Rami Rahal joins Breast Cancer Foundation NZ, with focus on eliminating survival disparities
Breast Cancer Foundation NZ is thrilled to announce the appointment of Rami Rahal to its Board of Trustees.
Rami, who is currently based in Ontario, Canada, is an internationally recognised leader in cancer care, health system strategy and evidence driven quality improvement, having most recently served as chief executive of Te Aho o Te Kahu, New Zealand’s Cancer Control Agency. His appointment comes at a critical time for Breast Cancer Foundation NZ, as it strengthens its work to tackle disparities in breast cancer outcomes across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Motivated by a desire to ensure every New Zealander has a fair chance at living beyond breast cancer, Rami says he is honoured to join the Foundation and contribute to the charity’s mission: “I’ve seen firsthand how inequities in access and timeliness to diagnosis and treatment translate into avoidable heartbreak for families. A person’s ethnic background or where they live should never determine their chance of surviving breast cancer.
“Breast Cancer Foundation NZ is strongly positioned to bridge evidence, policy and the lived experience of patients. That’s exactly what New Zealand needs to lift breast cancer outcomes for everyone; I’ve seen this is how real change happens and it’s why I’m excited to join the Foundation.
“I’m eager to contribute a system-wide perspective and a practical understanding of how change happens within the health system. With my experience inside the cancer system, I see real opportunities to reduce delays, remove barriers, particularly for Māori and Pacific peoples, and ensure all cancer patients get the care they need when they need it.”
Justine Smyth, the Foundation’s Chair, says Rami’s appointment aligns perfectly with the organisation’s strategic priorities: “Rami brings both expertise and a clear sense of purpose to our board. His insights and leadership will help strengthen our impact and guide us closer towards a future where no woman dies from breast cancer.”
Rami holds more than three decades of experience advising governments and cancer agencies across Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Europe, and the Middle East. At Te Aho o Te Kahu, the Cancer Control Agency, he led national strategy, major system transformations, and the largest investment in cancer medicines in New Zealand’s history. Prior to that, he was Vice-President of Performance and Innovation at the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, overseeing national system performance, research platforms, Indigenous data partnerships, and large-scale initiatives in population health research and clinical trials. Rami is currently chair of the International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership, a coalition of 21 international jurisdictions including New Zealand, focused on measuring and explaining differences in cancer survival between and within countries.
Rami’s appointment to the Breast Cancer Foundation NZ Board reinforces the organisation’s ongoing focus on earlier detection, quick and effective treatment, and reducing the risk of breast cancer recurrence and death.