About the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition

Chair

Annwen Jones OBE

Annwen is Chief Executive of Target Ovarian Cancer, the UK’s leading ovarian cancer charity, which she helped establish in 2008. A multi award winning charity, it has the ambitious aim of doubling ovarian cancer survival through improving diagnosis, funding research and providing vital support to women with ovarian cancer.

Annwen is also Chair of the Board of Directors of the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition. She was a co-founder of the Coalition, the first of its kind, in 2016 and co-chaired the Expert Advisory Panel for the seminal Every Woman Study™️, published in 2018. She has also served on the Steering Group of ENGAGE, the European Network of Gynaecological Cancer Groups.

Annwen has over 25 years’ experience of leadership, strategy, and management in the non-profit sector. Her several leadership roles include Chief Executive of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, working in the UK and globally to find a cure for Type 1 diabetes; Chief Executive of Ovarian Cancer Action; and on the Board of the Association of Medical Research Charities, the leading voice of UK medical research charities. In 2014 she was appointed by NHS England to the Cancer Drugs Fund Board to represent the interests of people with less common cancers and help them to gain access to new cancer drugs.

Annwen holds an MBA from Henley Business School. She has also studied non-profit leadership at Harvard Business School and is an alumnus of, and guest speaker for, the Windsor Leadership Group, an executive leadership development group founded by the late HRH The Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.

Annwen was awarded an OBE in The Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2019 for services to charity.

“I was honoured to be part of the team that co-founded World Ovarian Cancer Day in 2013 because of the urgent need to raise awareness of this much-neglected cancer on a global scale. The establishment of the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition is a major step forward because I believe that by working together – speaking with a single voice 365 days of the year – we can achieve even more for woman affected by this disease.”

Vice-Chair of the Board, Chair of Nominations Committee

Jane Hill

Jane has over 20 years experience in non-profit leadership in both non-executive Board and CEO roles . She has been a tireless advocate for those affected by ovarian cancer having served as CEO of Ovarian Cancer Australia, the national organization in Australia supporting women affected by this disease.

In 2023, the Australia Government awarded Jane the Jeanie Ferris Cancer Australia Award in recognition of her outstanding contribution to improving outcomes for women with gynaecological cancers,

As well as her ovarian cancer work, Jane is currently a Board Member of the Victorian Pharmacy Authority, a statutory authority which regulates the ownership and operation of pharmacy businesses and departments in the State of Victoria in Australia.

Before embarking on her career in non-profit leadership, Jane completed a combined Arts/Law degree, followed by an MBA, and post-graduate studies in marketing and corporate governance. She is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

“It is both an honor and a privilege to be a part of the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition Board of Directors. Working together we strive for global improvements for ovarian cancer on all fronts – awareness, diagnosis, treatment, and quality of life.”

Treasurer

Tammy Brown

Tammy is an emeritus director of Ovarian Cancer Canada and a past director of Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary.

“I am honoured to be a member of the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition Board and to be part of this global movement to tackle ovarian cancer. I am encouraged by the commitment and spirit of this movement.”

Board Member, Vice-Chair Nominations Committee

Rafe Sadnan Adel

Rafe Sadnan Adel has been working to develop cancer-related awareness among people since 2014. He is the founding chairperson of cancerbd.net, the first-ever web-based initiative to raise awareness about cancer in Bangladesh.

Adel began his career as a journalist and has served mainstream media as both reporter and presenter for over a decade. As an investigative journalist, Adel roamed around remote areas of Bangladesh so that people get the right information in any disaster or emergencies.

As a journalist, he covered international conferences including the General Assembly of the United Nations (UNGA), The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), BRICS (acronym coined to associate five major emerging economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa), Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

For over a decade, Adel constantly nurtured himself and enhanced his networking skills, and this is why he chose Communications as a future career. Most recently, Adel was the Head of Media and External Relations at the world’s largest humanitarian organization, BRAC. During the covid-19 pandemic, Adel tried his best for awareness-raising on crucial issues through different communication channels. Currently Adel is serving North South University as the Director, Public Relation Office in Bangladesh.

I am very proud to be a part of the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition Board of Directors. Thanks for giving me the unprecedented opportunity to join the global action. I do strongly believe, together we can annihilate the disease.

Board Member

Runcie C.W. Chidebe

Runcie C.W. Chidebe is a cancer control advocate, global health consultant, researcher, psychologist and the executive director of Project PINK BLUE. He is one of the leading voices advocating for Nigeria government to make cancer control a national health priority. He has been engaged in supporting women battling with cancer, hosting oncology trainings for doctors/nurses, fundraising for indigent patients, cancer awareness, founded Nigeria’s first patient navigation and the first cancer support group in Abuja, Nigeria.

He is a Member, Nigeria’s ministerial committee on the implementation of National Cancer Control Programme (2018-2022), National Cervical Cancer Programme for the Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health; Global Steering Committee for the Novartis Peer Navigation Programme for metastatic breast cancer, Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) World Cancer Day Advisory Group and an external board member of the Birmingham & Lewisham African & Caribbean Health Inequalities Review, United Kingdom.

As a result of his patient advocacy work in Africa, Runcie has been recognised globally, including nobel Nelson Mandela -Graca Machel innovation award, UICC Young Cancer Leader Award, U.S. Department of State International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), Catherine Peugeot Research Award, France; Global Ties U.S. Award for Social Innovation and Change by the U.S. Government, 4o Under 40 in Cancer globally, Distinguished Advocacy Award by International Gynecologic Cancer Society, USA; Faces of Exchange awardalongside the Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinta Ardern and United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guteras by the U.S. Department of State and many other laurels across Europe, America and across Africa.

“I am incredibly delighted to join the board of World Ovarian Cancer Coalition; it is a dynamic opportunity to support and advocate for more diversity in research on women impacted by ovarian cancer globally. I believe that where a woman live should not determine whether she lives or dies from ovarian cancer”

Board Member

Julie Torode, PhD

Julie Torode is a board member of the Institute of Cancer Policy, Director of Strategic Partnerships, Community and Patient Engagement and visiting researcher at Kings College London. Her research interests span the spectrum of global cancer prevention and control with a particular interest in women’s health and cancer. Julie gained her PhD in Chemistry from the University of Liverpool, conducted post-doctoral research at the University of Marburg, Germany and entered the health arena and field of oncology through industry clinical trials work across phases I-IV (2000-2008). Since then, Julie has worked internationally with a policy focus and global advocacy working alongside United Nations agencies and government bodies. During more than a decade (2008-2021) at Union for International Cancer Control in Geneva, Switzerland Julie worked with cancer organizations across the globe in advocating for the Global Action Plan on Noncommunicable Diseases, the palliative care and cancer resolutions and most recently the WHO Global Strategy to Accelerate the Elimination of Cervical Cancer as a Public Health Problem. Her global cancer research covers cancer systems strengthening: access to cancer medicines and palliative care, global radiotherapy, surgery and cancer care in conflict. She is a member of the WHO Global Guideline Group for Cervical Cancer and the technical Working Group for the Global Breast Cancer Initiative. Julie supports several civil society organizations at board level including the African Organization for Research In Cancer (AORTIC), World Child Cancer and Kilele Health Association, Kenya as well as advising grassroots groups in Sub-Saharan Africa including the African Cervical Health Alliance.

Board Member

Dave Power

Dave is a Partner in KPMG’s Audit practice in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), with a focus on industrial markets and automotive, as well as assurance over Environmental, Social and Governance metrics. He has over 18 years of audit experience, primarily with public companies, having worked mostly in Toronto with two years in London, United Kingdom on secondment to KPMG’s International Standards Group. In addition to his technical and client service abilities, Dave is known for his significant interest in and commitment to people management and development, having been a People Leader for four years, a leader in the development and mentorship of people. For five years at KPMG, Dave also oversaw the firm’s program to support its Ontario employees through the professional examination process.

To support his communities, Dave is currently a director and Treasurer of Ovarian Cancer Canada and has previously served as Chair, Vice-Chair and Treasurer on the board of directors of ACCESS Community Capital Fund, a Canadian not-for-profit focusing on micro-lending to support individuals, including those new to Canada, grow self-sustaining businesses and careers.

Emeritus Director, Fundraising Working Group

Elisabeth Baugh

Elisabeth Baugh’s achievements over 20 years as CEO at Ovarian Cancer Canada include merging two charities to create one voice for ovarian cancer in 2007, raising the organization to a national presence with six regional offices, development of education and awareness programs and mission oversight.

Elisabeth chaired the first-ever World Ovarian Cancer Day on May 8, 2013. This event now boasts more than 140 organizational participants from more than 30 countries, and has led to formal establishment of the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition, of which Elisabeth is also past Chair and Board Member. Globally she is active on a number of Patient Advisory Boards.

Previously, Elisabeth was Executive Director for 10 years at AboutFace, a national organization she co-founded dedicated to helping individuals with facial differences. Elisabeth is a recipient of the Order of Ontario and the Queen’s Jubilee Medal and been recognized three times as one of Canada’s Top 100 Women for her achievements in the charitable sector.  In 2020 and 2021 Elisabeth was nominated for an RBC Woman of Influence Award.

“The World Ovarian Cancer Coalition’s vision is to ensure the best possible survival, and the best possible quality of life for every woman with ovarian cancer – wherever they are. The task of the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition Board of Directors is to unite the ovarian cancer community across the world to make this happen. I am proud to be part of this movement and inspired by all that we work with.”

Emeritus Director, Nominations Committee, Fundraising Working Group

Robin Cohen

Robin Cohen is the CEO and Co-Founder of the Sandy Rollman Ovarian Cancer Foundation and a past Vice-Chair of the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition. She is a member of the Oncology Nursing Society, the Society of Gynecologic Nurse Oncologists, Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society and the Cambridge Who’s Who. She has been recognized as one of the 75 Greatest Living Philadelphians. She has served on the board of directors of the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance for the last seven years and is now the Vice President of the Board of the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance.

“I am excited about being part of the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition and the opportunity to join forces with supporters from around the world to draw attention to this disease. Globally, ovarian cancer is diagnosed annually in nearly a quarter of a million women and is responsible for 140,000 deaths each year. I am part of the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition because I believe that the time has come for global action.”

Scientific Communications Advisor

Eva Schumacher-Wulf

Eva Schumacher-Wulf is the publisher and editor-in-chief of the German ovarian cancer magazine “Mamma Mia!” as well as a breast cancer magazine and other publications. The quarterly magazines are for ovarian and breast cancer patients, as well as for doctors, nurses and anyone else involved with this disease. The magazines provide medical information, and psychological support, including articles about nutrition, sports and healthy lifestyles. Eva also contributes to the Mamma Mia! website and to social media channels like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

Eva was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004 at the age of 34, when her boys were one and four years old. Prior to founding and working for Mamma Mia! Eva worked for the Israeli government tourism office in Berlin as a spokesperson for 12 years. She has a master’s degree in tourism from the University of Trier, a degree in public relations from the Academy DAPR and a degree in social media from the Deutsche Presseakademie.

“I am very happy about the opportunity to join the Board of the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition. Being connected to other organizations helps our efforts to create awareness and to support women living with ovarian cancer. In Europe, one of the key challenges is to ensure that all women with ovarian cancer are being treated in specialized centres. I believe through the WOCC we can help address these kinds of challenges. I also strongly believe that society still does not know enough about ovarian cancer. We need a Coalition like this to create greater public awareness of this disease around the world.

Kenya

HE Dorothy Nyong’o

Mrs. Dorothy Nyong’o, the Managing Trustee of Africa Cancer Foundation, is the First Lady of Kisumu County and Director of 7th Sense Communications Limited. She is a PR consultant and holds an Executive MSc in Organisational Development from the United States International University (Nairobi), a Postgraduate Diploma in Mass Communications and a BA Hons (French, Political Science) from the University of Nairobi.

Nigeria

HE Dr. Zainab Bagudu

Dr. Zainab Bagudu, is a Consultant Paediatrician and an advocate for women’s health, with a particular focus on cancer, often referred as the mother of health in her native, Kebbi State. n her role as the First Lady of Kebbi State, Dr Bagudu is working with the state ministries of health, education, and women affairs to implement programmes to sustainably improve menstrual hygiene, girl-child education, economic empowerment of women, and put an end to gender-based violence.

USA/UK

Dr. Deborah Harkness

In addition to being a New York Times bestselling author, Deborah Harkness is a professor of history and teaches European history and the history of science at the University of Southern California She is a graduate of Mount Holyoke College (B.A., 1986), Northwestern University (M.A., 1990), and the University of California, Davis (Ph.D., 1994). Harkness also studied abroad at Oxford University. She is a well-regarded historian of science and medicine, as well as having studied alchemy, magic and the occult.

Chief Executive Officer

Clara MacKay

CEO of the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition, Clara MacKay has nearly 20 years of experience in cancer advocacy, including senior level positions in UK organizations covering ovarian, pancreatic, bowel, prostate and breast cancer. Clara was a founding member of the World Pancreatic Cancer Coalition and Chair of Cancer 52– a network of nearly 100 cancer groups representing the interests of rare and less common cancers. In 2015 she was appointed to an Independent Cancer Taskforce established by NHS England to develop a five-year strategy for cancer services. After 25 years in the UK, Clara returned to her native Nova Scotia, Canada in 2016. In addition to her role with the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition, Clara is appointed Chair of the national Canadian charity Craig’s Cause Pancreatic Cancer Society.

Clara has a BA in Politics and History from Mount Saint Vincent University and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Carleton University.

Director of Programmes and Every Woman Study™ Lead

Frances Reid

Frances Reid has been the Programme Director for the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition since 2017. In that time, Frances devised and led the peer-reviewed Every Woman Study™ (2018) charting global experiences of women with ovarian cancer. Findings from this study informed her work as the lead on the Coalition’s Global Ovarian Cancer Charter, launched at the Presidential Plenary of the International Gynecologic Cancer Society Annual Meeting in September 2020. Frances is now leading the newest version of the Study – The Every Woman Study™: Low- and Middle-Income Edition.

Her work with women who have ovarian cancer began in 2003. In 2008, Frances co-founded Target Ovarian Cancer in the UK where she worked as Director of Public Affairs and Services. The power of patient experience and voices are fundamental to her work, and have been transformative in bringing together patient, clinical and policy viewpoints. She developed the Target Ovarian Cancer Pathfinder Study, the results inspiring the establishment of an All Party Parliamentary Group on Ovarian Cancer, and informed a raft of policy decisions and targeted interventions to improve survival and quality of life for women.

Frances has what she would describe as a ‘blended career’, including 14 years at the BBC primarily as a radio programme maker, an entrepreneur with a home-based micro-bakery and teaching bread making skills, and as a freelance consultant centred on patient experience and impact reporting.

Director of Communications and Marketing

Phaedra Charlton

Phaedra Charlton MCIM MCIPR is the Director of Communications and Marketing for the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition.  Phaedra has had a varied career since receiving her BA in Communication Studies from Concordia University in Montreal in 1997.  Initially working for several years in the major motion picture industry in Accounting, Phaedra looked for more fulfilling roles and transitioned into public administration and later entrepreneurship, always with a focus on communications, marketing, and design.  In addition to her work with the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition, Phaedra assists other charitable and publicly minded organizations on an ad hoc basis with their messaging and marketing. Phaedra is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.

Finance Manager

Javeria Zaman CPA, CA

Javeria Zaman is working as the Finance Manager of the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition. Javeria is a CPA, CA who started her career with a public accounting firm and then moved on to the nonprofit sector, working in leadership roles at international nonprofit organizations covering issues such as awareness, advocacy, education, and healthcare. She has also worked in the public sector managing financial planning and analysis for Canada’s largest senior housing operator. Her approach to work is to always look for ways to do things more efficiently and effectively leveraging technology and process automation. In her previous roles, she has been part of software implementations from design to installation. In addition to working with the Coalition Javeria also regularly works with other charities and nonprofits both as a consultant and as a volunteer helping them with their finances.

Javeria also enjoys public speaking. She has represented her organization on international forums, conducted training on different topics related to finance as well as acted as master of ceremony for an event held for members of the legislative assembly which was broadcast live on television.

Senior PA

Jesica Martinez de Hoz

Jesica Martinez de Hoz is the Senior Project Assistant for the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition. She holds a BA in Communication Studies from McMaster University, where she hosted a radio show, sparking her passion for audio storytelling. After earning a certificate in Music Business from Humber College, Jesica delved into podcasting, working as an associate producer on various productions.

One of the podcasts, “Overlooked,” focused on a woman’s journey with ovarian cancer and led Jesica to working with the Coalition. At the Coalition, in addition to supporting the executive team, she is leading on the Inspiring Voices project, interviewing those who have experience with ovarian cancer and helping them share their story with others.

SEB Study Lead and Policy Consultant

Mikis Euripides

Experienced Senior Director with a demonstrated history of working in the health sector. Experience of working in the pharmaceutical industry and patient groups at a senior level. Skilled in Nonprofit Organizations, Public Affairs, Corporate Social Responsibility, Crisis Communications, and Event Management. Strong business development professional with a Master of Science (MSc) focused in Global Politics from Birkbeck, University of London.

Research Assistant

Anmol Bajwa, MPH

Masters in Health Policy and Management from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. My research interests include the role of analysis in the formation of health policy, cross-national comparisons of health systems, and how policies affect barriers and access to health care. Over the past few years, I worked with the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition to conduct qualitative research to investigate factors that affect ovarian cancer health access and outcomes in 24 countries as part of the Every Woman Study™: LMIC Edition. Currently, I am working with Infosys Consulting as a Healthcare and Life Sciences Consultant.