An exciting opportunity is available to join the World Ovarian Cancer Ambassador Program, a leading not-for-profit organization established in 2016 working across the globe. We are seeking high-profile women from around the world passionate about women’s health to help us raise awareness, promote health literacy, and highlight health inequities where they exist. This page will help you navigate the basics of the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition as a prospective Ambassador. In order to make this as accessible as possible, we have compiled all of the information here on this password protected page of our website for your review. More detailed information can be found on the rest of this website, and key statements below are hyperlinked to specific information (for example where symptoms and risks are mentioned). If you have any questions about any of the material, please email Clara MacKay our CEO, and she will be happy to help.
Our Mission and Vision
A world where every woman with ovarian cancer has the best chance of survival, and the best quality of life – wherever she may live.
Empowering the global ovarian cancer community through knowledge, collaboration and action.
About Us
The World Ovarian Cancer Coalition works with close to 200 patient advocacy organizations from around the world. Since its inception in 2013, our flagship awareness campaign, World Ovarian Cancer Day, has reached over 5m people worldwide. The Coalition raises awareness of ovarian cancer throughout the year.
In 2018, our ground breaking Every Woman Study™ reported on the experiences of over 1500 women living with a diagnosis of ovarian cancer from 44 different countries. The findings of the Every Woman Study™ informed the development of a Global Ovarian Cancer Charter launched in 2020 at the International Gynecologic Cancer Society (IGCS) Annual Meeting. The Charter is a call to action for all those committed to improving survival and quality of life for women with ovarian cancer.
The World Ovarian Cancer Coalition is now undertaking the next generation of the above work, the Every Woman Study™: Low- and Middle-Income Edition, which is currently underway in 24 low- and middle-income countries. Details of this Study, and our recent Access to Essential Medicines Report can be found here.
About Ovarian Cancer
‘Ovarian cancer’ is not a singular diagnosis, rather it is an umbrella term for a multitude of different types of cancer that affect the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and the primary peritoneal cavity. It is estimated that there are more than 30 different types of ovarian cancer, and there is a very wide variation in incidence and outlook in terms of the different types.
Ovarian cancer is the most lethal of the female cancers for which there is no reliable screening test, and every person assigned female at birth is at risk. With delays in diagnoses due to this lack of screening and because symptoms are often confused with other, less severe, illness, most people are diagnosed once the cancer has already spread, making it more difficult to treat. While every woman is at risk, ovarian cancer is overlooked and underfunded.
Five-year ovarian cancer survival rates vary between countries. For example, in more developed countries, current rates range from 36% to 46%. However, in some countries the figure is much lower. Overall, survival rates fall well below that for other cancers, like breast cancer, where five-year survival rates in many countries are close to 90%.
The Program
The Ambassador Program will launch in 2023 as we lead up to our annual flagship awareness campaign – World Ovarian Cancer Day (May 8) – which had an extended reach of over 100 million in 2022. While the Program will start around this campaign, there would be ongoing contributions throughout the year. Through the Program we are seeking to raise the profile of ovarian cancer specifically and women’s health generally with the aim of stirring up a global conversation to get closer to the Coalition’s goal of “No Woman Left Behind”. As the Coalition is predominately virtual, all Ambassador contributions would take place online, via social media or the Coalition’s website.
The Commitment
The Program can be expanded and adapted depending on the personal preferences of the individual Ambassador, however the minimum requirements would be:
1 year commitment to the Program
2 short statements (quotes) of support with a headshot
about Twitter length (ie <300 characters)
can be in English and the Ambassador’s chosen language
can be tailored to Ambassador’s situation/country/personal connection to the cause
Coalition would design any artwork and send back to Ambassador for approval
1 video message
Message can be tailored as above
Video can be captured on cell phone
Video edits will be sent to Ambassador for approval
2 retweets/reshares of World Ovarian Cancer Day posts in addition to sharing of above
Permission to list Ambassador’s name on the Coalition website, social media channels, and other promotional materials for agreement period.
Based on personal preferences, the Coalition would be happy to provide:
Periodic briefings with Ambassador and/or Ambassador’s team/management on progress of Program
Additional bespoke social media content or materials
e.g., facts, risk factors, local, national and global statistics (where available)
This is a non-exclusive Program, so Ambassador would not be restricted from supporting other causes or organizations. This is a non-remunerated post. As a digital program, there will be no in-person appearances required, and given the nature of the commitment, most of the deliverables can be organized by the Ambassador’s support team or management, consequently the total time commitment over the course of a year would be no more than a total of two hours.
The above serves as a minimum guideline only and Ambassadors are welcome, should they wish, to expand or extend their contribution.
The Coalition’s Board of Directors
Meet our international Board of Directors
Chair
Annwen Jones OBE
Vice-Chair
Robin Cohen
Vice-Chair
Jane Hill
Treasurer
Tammy Brown
Past-Chair, Board Member
Elisabeth Baugh
Board Member
Eva Schumacher-Wulf
Board Member
Rafe Sadnan Adel
Board Member
Runcie C.W. Chidebe
Chair
Annwen Jones OBE
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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
Robin Cohen
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Robin Cohen is the CEO and Co-Founder of the Sandy Rollman Ovarian Cancer Foundation and a 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.”
Vice-Chair
Jane Hill
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Jane is CEO of Ovarian Cancer Australia, the National consumer organization taking action for women affected by ovarian cancer. She is also Co-Chair of the Australian Patient Advocacy Alliance and a Member of the Expert Steering Committee on the National Preventative Health Strategy for Australia and Vice-Chair of the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition.
Jane has 20 years experience in non-profit leadership. She is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and author of KPMG’s flagship publication, The Company Director’s Toolkit. Before embarking on her career in non-profit leadership, Jane studied Arts/Law, followed by an MBA, and post-graduate studies in marketing and corporate governance.
“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
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Tammy Brown is a Partner in the audit practice in the Greater Toronto Area of KPMG in Canada and is a member of the Shawanaga First Nation. She has extensive experience as lead audit partner working with public and large multinational companies in the industrial markets space.
In addition to her technical and client service abilities, Tammy is known for her significant interest and contributions within HR from coaching and mentoring throughout her career to taking leadership roles in the development of others and in diversity and inclusion. Tammy is the partner sponsor of KPMG Canada’s National Indigenous Peoples Network. She is the National Industry Leader for Industrial Markets and serves as the Deputy Chair of the board of KPMG in Canada.
“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.”
Past-Chair, Board Member
Elisabeth Baugh
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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.”
Board Member
Eva Schumacher-Wulf
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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.
Board Member
Rafe Sadnan Adel
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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, was is 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. Adel has returned to his roots as a journalist 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
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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”
The Coalition’s Team
Chief Executive Officer
Clara MacKay
Director of Programmes and Every Woman Study™ Lead
Frances Reid
Director of Communications and Marketing
Phaedra Charlton
PA
Emily Hastings-James
Grant Consultant
Margaret Bacon
Chief Executive Officer
Clara MacKay
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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
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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
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Phaedra Charlton 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.
PA
Emily Hastings-James
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Emily Hastings-Jones is the PA for the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition.
Grant Consultant
Margaret Bacon
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Margaret is responsible for identifying and securing funds for the Coalition. Past non-profit experience includes Co- President and Trustee of Goldthwait Reservation and Director Vice President of the Friends of Marblehead Public Schools. She has successfully raised funds for Heading Home, Suzanne Wedel XOXO Ovarian Cancer MGH Campaign, Women’s Money Matters, The Women’s Fund of Essex County and Education for All Children. Margaret retired as Vice President, Investment Specialist from Macquarie Investment Management in 2019.