Todd Harper, CEO of Cancer Council Victoria and a current UICC Board Director, has been named a candidate for the UICC Board of Directors for the 2026–2028 term.
Based in Melbourne, Australia, Harper brings more than 25 years of experience in cancer prevention, public health advocacy, health policy, executive leadership, and governance.
He has led Cancer Council Victoria since 2011 and has previously served as CEO of VicHealth and led Quit Victoria and the Tasmanian Council on AIDS and Related Diseases.
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.
Todd Harper’s Work in Cancer Prevention and Public Health
Throughout his career, Harper has worked across cancer research, prevention, patient support, advocacy, and public health policy.
As CEO of Cancer Council Victoria, he has overseen programmes addressing tobacco control, cancer screening and early detection, public education, and cancer support. His work has also focused on reducing the harms associated with tobacco, vaping, unhealthy food, and excessive sun exposure.
He has championed initiatives addressing bowel, cervical, and liver cancer, alongside efforts to strengthen supportive care and patient navigation.
Harper also played a key role in establishing the McCabe Centre for Law and Cancer, which focuses on using legal and policy approaches to strengthen cancer prevention and control.
His work in public health has been recognised through an Honorary Doctorate from Deakin University in 2018 and appointment as a Member of the Order of Australia in 2022 for his contributions to cancer support programmes and medical governance.
He was also recently named among OncoDaily’s 100 Most Influential CEOs in Oncology.
Why Todd Harper Is Seeking Another UICC Board Term
Harper said global cancer control is entering a critical period, with progress in prevention and treatment accompanied by growing pressures on health systems.
“We stand at a pivotal moment for global cancer control—building on hard-won progress while facing urgent, emerging challenges.”
He highlighted persistent inequities, workforce shortages, financing pressures, antimicrobial resistance, and climate change as challenges that will increasingly influence cancer control.
If re-elected, Harper said he would focus on universal health coverage, prevention and screening, and strengthening supportive care and patient navigation.
“My commitment to UICC and the global community is to advance our collective goals for universal health coverage, prevention and screening, and empowering cancer patients through enhanced supportive care and navigation.”
Tackling Commercial Determinants of Cancer
A major part of Harper’s public health work has been addressing commercial influences on health.
His career in tobacco control has included leadership of Quit Victoria and advocacy for policies designed to reduce tobacco-related harm. He has also worked on public health approaches addressing unhealthy food, alcohol, vaping, and other risk factors.
He said collective action and knowledge-sharing among cancer organisations can help strengthen efforts against industries that contribute to preventable cancer risk.
“I am driven by the collective capacity of our organisations to share expertise and programmes to transform outcomes and push back against the influence of the tobacco, junk food, and alcohol industries.”
Harper also emphasised the importance of population-level approaches combining media, law, policy, and economics to address cancer risk and health inequalities.
Supporting Patients Through Cancer Care
Alongside prevention, Harper has highlighted supportive care and patient navigation as important components of effective cancer control.
He said rising cancer incidence, increasing costs, and workforce constraints make it increasingly important to help patients navigate health systems and access appropriate support.
“I have seen the impact of supportive care and navigation; with rising costs, diagnoses, and workforce constraints, these must remain priorities for cancer control.”
His priorities also include ensuring that new technologies and advances in cancer care are accessible across different health systems rather than concentrated in the most well-resourced settings.
Global Cancer Advocacy and Governance
Harper brings extensive international governance experience to his candidacy.
He was the UICC nominee to the NCD Alliance Board from 2017 to 2023 and served as NCD Alliance President from 2019 to 2021. He currently chairs the NCD Alliance Grant Oversight Committee.
He also hosted the 2025 World Cancer Leaders’ Summit in Melbourne and continues to serve as a UICC Board Director.
“I bring a strong commitment to equity and to strengthening cancer control in low- and middle-income countries.”
Harper said international partnerships, capacity building, and knowledge exchange will be essential to reducing disparities in cancer outcomes.
Watch Todd Harper’s video message outlining his 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, health equity, universal health coverage, cancer care, advocacy, and global collaboration.
Read further on OncoDaily: Jesper Fisker Named Candidate for UICC Board of Directors 2026–2028
