Tracey O’Brien: They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and this photo does just that

Tracey O’Brien recently shared a post on LinkedIn:

“While any work meeting provides us with the chance to learn and strategise, the most important part will always be the connections we make as people.

At the Cancer Institute NSW, our face to face all staff meetings provide our team with an opportunity to hear from colleagues, spark important conversations, challenge and inspire. At our most recent meeting, we mixed things up a bit and allocated people random tables to sit at. Staff got out of their comfort zones and made new connections, often with people they’d never met.

It may seem simple enough, but after our most recent meeting, I was inspired to read a message from Faith Papuni who so beautifully captured the importance of connections in the workplace, and the impact one small change can make:

Our discussions extended beyond work, creating a supportive and empowering atmosphere. Engaging with like-minded women in both work-related conversations and social interactions was genuinely inspiring. It highlighted the significance of cultivating connections and supportive networks in the workplace. To mark the occasion, we decided to take a table selfie! The best meeting I’ve attended in almost 13 years at the Institute. So looking forward to the next one!

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and this photo does just that.”

Source: Tracey O’Brien/LinkedIn

Dr. Tracey O’Brien is the NSW Chief Cancer Officer and CEO of the Cancer Institute NSW, Australia. Before her current role, Tracey was Director of the Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children’s Hospital, and Director of the Transplant & Cellular Therapy Program. Tracey has held numerous high-profile national and international leadership positions, including Advisory Chair, Cancer Australia; V/Chair (Africa, Asia and Australasia) International Centre for Bone Marrow Transplant Research and V/President of the Australian and New Zealand Children’s Oncology Group. In recognition of her exceptional contributions, Tracey was profiled in 2023 as one of the world’s foremost women in paediatric cancer by the International Society of Paediatric Oncology. In 2019 Tracey was named in the Australian Financial Review’s prestigious Top 10 Women of Influence, winning the Innovation category. In addition to her medical expertise, Tracey has a Master of Law (Health) and executive MBA and serves as a conjoint Professor in Clinical Medicine (UNSW) and Honorary Professor in Science and Engineering (Macquarie University). Dr. O’Brien remains committed to mentoring the next generation of clinician leaders and maintains an active clinical practice in cancer survivorship at Sydney Children’s Hospital.