Rikki Stern
Co-Founder & Director

At the age of 20, Rikki Stern founded Cancer Chicks Australia as a social media support group after being diagnosed with Stage 2B Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Rikki underwent chemotherapy, IVF and preventative surgery whilst undergoing a Bachelor of Visual Communications degree at the University of Technology, Sydney. 

After realising there was a lack of support for young women fighting cancer, she felt passionate about making a change and making sure other young women were provided with the support she needed.

Rikki has advocated for Cancer Awareness through schools, religious organisations, charity functions, podcasts and media programs including Channel 9’s The Daily Edition. In 2019, Rikki won the Westfield Local Hero of the Year award on behalf of Cancer Chicks and dedicated the winnings to their first respite retreat.

Michele Molnar
Co-Founder & Chairperson

Michele is a serial entrepreneur having owned a successful coffee shop at the age of 20, then at 22 ventured into the jewellery industry where she and her husband ran many successful jewellery shops for over 30 years. During this period, she was on marketing and product boards for Australia’s leading jewellery group Showcase.

Michele was a sounding board for her son Nick with the launch of Afterpay as well as worked there in SMB and AML while it was establishing itself as the country’s leading BNPL business. She also worked with her son Simon for several years in Ice Jewellery Australia focusing on sales, marketing, product and customer service.

At the age of 45, Michele was diagnosed with breast cancer and felt that this experience was a turning point in her life so when Rikki was diagnosed, assisting her in establishing Cancer Chicks was her next path and is now her passion.

Katrina Konstas
Director

Katrina is the Country Manager and Head of Sales for AfterPay Australia. She is a strategic senior executive and thought leader with a career embedded in customer-oriented roles across sales and client relationship management, marketing, customer experience optimisation and in driving business transformation to consistently deliver against KPIs.

She has deep leadership experience in building successful, high-performing teams across multiple functions throughout Asia Pacific. She is a highly effective communicator, with a strong background in digital, PR and media communications.

Adele Greenberg
Director

Adele Greenberg is the CEO and Executive Director of the National Online Retailers Association (NORA).

After a twenty-five year career in Mining, Automotive and Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), Adele now enjoys a portfolio career that incorporates director and advisory roles in associations, profit with purpose enterprises, and enterprises.

She is the proud owner of a corporate retreat on Sydney’s outskirts, Waranara Ridge, where she hosts business leaders and charity events. Adele is also proudly on the committee of Cancer Chicks.

Kiki Paul
Director

After 20 years in financial services, Kiki has used her business experience in a highly regulated environment and covering all areas of operation, in the not-for-profit sector.

She is an experienced NFP board member, having served on the inaugural board of the Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Women’s Shelter, where over her five-year term she covered PR, Fundraising, Operations and acted as VP.

Currently CEO of Go Gentle Australia which she joined at its inception in 2016, Kiki has extensive knowledge of governance, advocacy, campaigning for change and creating resources.

Kiki is passionate about social justice, equal opportunities, making the world a better place and driven to empower people with knowledge and tools.

Tresna Karras
Director

After an early career as an exercise physiologist, Tresna changed direction with a Master of Commerce and established a successful career in public relations. 

For over 20 years she consulted with a broad range of clients including banks, law and accounting firms, commercial property groups, financial services, government bodies, building materials, luxury goods and FMCG. Her expertise is in media relations, publicity, issues management, PR strategy development and implementation, and events.

Tresna was the office manager at Business Bank, Tyro, for two years where she built and managed a team that provided administrative and facility support to all staff. She later took on the role of communications, events and trade shows within the Marketing team before ‘retiring’ to pursue volunteering activities.

Kerri Filler
Chief Operations Officer

After 20 years in the Fashion Industry, Kerri changed direction and worked in PR, Marketing and Events, which aligned perfectly with her strong organisational skills. She now operates her own business, which provides services as a Professional Organiser.  
 
A month before her 50th birthday, Kerri was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. Having two girlfriends who had recently had Breast Cancer, Kerri found solace in being able to go to them with her questions and concerns. Having someone say “I totally get it” made the world of difference.
 
As a Navigational Carer on our Advisory Committee, Kerri is excited to combine her personal experience of Breast Cancer with the years of knowledge she has gained from motherhood, marketing, professional organising and volunteering.

Jennifer Lianos
Navigational Carer

After years of working with books and writing, Jennifer’s work took on a more practical focus after having children and the not for profit sector beckoned.  

Since then, Jennifer has worked extensively as a volunteer at schools and other organisations. Aside from writing, reading and teaching, Jennifer is good at negotiating problematic situations, sourcing best-case solutions and working with people.

Her own family experience of illness has brought Jennifer to Cancer Chicks as a navigational carer with the passionate desire to help facilitate better outcomes for women challenged by illness. 

Anchal Luthra
Designer & Social Media Manager

Anchal is a highly accomplished graphic designer and photographer. She has a Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication from the University of Technology, Sydney, and has been recognised with a number of awards including three Australian Graphic Design Association Awards in 2021 and 2022. Anchal is passionate about using her skills and role as a designer for supporting good causes.

Cath O’Dwyer
Sydney Youth Cancer Services CNC

Cath has worked for 12 years with the Sydney Youth Cancer Service Team (SYCS) as a Clinical Nurse Consultant based in the Prince of Wales Hospital & Sydney Children’s Hospital. Cath has many years of adult cancer nursing experience. She worked in Guys & St Thomas’ NHS Trust Cancer Centre for 15 years as a senior nurse managing outpatient and day care areas before moving to Australia. Cath studied to be a Registered General Nurse in Manchester, UK, she has also achieved an Adolescent Health and Wellbeing post-grad cert with the University of Melbourne in 2015, a Diploma in Cancer Nursing at Kings College in London and a Master of Science Interprofessional Practice at City University in London.

Cheryl Hayman Corporate Professional

Cheryl is a professional non-executive board director of organisations including HGL Limited, Beston Global Foods, Shriro Holding Ltd, Ai-Media, Peer Support Australia, and The Darlinghurst Theatre Company and sits on the Department of PM and Cabinet Digital Experts Advisory Committee. Prior to her board roles, Cheryl had a successful C-Suite global marketing career in multi-national organisations including Unilever, Yum Restaurants, Time Warner and George Weston Foods. Cheryl is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia.

Dora Abbondanza
Psychologist

Dora is a registered Psychologist with extensive experience in clinical and counselling settings in the areas of private practice, research, vocational rehabilitation, employment services, and not-for-profit. She is experienced in helping people with various mental health difficulties, including depression, anxiety, stress management, complex trauma and PTSD, grief and loss, adjustment issues, as well as vocational uncertainty.

Wendy Jocum
Wellbeing Coach

Wendy Jocum is an experienced facilitator, coach and consultant, previously in South Africa, and for the last 21 years in Australia. She trains and coaches individuals, teams and organisations, across all sectors, including not for profit. Her expertise is in all areas of people development – some topics are emotional intelligence, resilience, communication, leadership, team development etc. Wendy’s passion is supporting people through challenges, to achieve their potential, personal and professional goals, for wellbeing and performance. She provides an engaging, supportive environment, for people to apply skills and insights, positive behavioural change, build relationships and achieve results.

Judy Goldman
Communications Strategist

Judy has more than 30 year’s experience as a strategic communications professional and a relationships manager. She has worked extensively across multiple and diverse stakeholder groups in both the private and public sectors. Judy has an extensive background in journalism, and political issues management, and is passionate about producing quality communications. As Director of Communications at NSW Health, Judy is recognised as a highly-skilled negotiator and an efficient and considered decision-maker.

Assoc. Professor Kate Stern
Gynaecologist & Fertility Specialist

Dr Stern is Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Melbourne, Royal Women’s Hospital (RWHM), the Head of the Endocrine and Metabolic Service and Acting Head of Reproductive Services both at the RWHM. She is also the Clinical Director and Head of Clinical Research at Melbourne IVF. She established and coordinates the Fertility Preservation Services at the Royal Women’s Hospital and Melbourne IVF. Dr Stern currently co-chairs the COSA Medical Fertility Preservation Guidance development group and is a member of the international Pancare working group for development of the European Fertility Preservation Guidelines.

Assoc. Professor John McBain
IVF Specialist & Gynaecologist

Dr McBain is a pioneer in the treatment of infertility. He was instrumental in Australia’s first IVF baby in 1980, which was the third IVF birth in the world. He has worked in the IVF field longer than any other specialist in the world and co-founded Melbourne IVF (now Virtus Health). Throughout his career, John’s outstanding leadership has advanced the welfare of women and those with reproductive difficulties. Dr McBain received an Order of Australia for distinguished service to reproductive medicine, particularly in infertility.

Dr. Michael Krasovitsky
Medical Oncologist

Dr Michael Krasovitsky is a Medical Oncologist at the Kinghorn Cancer Centre, St Vincent’s hospital, where he works in geriatric oncology, breast cancers and gastrointestinal malignancies. He also has a strong interest in supportive care for patients with cancer. He has previously established a framework for managing the sexual and fertility needs of patients with cancer. He is passionate about ensuring the best care for patients with cancer and is an advocate for comprehensive support care for patients travelling the often treacherous cancer journey.