Ms Chris Christensen
Chairperson, Cancer Voices South Australia
Chris is a six times survivor of primary peritoneal/ovarian cancer, first diagnosed in August 2010. Her main treatments have included two major operations, four lines of chemotherapy, and participation in the ARIEL2 PARP Inhibitor drug trial as a person with the BRCA 1 gene.
Chris is the Chair of Cancer Voices South Australia a 100% volunteer organisation whose purpose is to raise an independent voice to influence the achievement of better outcomes for people affected by cancer. Chris speaks to medical, nursing and allied health students, health professionals and researchers about her experience of cancer.
Her areas of interest cover the cancer continuum and include equitable access to holistic, high quality patient centred treatment and ongoing care; consumer voice and engagement in all aspects of cancer services and policy; survivorship; genetics and rare cancers; trials as a treatment option; cancer research; and public education about cancer. She has also established a Cancer Voices Walking Group which supports her focus on wellness, not just illness.
Chris is a consumer representative on a number of state based committees such as the Chemotherapy Standards Reference Group, the SA Pathology Safety and Quality Group, the SA Clinical Trials Network, and the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute Consumer and Community Advisory Group. Chris is also a consumer representative on a number of research projects such as Digital Health Applications in Cancer Care and Advanced Care Planning in Vulnerable Populations.
During her professional career Chris worked in policy and leadership positions in the South Australian Public Service including Education and Child Development, Cabinet Office and Intergovernmental Relations.