In collaboration with
Speakers
Dr Teresa Brown
Associate Professor Lachlan McDowell
Associate Professor Lachlan McDowell is a radiation oncologist at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane, specialising in head and neck and cutaneous malignancies. He completed radiation oncology training at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, followed by a clinical and research fellowship in head and neck oncology and radiation late effects at the Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto.
Prior to his appointment in Brisbane, he worked for six years as a consultant radiation oncologist at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. In 2024, he was awarded a PhD from the University of Melbourne, investigating health-related quality of life and unmet needs in patients with HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer, for which he received the Dean’s Award for Postgraduate Research. That same year, he received the Trans Tasman Radiation Oncology Group (TROG) Emerging Researcher Award.
Associate Professor McDowell currently serves as Head and Neck Section Editor for the International Journal of Radiation Oncology · Biology · Physics (Red Journal) and as Chair of the TROG Head and Neck and Skin Working Party. He also represents TROG on the Board of the Head and Neck Cancer International Group (HNCIG), where he contributes to the Guidelines and Protocols Subcommittee and previously chaired the Young Investigator Subcommittee.
He has authored more than 90 peer-reviewed publications and maintains an active clinical–academic program focused on survivorship, quality of life, and late effects in head and neck cancer.
Simon van der Stap is a Counsellor, Psychotherapist and Counselling Academic Tutor. He holds a Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy and a Graduate Diploma of Counselling, both from the Australian College of Applied Psychology, and has a special interest in supporting the mental health of people with Head and Neck cancer. In supporting patients and their families, Simon helps people to manage the ‘emotional rollercoaster’ of a cancer diagnosis and treatment with practical strategies for dealing with anxiety, intrusive thoughts, fears of cancer recurrence, and the difficult changes to speech, appearance and numerous other concerns. He enjoys helping people continue to do what is meaningful and important in their lives, despite the significant disruption caused by Head and Neck cancer.
Simon has also worked extensively in Alcohol and Other Drugs, as well as in his private practice, focusing on substance use, anxiety and depressive disorders, communication and skills training, and managing life-changing events. He uses an integrated approach which includes Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Person-Centred Therapy.
In a previous life, Simon was a professional actor for 30 years on the national and international stage, and is a graduate of NIDA. He has just completed a research degree at the University of Sydney on stage fright for Australian theatre actors, and in 2026 is set to commence a PhD focusing on substance use and stage fright for Australian stand-up comedians.
