UICC Announces New Board of Directors for 2026–2028

The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) has announced its newly elected Board of Directors for the 2026–2028 term, following the organisation’s Virtual General Assembly held on 20 October 2026.

The new Board brings together 16 leaders from across the international cancer community, representing expertise in clinical oncology, cancer research, public health, palliative care, health policy, and cancer advocacy.

Representing UICC’s global membership of more than 1,100 organisations across over 170 countries and territories, the Board will provide strategic oversight and guide the organisation’s efforts to strengthen international cooperation and advance equitable cancer control.

The Board will serve until October 2028, with Dr Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu of Nigeria serving as President and Dr CS Pramesh of India as President-elect.

Meet the UICC Board of Directors for 2026–2028

The newly elected Board comprises distinguished oncologists, researchers, healthcare executives, and public health specialists from around the world.

UICC Leadership

Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu — Nigeria

President, UICC (2026–2028)

Founder of the Medicaid Cancer Foundation in Nigeria, Dr Shinkafi-Bagudu has served on the UICC Board for six years. Previously elected President-elect at the 2024 General Assembly, she has been actively involved in advancing the organisation’s strategic priorities.

CS Pramesh — India

President-elect, UICC (2026–2028)

Director of Tata Memorial Hospital and Professor and Head of Thoracic Surgery at Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai. Dr Pramesh is internationally recognised for his contributions to improving access, quality, and equity in cancer care, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

Board Members

Image	Name and Insitution	Milestone
	Matti Aapro Switzerland	Oncologist, Board Member (Genolier Cancer Center) / President (Sharing Progress in Cancer Care (SPCC)) Genolier Cancer Center / Sharing Progress in Cancer Care (SPCC)
	Zipporah Ali Kenya	Palliative Care Physician / Public Health Specialist African Palliative Care Association / Kenya Hospices and Palliative Care Association boards
	Stella Bialous United States of America	Professor, University of California, San Francisco
	Maira Caleffi Brazil	Founder and Permanent Member of the Board of Directors FEMAMA
	Fatima Cardoso France	President Advanced Breast Cancer (ABC) Global Alliance
	Hesham Elghazaly Egypt	President Egypt Cancer Society
	Jesper Fisker Denmark	CEO The Danish Cancer Society
	Todd Harper Australia	CEO Cancer Council Victoria
	Julia Ismael Argentina	Scientific and Technical Director | Clinical Oncologist and Health Policy Researcher ILACC – Latin American Initiative for Cancer Control
	Christopher Jackson New Zealand	Professor of Medical Oncology, University of Otago
	Sri Navaratnam Canada	Medical oncologist / Health system leader Cancercare Manitoba / University of Manitoba
	Christian Ntizimira Rwanda	Founder & Executive Director The African Center for Research on End of Life Care (ACREOL Global)
	Kathleen Schmeler United States of America	Associate Vice President of Global Oncology / Professor of Gynecologic Oncology MD Anderson Cancer Center
	Han-Kwang Yang South Korea	President National Cancer Center, Korea

A Global Board Guiding the Future of Cancer Control

Between General Assemblies, UICC’s 16-member Board of Directors serves as the organisation’s governing body, providing strategic direction and oversight.

The President chairs the Board, while the President-elect works alongside the current leadership in preparation for assuming the presidency during the following term.

The 2026–2028 Board represents a broad range of professional backgrounds and geographical regions, bringing together expertise from cancer centres, academic institutions, national cancer societies, and international healthcare organisations.

The newly elected directors will work alongside UICC’s leadership to support its global membership, strengthen collaboration across the cancer community, and advance efforts to reduce inequalities in cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care.

Welcoming the newly elected Board, UICC Chief Executive Officer Cary Adams stated:

“I extend my warm welcome and congratulations to our new President, President-elect and Board members. Their collective experience, perspectives and dedication will be invaluable as UICC continues its mission to unite and support the cancer community and drive progress towards more equitable cancer control worldwide.”

The Board’s term begins a new two-year period of governance for UICC, with its members responsible for helping guide the organisation’s strategic priorities and supporting international efforts to improve cancer outcomes.