Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre |Annual Report 2017–18 Executive Director’s Report The last 12 months have been Implementation of the plan has required rapid growth and a major increase in activity. Under the guidance a time of great momentum of program champions, all but one of the 19 programs and change for the VCCC. in the SRP now has a steering committee and at least one working group. Once again, we see the alliance in action with representatives from across organisations As a relatively young organisation, 2017–18 was and disciplines coming together to solve the big undoubtedly a seminal year for the VCCC alliance. challenges in our field. Innovation, collective effort and determination A key feature of this period has been the uplift in emerged as clear themes early on and gained strength the depth, breadth and diversity of people getting as the year progressed. This was the year in which involved in the alliance from across all partners — we glimpsed the true potential of this extraordinary literally hundreds of people are actively participating alliance. including educators, allied health, clinicians, researchers, executives and of course, consumers. Our Inaugural Research Conference was an excellent This increased engagement greatly enhances the work demonstration of this and, in many ways, provided we are undertaking, bringing different perspectives, ‘proof of concept’ for the VCCC. Showcasing the ideas and experiences to the table. As a result, we are complementary strengths of the alliance partners, seeing the emergence of agreed priorities and creative the conference attracted over 500 delegates to hear problem solving in some critical areas. 74 outstanding speakers covering a comprehensive range of topics covering the latest in research from This was well demonstrated in the SRP Precision around the world. An inaugural conference that Prevention and Tailored Screening program. The attracts 12 international speakers including Professor challenging process of selecting the projects Sir John Burn, Professor Elizabeth Blackburn, Ms Cally to progress was a great example of inclusive, Palmer and Professor Craig Thompson, sets a high bar collaborative consultation, discussion, transparency for future events and we are already planning the next and consensus decision-making. one in 2019. Following thought-provoking presentations and Just weeks after the Inaugural Research Conference, robust discussions among 70 participants at the we presented the final draft of the Strategic Research VCCC Symposium: Charting the Course for Precision Plan (SRP) to the Victorian Government. The result Prevention and Tailored Screening, a list of promising of over 50 consultations, discussions, debate and ideas and potential priority areas was compiled. This deliberations with more than 200 people across the list was then the subject of a workshop in which the alliance and the sector, the very development of the program steering committee was tasked with the SRP was a further demonstration of how effectively challenge of selecting the most promising projects to this alliance can work. The co-designed final plan take forward. This process sets a new standard in the responds to the highest priority opportunities and sector for collaborative program planning. areas of unmet need. It sets out how we can apply the assets of the alliance — leadership, expertise, patient As a result three priorities were selected: progressing numbers, data and education — to work together and tailored breast screening; building capacity in make significant progress towards our shared goal of implementation science applied to Cancer Council better patient outcomes. Australia/NHMRC Practice Guidelines for Aspirin Chemoprevention, and a genomic risk model for predicting risk of multiple common cancers. 6