ANZUP Staff
The ANZUP office is a small team who work closely with the multi-disciplinary membership, both nationally and internationally. All staff are focussed on supporting the research and fundraising activities of ANZUP, raising awareness of prostate, bladder, penile, kidney and testicular cancer, as well as the need for better treatments and outcomes for patients with these cancer types.
Samantha Oakes
Chief Executive Officer
Associate Professor Samantha (Sam) Oakes PhD FRSN AAICD brings over 20 years of experience in the Health and Medical Research and Not for Profit sectors to the role of Chief Executive Officer, ANZUP Cancer Trials Group Ltd. With an established career in medical research, Sam’s research has led to important discoveries including new therapeutic and anti-metastatic strategies for hard-to-treat breast cancers and other cancers including pancreatic adenocarcinoma. In 2019-2020, Sam established and led the Long-Term Clinical Follow Up Unit in the Australian Genomic Cancer Medicine Centre (AGCMC), now known as OMICO, one of Australia’s largest precision medicine programs. As Director, Research Investment, and member of the Senior Executive Leadership Team at the National Breast Cancer Foundation 2021-2024, Sam has led and overseen the distribution of over $45 million dollars in investment in world class breast cancer research, the development and implementation of the 2023-2028 NBCF Pink Horizon Research Strategy and contributed to organisation-wide change and growth. Sam is a passionate advocate and communicator of Health and Medical Research that will ultimately save lives, alleviate suffering, and improve quality of life and is committed to helping ANZUP continue to deliver on its mission of improving the lives of those diagnosed with Below the Belt cancers through practice-changing multidisciplinary collaborative clinical trials.
Nicole Tankard
Communications Manager
Nicole has over 15 years’ communications experience, and has worked across a range of industries including financial services, professional services, telecommunications and energy.
Nicole holds a Bachelor Degree in Communications majoring in Public Relations and Marketing and joined ANZUP in 2019.
Daniel Glover
Marketing Manager
Marketing Manager
Daniel has over 16 years’ experience in commercial marketing and events management. Daniel has worked within the Food Service and FMCG industries with some of the worlds biggest brands as well as local smaller brands. Daniel joined ANZUP in 2023 and brings a wealth of experiencing in consumer marketing, community engagement and events execution.
Min Liu
Marketing and Communications Specialist
Min has over 7 years’ experience in the media industry, which involves journalism, production, social media and digital marketing. She joined ANZUP in March 2023. Min is a skilled writer and storyteller, with a knack for distilling complex ideas into compelling narratives. She is also adept at creating multimedia content, including videos, graphics and infographics, to help bring our work to life for our audiences. Min holds a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication and a Master’s Degree in Digital Communication and Culture.
Alice Clarke
Communications and Events Co-ordinator
Alice has a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Communication majoring in Social and Political Science at the University of Technology Sydney. Since graduating in 2021, she has completed a public relations-based internship that sparked her passion for working across the collaborative processes of event development and the social interactions behind organisational communication.
Alice’s desire to work within a fulfilling environment, and her dedication to research within the health field, while applying her communication skills, has landed her this rewarding role at ANZUP.
Liz Peetz
Database Specialist
Liz is an experienced professional in database management and membership administration, working within the not-for-profit sector for over 16 years. Prior to joining the ANZUP team in July 2021, Liz worked in membership associations, including Fundraising Institute Australia (FIA). Being experienced in CRM database management and customisation, she brings a variety of beneficial skills to ANZUP.
Marcel Svatos
Business and Philanthropy Manager
Marcel is the Business and Philanthropy Manager for ANZUP Cancer Trials Group Ltd. Marcel has over 15 years of management experience in large and small organisations across seven different industries in Australia and Europe. As a true generalist, Marcel's key competences include people management, leadership, customer/member/donor/stakeholder engagement, implementation of new systems and technology, and efficiency improvements as well as streamlining of processes. Marcel has corporate governance experience, including reporting to board of directors and the development of strategy and business plans.
Jennifer Thompson
Clinical Trials Operations Manager
Ms Jennifer Thompson is the Clinical Trials Operations for ANZUP Cancer Trials Group Ltd. Jennifer holds a Masters in Health Policy and is an experienced research operations manager and manager of research strategy and partnership. Jennifer has built her career across multiple settings including pharmaceutical clinical trials, cooperative group clinical trials, site management of research, and management of research and research governance in the not-for-profit sector.
Jennifer leads the research management team at ANZUP, supports research project development activities, and ensures ANZUP’s research maintains high levels of oversight and adherence to regulatory requirements.
Tom Cusick
Clinical Trials Project Manager
Thomas has an academic background in medical sciences and research. The excitement, challenges and opportunity to have a positive impact on the lives of others inspired Thomas to pursue a career in clinical trials research.
Prior to joining the ANZUP team in June 2020, he previously worked at The Garvan Institute of Medical Research, The Kinghorn Cancer Centre and the St Vincent’s Prostate Cancer Centre; where he accumulated substantial research experience managing multiple clinical trials.
Antoinette Fontela
Clinical Trials Project Manager
Antoinette has an academic background in science and has worked in the health industry for over 20 years, with the majority of that experience being in medical oncology clinical trials research. Prior to joining the ANZUP trials team in March 2022, she worked at St George Hospital, Cancer Care Centre as a Senior Trials Coordinator managing a number of clinical trials in different cancer types and phases including ANZUP sponsored trials. Antoinette wanted to continue working in oncology clinical trials and loves how ANZUP transitions concepts and ideas into clinical trials. She finds it highly rewarding knowing participants have access to clinical trials and are able to benefit from research.
Archana Nair
Clinical Trials Project Manager
Archana has been working in the field of clinical research for the last 12 years, with an academic background in biochemistry. Being a recipient of the New Zealand Association of Clinical Research Scholarship in 2015, she was able to achieve a certificate of proficiency in Introduction to Clinical Research and Clinical Trial Practice, Ethics and Clinical Research, and Qualitative Methods in Clinical Research, offered by Victoria University of Wellington New Zealand. Her experience in clinical trials spans across medical oncology, radiation oncology, haematology, CAR T-cell, DMD and achondroplasia clinical trials. Prior to moving to ANZUP, she worked as a clinical research team lead at the Clinical Research Centre, in The Children’s Hospital at Westmead managing a portfolio of DMD and achondroplasia clinical trials. She also worked as a Clinical Trials Start Up Officer for early phase/complex – advanced therapeutics portfolio in secondment at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead.
Sophianna Vavouris
Executive Assistant/Office Manager
Sophianna brings over seven years of versatile administrative and executive assistance experience to our team, with a proven track record of excellence across various industries. With her adept skills and commitment to efficiency, she seamlessly navigates the demands of diverse professional environments.