Advocacy Summit

Runcie C.W. Chidebe is a patient advocate, global health consultant, researcher, psychologist and the executive director of
Project PINK BLUE. He is one of the leading voices advocating for Nigeria government to make cancer control a national health priority. He has been engaged in supporting women battling with cancer, hosting oncology trainings for doctors/nurses, fundraising for indigent patients, cancer awareness, founded Nigeria’s first patient navigation and the first cancer support group in Abuja, Nigeria.

He is a Member, Nigeria’s ministerial committee on the implementation of National Cancer Control Programme(2018-2022), National Cervical Cancer Programme for the Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health; Board Member, World Ovarian Cancer Coalition; Global Steering Committee for the Novartis Peer Navigation Programmefor metastatic breast cancer, Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) World Cancer Day Advisory Group and an external board member of the Birmingham & Lewisham African & Caribbean Health Inequalities Review, United Kingdom.

As a result of his patient advocacy work in Africa, Runcie has been recognized globally,
including nobel Nelson Mandela -Graca Machel innovation award, UICC Young Cancer Leader Award, U.S. Department of State International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), Catherine Peugeot Research Award, France; Global Ties U.S. Awardfor Social Innovation and Change by the U.S. Government, 4o Under 40 in Cancer globally,
Gynecologic Cancer Society, USA; Distinguished Advocacy Award by International Faces of Exchange award alongside the Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinta Ardern and United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guteras by the U.S.
Department of Stateand many other laurels across Europe, America and across Africa.

Vas James is the Head of Programmes at The Eve Appeal, a gynaecological cancer charity based in the United Kingdom. She oversees all charitable activity, with a focus on research and patient advocacy. A recognised leader in gynaecological cancer advocacy, Vas is a member of the ESGO ENGAGe Executive Committee and actively contributes to international patient advocacy communities, working to ensure that patients’ voices are central to cancer research, policy, and care.

With over 15 years’ experience across higher education, the third sector and private industry, Vas has led complex research and engagement programmes at institutions including University College London,
Imperial College London and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Her expertise spans clinical trial coordination, public engagement, health equity, and the management of large-scale research networks. She holds degrees from McGill and Concordia Universities in Canada, and brings a cross sectoral, global perspective to her work improving outcomes in women’s health

Dr. Anisa Mburu is a Gynecologic Oncologist currently based at the Aga Khan Hospital in
Mombasa, Kenya. She is a dedicated clinician and researcher with a strong focus on HPV
associated cancers, pediatric gynecologic oncology, and palliative care.

Dr. Mburu serves as an Expert Advisor for the World Health Organization (WHO) on cervical
cancer treatment guidelines. She is also a member of the committees developing resource stratified cervical cancer treatment and screening guidelines for the European Society of Gynecological Oncology (ESGO) and the Kenya National Cancer Control Program
respectively.

In addition to her clinical and advisory roles, Dr. Mburu is actively engaged in professional
mentorship and academic contributions. She serves as Co-Chair of the Palliative Care
Workgroup and is an Early Career Mentor with the International Gynecologic Cancer Society
(IGCS). She is also a scientific reviewer for the International Journal of Gynecological Cancer
(IJGC) and a Topic Editor for Frontiers’ Evidence-Based Implementation of Innovations in Gynecologic Oncology.

Dr. Mburu is the Founder and CEO of the SheFights Cancer Foundation, a nonprofit
organization dedicated to advocacy, awareness, and support for women affected by cancer.

She earned her medical degree from the University of Nairobi, her MBA from the University of Nicosia in Cyprus, and completed her Master of Medicine in Obstetrics and Gynecology as well as a clinical fellowship in Gynecologic Oncology at Moi University. 

Electra D. Paskett, PhD, MSPH, FACE, FAACR, FASCO Country USA (OHIO) Institution: Marion N. Rowley Professor of Cancer Research, The Ohio State University (OSU) | Director of the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, College of Medicine, OSU | Professor in the Division of Epidemiology in the College of Public Health | Deputy Director for Population Sciences and Community Outreach, the OSU Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC)| Founding Director, Center for Community Outreach and Engagement, James Cancer Hospital, Columbus, Ohio | Director, Center for Cancer Prevention and Survivorship, OSUCCC| Editor-in-Chief, Preventive Oncology and Epidemiology | Author of more than 500 original papers indexed in pubmed; H-Index 88; 32,862 citations

 Dr Eleanor Richards is an Obstetrics & Gynaecology clinician and is currently pursuing a Cancer Research UK-funded PhD in the prevention of endometrial cancer for underserved communities at the University of Manchester (UK). Eleanor completed an Academic Clinical Fellowship at the University of Cambridge (UK), which built upon the skills gained during her Master’s in Public Health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (USA). Eleanor is actively engaged in the improvement of health systems and institutions, for example by participating in an expert group to inform the Royal
College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists’ project for the recovery of gynaecology services, and by acting as the National Trainee Committee representative to the RCOG Genomics Standing Committee. Her research and public policy interests relate to the development of holistic and equitable gynaecological healthcare across the lifecourse, utilising quantitative, qualitative, and health economics
methodologies.

 Diane Crawford is the Founder and Executive Director of The Crawford Crew, a U.S.-based nonprofit organization established in 2009 to raise awareness, provide education, and support prevention efforts for HPV-related cancers. As a passionate advocate and leader in the cervical cancer elimination movement, Diane brings lived experience, strategic vision, and grassroots impact to her role as co-chair of the 2025 IGCS Global Summit.