Introducing the new Emma Cohen award for Best First Time Presenter
Emma was the kind of person who lit up a room—with intelligence, kindness, humour, and an unwavering commitment to the advancement of cancer nursing. She held leadership roles across clinical care and education and mentored many of us with humility and generosity. As a colleague, Director, and friend, Emma left a profound impact on all who knew her. Renaming this award in her honour ensures that her legacy continues to inspire and uplift.
The Emma Cohen Award for Best First-Time Presenter is open to all first-time presenters at the CNSA Annual Congress and carries a $5,000 grant to support a research, education, or clinical development initiative. The recipient is expected to use the funds within 12 months to advance their cancer nursing career, submit a 6-month progress report to CNSA, and present the outcomes of their project at the following year’s Congress.
In a moving moment during the awards presentation, we were joined on stage by Emma’s mum Marion and her close friend and colleague Jo Wooster, who helped present this very special award.
We are thrilled to announce the inaugural Emma Cohen Award winner: Janneka Banks, whose presentation was delived with precision and professionalism, on such an important topic impacting the profession. We also warmly congratulate the runner-up, Dejen Alam, who joined us for his first Congress, marking his very first trip outside of Ethiopia—a significant milestone that made his achievement all the more meaningful.
As we look to the future, we know Emma would be proud of the calibre, compassion, and commitment shown by our first-time presenters. Through this award, her spirit will continue to shine in the next generation of cancer nurses.
Congratulations to all of our award winners at the CNSA and ISCCN Congress
Best Paper
- Winner: Olivia Cook - Development of an LGBTIQ+ Inclusivity Toolkit for Cancer Care Professionals
- Runner Up: Nicole Knox - Exploring the unmet needs of older people from diverse backgrounds living with lung cancer: A qualitative study
Emma Cohen Best First Time Presenter
- Winner: Janneka Banks - “Nothing left to give”: Australian oncology nurses experiences of compassion fatigue
- Runner Up: Dejen Alem - Patient self-management education and cancer treatment adherence in low-middle income Africa: a systematic scoping review.
Best Poster Award
- Winner: Margaret Fitch - Dissemination and Uptake: Journey of the Supportive Care Framework
- Runner Up: Yati Afiyanti - Healthcare professionals' perspectives on financial toxicity and solution for cancer patients: a phenomenological approach