Tamara Dawson is the Founder and CEO of the Melanoma & Skin Cancer Advocacy Network (MSCAN).

MSCAN works with government and the medical, research, consumer, and business communities to spearhead the battle against Australia’s national cancer – skin cancer. 

Tamara established MSCAN in 2020 following her own diagnosis (and successful treatment) of metastatic melanoma in 2015. As a patient, Tamara saw a big gap in support, funding, advocacy, and access to healthcare for skin cancer patients and decided to draw on her extensive experience in government policy, economics, and international and corporate affairs to ensure Australia gets serious about skin cancer.

MSCAN takes an innovative approach in listening to, representing and informing the skin cancer community from early detection through to coping with a serious diagnosis, champions equitable access to healthcare, and works hard to encourage more funding for research, clinical trials and a committed advocacy approach.