Cancer Australia congratulates Ms Kirralee Hughes and Dr Andrea Garrett, recipients of the 2026 Jeannie Ferris Award for their outstanding achievements in increasing equity of outcomes for people affected by cancer in Australia.
Category 1: Members of the Community – Ms Kirralee Hughes
Kirralee Hughes is a passionate advocate, community leader, and co-founder of the Mark Hughes Foundation, whose work has transformed the landscape of brain cancer care and research in Australia. Her advocacy journey began in 2013, when her husband – former Newcastle Knights NRL player Mark Hughes – was diagnosed with a high-grade brain tumour. In an instant, Kirralee’s life shifted profoundly as she stepped into the roles of carer, partner, and decision-maker, navigating the complex and confronting realities of a brain cancer diagnosis.
Determined to secure the best possible outcome for her husband, Kirralee immersed herself in his care and became a strong, informed advocate throughout every stage of his treatment. She speaks openly about the emotional toll of living with brain cancer, including the ongoing anxiety of regular scans and the uncertainty that accompanies long-term survivorship. Rather than being defined by these challenges, Kirralee has channelled her experience into meaningful action that has benefited thousands of families facing similar circumstances.
Recognising a critical gap in patient support, Kirralee identified the absence of dedicated care coordination for brain cancer patients. Addressing this need became a central focus of the Mark Hughes Foundation (MHF), which she co-founded with Mark in 2014, starting with just $50,000 and a clear vision for change. Under her leadership, MHF established the Brain Cancer Care Coordinator program, embedding specialised nurses in regional hospitals across New South Wales. Guided by the belief that geography should never limit access to care, this initiative has now supported thousands of patients and families, particularly in regional and rural communities.
As the operational driving force behind MHF, Kirralee has played a pivotal role in growing the organisation into one of Australia’s leading brain cancer charities, raising more than $30 million in just over a decade. The Foundation’s flagship initiative, Beanies for Brain Cancer, has evolved into a nationwide NRL campaign, with more than one million beanies sold. Kirralee has also led innovative fundraising efforts, including an all-female trek in Tasmania that raised over $300,000 for research, walking alongside a participant living with brain cancer.
In 2022, Kirralee’s leadership helped secure a landmark $15 million commitment to establish the Mark Hughes Foundation Centre for Brain Cancer Research at the University of Newcastle. The Centre now connects more than 100 researchers across 27 institutions and administers an Innovation Grant Scheme that has awarded over $10 million to advance new discoveries. Early research breakthroughs, including the repurposing of an Alzheimer’s drug for glioblastoma, show promise in improving survival outcomes and quality of life.
A proud Novocastrian and University of Newcastle alumna, Kirralee Hughes has transformed personal adversity into lasting impact. She has not only championed a cause but built and sustained a movement that delivers tangible support, drives research innovation, and brings hope to those affected by brain cancer.
Category 2: Health Professionals and Researchers – Dr Andrea Garrett
Dr Andrea Garrett FRANZCOG, CGO is a certified gynaecological oncologist and senior clinical leader committed to improving outcomes, equity, and quality of care for women with gynaecological cancers across Queensland, Australia, and internationally.
Her research contributions include leadership and collaboration in major multicentre trials across endometrial, ovarian, cervical, and trophoblastic cancers, including LACE, LACC, OPEN, LEGS, feMMe, ECHO, ENDO3, MOST, and ACUMEN. She currently leads multiple research projects focused on surgical management, genetics, chemoresistance, and diagnostic optimisation in GTD, and has contributed to national guideline development, including the National Cervical Screening Guidelines.
A dedicated educator and mentor, Dr Garrett has supervised and assessed 36 advanced gynaecological oncology fellows over a 15-year period, in addition to extensive teaching of registrars, medical students, and multidisciplinary teams. She is a Senior Lecturer at The University of Queensland.
Equity is central to Dr Garrett’s clinical and leadership approach. She has worked closely with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Liaison Officers to develop culturally safe referral pathways and collaborative care models, while also delivering outreach services. She has led initiatives to improve access and tailor care for rural and remote populations, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, LGBTQIA+ patients, women with disability, neurodiverse individuals, and those experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage.
Dr Garrett graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from The University of Queensland in 1996. She was awarded Fellowship of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (FRANZCOG) in 2007 and completed subspecialty certification in Gynaecological Oncology in 2009. She also holds a Graduate Diploma in Palliative Care from Flinders University. Since 2009, she has served as a Visiting Medical Officer Consultant Gynaecological Oncologist at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and The Wesley Hospital, alongside her role as a Consultant with the Queensland Centre for Gynaecological Cancer.
From 2017 to 2022, Dr Garrett was Director of the Queensland State-wide Gynaecologic Cancer Service and continues toto provide executive leadership within the service. This integrated network spans a population of approximately six million people and manages around 4,700 patients annually, making it the largest gynaecological oncology service in Australia and one of the largest internationally. Working within one of the most geographically decentralised health systems in the world, she has led the delivery of coordinated, specialist cancer care across vast distances, with a strong focus on equitable access to high-quality treatment.
In 2012, Dr Garrett founded the Queensland Trophoblast Centre (QTC), establishing the first state-wide database, clinical protocols, and digital management systems for gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD). The QTC now coordinates care across Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Tasmania, while also providing specialist consultation nationally. Managing approximately 250 patients annually, the centre is recognised for its highly coordinated and protocol-driven model of care.
Dr Garrett’s expertise in trophoblastic disease is internationally recognised. She has contributed to global guideline development, including serving on the international committee for the 2025 Practical Guidelines for the Treatment of Trophoblastic Disease and the FIGO 2026 staging committee for GTD. She is a member of the European Organisation for the Treatment of Trophoblastic Diseases and serves as Secretary of the International Society for the Study of Trophoblastic Diseases.
Beyond her formal roles, Dr Garrett supports cancer research and global capacity building through fundraising initiatives and international clinical outreach, including medical education and support programs in Myanmar and Fiji.
