Professor Dorothy Keefe, MD, PSM
Chief Executive Officer
Professor Dorothy Keefe has been Chief Executive Officer of Cancer Australia since 2019.
Dorothy joined Cancer Australia following a long and distinguished career as a medical oncologist at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Professor of Cancer Medicine at the University of Adelaide - where she remains an Honorary Clinical Professor – and serving as President of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC). As a passionate believer in continuing education, Dorothy holds degrees in Medicine and Surgery from Middlesex Hospital Medical School, a Master of Science from The University of London, and a Doctor of Medicine in Chemotherapy Toxicity and a Master of Aboriginal Studies from the University of Adelaide.
A proponent of health reform, advocacy, career development and mentoring, Dorothy is committed to patient-centred care, reducing unnecessary variation in cancer outcomes, and to improving outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people affected by cancer.
At Cancer Australia, Dorothy has led the enquiry into Lung Cancer Screening and the development and launch of the first Australian Cancer Plan.
Claire Howlett
Deputy Chief Executive Officer
Claire Howlett is the Deputy CEO of Cancer Australia. Claire has advised government on issues ranging from biodiversity policy to energy efficiency, and healthcare.
Prior to joining Cancer Australia, Claire led cancer policy advice for the Australian Government Department of Health, including delivering the three national cancer screening programs. Prior to that, she was responsible for delivering government services to the Indian Ocean Territories of Christmas and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, which included overseeing one of Australia’s most remote health services.
Claire provides strategic leadership and direction to the agency, including throughout the development of the Australian Cancer Plan.
Professor Vivienne Milch, MBBS (Hons), MHPol, GAICD
Medical Director and Head, Clinical Policy Advice Branch
Professor Vivienne Milch is Medical Director, at Cancer Australia. Professor Milch is also Medical Advisor to the Australian Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care on cancer screening policy, holds a Master’s degree in Health Policy and is an Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor in the School of Medicine, Sydney Campus at The University of Notre Dame, Australia and Professorial Fellow at the Caring Futures Institute at Flinders University in Adelaide.
Prior to joining Cancer Australia, Professor Milch was a General Practitioner and clinical researcher at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney.
In her current role, Professor Milch provides strategic clinical policy input to Cancer Australia’s work to minimise the impact of cancer, address disparities, and improve the health outcomes of people affected by cancer in Australia.
David Meredyth
Head, Cancer Control Strategy Branch
David Meredyth is the Head of the Cancer Control Strategy Branch at Cancer Australia.
An experienced senior executive with a background in health policy, cancer control, and public administration, David has held leadership roles across the Australian Public Service, including more than 20 years at the Department of Health and Aged Care, working in health workforce education as well as cancer policy and programs.
At Cancer Australia, David is responsible for leading the agency’s cancer control strategy, including the development and implementation of national cancer control policies and programs. He oversees various initiatives particularly overseeing First Nations Cancer Outcomes measures.
Cindy Toms
Head, Evidence, Priority Initiatives and Communications Branch
Cindy Toms is the Head of the Evidence, Priority Initiatives and Communications Branch at Cancer Australia.
Cindy originally trained as a medical scientist and has been working in pathology settings and public health policy for more than 20 years. Cindy is an experienced senior executive who has led Australian Government initiatives in mental health policy, emergency response, communicable diseases, and environmental health.
Cindy’s responsibilities at Cancer Australia include leading the agency’s cancer research and clinical trials policy, improving cancer data, lung cancer screening and pancreatic cancer priority activities, and health promotion, communications, and media.
Elmer Wiegold
Chief Finance Officer, Chief Operations Officer
Elmer Wiegold is the COO/CFO and Head of the Corporate Operations Branch at Cancer Australia. Elmer is a qualified Chartered Accountant who began his public sector career as an accountant working in South Australia. He has held senior executive roles in strategy, finance, corporate affairs and program and project delivery in the public sector.
Elmer also has substantial experience in finance, human resources, and corporate services, having worked as a CFO and general manager of corporate affairs for several federal government entities.
His responsibilities include Cancer Australia’s corporate governance arrangements, financial performance, management of human resources, ministerial and parliamentary coordination, compliance, and other accountability obligations.
