Dr Sonya Collier is a Principal Clinical Psychologist in St James’s Hospital, Dublin where she has worked for 24 years. She is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor in Trinity College Dublin. She is a graduate of the School of Psychology, Trinity College Dublin, where she undertook both her undergraduate degree and her clinical doctorate training. She completed post graduate therapy training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy at Oxford University. Together with Dr Anne-Marie O’Dwyer, Consultant Psychiatrist, she established the first multi-disciplinary Psycho-Oncology Service in Ireland in 2002. She is co-author of the award winning “Understanding and Managing Persistent Cancer-Related Fatigue, A self-help programme using cognitive behavioural strategies”. Her clinical and research interests are in the development of cognitive behavioural interventions for alleviating distress caused by cancer, and / or its treatment.

Helen Greally is National Clinical Lead in Psycho-Oncology at the National Cancer Control Programme, where her role has focused on the development of an integrated patient pathway for cancer patients and their families, through the completion of Models of Care for Psycho-Oncology for both adults, children, adolescents and young adults as well as the completion of Best Practice Guidance for community cancer support between 2020 and 2022. For many years, patients have identified a significant gap in that when they finish active medical treatment, they face an uncertainty about continued support. The Models of Care offer a clear pathway so that this will no longer be an obstacle to integrated care. Investment in the Psycho-Oncology programme since 2020 has created 44 new posts in cancer centres across Ireland.

Helen is also Director of Psychology and psychosocial supports at Cancer Care West where her role has been primarily to advance and consolidate the delivery of Psycho-Oncology and support services to cancer patients and their families in the west of Ireland in line with best international practice. As the director of the service, she manages a team of cancer support specialists, including oncology nurses, clinical and counselling psychologists, exercise physiologists, complementary therapists, as well as a team of volunteers. The service supports approximately 1,200 people per year.

Dr. Fahmi is a consultant psychiatrist who specializes in psycho-oncology at Cork University Hospital. He received his degree from University College Cork in 2009 and completed his psychiatry training with the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland in 2018. Dr. Fahmi’s special interest includes psycho-oncology, liaison psychiatry, and rehabilitation psychiatry. Dr. Fahmi’s research interests include mental health comorbidities in cancer patients, steroid-related mental health disorders, and digital health transformation in healthcare.

Jennifer Kilkus is a Principal Clinical Psychologist, Psycho-Oncology, at University Hospital Waterford. She is a board-certified clinical health psychologist with a passion for working in oncology. Her career has been focused on improving the quality of life for people navigating cancer through evidence-based psychotherapy, the development and enhancement of psychosocial programming in cancer centres, and training the next generation of psychologists to work in cancer care. She holds a voluntary faculty appointment as an Assistant Clinical Professor within the Department of Psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut, and recently relocated to Ireland to assist in the development of a Psycho-Oncology Multidisciplinary Team at University Hospital Waterford.

Dr. Amanda Kracen (she/her) is an Associate Professor in Psychology at the National College of Ireland in Dublin. She is the current President of the Irish Psychosocial Oncology Network (IPSON) and serves on the HSE’s National Psycho-Oncology Advisory Group.

Amanda earned her undergraduate degree at Brown University and her doctoral degree in Counselling Psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University in the U.S. She has worked as a clinician and researcher in psycho-oncology and palliative care since 2003. Amanda has worked with cancer survivors, their loved ones, and healthcare providers at Washington University, Virginia Commonwealth University, St Louis Veterans Medical Center, and in private practice. Her research examines how people maintain wellbeing despite challenging circumstances and systems, considering issues through an intersectional lens, and has focused on oncology professionals, cancer survivors, and trans and gender expansive students.

Ms. Edel Lawlor is the founder and director of Expressive Play. This is a hugely successful Child, Adolescent, and Training & Therapy Centre in Ireland.

Edel has been collaborating with Recovery Haven for 10 years as a child and adolescent psychotherapist specializing in Play therapy and cancer support for families. Ms Lawlor holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Applied Social Studies in Social Care, Master of Arts in Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy, Diploma in Play Therapy. Edel is also a clinical supervisor and lecturer in the field of play therapy and trauma.

Ms Lawlor’s work has been recognised globally and nationally and has won many awards for her work. Edel is very passionate about working with children and families who have been impacted by cancer.