Our Board
Chairman
Associate Professor, Thomas Jobling
As head of Gynaecological Oncology at Monash Medical Centre, Associate Professor Jobling was involved in setting up the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation in conjunction with Prince Henry's Institute for Medical Research. He was driven by two things in his quest to create the Foundation - his fascination with the biology of the cancer, and his work as a surgeon, where he faces the relentless task of treating women with the disease.
He hopes that by bringing together research scientists and surgeons dealing with the disease, the work being done by the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation will result in a screening test for early detection, and for those with the disease, complete remission. | 
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CEO/Co-Founder
Ms Liz Heliotis
The loss of close friends to ovarian cancer and other forms of this incidious disease and concern for the future health of her children motivated Liz Heliotis to create the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation with Associate Professor Tom Jobling.
Liz has utilised her diverse business background experience to position the OCRF as a leading global centre for Ovarian Cancer Research excellence.
Liz’s focus was to directionally establish a stand-alone research facility that could prosper the long overdue early detection for this insidious disease. We must celebrate the courage and dignity of the many women afflicted with this illness and promote the concept that cancer is a word, not a sentence, she says. | 
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Treasurer
Mr Tony Pyman Tony Pyman is a consultant to the legal firm Allens Arthur Robinson having recently retired as a partner after 39 years with the firm and 33 years as a partner. Over the years, Tony's practice has encompassed a wide range of areas including general commercial advice, drafting of contracts, corporate finance transactions, company floats, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, corporate reconstructions, research and development syndications, research and development collaborations and commercialisation of technology.
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Director
Dr L Jane McNeilage Dr Jane McNeilage, from January 2001-January 2004 held the position of the first National Australia Bank Ovarian Cancer Research Institute’s Research Fellow at the PHI of Medical Research. She currently holds the position of VMO, Gynaecology Oncology, Monash Medical Centre and VMO at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute, Department of Surgical Oncology, East Melbourne, Victoria.
Jane is an author/co-author of at least 47 articles in magazines, journals, etc from 1979 to date. She has received several awards throughout her career, the latest ones being the Australian Society of Gynaecologic Oncologists – Keith Free Memorial Prize for Young Investigator Presentation in 2002 and 2003 and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Brown Craig Travelling Fellowship in 2004. |  |
Director
Mr Chris Bulford
Chris Bulford is the founder and Managing Director of Circ Consulting, a Melbourne-based Strategy and Marketing consultancy. Chris has over 20 years' experience in Marketing with some of Australia's leading companies in both FMCG and Financial Services. His career includes being Head of Marketing at both Masterfoods Petcare and National Australia Bank. Chris has an MBA from INSEAD and an MA from the University of Oxford. | 
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Director
Mr Paul Ashworth Paul Ashworth is Executive Director of Fordham Investment Management which is a member of the Perpetual Group. He oversees the Investment Management division which is a wealth manager on behalf of financially successful families in Melbourne.
Paul holds a combined degree in Economics and Law and postgraduate qualification in Finance Law from The University of Melbourne.
"Ovarian cancer impacted on my life in the gravest sense a few years ago. As a result, I have a personal understanding of why an early detection marker needs to be developed. The Foundation's publication of the book, Exposure, makes us all aware that ovarian cancer selects from all age groups, hence the paramount importance of developing an early detection and diagnosis test.
The OCRF has a mission objective to promote research funding for the development of an early detection marker for ovarian cancer, and with its unparalleled understanding and dedication to this task, I am proud to support and assist the Foundation in achieving this vital goal."
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Director
Prof Evan Simpson, FAA Prof Simpson is generally recognised as a world leader in the area of oestrogen biosynthesis. His lab was the first to clone the cDNA and subsequently the human gene encoding aromatase, the enzyme responsible for oestrogen biosynthesis. Recently his work has focussed on the relationship between obesity and breast cancer. Prof Simpson has published over 350 peer reviewed articles and invited reviews and book chapters. He is one of the four most cited scientists in Australia, in the field of Biochemistry and Cell Biology. He has received numerous awards including the Trans-Atlantic Medal and the Asia and Oceania Medal from the UK Society for Endocrinology, the President’s Scientific Achievement Award from the US Society for Gynecological Investigation, and the Nancy Brinker Award from the Susan Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
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Vice President
Ms Julie Toop Julie is the Head of Legal and Client Services at ANZ Trustees, and is also a Notary Public.
She was admitted to legal practice in 1979, and prior to joining ANZ, was a Special Counsel at Allens Arthur Robinson. Julie has worked across various areas of law throughout her career, with a focus in recent years in the areas of property, estate planning , probate, succession, trusts and the provision of general commercial advice to not for profit and charitable organisations.
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Director
Prof Matthew Gillespie, PhD Prof Matthew Gillespie is Director of Prince Henry’s Institute since 2008, and was previously an Associate Director of St. Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research from 1999-2008. He heads the Bone, Joint and Cancer Unit at Prince Henry’s Institute. Prof Matthew Gillespie has authored or co-authored over 130 publications, is a Member of the Council and Science Advisory Committee of the Cancer Council of Victoria, and a Member of the Victorian Breast Cancer Research Consortium, a member of Research Committee of NHMRC Australia, and is President-Elect of the Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society. He is on the editorial boards of Arthritis and Rheumatism, Bone, BoneKey, Endocrinology, Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, and an advisor for the Journal of Oral Biosciences. |  |
Director
Dr Geraldine Goss Geraldine graduated from the university of Melbourne in 1987. She undertook postgraduate training in oncology at the Royal Melbourne and Repatriation Hospitals and then completed a laboratory based MD thesis looking at the role of cytokines in breast cancer. She worked for 3 years in Boston Massachusetts where her focus was on women’s cancers and after her return to Melbourne she completed a Masters degree in Women’s Health at the University of Melbourne. She now works as a medical oncologist with a focus on caring for women with breast and gynaecological cancers. | 
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