Sri Navaratnam, a medical oncologist and health system leader with CancerCare Manitoba and the University of Manitoba, has been named a candidate for the UICC Board of Directors for the 2026–2028 term.
Based in Winnipeg, Canada, Dr Navaratnam brings more than 35 years of experience across clinical oncology, research, academia, health system leadership, and cancer control.
She served as President and CEO of CancerCare Manitoba from 2014 to 2025, providing strategic leadership to the provincial cancer agency and research institute and overseeing more than 1,200 staff. She also served as Chair of the Canadian Association of Provincial Cancer Agencies.
The new UICC Board will be elected by UICC full-member organisations during the 2026 UICC General Assembly, which will take place virtually on October 20, 2026. Electronic voting will open on October 13 and close at 14:30 CEST on October 20.
Sri Navaratnam’s Career in Cancer Care and Health Systems
Dr Navaratnam graduated with an MBBS from the University of Jaffna in Sri Lanka in 1985 before immigrating to Canada. She subsequently completed a PhD in Pharmacology and Therapeutics at the University of Manitoba and specialty training in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology.
She joined CancerCare Manitoba in 1996 and developed a career focused on lung cancer and thoracic oncology. She led the Thoracic Oncology Program before taking on progressively senior leadership positions, including Chair of the Provincial Cancer Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee, Head of Department, and Chief Medical Officer.
From 2014 to 2025, she served as President and CEO of CancerCare Manitoba, where she led a major provincial cancer organisation and research institute within Manitoba’s health system.
During her tenure, she focused on patient-centred care, health equity, innovation, and system-wide cancer control.
Why Sri Navaratnam Is Running for the UICC Board
Dr Navaratnam said her decision to seek a position on the UICC Board is driven by her belief that international collaboration is essential to closing gaps in cancer care.
“The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) is the leading platform for advancing equitable cancer control worldwide.”
Her career has spanned more than three decades and included clinical practice, research, academic medicine, and executive leadership.
She has also worked with cancer programmes in low- and middle-income countries, supporting capacity building, strategic planning, research, and community-based initiatives.
“My leadership approach is implementation-focused and grounded in meaningful engagement with governments, clinicians, researchers, NGOs, and communities to deliver measurable outcomes.”
A Focus on Health Equity
Health equity is a central theme of Dr Navaratnam’s candidacy.
Her experience in Canada’s publicly funded healthcare system has given her insight into designing and implementing population-based cancer strategies, while her work internationally has exposed her to very different healthcare environments and resource constraints.
She has more than a decade of experience supporting cancer control in countries including Sri Lanka, India, and Uganda through capacity building, research, strategic planning, and community-based programmes.
Following her tenure as CEO, Dr Navaratnam has undertaken a sabbatical focused on health equity through shared learning, research collaboration, programme implementation, and community engagement.
Her guiding vision is “a world without borders by closing the gap.”
Connecting Canadian Experience With Global Cancer Control
Dr Navaratnam brings extensive experience working across Canada’s cancer-control system.
As Chair of the Canadian Association of Provincial Cancer Agencies, she worked with cancer agencies across the country to advance collaborative approaches to cancer control.
Her experience includes working within a universal healthcare system and addressing the challenges of implementing population-based cancer strategies across different jurisdictions.
She has also collaborated internationally, including recent work with Cancer Australia on lung cancer screening and with partners in South Asia on community-based cancer programmes.
These experiences have shaped her approach to developing cancer-control strategies that are adapted to local health systems while benefiting from international knowledge and collaboration.
Building Partnerships Across Health Systems
Throughout her career, Dr Navaratnam has worked with governments, NGOs, academic institutions, healthcare professionals, researchers, community organisations, and patients.
She said this experience has strengthened her ability to bring together different perspectives and turn them into coordinated action.
“I believe I am a strong candidate for the UICC Board of Directors because I bring a unique combination of proven leadership, experience, and commitment to health equity.”
Her approach centres on collaboration and implementation, with the goal of translating cancer-control strategies into measurable improvements for communities.
If elected, Dr Navaratnam said she would focus on improving access, strengthening health systems, and advancing early detection.
Watch Dr Sri Navaratnam’s video message outlining her experience, priorities, and vision as a candidate for the UICC Board of Directors for the 2026–2028 term.
UICC Board Elections 2026
The 2026 UICC election will determine 14 members of the Board of Directors for the 2026–2028 term.
UICC full-member organisations will vote during the virtual General Assembly on October 20, 2026, following the opening of electronic voting on October 13.
The elected Board will help guide UICC’s work in cancer prevention, early detection, health equity, health systems strengthening, access to care, and global cancer control.
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