CHAIR AND CEO REPORT

In 2024, we launched an ambitious new Strategic Plan to guide our efforts over the next five years, along with our new vision: No More Lives Cut Short.

This vision summarises our passion and process – we do the clinical trials that discover new treatment options to save lives. New treatments. Optimal treatment. Better outcomes. For everybody affected.

Our scientists, researchers, clinicians and partners, both nationally and internationally, believe strongly in this future, and we are fully committed to realising this vision.

Our strategy is focussed around harnessing the strengths, science and ideas through our independent, values driven, collaborative group which has changed the landscape over more than four decades.

As we strive to enhance our research portfolio, we continue to benefit from the expertise and passion of our 1,014 members, across 118 institutions, through our governance and advisory structures, and through our deep connections with groups internationally. Australia and New Zealand benefit from the best and brightest minds working globally on the challenges and questions we still don’t have answers for.

Integral to the work we are focussed on, is the parallel goal to raise more funds, so that we are able to do more research in the greatest areas of need.

BCT is deeply grateful to our supporters, who through their generosity, courage and belief in our cause, raise the much-needed funds that fuel our efforts. Whether it is participating in challenges such as 100km in July, giving regularly, leaving a bequest or buying a diary for friends and family every year – these efforts not only inspire us, they sustain our work. On behalf of BCT, we give our deepest thanks to our supporters – you are making a real difference in the lives of those affected by breast cancer.

BCT invests in engaging leaders – both current and future – in furthering their research and clinical practice in breast cancer.

In 2024, we hosted our largest-ever Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) in Cairns, bringing together researchers, clinicians, and advocates from across the globe. The meeting provided a platform for sharing the latest breakthroughs in breast cancer clinical trials research and fostering collaboration among scientists and healthcare professionals.

Our research portfolio has continued to deliver significant results this year.

• The PATINA trial examined a new treatment option aimed at prolonging the lives of patients with hormone receptor positive, HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. The impressive results were presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) in the United States and may represent a new standard of care for these patients, paving the way for more treatment options.
• The CHARIOT trial, which investigated a new treatment option for patients with treatment resistant, early-stage triple negative breast cancer, has also made remarkable progress. The three-year follow up of this immunotherapy study was presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) conference, and found that women who have a complete disappearance of their cancer by the time they have surgery, are more likely to experience enduring long term breast cancer free survival.
• We were thrilled to see findings from the Neo-N trial published in the prestigious journal, The Lancet Oncology, showing that 50% of patients involved in this immunotherapy study, had no evidence of breast cancer at the time of surgery. Neo-N investigated if using an immunotherapy drug together with chemotherapy, is safe and effective in treating breast cancer before surgery in women and men with early triple negative breast cancer.

We have launched several new clinical trials during the reporting period, that demonstrate our continued commitment to advancing breast cancer research.

• The CAMBRIA-2 trial aims to find out if giving a new hormone therapy known as a SERD, is better at stopping cancer from coming back, for patients with ER-positive, HER2-negative early breast cancer, compared to standard hormone therapy.
• The OLIO clinical trial is an immunotherapy study and is investigating if a new treatment option for young women with the most common type of breast cancer.
• And the Neo-N Cohort C trial has commenced, which aims to find out if two immunotherapy drugs given together, can help control breast cancer when added to shortened chemotherapy before surgery, for patients with early-stage triple negative breast cancer.

We are looking ahead at our pipeline of research ideas with excitement and 2025 promises to be another highly productive year for BCT.

During this reporting period, we recognised the incredible contributions of three exceptional leaders as they farewelled BCT.

Soozy Smith, our long-serving Chief Executive Officer (CEO), retired after an incredible 13 years of dedication and leadership at BCT. Soozy’s vision and commitment to improving outcomes for people with breast cancer have been integral to the growth of the organisation. We are deeply grateful for her contributions and wish her all the best in her retirement.

Our heartfelt thanks to Professor Christobel Saunders AO, who retired from the Board after eight years of outstanding service. As a renowned leader in breast cancer research and surgery, Christobel has been instrumental in guiding our research strategies and ensuring that we remain at the forefront of clinical trials in the field. We are grateful for her long service, her wisdom and unwavering dedication to our cause.

And we recognise Melissa Bell’s retirement from the Consumer Advisory Panel (CAP). Melissa was a New Zealand representative in CAP, and has been a passionate advocate for patients. Her work has helped shape the direction of our trials, ensuring that the voices of those affected by breast cancer remain central to our mission.

As the new leadership pairing of Chair and CEO, we are exploring new avenues to grow BCT’s impact and sustainability.

As BCT’s new CEO, my experience and passion for improvements in health will be directed toward driving BCT’s next chapter. As a leadership team and with our Board, we will continue to manage our resources carefully to ensure that funds are generated and directed where they are most needed.

We are grateful for the ongoing commitment of our skilled and passionate staff who have delivered another outstanding year of endeavour for BCT. To them, and our clinician researchers, trial participants and supporters – thank you. Together, we are creating a future where no more lives are cut short from breast cancer.

Thank you for your continued dedication to this critical cause.