From last rites to a cancer first, meet the Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation's new CEO
01 October 2024
Craig Connelly knows more than most about cancer, and how pushing the boundaries of medicine can save lives.
Craig is a survivor of T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, having experienced his own tough battle with this blood cancer from 2005 to 2007.
On his worst day in hospital, Craig was read his last rites and his wife told he was not expected to survive the day.
It was a T-cell infusion from his wife – making Craig the first ever recipient at the Royal Melbourne Hospital of a non-familial white blood cell transfusion – that ultimately saved his life.
Craig would go on to serve as Chief Executive at a major philanthropic funder of Australian cancer research, The Ian Potter Foundation, from 2015 to 2023.
His CV also includes senior roles at Perpetual Private – as a Partner in their socially conscious “ESG” investing division – and as Managing Director of an investment fund and as a partner at Goldman Sachs JBWere.
Today, Craig is announced as the incoming CEO of the Peter Mac Callum Cancer Foundation. It’s an opportunity he describes as “too good to be true”.
“My personal connection to this issue is very strong,” Craig says.
“Overlay that with the esteem with which the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre is held, the substantive role of the Foundation supporting the Centre, and the opportunity to work with a passionate team at the Foundation, I am genuinely excited by this opportunity.”
Craig replaces the outgoing Kate Torney OAM who so capably led the Foundation as CEO from 2021 to 2024.
The Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation is the fundraising arm of Peter Mac.
The Foundation’s aim is to enhance Peter Mac’s ability to achieve better health outcomes for people with cancer.
You can donate to our Foundation at https://foundation.petermac.org/