Doreen Akkerman

Doreen Akkerman, AM
Director, Strategic Health Communications International (SHCI)

Doreen is the Director of SHCI, the Helen Macpherson Smith Trust Fellow and the Patron and Director of The Think Pink Foundation, a breast cancer support organisation. She is a founding member of the International Cancer Information Services Group and was the inaugural President. Doreen received the Order of Australia, General Division for her work with cancer professionals and cancer patients in 2007 and was inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women in 2010.

The Cancer Information Service model which she developed is used in hospitals and health organisations throughout Australia, Canada and Singapore. Doreen retired as Director of the Cancer Information and Support Service at the Cancer Council Victoria in March 2010 after 20 years service but continues as a professional facilitator and presenter with SHCI.

Doreen led the development of the Breast Cancer Nurse Distance Learning Program and the Victorian Cancer Clinicians Communication Program both highly successful professional education programs. She also developed the successful series of Sexuality and Cancer Workshops for clinicians, nurses and patients. She is the author of many published articles and reports regarding Communication, Building a Gold Standard Team in the Workplace, Development and Maintenance of Health Information Services and the Impact of Aging and Disease on Sexuality.