Ovarian Cancer Australia Welcomes Ovarian Cancer Survivor Meghan Speers As New Chair

Ms Speers is a Partner at Deloitte and an ovarian cancer survivor, having been diagnosed at 29 years of age. As an ovarian cancer advocate Ms Speers has been associated with Ovarian Cancer Australia for more than a decade.

In welcoming Ms Speers to the role, Ovarian Cancer Australia CEO Jane Hill said, “Meghan has served on our Board for over three and a half years. As an accomplished business leader and ovarian cancer survivor, she brings passion and know-how to ensure that OCA delivers on its vision to save lives and that no person affected by ovarian cancer walks alone.” 

Ms Speers said, “Over the next three years I’ll work tirelessly to bring ovarian cancer to the forefront and to ensure that the 1720 women diagnosed in 2021 and those diagnosed in the future, have access to gold standard supportive care and information.”

In 2020, Ms Speers shared her story at Ovarian Cancer Australia’s Parliamentary breakfast imploring the Prime Minister Scott Morrison to bring OCA’s Ovarian Cancer National Action Plan to life by providing more funding for ovarian cancer supportive services, clinical practice and research. 

Paying tribute to the out-going Chair, Ms Marina Go, who will retire at the AGM, Ms Speers said: “As a result of Marina’s leadership, Ovarian Cancer Australia has gone from strength to strength with a national footprint and delivering much-needed tailored information, support and referral through our team of ovarian cancer nurses and allied health professioals.” 

The announcement coincides with UNSW Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Jacobs, a leading global ovarian cancer researcher and academic stepping down from the Board on his return to the UK. 

“We express our gratitude to Professor Jacobs, whose extensive expertise as a leading ovarian cancer researcher has been invaluable for our organisation and whose ground-breaking research has advanced the understanding of challenges associated with early detection," Ms Speers said. 

Each day in Australia five women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer and three will die from the disease. The five-year survival rate sits at 48 per cent – the lowest survival rate of any women’s cancer. 

Ovarian Cancer Australia’s board of directors include Chair Meghan Speers, Marco D’Avino, Jo-Ann Hicks, Marise Maltman, Professor Karen Strickland and Adjunct Professor Juliet Bourke. Learn more about our board. 

For more information and interview requests contact: communications@ovariancancer.net.au