Today’s Law in Action event, held at our Cancer Council Victoria offices – featured Nicola Roxon, former Australian Federal Attorney-General and Health Minister (and current Chair of HESTA, VicHealth and AIHW), who did a keynote address sharing insights from her time as Health Minister innovating plain packaging and prioritising tobacco control.
We were thrilled to host 70 attendees with a powerful showcase of how law is a critical tool in the fight against cancer.
"Although it can be a relentless field to work in - changing the law can be the most cost-effective measure, because law change equals systems change. And you must keep persevering - the tobacco industry is relentless, and we need to be too," - she said.
Our Director, Hayley Jones, chaired the meeting, with Cancer Council Victoria's CEO, Todd Harper, officially opening the event. The McCabe Centre’s Regional Managers — Delphina Taoa Kerslake (Samoa), Ma-Anne Rosales-Sto. Domingo (The Philippines), and Rachel Kitonyo-Devotsu (Kenya) —brought powerful perspectives on reducing cancer inequities in their regions. We were honoured to be joined by McCabe Centre alumna Margaret Asinimbu, Manager Legal Governance & Health Reforms from the National Department of Health in Papua New Guinea, who shared her work about shaping public health law in her country, with the support of the McCabe Centre.
Representing our work here in Victoria, Tarishi Desai, Treatment & Supportive Care Manager, presented the early findings of research funded by the Victorian Legal Services Board & Commissioner, on legal and financial issues faced by people affected by cancer— a reminder that healthcare and legal protections must go hand in hand. Gonzalo López-Cuevas, MPP, Founder and President of Cancer Warriors Mexico and Treasurer of UICC, also shared his appreciation of our work, and the unique gap it fills with law and public health.
Hayley then shared through the McCabe Centre’s work and our incredible alumni network, law and policy changes have been made in over 30 countries, with nearly 3 billion people now benefiting from these health law and policy changes.
We also launched our 5 year McCabe Centre Strategic Plan – see here, which highlights the transformative power of legal frameworks in advancing cancer prevention and equity - locally and globally.
Next, we're looking forward to co-hosting the World Cancer Leaders’ Summit 2025 #WCLS2025 which kicked off this evening with a welcome ceremony at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. This week brings many valuable opportunities to further connect, learn, and collaborate!
See more about the McCabe Centre for Law and Cancer here.
And contact us to find out how to support and partner with us: info@mccabecentre.org