Our Board and CEO
WARPNINE is an incorporated charitable institution, governed by a Board of Directors. WARPNINE is a registered charity with DGR 1 status; a copy of our constitution is available from the ACNC Charity Register.
Chair
Dr Andrew Dean
Andrew trained initially in Liverpool in the UK and obtained his membership of the College of Physicians in 1998. After immigrating to Australia, he continued his training in internal medicine and palliative care at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney, becoming a fellow of the Royal Australian College of Physicians in 1993. On returning to Perth, Andrew established the palliative care service at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital (SCGH) and St John of God Hospital (SJG) Subiaco, and was appointed professor of palliative medicine by ECU.
Driven by his passion to help patients with life-threatening illnesses, Andrew furthered his training in medical oncology and began working full-time as a medical oncologist in 2006. He is currently the head of the Department of Medical Oncology at SJG Subiaco and, at Genesis CancerCare at Shenton House in Joondalup.
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Andrew’s key areas of interest are upper gastrointestinal and gynaecological tumours. He has published articles on symptom control, novel therapies for ovarian and pancreatic cancer and the molecular profiling of solid tumours. He regularly participates in international clinical trials and continues to be a major contributor to pancreatic, lung and ovarian cancer studies.
Deputy Chair
Mr Neil Rae
Neil Rae is currently the Executive Chairman of The Rae Group, former Executive Chairman of Gull Group of Companies, and a fiercely protective family man.
He is a passionate philanthropist and conservationist, with superior business acumen and a keen eye for property development. With a plethora of hugely successful businesses across Australia and New Zealand, Neil’s unwavering morals and ethics have been the backbone of his successes.
A parochial Western Australian, Neil is committed to supporting innovation and excellence within the state, and prides himself on being an enabler.
Director
Mr Richard Scragg
Richard’s background is in the financial services sector, having been a Director of boutique insurance and risk advisory business CKA Risk Solutions, which was acquired by global firm Willis Towers Watson in 2015. Richard subsequently founded Fenchurch, a boutique insurance corporate advisory firm specialising in the resources sector.
Richard’s involvement in WARPNINE, has primarily been driven by a desire to see better outcomes for patients with rare cancers, having lost a close friend to stomach cancer in 2020. Andrew Dean was the treating oncologist, and his guidance materially increased life expectancy.
Richard brings a strong network of business connections to WARPNINE, which will aid critical fundraising endeavours.
Director
Mr Vic Jakovich
Vic is the Managing Director of Jako Industries Pty Ltd and possesses over 50 years of experience in the mechanical services (HVAC) and construction industry.
Since establishing the company in 1972, Vic has managed over $600 million worth of mechanical services (HVAC) projects. He brings a wealth of relationship management and business leadership to the board. He has functional experience in strategic planning and execution, business improvement, business case development, operational management and risk and financial management.
Vic has chaired and co-chaired numerous community service and fundraising boards and is dedicated to helping to improve Western Australia’s treatment options and cancer outcomes for individuals and families impacted by rare and difficult-to-diagnosed and treat malignancies.
Director
Hon. Liza Harvey GAICD
Liza is a former Deputy Premier, Senior Minister and Leader of the Liberal Party in a Parliamentary Career that spanned twelve years. With her late husband Hal, Liza was also the director of their successful family business for 33 years.
Liza is passionate about finding better treatments for people with rare cancers, having cared for Hal during his treatment for pancreatic cancer over a period of three and half years. Having met with hundreds of families experiencing the difficult and often frustrating journey that cancer presents, Liza maintains that the hardest part of the treatment process is maintaining optimism, dignity and hope for patients, carers and families. She sees an opportunity for WARPNINE to fill part of this gap.
Director
Mr Rob Towner
Rob Towner is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in executive leadership, business development, and operations management. Currently, he serves as joint Chief Executive Officer at Flametree Wines in the Margaret River Region, Western Australia, where he oversees market analysis, budgeting, strategic planning, and relationship management.
Rob has held significant leadership positions including Chairman at the Type 1 Diabetes Family Centre in Western Australia, Managing Director and CEO at Triangle Energy (Global) Ltd and Non-Executive Director at State Gas Limited, both ASX listed Companies. His expertise includes ensuring regulatory compliance, developing long-term strategic goals, and negotiating key contracts.
Outside of his professional endeavours, Rob is actively involved in various community activities. He is a member of both the Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club and Fremantle Sailing Club participating in rowing, power boats and sailing. He has served as a team manager for one of his two sons at the Mosman Park Junior Football Club.
Rob's a valuable asset to the WARPNINE Board demonstrated through his dedication to both his professional and personal pursuits.
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Director
Mr Cameron Palassis
Cameron brings over 18 years of experience in providing business advisory services to organizations of varying sizes in both the private and government sectors. His expertise encompasses a wide range of advisory services, including tax-related planning, budgeting, development of accounting systems, risk assurance, and related financial and accounting processes.
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As the Executive Director for Private Client Services, Taxation, and Audit Assurances at Paxon Group, Cameron leads the company's business development, marketing, and strategic initiatives for private clients and government projects. His leadership and comprehensive knowledge make him a valuable asset to the WARPNINE Board.
Chief Executive Officer
Meg Croucher
m: 0406 818 810
e: meg@warpnine.org.au