Board of Directors
Anne Mellon
Anne is the Clinical Nurse Consultant in Gynaecological Oncology at the Hunter New England Centre for Gynaecological Cancer, a position she has held for the past 25 years. Anne is respected and depended upon for expert advice, mentoring and support, locally, nationally and internationally, as she contributes to many high-level committees and advisory groups, to help inform best practice gynaecological cancer care and improve gynaecological cancer outcomes. Anne is passionate about working with patients, their families and all levels of staff to ensure that the patient’s care is undertaken appropriately and that expectations are met.
Anne has been a valuable contributor to CNSA since its inception, holding positions of office on the National Executive Committee, NSW Hunter Regional Group, Communications Committee and Gynaeoncology Nurses Specialist Practice Network, of which she is the current Chair. Most recently contributing to the board as Co-Director of Education. She is dedicated to progressing the profession of cancer nursing and ensuring the continuation of a robust society.
- Phone:
- 0427 487 785
- LinkedIn:
- https://linkedin.com/in/anne-mellon-117a2030a/
Ellen Heywood
Ellen Heywood is the Deputy Director of Nursing & Operations for the Cancer Program at Alfred Health. With 24 years’ experience in cancer nursing and operational leadership, she has led the development of innovative, patient-centred models of care across some of Victoria’s leading cancer services. Ellen holds a Graduate Diploma in Advanced Clinical Nursing (Cancer Stream) and a Master of Business Administration, which enhances her strategic insight and deep operational expertise. She is passionate about building high-performing teams and services that deliver evidence-based care and exceptional outcomes for people affected by cancer.
- Phone:
- 0418 919 760
Gemma McErlean
Gemma is a registered nurse with over twenty years’ experience in cancer‑related health care, research and education, spanning inpatient, ambulatory and community settings in Australia and the UK. Her career includes direct patient care, clinical research, evidence‑based practice, quality and service improvement, project management, medical writing, higher education teaching and HDR supervision, supported by extensive postgraduate study including a PhD (USYD Medical School), a Master of Public Health (Health Promotion) and a Graduate Certificate in Cancer Nursing. She is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and a Winston Churchill Fellow, having travelled to leading US cancer centers, including MD Anderson Cancer Center, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, to study models of care for cancer and haematopoietic stem cell transplant survivors.
She has led and collaborated with expert cancer groups for state agencies such as the NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation and the Cancer Institute NSW, including as Project Lead for the Blood and Marrow Transplant Long‑Term Follow‑Up Project, one of the Agency for Clinical Innovation’s most research‑productive programs. Gemma now combines her clinical, academic and governance expertise in the conjoint Professor of Cancer Nursing role and as Co‑Vice President of CNSA, where she focuses on advancing survivorship care, strengthening the cancer nursing workforce, and building nurse‑led research and models of care nationally.
- Phone:
- 0403 776 117
Meredith Cummins
Meredith is a highly driven and dedicated health professional who thrives on delivering world class care to cancer patients and enhancing the skills of other health professionals to deliver this care. She has been involved in Oncology for the past 35 years in metropolitan, rural, international, public and private settings.
Meredith has a Graduate Certificate in Oncology Nursing, Grad Certificate in Clinical Management, and a Graduate Diploma in Business. Meredith has been a member of the CNSA NSW Sydney Group for the past 10 years holding the position of Pharmaceutical Liaison Officer, and for the past 5 years to current the position of Chair. She has been on the organising committee for CNSA Annual Congress when it was held in Sydney and has coordinated and facilitated 2 Pre-Congress symposiums.
Meredith is currently the Chief Executive Officer for NeuroEndocrine Cancer Australia and is embracing the opportunity to continue in developing and delivering World Class cancer care for neuroendocrine cancer. She has contributed to developing education materials for health professionals and patients internationally and been on Advisory Boards globally.
Meredith is also the current Chair of the CNSA Finance, Audit and Risk Committee.
- Phone:
- 0419 287 585
- LinkedIn:
- https://linkedin.com/in/meredith-cummins-240029a7/
Sue Bartlett
Sue works as an Oncology Nurse Practitioner at Grampians Health Ballarat. She has worked in various clinical, coordinator and project management roles in metropolitan, regional and rural centres which has allowed her to develop many varied skills and knowledge in leadership and management, quality and safety risk, management, consumer involvement, education, practice development and research. Sue is passionate about regional and rural health provision and ensuring equitable patient access to specialised cancer care for regional and rural patients.
Sue has been a member of CNSA since 2008 and over the years has become involved within CNSA committees both within Victoria State Group as Chair until March 2021 and is the current secretary of the Cancer Nurse Practitioner Specialist Practice Network. She completed her Graduate Certificate in Cancer & Palliative Care in 2008 and completed her Masters of Advanced Nursing Practice - Nurse Practitioner in Medical Oncology at the University of Melbourne in 2018.
Sue has been involved in multiple nurse led service provisions including establishing and implementing the Symptom & Urgent Review Clinic (SURC) at Grampians Health Ballarat along with developing and rolling out an immunotherapy patient alert card used throughout regional Victoria.
- Phone:
- 0438 330 485
- LinkedIn:
- https://linkedin.com/in/sue-bartlett-021b4a1b0/
Gillian Blanchard
Gillian is an Oncology Nurse Practitioner at the Calvary Mater Newcastle, NSW, Australia and has been working in Oncology with a clinical focus for the last 25 years.She currently holds a conjoint lecturer position with the University of Newcastle and has been actively involved in the CNSA for more than 20 years. She has held positions as both Deputy Chair and Chair and committee member of the CNP SPN and the former Hunter Regional Group. Gillian is also an active committee member of the International Society of Nurses in Cancer Care.
Gillian is actively involved in many current oncology projects around symptom management and clinical redesign as both principal investigator and co-investigator and has published in these areas. She has a strong interest in supportive care, immuno-oncology and endocrinopathies and is driven to improve patient’s cancer experiences.
In her spare time Gillian provide assistance locally to nurses writing for publication and also provides medico-legal reports as an expert witness, and also continues her interest in Integrative Oncology currently studying a degree in complementary therapies
Gabby Vigar
Gabby Vigar has been a cancer nurse for over 24 years, both in the inpatient and ambulatory care setting and in a variety of different roles. Gabby's main area of cancer nursing expertise is Radiation Oncology nursing. Her current role is Nurse Unit Manager of Radiation Oncology at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, a position which she has held for over 6 years. Recently Gabby has expanded her Nurse Unit Manager role to include the management of the Cancer Outpatients Nursing Team and Cancer Administration Team Leader. Gabby very much enjoy's the opportunity to influence cancer nurses/nursing, particularly in the area of full scope of practice based on evidence.
Gabby has also worked in a number of state wide cancer nursing and project roles, which included federally funded cancer projects looking at cancer workforce issues and more recently as a Nurse Consultant for SA Cancer Service which gave her experience in state wide and national cancer initiatives. Gabby is currently a committee member of the South Australian Cancer Clinical Network. Gabby has a Graduate Diploma in Oncology Nursing and a Master of Nursing Science (Oncology Nursing). She is also currently the Deputy Chair of the CNSA Radiation Oncology Special Practice Network (RON SPN) and Chair of the CNSA South Australian State Group (SA SG).
- Phone:
- 0438 038 957
Mark Lock
Mark is a Chartered Governance Professional who works with membership organisations, not-for-profits and small businesses to support best-practice governance, strategy, change and risk management.
Mark’s early career involved working as a pharmacist, managing pharmacies across several states in Australia including rural regions of Victoria and remote areas of the Kimberley and Pilbara in Western Australia before moving into a career as an executive leader and CEO in health membership and education associations.
Mark has an MBA, a Graduate Diploma in Applied Corporate Governance and Risk Management, is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and holds Fellowships with the Governance Institute of Australia, the Australian and New Zealand College of Advanced Pharmacy and the Chartered Governance Institute. Mark is a director on several boards of organisations in health, disability and community associations.
As someone with lived experience as a cancer patient, Mark has a deep understanding and appreciation for the critical role and impact that cancer nurses have on the lives of patients and their families.
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