Our People
Irene Hendel
Chair & Founder of The Living Centre ihendel@thinkpink.org.auOur Chair, Irene Hendel is a breast cancer survivor having been first diagnosed in 1995.
Irene and her husband David both joined The Think Pink Committee in 2000 and became involved in organising the annual Think Pink Ball.
In 2003, Irene had her second brush with breast cancer and underwent radiotherapy at the William Buckland Radiotherapy Centre at Melbourne's Alfred Hospital. It was during her six week daily treatment schedule that Irene came into contact with many young and single women who were, due to their breast cancer, finding it difficult to hold down their jobs and make ends meet financially.
It became obvious to Irene that these patients needed assistance and so she suggested to the then Committee that Think Pink should change its focus from funding breast cancer research to funding projects providing direct financial, emotional and physical support to patients.
Later in 2004, Irene became Chair of The Foundation, a role she relishes and continues to perform to this day. It has been Irene's dream to create The Living Centre - a unique, non-clinical based sanctuary for people with breast cancer, their families and carers to come and receive holistic support in order to once again regain control of their lives.
Irene's dream was realised earlier this year with the opening of the first Think Pink Living Centre in Melbourne and it is due to Irene's passion, dedication and commitment that the Foundation has been able to directly assist so many breast cancer patients.
Irene was born in England where her professional and commercial background was in the fashion industry. For many years she worked with fashion house French Connection both in England and here in Australia. For the last twenty years, she has operated her own very successful giftware business called Private Lives in Port Melbourne.
Doreen Akkerman A.M.
Patron, Vice Chair & Director dakkerman@thinkpink.org.auDoreen Akkerman, AM, Patron and Board Member of the Think Pink Foundation, earlier this year retired from the position of Director, Cancer Information and Support Service at the Cancer Council Victoria, a position she had held for 20 years.
During this time, Doreen was responsible for cancer support programs for people experiencing cancer and their carers including: the Cancer Helpline, the Cancer Connect program, the Cancer Support Groups Program, the Living with Cancer Education Program, and the When Cancer Won't Go Away Program.
Doreen was also responsible for two innovative health professional education programs that were a first in Australia and both are a huge success: the Breast Care Nurse Distance Education Program, a tertiary level education program for breast care nurses, and the Victorian Cancer Clinicians Communication Program, a unique communication program for oncologists. Doreen also established the first Sexuality and Cancer seminars and workshops for health professionals and patients and their partners.
Doreen was the inaugural President and current serving Board Member of the International Cancer Information Services Group, and has published many articles and presented workshops and seminars by invitation in Australia, Europe, United Kingdom and the USA.
Doreen was inducted to the Victorian Women's Honour Roll on 4th March 2010.
David Hendel
Managing Director dhendel@thinkpink.org.auDavid Hendel has been associated with the Think Pink Cause for over ten years and is our Chair Irene Hendel's husband of nearly twenty five years.
David brings to the Foundation considerable commercial experience, having operated businesses in such diverse fields as textile production, real estate development and veterinary pharmaceutical distribution. He currently the operates and is the Managing Director of Durham Audio Visual Hire, a well known AV company providing equipment and technical expertise for events, exhibitions and venues.
David has been instrumental in organising our Masquerade Ball for the last several years and also in the establishment of The Living Centre. David deals with all the ongoing and major commercial transactions of the Foundation including Product Licensing Agreements.
As Irene's soul mate and partner, David brings to our Board the experience and perspective of being a carer and partner of a breast cancer patient.
Peter Mitrakas
Legal Counsel and Director pmitrakas@thinkpink.org.auPeter Mitrakas is the principal of the legal firm Mitrakas, Savas & Co which is located in Armadale, Melbourne. Peter and his wife Mary who is also a legal practitioner, established the boutique firm some years ago.
Peter is a prominent member and leader of Melbourne's Greek Community and is a Past President (2002-2004) of the very popular South Melbourne Soccer Club.
Peter has a number of business and real estate interests one of the most interesting of which is the unique and famous Boyd Baker House in Bacchus marsh which operates as a premium guest house and reception centre.
Greg Lucas
Director glucas@brandella.com
Jane O'Brien
Director Jane.Obrien@epworth.org.auJane O’Brien is a specialist breast and oncoplastic surgeon whose practice is exclusively confined to breast work, encompassing the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of all benign and malignant conditions of the breast including surveillance and prophylactic surgery for high risk groups.
A University of Melbourne graduate, on completing her surgical fellowship at St Vincent’s, she undertook a two year specialist breast fellowship subsequent to which she worked as a specialist consultant breast surgeon in the United Kingdom for eight years, returning home to Melbourne in 2004.
In 2005, she established the Epworth Breast Service, a private specialist facility providing rapid-access, integrated, patient-centred breast cancer care, delivered by a multidisciplinary team including a full-time breast care nurse with onsite access to all diagnostic and treatment modalities including breast MRI, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
She holds a public appointment as a visiting consultant breast surgeon at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, attends the Risk Management Clinic at the Peter Mac Familial Cancer Centre for women at high genetic risk of developing breast cancer and also has an appointment at Breastscreen Victoria.
Jane has a special interest in the special needs of younger women diagnosed with breast cancer and also in the organisation and delivery of multidisciplinary breast cancer care. Her main area of specialist surgical interest and expertise is in “oncoplastic” breast cancer surgery, a relatively new and exciting subspecialty aimed at maximising cosmetic results following breast conservation surgery ( lumpectomy ) for breast cancer by combining advanced oncological and plastic surgical techniques.
Jane is a member of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons Breast Section, the Australasian Society of Breast Disease and the American Society for Breast Disease. She is on the Victorian Cooperative Oncology Group Breast Cancer Committee, has worked closely with the National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre (now Cancer Australia) on the development of clinical practice guidelines and is a member of the Australia and New Zealand Breast Cancer Trialists Group.
Mr Graeme Southwick O.A.M FRACS FACS
Director gsouthwick@thinkpink.org.auMr Graeme Southwick graduated with honours from Monash University in 1970 with a degree in medicine. He then went on to pursue post-graduate studies at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, where he was awarded the Sir Gordon Gordon-Taylor Prize by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in 1973 for the highest marks in the first part examinations at the college.
After completing his surgical training, Mr Southwick made Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS) in otorhinolaryngology (ENT Surgery) as well as in plastic and reconstructive surgery.
Graeme Southwick studied in London and the United States for two years and made Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
On return to Australia in 1979, he was appointed consultant plastic surgeon at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute and the Alfred Hospital. Since 1979, Graeme has been honorary senior lecturer in the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology at Monash University, a position that involves both teaching and research.
Graeme Southwick has been in private practice as a plastic surgeon since 1979, and is currently director and chairman of the Melbourne Institute of Plastic Surgery. Graeme has published and lectured widely in Australia and oversees on many aspects of plastic and reconstructive surgery, especially in microsurgery and endoscopic (television controlled) surgery for face and brow rejuvenation. From 1997 to 2004, Graeme was councillor for the Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and elected president of the Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery from 2002 to 2004.
In June 2004, Graeme Southwick was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia on the Queen’s Birthday Honour List for service through the provision of immediate medical assistance to victims of the Bali bombing, which occurred on the 12th October 2002.
Graeme Southwick is a member of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons, the Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, and the British Association of Plastic Surgeons.
Michael Halliday
Director mhalliday@thinkpink.org.auMichael is the Chief Operating Officer of MDA National, an Australia-wide Medical Defence Organisation (MDO) which supports, protects and promotes the interests of more than 30,000 Members and insureds in the medical and dental professions. He is based in Melbourne.
Michael has worked in or been associated with the Medical Defence industry since 1986 in both the United Kingdom and Australia. His broad experience has included responsibility for operations in the UK, internationally and Australia.
During
this time he has also consulted to medical and other professional indemnity/insurance organisations providing expertise on both strategy and operational management.
He has extensive experience in supporting the medico-legal interests of the medical profession.
Specific tasks for which he has oversight at MDA National include:
- Strategic planning and implementation.
- Professional Services, including Claims and Advisory Services, Education and Advocacy.
- Marketing and Business Development.
- Member Services, Insurance & Underwriting.
- Information systems and continual process improvement.
- Change management of operations to meet best practice standards.
- Assessments of actuarial assumptions, reserving adequacy and underwriting policies.
Michael is committed to the medical profession and the concept of doctor owned mutuals managing their professional indemnity needs through wholly doctor owned insurers rather than entrusting this crucial aspect of medical practice to commercial companies whose primary focus is on investing shareholders.
Michael was instrumental in establishing MDA National’s Bronze Sponsorship of the Think Pink ball and is passionate about rolling out the Think Pink Living Centre Program nationally.
When not focusing on the medical profession Michael’s primary interest is photography of the natural wonders of our world.
Kathryn Wallace
Breast Care Nurse kwallace@thinkpink.org.auKathryn is a qualified Breast Care Nurse and has worked primarily in Women's Health specialising in Breast Cancer Care for approximately 18 years.
