Executive Office

Dr Vino Pillay has a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and more than 15 years of postdoctoral experience as a cancer researcher, with a focus on the development of novel therapeutic strategies to achieve better clinical outcomes for patients with brain and colorectal cancers. She held appointments as a Senior Research Fellow at the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, the Hudson Institute for Medical Research and St Vincent’s Institute for Medical Research, among other cancer research positions. Her skills also encompass strategic program management at a leadership level, where Dr Pillay worked as a Program Manager for the innovative Distributed Leadership Program (for Cancer Research and Translation) at the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC) Alliance with a focus on research and educational initiatives, followed by a senior leadership role as Program Manager of the Victorian Integrated Cancer Services (VICS) Optimal Care Summits. She is experienced in academic, healthcare and commercial settings and has led multi-site and multidisciplinary projects and research collaborations (at both national and international levels). She has a very strong passion for enabling the rapid translation of research into clinical practice by developing and implementing innovative system changing programs to improve the lives of patients with cancer.

Oscar Laclaustra is the Research Development Lead at COGNO, bringing over a decade of experience in medical affairs and strategic consultancy within the pharmaceutical industry. With a background in biology and advanced training in drug development and market access, Oscar has held pivotal roles at Sanofi, SunPharma, and Omakase Consulting. His work has focused on bridging scientific innovation with clinical application, driving impactful research initiatives, and fostering collaboration across stakeholders. Passionate about advancing healthcare through evidence-based strategies, Oscar is committed to enhancing COGNO’s research capabilities and delivering meaningful outcomes for patients and professionals alike.

Chris is a public health project specialist with a background in business management and communications, holding a Master of Public Health and Health Administration. He has worked in cancer operations at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Global Health, and at the University of Melbourne where he led large-scale linked data infrastructure projects for cancer care analysis. Most recently, he was Program Lead at Doherty Clinical Trials, overseeing the organisation’s establishment from the ground up.

Emma Bernar is the Administrative Officer at COGNO, where she plays a key role in supporting the organisation’s operations and ensuring the smooth delivery of projects and activities. With over a decade of experience in administration, project coordination, and executive support, Emma brings a proactive, detail-oriented approach to her work and is known for her resourcefulness, discretion, and collaborative spirit. She has a strong track record of providing high-level support to senior leadership and multidisciplinary teams and is passionate about streamlining systems to improve efficiency and outcomes.

Jodie received her Bachelor of Health Science with a major in Neuroscience from Swinburne University of Technology in 2024. Having held administrative roles since 2021, Jodie has provided broad communications, secretarial, and research assistance support to several teams including the Cooperative Group for Neuro-Oncology Trials (COGNO), Health Services Research at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, and was an Office Manager in an infrastructure advisory firm. With a passion for community- and patient-facing roles, Jodie is continuing to build her career in healthcare and academia, whilst completing a Certificate 3/4 in Fitness and Personal Training to ensure an avenue of work that helps clients meet their health and wellbeing goals.