her work focuses on real-world evidence, enhancing medication use, improving treatment efficacy, and minimizing toxicities for people living with cancer.

UNSW Sydney & Prince of Wales Hospital

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Dr Boon H Chua is Professor of Medicine at UNSW Sydney, and Consultant Radiation Oncologist and Director of Cancer and Hematology Services at the Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney, Australia.

With clinical and academic sub-specialization in breast cancer, Dr Chua leads an expanding program of academic oncology research in collaboration with cooperative clinical trials groups worldwide. She is International Study Chair of EXPERT, a 1176-patient randomized trial examining biomarker-directed, personalized radiotherapy for patients with molecularly characterized luminal-A breast cancer in partnership with Breast Cancer Trials-Australia and New Zealand and eight major cooperative clinical trials groups in Europe, Asia and South America. Dr Chua is also International Study Chair of a 1608-patient, randomized trial evaluating radiation dose-fractionation in patients with high-risk ductal carcinoma in-situ of the breast in collaboration with the Trans-Tasman Radiation Oncology Group (TROG), Breast International Group (BIG), Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CCTG), European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), Scottish Cancer Trials Breast Group, International Breast Cancer Study Group (IBCSG), and Cancer Trials Ireland (CTI). She is International Study Co-Chair of the 1832-patient, randomized trial of regional nodal RT in early breast cancer (MA.20) in collaboration with CCTG and US National Cancer Institute, and Australian Study Chair of the 1607-patient, randomized trial of post-mastectomy radiotherapy in women with intermediate-risk early breast cancer (SUPREMO) in collaboration with the UK Medical Research Council and EORTC.

Dr Chua holds leadership positions in a range of national and international research and professional organizations. She has been elected Executive Board member of the Breast International Group (BIG); European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Education Faculty member; Scientific Advisory Committee member of Breast Cancer Trials-Australia and New Zealand; and immediate past co-Chair of the BIG–US National Cancer Institute’s National Clinical Trials Network Alliance meetings, and ESMO Congress Scientific Committee member.

Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

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Dr Neda Haghighi graduated from the faculty of health sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. After gaining the FRANZCR, she completed an extended fellowship in intra-cranial and extra-cranial Stereotactic Radiotherapy at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne.

She leads the Victorian Gamma Knife service and the neuro-oncology unit at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and holds a position as a senior Radiation Oncologist at Icon Cancer Centre since 2013. Dr Haghighi is a primary investigator and co-investigator of international and local clinical trials, relating to radiation treatment and radiosurgery for primary and secondary brain tumors. Dr Haghighi has published several peer reviewed journal articles in high impact neuro-oncology journals. She is an active member of International Society of Radiosurgery (ISRS), International Radiosurgery Research Foundation (IRRF), Trans Tasmanian Radiation Oncology Group (TROG), and Cooperative Trials Group for Neuro-Oncology (COGNO). Dr Haghighi chairs the Stereotactic Interest Group of Australasia (SIGA) and is a committee member on CNS disease specific interest groups. She possesses superior knowledge in management of tumors of the brain and spine with special interest in radiosurgery for the treatment of skull base tumors as well as functional neurological disorders.

Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

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A/Prof. Hardcastle is a medical physicist and Physical Sciences Research Lead at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. A/Prof. Hardcastle’s research interests include stereotactic ablative body radiation therapy and use of artificial intelligence in cancer imaging and treatment. He currently chairs the TROG New Techniques and Technologies Committee, and has extensive experience in evaluating novel technologies through clinical trials.

Westmead and Blacktown Hospitals

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Eric Hau is a radiation oncologist at Westmead and Blacktown Hospitals with an interest in lung and brain cancer.

GenesisCare

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Dr Michael Jameson is the Head of Innovations for GenesisCare, adjunct associate professor at University of New South Wales and honorary associate professor at University of Wollongong.

Image X Institute, University of Sydney

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Professor Paul Keall is an NHMRC Leadership Fellow and Director of the Image X Institute, a centre for innovation in radiation therapy and cancer imaging technologies at the University of Sydney. Technologies developed at the Image X Institute have been assessed in clinical trials such as the TROG 15.01 Stereotactic Prostate Adaptive Radiotherapy utilising KIM (Kilovoltage Intrafraction Monitoring) SPARK and TROG 17.03 Liver Ablative Radiotherapy utilizing Kilovoltage intrafraction monitoring (KIM) trials. Professor Keall works closely with industry partners to broadly apply research discoveries to have a real-world impact on the lives and livelihoods of cancer patients.

Royal North Shore Hospital

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A/Prof Gillian Lamoury is a Senior Staff Specialist, Radiation Oncologist at Royal North Shore Hospital, and a VMO at GenesisCare, the Mater Hospital, Frenchs Forest, and North Shore Health Hub with a subspecialty interest in the treatment of breast cancer.

Gillian is Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Sydney, keenly involved in education, teaching, and research. She is Principal Investigator on several international, national, and investigator-led trials at Royal North Shore Hospital and the Mater Hospital.

She is passionate about patient-centred and evidence-based care, including the delivery of high-quality treatments through advanced radiation therapy techniques for breast cancer.

Her philanthropic interests and passion for equitable access to high-quality cancer treatments led her to accept a Board position on the GenesisCare Foundation in 2020.

In 2025, she was appointed to the Board of Pratham Australia, a volunteer run, non-profit, charitable organisation whose vision is to end the cycle of poverty in India by providing access to education.

Gillian advocates for better patient care through her work with several important strategic groups. She was the inaugural Chair of the Breast Interest Group - Faculty of Radiation Oncology (BIG-FRO), which aims to promote best practice for breast cancer management, and to enhance the profile of radiation oncology for treating breast cancer. She is the recent past Chair of the Breast Cancer Advisory Group (Cancer Australia 2018 -2020) and is a member of the Clinical Advisory Group for Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA).

The University of Melbourne

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Bruce Mann is Professor of Surgery at the University of Melbourne, and Director of the Breast Surgery Research at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. He is also Director of Research at Breast Cancer Trials – Australia and New Zealand’s cooperative breast cancer clinical trials organisation.  His interests relate to systems for optimal breast cancer care and research to improve early diagnosis and tailor the extent of breast cancer treatment to the individual patient.

Cancer Voices NSW

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Murray is Deputy Chair and Secretary of Cancer Voices NSW and a board member of Health Consumers NSW (the state’s peak health consumer organisation). Previously, he worked voluntarily for Cancer Council NSW, focusing on policy and advocacy on the NSW Central Coast.

He is also a consumer representative on the Trans Tasman Radiation Oncology (TROG) Cancer Research Board, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR) Faculty of Radiation Oncology Council and Artificial Intelligence Committee, the Australian Cancer Data Network Translational Panel and the Sydney Health Partners Consumer Advisory Panel.

His personal cancer experiences include the death of his long-term partner from pancreatic cancer in 2007, and successful surgical intervention for prostate cancer in 2009.

Murray’s particular interests build on his career in the NSW public sector, focussing on working with decision makers and on policy development and implementation in the education and work health and safety environments, and his involvement over many years with Sydney’s LGBTQ+ communities, including as president of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and chair of the board of the Sydney Star Observer media company.

He has a Bachelor of Arts, Diploma of Education, and Master of Public Policy.

Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

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Allison Ogden is the Research Consumer Engagement Manager at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. She connects Peter Mac’s researchers with people who have lived experience of cancer, enabling them to contribute as Lived Experience Advisers on research projects.

Each year, Allison responds to more than 90 requests from researchers seeking consumer involvement, often drawing on Peter Mac’s Consumer Register of over 350 members. Her role focuses on education, building trust, and strengthening partnerships between researchers and the community.

Alfred Health

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Prof Wee Loon Ong is a Radiation Oncologist subspecialising in prostate cancer care at the Alfred Health, Latrobe Regional Health and Barwon Health. He is an Adjunct Clinical Professor at Monash University School of Translational Medicine. Following radiation oncology training in Melbourne, he completed a prostate fellowship at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto and is highly trained in all aspects of prostate radiation therapy including brachytherapy and stereotactic ablative body radiation therapy (SABR). He is currently the Prostate SABR Lead and co-PI for multiple phase 2 prostate SABR trials at the Alfred Health. He is the current Chair of the Trans-Tasman Radiation Oncology (TROG) Genitourinary Working Party, and the Australian PI of the MRFF-funded NRG-Oncology GU013/ HIGH-FIVE trial. He is an executive committee member of the RANZCR Faculty of Radiation Oncology Genitourinary Group (FROGG).

Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

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Vanessa Panettieri PhD is an accredited Senior Medical Physicist currently working at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre with 20 years of experience in Radiation Oncology, and Adjunct Associate Professor at Monash University and Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne (Australia). Prior to moving to Australia in 2010 Vanessa has worked as Research Medical Physicist at the Karolinska Hospital in Sweden and Clatterbridge Cancer Centre in the UK, focusing on treatment planning calculations in the context of SBRT and biologically-based clinical trials. Vanessa has contributed to more than 45 publications in peer-reviewed journals, and her current research interests are in predictive modelling, automated planning and advanced imaging for treatment individualisation.

St George Hospital Cancer Care Centre, Sydney

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A/Prof. Poder is a clinical medical physicist specializing in radiation oncology at St George Hospital Cancer Care Centre in Sydney, Australia. He leads multiple initiatives advancing prostate brachytherapy quality assurance, imaging integration, and global practice benchmarking. Joel’s research spans brachytherapy source tracking, PSMA PET radiomics, and clinical implementation studies, with active collaborations across Australia, Europe, and North America. He holds academic appointments with UNSW, the University of Sydney, and the University of Wollongong, where he supervises graduate research in applied medical physics. Joel contributes to international professional societies and task groups, including the Australasian Brachytherapy Group and the AAPM.

University of Auckland

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Dr Reynolds is a Senior Research Fellow at the Auckland Bioengineering Institute at the University of Auckland (UoA) in New Zealand. She established a Cancer Imaging Research Group at the ABI in 2019, which focuses on developing bioengineering tools and technologies to enable precision oncology. She has carried out multidisciplinary research into cancers of the skin, breast, prostate, and kidney, and has led projects developing novel imaging devices for lymphoedema and computational fluid dynamic models of the lymphatic system. She obtained her PhD in Bioengineering at UoA in 2009, followed by a 2-year postdoctoral fellowship position at the ABI and then seven years (2011-2018) as a Research Fellow at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne. She is the New Zealand lead of the Biologically targeted Radiation Therapy (BiRT) project, and Chief Investigator on the SI-BiRT clinical trial being run at Auckland City Hospital, which is developing MRI-based biomarkers to assess treatment response to prostate SABR. She has supervised multiple PhD and Masters students and has been awarded over $4 million in external research funding as principal investigator.

Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute

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Head, Tumour Targeting Laboratory

Co-Director, Centre for Research Excellence in Brain Cancer

Director, Department Of Molecular Imaging And Therapy, Austin Health

Prof. Andrew Scott leads the Tumour Targeting Laboratory at the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute and co-Director, Centre for Research Excellence in Brain Cancer; is Director, Department of Molecular Imaging and Therapy, Austin Health; and is Professor, La Trobe University and The University of Melbourne.

His clinical and research interests are focused on developing innovative strategies for targeted therapy of cancer (particularly with monoclonal antibodies), molecular imaging in oncology, and global advocacy in Oncology and Nuclear Medicine. His laboratory has been involved in the preclinical development and first-in-man trials of numerous recombinant antibodies in cancer patients, and seven antibodies developed in his laboratory have been licenced to Biotech and Pharma companies, and have entered Phase I/II/III trials. He has published over 480 peer reviewed papers and 27 book chapters, is an inventor on 25 patents, and is a founder of a biotech company.

Prof Scott is actively involved in the training and mentoring of young scientists and clinicians, and is currently supervising several doctoral students, postdoctoral fellows and nuclear medicine trainees.

Another focus of his work is strategic planning for training, health care policy, and molecular imaging and nuclear medicine therapy advocacy within the US, European, South American, Asia-Oceania, and African regions, as well as with the IAEA and WHO and he also participates in policy and governance activities with the Australian Government. Prof Scott is former president of the World Federation of Nuclear Medicine and Biology, the peak global nuclear medicine organisation. In 2017 he was awarded Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia, and elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences. In 2022 Prof Scott received the Saul Hertz award from SNNMI and Ajit Padhy award from WARMTH. In 2023 he received the Telix Award from ANZSNM, and in 2024 Prof Scott was elected Fellow, Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, USA

The Grants Guy

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‍Specialising in Funding Consultancy & Business Storytelling, Keith Whelan provides high level assistance to the University Sector, in planning for and accessing extra income streams as well as developing their own respective narrative.

‍Keith has worked in the Tertiary Education sector in Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.

He has consulted with and taught at a number of Universities in Australia such as ANU Canberra, University of Adelaide, University of Sydney, UTS, University of Newcastle, Macquarie University and Massey University in New Zealand. ‍ ‍

He has worked with numerous Universities in assisting get “Grants Ready”, preparing articulate grant applications by undertaking pre-emptive work.

‍He presently facilitates courses for University Research Offices, Post-Docs and Post-Grads in how to attract funding through Grants, Crowd Funding, Sponsorship, Fundraising and Bequests and assists Schools to understand the value of their product and how to sell it.

Website:  www.thegrantsguy.com.au
Twitter:   http://twitter.com/thegrantsguy
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/The-Grants-Guy
E-mail:  keith@thegrantsguy.com.au
Mobile:  0408 967481

University of Adelaide & South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI)

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Connor Williams is a postdoctoral researcher in the Supportive Oncology Research Group at the University of Adelaide and the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI). His research focuses on improving the health and wellbeing of people living with or beyond cancer, with a particular emphasis on understanding and reducing off-target toxicities associated with radiotherapy. Using a combination of laboratory-based and clinical research approaches, his work aims to minimise the physical, emotional, and economic consequences of cancer and its treatment by developing innovative supportive care strategies.