Ian Olver

Ian Olver graduated MB,BS from the University of Melbourne in 1976 being subsequently awarded an MD in 1991 for a project on clinical trial methodology. He completed a PhD from Monash University in bioethics in 1997 (supervised by Peter Singer), exploring life and death issues and a Certificate of Ministry (Lay Preaching) at the Adelaide College of Divinity. He is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP), its Chapter of Palliative Medicine (FAChPM) and was an Associate Fellow of the Royal Australian College of Medical Administrators (AFRACMA) until 2020. He was awarded a Fellowship of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Science (FAHMS) in 2016. He initially trained in medical oncology at Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute, the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne and the University of Maryland Cancer Centre in Baltimore. He worked for 6 years at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute where he jointly developed the oncology clinic at Bendigo Base Hospital and then moved to Adelaide becoming the Clinical Director, Royal Adelaide Hospital Cancer Centre (where he now holds an emeritus appointment to the medical oncology unit) and was the first Cancer Council SA Professor of Cancer Care at the University of Adelaide. There he established the first oncology clinic in Alice Springs and developed a telemedicine link for multidisciplinary cancer care between Adelaide and Darwin. He also trained the first medical oncologist for the Christian Medical College Hospital Vellore, India. From May 2006 to December 2014 he was appointed CEO, Cancer Council Australia, Clinical Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Sydney and was an Honorary Associate, Department of Medical Oncology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. In February 2015 to 2019 he took up the position of Director, Sansom Institute Health Research (which evolved to the UniSA Cancer Research institute in 2018) and Professor of Translational Cancer Research and Dean of Research Strategy in the Division of Health Sciences, University of South Australia. From 2020-22 he accepted a part time position of Professorial Research Fellow, School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide and Adjunct Professor, School of Public Health and continues as an Adjunct Professor, in the School of Psychology now in College of Education Behavioural and Social Sciences. He was Co-ordinator of the Masters of Bioethics program at the University of Notre Dame Australia and now is an adjunct Professor in the department of Medicine. In June 2026 he was appointed Moderator elect of the Uniting Church South Australin Synod and becomes Moderator I June 2028.

He has published 405 articles in journals, 35 book chapters and 4 books: Conquering Cancer. Your Guide to Treatment and Research, Is Death Ever Preferable to Life?, Investigating Prayer and the Cancer Prevention Manual 2nd Ed. He has edited the MASCC Textbook of Cancer Supportive Care and Survivorship 1^st and 2^nd editions, and co-edited 3 further books, When Cancer Crosses Disciplines: A Physicians Handbook, and Perspectives in Complementary and Alternative Medicines and the e-Book Clinical Oncology for Medical Students. He has over $11 million in research grants over the past 5 years. After serving on several ethics committees in Victoria and South Australia and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Ethics Committee, and chairing the Cancer Institute NSW Research Ethics Committee for multi-centre cancer trials (2005-20), he served on the Australian Health Ethics Committee of the NHMRC for 9 years and was chair for 6 years until 2018, serving on the NHMRC Council for 6 years until 2018. He consulted for Bellberry Ethics for 4 years until 2023. He previously served on The Australian Drug Evaluation Committee (ADEC), the Cancer Strategies Group of the Australian Government, the Advisory Board of Cancer Australia, the National Cancer Expert Reference Group of the Federal Department of Health, the Preventative Health Committee of NH+MRC, the International Affairs Committee of American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the Board of the Clinical Oncological Society of Australia, and chaired the Medical Oncology Group of Australia (MOGA) and the Board of the National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre. He served on the Cancer Monitoring Advisory Group of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. He is currently a Past President, Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC). He Chaired the Board of the Sax Institute in Sydney for 5 years until 2024 and the AYA Advisory Board to Canteen for 12 yeas until 2024. In 2008 he was awarded the Cancer Achievement Award by the Medical Oncology Group of Australia and in 2014 the Gold Medal of Cancer Council Australia for distinguished service in cancer. In 2019 he was awarded the Tom Reeve Award by the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia “for outstanding contributions to cancer care” In 2020-2021 He was awarded the Distinguished Service Award by MASCC. In 2021 he was awarded the biennial NHMRC Ethics Award for his contribution to Australian bioethics. In 2025 He was awarded a Fellowship of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and a Fellowship of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer as well as receiving Honorary membership of the Medical Oncology Group of Australia.

He received Membership of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2011 “For service to medical oncology as a clinician, researcher, administrator and mentor, and to the community through leadership roles with cancer control organisations.”