Cassy has held the role of secretary since the foundation launched in 2019 and took on the role of interim chairperson for a short time after the passing of Julie Fishlock, the foundations founder. 

“I’m currently the secretary of The IBC Network Foundation Australia and I ensure everything is filed appropriately even though this is a personal weakness of mine! But…this only drives me more to make sure everything is in order. 

I am passionate about our foundation because in 2017 I was diagnosed with stage 3C IBC and had never felt so alone.  My hope is that the foundation will ensure that all Australians have access to relevant information and support when going through diagnosis, treatment and survivorship” 

Dr. Eckhardt is postdoctoral scientist with 20 years’ experience in translational breast cancer research.

His studies aim to investigate the reasons why certain breast cancers are more aggressive than others, why they spread (metastasize) to other organs and to identify new markers and targeted therapies for this disease. He has a specific interest in inflammatory breast cancer and has trained for the past 6 years with International leaders at The Morgan Welch Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Program and Clinic at MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, TX, USA).

Dr. Eckhardt has recently returned to Australia to continue his research into IBC at The Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute.

Kim has been the Fundraising Trustee of The IBC Network Foundation Australia since it was launched in 2019. The position holds significant important to Kim as she took on the role after being approached by her best friend of 40 years, the late Julie Fishlock, founder of the charity. 

After Julie lost her battle with IBC, it was her strength and determination for raising funds for research that inspired Kim to “work vigorously to advance the fundraising of the charity and to act in its best interest” and as Julie would say, “so families can be together for longer”.