Ngā mihi to our conference speakers
Hear from leading oncology clinicians, researchers and experts shaping the future of cancer care across Aotearoa and beyond.
Dr Chris Booth
MD FRCPC
Christopher Booth MD FRCPC is a Medical Oncologist and Health Services Researcher at Queen’s University in Kingston, Canada. He is a Professor of Oncology and Public Health Sciences and Director of the Division of Cancer Care and Epidemiology at Queen’s Cancer Research Institute. Dr. Booth’s research program explores access, quality, and value of cancer care. He serves as policy advisor to the World Health Organization and across global health systems. Dr. Booth has published more than 400 peer-reviewed manuscripts. He was Study Co-Chair of the Canadian Cancer Trials Group CO.21 CHALLENGE trial of “adjuvant exercise” in colon cancer which was published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2025. In 2022 he received the Exceptional Healer Award at Kingston Health Sciences Centre for embodying compassion, respect, and clinical excellence. He was inducted as a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences in 2022. Dr. Booth is one of the founding leaders of the Common Sense Oncology initiative.
Cheryl Davies
Cheryl Davies (Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Mutunga ki Te Wharekauri) is a Māori health researcher with Te Rōpū Rangahau Hauora a Eru Pōmare and the Cancer and Chronic Conditions (C3) Research Group at the University of Otago, Wellington. Cheryl has worked in Māori health for more than 40 years and has managed the services of Tū Kotahi Māori Asthma and Research Trust for the past 33 years. Throughout her career, she has championed whānau-centred approaches that address inequities and improve health outcomes for Māori communities.
Her research interests focus on Māori health, cancer, chronic conditions, housing, and whānau wellbeing, with a strong emphasis on kaupapa Māori research that translates into practical action and meaningful change. Cheryl is passionate about ensuring whānau voices are heard and that research contributes to solutions that strengthen whānau, hapū and communities.
Cheryl's contribution to Māori health and research was recognised in 2024 when she received He Tohu Rapuora Award. More recently, she has led Ngā Kōrero Pono, a kaupapa Māori digital storytelling project exploring the experiences of Māori whānau affected by cancer. Through the sharing of whānau narratives, the project highlights the importance of whānau-centred care, cultural identity, communication, and support throughout the cancer journey. Cheryl recently presented at the World Indigenous Cancer Conference and was jointly awarded Best Presentation.
Professor Misty Jenkins
PhD AO FTSE
Professor Misty Jenkins is a NHMRC Investigator Fellow and Laboratory Head in the Personalised Oncology Division at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI). She leads the Immunotherapy Program and serves as Co-Director of Research Strategy at the Brain Cancer Centre.
Her research focuses on discovering novel immunotherapy targets and developing and testing chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapies for adult and paediatric brain cancer. Her lab has developed high throughput library screens to identify novel binders. They utilise cutting-edge two-photon microscopy combined with mouse models to investigate the tumour microenvironment, uncovering unique aspects of brain tumour biology. She has developed several CAR T cells and is actively planning clinical translation for brain cancer patients.
Professor Tony Mok
BMSc, MD, FRCP(C), FRCP(Edin), FRCP(Lond), FHKCP, FHKAM(Medicine), FASCO, Member of ASHK
Professor Mok is the Li Shu Fan Medical Foundation endowed Professor and Chairman of Department of Clinical Oncology at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. His main research interest focuses on biomarker and molecular targeted therapy in lung cancer. He was the Principal Investigator and first author on the landmark IRESSA® Pan-Asia Study (IPASS), which was the first study that confirmed the application of precision medicine for advanced lung cancer. He has also led and co-led multiple international phase III studies including the FASTACT 2, PROFILE 1014, IMPRESS, ARCHER 1050, ALEX, AURA 3, KEYNOTE 042 and KRYSTAL 12. Professor Mok has contributed to over 360 articles in international peer-reviewed journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine, Science, Lancet, Nature Medicine and Journal of Clinical Oncology, and published multiple editorials and textbooks. He is a member of the Board of Directors for AstraZeneca, HutchMed (China) and Insighta. His work was recognized by numerous awards including Bonnie Addario Award in 2015, Fellowship of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (FASCO) in 2017, Paul Bunn Jr Scientific Award in 2017, National Science and Technology Progress Award in 2017, CSCO Annual Achievement Award in 2017, ESMO Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018, The 6th Kobayashi Foundation Award, Giant of Cancer Care 2020, SingTao Hong Kong Leader of the Year 2020 Award and The Sixth Fok Ying-Tung Prize The World Outstanding Chinese Doctor Award in 2023. He was awarded with the Bronze Bauhinia Star (BBS) by the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in 2022 to recognize his dedicated service in public affairs.
Jeannine Stairmand
Jeannine Stairmand (Ngati Porou, Tauiwi), is a Senior Lecturer in Te Te Rōpū Rangahau Hauora a Eru Pōmare and member of the C3-Cancer and Chronic Conditions Research Group, Department of Public Health, University of Otago Wellington. Jeannine is a nurse with a Masters in Public Health.
She has a comprehensive health background having worked in diverse roles in the health sector for over 20 years including Maori health, mental health, primary care, policy and funding and Public Health. She currently convenes Hauora Maori for 4th and 5th year MB ChB medical students based in Wellington.
With a whānau ora focus, her cancer and chronic conditions research areas of interest are diverse and include Hauora Māori, multimorbidity, health service delivery, mokopuna rangatahi hauora (adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, child epilepsy) and cancer screening and supportive care assessment. Jeannine is privileged to work in partnership with Māori community health research experts and advocates for whānau voice in research.
Professor Robert Weinkove
2026 Bruce Cain Memorial Lecturer
Robert Weinkove is Clinical Director at the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research (MIMR), a Haematologist at Health New Zealand, and Honorary Professor at the University of Auckland. Prof Weinkove leads a clinical and translational chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell programme at the Malaghan Institute, and provides clinical oversight for the Malaghan’s cellular therapy manufacturing facility. He initiated New Zealand’s first CAR T-cell trial (ENABLE-1) of a locally-developed CAR T-cell therapy for relapsed/refractory lymphoma in 2019. The phase 2 trial (ENABLE-2), is currently enrolling nationally. Prof Weinkove is an active member of the Australasian Leukaemia & Lymphoma Group where he contributes to clinical trials and guidelines in the fields of B-cell cancers and haemato-oncology supportive care.