Rare Cancers Australia appoints ex-MD of Janssen to Board

Pharma News: Rare Cancers Australia (RCA) welcomes the appointment of Bruce Goodwin, recently retired Managing Director of Janssen Pharmaceuticals in Australia and New Zealand (a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson), to the Board of Rare Cancers Australia (RCA).

Mr Goodwin also serves on the Medicines Australia Board and the Board of the Australian Genomics Cancer Medicines Centre. He was also the Vice-Chairman of the Japanese-based executive committee of PhRMA while working as President of Janssen in Japan.

Mr Goodwin will bring extensive local and international experience from the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry sector and a rich
and unique perspective to the Board.

“We are delighted that Bruce is joining us”, said Chair and CEO, Richard Vines. “His knowledge and understanding of the Australian health system in combination with his patient centric focus will be invaluable to the ongoing work of RCA and the National Oncology Alliance (NOA). Bruce’s skills and wisdom will support the NOA to improve access to therapies and technologies and to prolong survival for cancer patients no matter how rare or common their cancer.”

Mr Goodwin joins the Board of RCA at an opportune time as the National Oncology Alliance supports Cancer Australia and others to affect the Ministerial Roundtable commissioned by Health Minister, Greg Hunt.

The Roundtable will convene early in 2021 to bring Vision 20-30 to fruition over the coming years via execution of the six pillars of the Australian Cancer Futures Framework – that will be central to a reinvigorated National Cancer Plan.

Mr Goodwin commented,” I have long admired the work the team at Rare Cancers Australia and I am thrilled to be joining the Board. Throughout 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic, Australia has been confronted by the importance of health to the Nation. It is important that we take the lessons learnt from COVID-19 and apply them across all disease areas but particularly cancer. I look forward to working with the RCA Board and Team over the coming months and years.”