Robin's Reflections – November
November 05, 2025
What a frocking fantastic month it’s been for everyone who supports the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation. A huge shout-out to all the fierce, fabulous humans who frocked up for ovarian cancer research throughout Frocktober 2025. Your creativity, style, humour and warmth were inspiring, entertaining – and delivered results!
As the donations roll in, we're closing in on our $1 million goal, and that's all thanks to you: the incredible OCRF community, your families, friends and supporters, and workplaces large and small – over 150 this year! - who got behind this unique campaign.
OCRF grant funds are different – researchers know how hard you've worked to raise the funds, in fact, some of them even frocked up for Frocktober themselves. Your commitment is fuel for researchers, and extra motivation that takes us ever closer to our goals of better detection and effective treatments.
Pictured: OCRF-funded researchers hosting their own Frocktober event at Mater Research, Qld, in support of the campaign.
Speaking of those goals, this month also saw the culmination of 18 months’ work in the consultation, planning and development of the OCRF's new five-year Research Impact Strategy. This piece of work is incredibly important in several ways. It reflects a new era of inclusion, collaboration and connection for the OCRF, and provides a roadmap for ‘more, better, faster’ research impact, as we drive harder than ever to accelerate the pace of progress.
Significantly, we officially launched the five-year plan at Parliament House in Canberra. This is the first time the OCRF has hosted an event at Parliament House - a significant milestone and a reflection of the expanding influence and growth of our organisation. Working collaboratively, constructively and effectively with government and peer organisations is making a huge difference to our ability to shape the conversation - and progress a situation that has been stuck in low gear for too long.
Pictured: Assoc Prof Simon Chu, Robin Penty, The Hon Rebecca White MP, Chad Barnier and Tarla Lambert-Patel.
We had strong support from the Assistant Minister for Health and Ageing, The Hon. Rebecca White MP and Senator The Hon Anne Ruston MP, Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing, who both spoke at the event and acknowledged that this issue sits above politics. A number of Senators and independent MPs from both sides of the aisle also attended: having such clear, broad support gives me great confidence we will see things change, and soon.
The launch event itself was incredibly special. It was 7:30 am on Thursday morning, with a full house of over 80 people in attendance By the end of the event there was not a dry eye in the house, due to the eloquence and courage of our incredible speakers Chad D'Elboux Barnier and A/Prof Simon Chu.
Read more about the event here.
Ovarian cancer may be considered a silent disease, but our organisation is definitely not! I believe we're on the cusp of real change. This was further emphasised in other meetings during the Canberra trip, when I met with senior government advisors, then joined Alison Evans and Prof Clare Scott of ANZGOG in a productive meeting with Steve Wesselingh, CEO of the NHMRC, to discuss next steps for the Gynaecological Cancer Transformation Initiative.
As ever, thank you to our stellar community – from the feathers and fun of Frocktober to the sweat and tears of the OCRF Melbourne Marathon runners, and making a mark in Canberra - October was momentous.
Warm regards,
Robin Penty, CEO
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