About us

Solaris Cancer Care is governed by a Board of Directors and led by CEO, Tony Hume.

Clinical Professor David Joske

MBBS FRACP FRACPA, Chairperson, Independent Non-Executive Director

Graduating from UWA in 1983 with a Bachelor of Medicine and a Bachelor of Surgery, Dr Joske, now a Clinical Haematologist and Medical Co-Director at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital has dedicated his career to cancer care and helping those with the disease.

In 2001 he established Solaris Cancer Care, a dedicated service offering support to cancer patients and in 2016 was named EY’s (WA) Social Entrepreneur award for this work.

Professor David Joske was Head of Haematology at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital from 1994 to 2012 and remains very active in clinical practice and research. Dr David Joske is a Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Western Australia and senior Haematologist at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. His research and clinical work focus on the role of supportive care in the management of cancer.

Dr Joske is a leading expert in the field of integrative cancer care, influencing its mainstream development across Australia. He is dedicated to exploring the value of complementary integrated therapies in counteracting adverse side effects experienced by people living with cancer. His clinical and research interests include the treatment of lymphomas, palliative care in Haematology, and supportive care in cancer.

He is a UWA Clinical Professor of Medicine; has published 91 peer-reviewed publications plus three book chapters. He launched the Solaris Cancer Care Foundation in September 2001 and is currently Chairman. He is a member of the National Blood Cancer Taskforce and the COSA (Clinical Oncology Society of Australia) Integrative Oncology Executive. He was awarded the John Curtin Medal in 2005 and has been a finalist four times for Western Australian of the Year. He plays guitar in a blues band, sometimes busks for Solaris Cancer Care and is a member of the Menagerie Community Choir.

Mr Tony Hume

Chief Executive Officer

Tony Hume is an experienced Chief Executive officer who has led many organisations working with children, homeless and health sectors in Western Australia.

Tony has also held senior leadership roles within the Higher education sector, specialising in supporting medical research.  

He is a former finalist in the WA Business News 40 under 40 awards, a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors
and has a GBQ (Leadership and Management) from Curtin University. 

Tony is passionate about the impact that Solaris Cancer Care has in the community with people (and their families) during their cancer journey and the power of Integrative Oncology care.

 

Ms Patricia Williams

Non-Executive Director

Patricia Williams has been in the medical field since 1977. She has a Bachelors of Nursing and currently works as a Registered Nurse at Royal Perth Hospital. Patricia was the Director for Pranic Healing in the UK, Ireland and Western Australia. She is a Senior International Instructor, Director for Pranic Energy Healing WA, and the Vice President for the Pranic Healers Association of Western Australia. Patricia also has a diploma in Yoga.

Patricia’s extensive experience in orthodox medicine encompasses burns, plastics and surgical nursing, renal, respiratory, acute medical, neurology, oncology, and palliative care.

Patricia has been a volunteer therapist and member of the research committee at Solaris Cancer Care since February 2002. She is currently the Quality Assurance and Carers Course Manager for the foundation. Patricia wrote the Solaris Cancer Care Mentoring Program and co-authored the Volunteer Orientation Guidelines, Standards and Protocols for Therapists and the Carers Course Training Manual.

Patricia brings a broad knowledge base of orthodox and complementary therapies to Solaris Cancer Care and is an advocate for complementary, integrative therapy provided by qualified therapists in a safe and nurturing environment.

Carl Titchmarsh

Non-Executive Director

Carl Titchmarsh is the Vice President for Strategy and Development APAC for EPC Contractor Clough.  Carl is an advocate for women’s equity and an implementation leader for CEOs for Gender Equity and the Champions of Change.  He has lobbied government to take diversity into consideration as part of their procurement processes, championed programs that will accelerate female progression into leadership roles and is a mentor for the National Association of Women In Construction.

Carl has overseen the development and implementation of strategies that have successfully diversified Clough’s project portfolio and grown the orderbook from $500m to $4bn+ whilst also supporting Aboriginal-owned business with strategy and business case development. He is responsible for setting the strategy and shape of the business and identifying and targeting projects consistent with the purpose and mission across diverse sectors and regions to create consistent and sustainable earnings.

Carl served as an Officer in the Royal Engineers of the British Army completing tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.  He has more than 20 years’ experience managing projects, large teams and business units across many industries and facilities, such as rail, mines, roads, schools, shopping centres, government buildings and accommodation, airports, bulk fuel and water facilities and workshops. He has managed complex projects including high profile, multiple site enhancement projects which were multi-disciplined with high public interest. Carl has held roles in engineering, construction, consultant, and government companies.

Carl is a Fellow of the CEO Institute, an Association of Project Management Professional and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He also currently sits on the Executive Committee of the Chamber of Minerals and Energy and the AmCham Energy and Resources Committee and the Construction Contractors Association of WA.

Carl is a non-executive director of Solaris Cancer Care.  Having lost his mother to cancer, he is a big supporter of Solaris and brings his diverse background to assist in delivering valuable services to our patients, carers, and families.

Dr Chris Whitaker

Non-Executive Director

Chris was born in Manchester and studied at Cambridge before coming to the Australian National University in 1970 to undertake his PhD. He has worked in academia, the public sector, and the private sector, principally in the areas of geology, environmental management, and transport and logistics. Among the positions he has held are Commissioner of Fair Trading (WA), Director General of Transport (WA), and Managing Director of the Melbourne Port Corporation.

He has held professorships at Curtin University, RMIT University and Inha University (South Korea). At RMIT he was in charge of the Business school with over 20,000 onshore and overseas students. He has delivered courses overseas on behalf of the World Health Organisation, the UN Development Program and the UN Environment Program.

Chris has extensive experience as a Board Member including the Medical Board of WA, the WA Legal Aid Commission, and as Deputy Chairman of the WA Environmental Protection Authority. He was Chairperson of the Uniting Church Homes Board (now known as Juniper) from 1989 to 1996.

During his time working in the public sector Chris was President of the WA Division of the Institute of Public Administration (Australia), and was the National Vice President.

He first learned about Solaris through his wife, who has been a volunteer for several years, and was delighted to be asked to join the Solaris Board. 

Ms Diane Porteous

Non-Executive Director

Diane is Head of Global Marketing for Minnovare, responsible for the strategic planning and implementation of the global marketing plan across its global footprint.

She has previously held positions for a range of technology companies globally, ranging from MICROSOFT UK, Telefonica (O2), British Telecom, HTC Europe to local Australian based organisations including Tourism WA, MICROMINE and ASX 300 company IMDEX Limited.

Diane is an experienced executive manager with 25 years experience in senior management and marketing positions in Australia and Europe. Her roles have focused on strategic planning and execution, brand development, international marketing, integrated campaign development and execution. As a qualified life coach, she also works with clients on personal and professional development coaching, specialising in leadership development.

Diane has a Bachelor of Commerce from Curtin University, with a double major in marketing and public relations, also a Graduate Diploma in marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) London.

Neil Cooke

Non-Executive Director

Neil Cooke is a Certified Practicing Accountant (CPA) and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) with over 25 years’ experience in financial and commercial leadership roles. His skills and experience include strategy, transformation, governance, compliance, financial and commercial support with a keen interest in leadership and developing others.

Neil is currently the Deputy Group CFO of the Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia (RAC WA) where he has worked in financial and commercial leadership roles in operating businesses and corporate functions since 2011.

Prior to joining the RAC WA, Neil held a variety of senior financial and commercial roles at Unisys, a global technology company over 10 years in Sydney and Perth supporting the Asia Pacific region. Neil also has experience in the mining industry in corporate accounting roles.

Sarah Standish

Non-Executive Director

Sarah is currently General Counsel and Company Secretary for an ASX 200 listed gold mining company. Sarah is a registered legal practitioner with over 17 years’ experience in Australia and internationally operating as a trusted advisor and business partner across the areas of legal, risk, governance and compliance.

Sarah is also a non-executive director of Westcycle and previously held a directorship of Bicycling Western Australia.

Sarah holds Bachelors of Arts and Laws and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Sarah is an active member of the AICD and the Governance Institute and a participant of the 2019 AICD Director Pipeline Program. She is also an Alumni of Chief Executive Women and a keen mentor through various formal and informal channels.

Claire Hall

Non-Executive Director

Claire is an external affairs, communications, change management and project management professional with over 18 years’ experience across a range of industries, within both the public and private sectors.   

Claire holds a Bachelors of Commerce, certifications in Project Management and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Claire brings her expertise in risk and issues management, strategic communications, government relations, social investment, sponsorships, fundraising and corporate strategy to the Board.

Claire joined the Solaris Cancer Care Board in June 2023. Having personally experienced brain cancer, she knows that there is much more to dealing with cancer than the treatment itself and is a strong advocate for the range of complementary therapies offered through Solaris.