Inspiring women:
 Doreen Akkerman AM – Director, Strategic Health Communications International
“I received one email thanking me for my work, and saying, ‘You were there for my Mary when she needed you and I can never thank you enough’. I found that so moving, and I was so grateful for that acknowledgement.”
Having recently retired from her position as Director of Cancer Information and Support Service, Doreen Akkerman AM takes with her a lifetime of memories.
If you’re an Australian woman, you’ll have a one in three chance of being diagnosed with cancer before the age of 85. If you’re male, it’s one in two.
There is, of course, a flip-side. The death rate has fallen by nearly 15 per cent over the last thirty years. And over 60 per cent of cancer patients will survive more than five years after diagnosis.
These are the kinds of facts all too familiar to Doreen Akkerman, who has devoted most of her working life to cancer support services.
Twenty years ago Doreen was appointed Manager of the Cancer Council Victoria’s Cancer Information Service, following eight years experience developing health information services in the Unites States.
Back then, she was working with only a team of two part-time cancer nurses and a couple full-time enquires officers.
Since 1990, she has nurtured the Information and Support Service (CISS) into becoming one of the world’s leading cancer support services. Indeed, the model she developed is now used by over 51 hospitals and organisations throughout the world.
It’s a claim that has given Doreen a lifetime of experiences – many of them touching on the myriad people with cancer who she has met on the way.
“When you speak to someone who calls in weeping and then can hear the change in their voice when you say that you can link them to someone who has been there, done that, you know it makes a tremendous difference,” Doreen reflects.
Doreen has found many of her heroes in everyday people who have turned their suffering into something useful.
“One of my role models is Irene Hendel, a woman who experienced breast cancer and from that experience and her contact with other women who had few resources, worked to raise funds to provide financial assistance and practical help to women and their families to help them cope.”
For her dedication to cancer support services, Doreen was made a Member of the Order of Australia, General Division in 2007; and was inducted into the Victorian Women’s Roll of Honour in 2010.
Whilst the official recognition was significant, Doreen has always found an enduring warmth from the people she has helped.
“I am delighted to have received formal recognition, but when I retired from my position as Director of CISS, the number of letters and emails I received from people I had worked with and those who I had had the privilege to help was tremendous recognition,” she notes persuasively.
“I received one email thanking me for my work, and saying, ‘You were there for my Mary when she needed you and I can never thank you enough’. I found that so moving, and I was so grateful for that acknowledgement.”
Although retired from her role as Director of CISS, Doreen is still very much involved in cancer support services. She was the inaugural president of the International Cancer Information Service Group, and remains a board member. She is also the Patron of the Think Pink Foundation, which has a strong partnership with Cancer Council Victoria.
Looking back, Doreen remains particularly proud of leading a gold standard team at the Cancer Information and Support Service.
“If every member of your team is excellent, then the kudos reflects on everyone in the team,” she notes.
Doreen firmly believes that women have a responsibility to assist other women in their ambitions.
“Women who have already ‘made it’ should offer professional training, opportunities for advancement and mentorship,” she says. “They should ensure that there are suitable positions provided so that women can gain experience through promotion and can climb the ladder to executive careers.”
“One must also be willing to step aside, when it is appropriate, to give another woman an opportunity for advancement.”
And she believes that being a woman in a business world has been a challenge.
“I have been married for 46 years, and have raised three children, so successfully combining a good career with a good family life has been challenging.”
Looking forward, Doreen has new challenges on the horizon.
“I have established my own company and am building a new career as a motivational speaker and workshop facilitator.
“At present I’m setting up networks and getting the word out that I am available to speak at AGMs, education days, conferences, etc. for both commercial companies and non-profit organisations. So it is a very exciting time for me.”
Doreen Akkerman AM will be speaking at the Victorian Health Services Leadership Conference in Melbourne on 25th October. For more information, including registration details, click here.
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