Cure Cancer has welcomed Geoff Thompson as new Board Chairman. His appointment follows the resignation of Philip Corne, who retired as Chair earlier this month after 15 years of dedicated service.
Thompson is currently a consultant to Nexus Hospitals, a company he co-founded in 2013. He is also a non-executive director of Everlight Radiology and was previously the co-MD and co-founder of Lifehealthcare & National Hearing Care, MD of Vision Eye Institute and CFO of MIA Group.
With a passion for making a positive impact on people’s lives and the healthcare system, Thompson secured his first healthcare position in 2003 after 25 years in senior leadership roles with AMP, CSR and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Thompson replaces Philip Corne, who has served on the Board of Cure Cancer since 2006, taking on the role of Chairman in 2016.
“It has been a privilege and inspiration over the last 15 years to work with an amazing group of early career researchers, the Cure Cancer researcher alumni, passionate supporters, team and board members,” Corne said.
“Cure Cancer identifies the best and brightest early career researchers, funding and supporting them with the objective of progressing their research career. Without early-career cancer researchers, there will be no late career cancer researchers. The Cure Cancer Research Alumni, which span over 50 years and over 500 research grants, are made up of a remarkable group of individuals, many of whom have gone on to be leaders in their chosen field of cancer research.”
“It is impossible to calculate the cumulative contribution of their tireless work in the search to finding a cure for cancer. We can only imagine the positive impact and lives saved or extended, the contribution to the comfort, quality of care and support extended to so many cancer sufferers and their families in Australia and beyond,” Corne said.
Corne expressed gratitude for his colleagues and partners that he worked with during his tenure.
“I would like to thank everyone with whom I have had the good fortune to work with over my time with Cure Cancer. Most of all, I would like to extend my deep and sincere thanks to all Cure Cancer Researchers for all they have done, and continue to do, bringing us ever closer to a day when we can all refer to cancer as ‘that disease that once devastated so many lives,” he said.
Meanwhile, Cure Cancer CEO Nikki Kinloch welcomed Thompson and thanked Corne for his unwavering support.
“From his steadfast belief in funding early-career cancer research through to his spearheading of Cure Cancer’s longest standing fundraising event, World’s Biggest BYO, Philip has been an incredible champion for Cure Cancer, and I know he will continue to be a huge supporter of the organisation.”
“His positions as former CEO of Louis Vuitton ANZ and Executive Chairman of L Catterton (LVMH) Australia has given us access to an incredible network of supporters, and his invaluable guidance and leadership will be greatly missed by us all.”
“I’m delighted to extend a warm welcome to Geoff as our new Chair. His professional achievements alongside his clear passion and belief in what we do will be an incredible asset to our ongoing work,” Kinloch said.
Thompson commenced his role as Board Chairman on 20th July 2021.
“I am deeply honoured to join Cure Cancer as Chairman” Thompson said.
“Philip’s words brilliantly capture the essence of Cure Cancer and my motivation to follow in his footsteps. Thank you, Philip, for your 15 years of dedicated service to Cure Cancer and your wise council as I move into this role. I am tremendously excited about the opportunity to work alongside Nikki & her team, our Board, and generous supporters in service of Cure Cancer’s incredible community of early career researchers,” Thompson said.