Leadership with Purpose
The Directors of Living with Cancer provide strategic leadership, governance oversight, and long term direction for the organisation. Each Director brings extensive experience from corporate, entrepreneurial, and community focused environments, ensuring that our work is anchored in strong strategy, ethical practice, and meaningful impact. Their collective insight guides the development of the patient led cancer registry, strengthens our advocacy efforts, and supports the delivery of programmes designed to make cancer visible across South Africa. They are committed to building a sustainable, trusted organisation that places patients and their lived experiences at the centre of everything we do.
Dr Belinda Wagner
Founder & Director
Dr Belinda Wagner is the founder and director of Living with Cancer South Africa, a patient led organisation focused on visibility, advocacy and systemic change in cancer care. Her own experience with a rare and undocumented cancer highlighted critical gaps in data, support and patient voice, prompting the creation of South Africa’s first patient led cancer registry. Dr Wagner provides strategic leadership across governance, partnerships and programme development, ensuring patient experiences inform research, policy and public awareness. She is committed to building credible platforms that empower patients, strengthen collaboration across the health ecosystem and ensure that every cancer story contributes to meaningful change.
Brigitte Ryder
Director
Brigitte Ryder is the Executive for Consumer Banking Channel at Nedbank Limited and oversees the Retail Branch Network across Gauteng. Her career includes senior roles in credit, specialised finance, and retail and commercial banking, giving her a strong foundation in operational leadership and customer centred strategy. She holds a B Comm degree and a Postgraduate Diploma in Management Practice from Henley Business School. Brigitte has a long standing commitment to community impact and leadership development. As a Director of Living With Cancer, she brings strategic guidance, governance insight, and a personal dedication to supporting patients and families.
Barend van den Berg
Director
Barend is an accomplished researcher, strategist, and educator whose career spans science, pharmaceutical marketing, and large scale consumer insight projects. His work includes major pharmaceutical campaigns, the co founding of the South African Society of Medical Oncology, and the creation of the Sunday Times Generation Next Youth Survey, which remains a benchmark in South African youth insights. He has led research initiatives across the FMCG and financial sectors and advises agencies and non profit organisations on empirical research, behavioural analysis, and social impact strategies. As an Director to Living With Cancer, Barend supports evidence led advocacy and meaningful patient centred innovation.
Insight that Strengthens Our Mission
The Advisors to Living with Cancer offer specialised expertise, lived experience, and professional insight that strengthen our mission and extend our reach. They support the organisation with guidance on research, innovation, patient advocacy, resilience, and community engagement. Their diverse backgrounds enrich the development of our programmes and ensure that the voices and needs of patients remain central. The Advisory Group plays an essential role in shaping our approach, validating our work, and helping us navigate the complex realities faced by cancer patients and their families across South Africa.
Anesan Appalsamy
Advisor
Anesan is an experienced brand management and business development professional and serves as an advisor to Living with Cancer South Africa. With a foundation in pharmacy and marketing, Anesan brings strong commercial insight, analytical rigour and strategic thinking to the organisation. Their expertise spans brand and product management, marketing analysis, financial acumen and stakeholder engagement across diverse professional and cultural contexts. Anesan is skilled in translating complex data into clear strategic decisions, supported by experience in tools such as PowerBI, QlikView and SAP. As a registered member of the South African Pharmacy Council, Anesan contributes disciplined governance, structured problem solving and a results driven approach to advancing the organisation’s mission.
Jason Goodall
Advisor
Jason Goodall is a global executive, founder, and investor with deep experience in building and scaling high performing organisations. He has held senior leadership and non executive director roles across international markets, where he is known for strategic clarity, operational discipline, and guiding organisations through complex transformation. His work spans technology, innovation, investment, and governance, positioning him as a trusted partner to growth focused companies. As a advisor of Living With Cancer, Jason brings a future focused perspective and commitment to strengthening organisational capacity, visibility, and long term impact for patients across South Africa.
Linda Greef
Advisor
Linda is a highly experienced oncology social worker with over 30 years of practice in South Africa and serves as an advisor to Living with Cancer South Africa. She is a co-developer of the I Can Cope psycho educational programme and has facilitated numerous cancer support groups nationally. Linda has presented internationally across Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, China and the United States on psychosocial oncology. She is a co-founder of the South African Oncology Social Work Forum and Cancer Buddies, and served for 13 years on the executive committee of the Cancer Alliance, advocating for equitable cancer care. She has also co-authored several peer reviewed research publications.
Dr Mazvita Sengayi-Muchengeti
Advisor
Dr Mazvita Muchengeti is the Centre Head of the National Cancer Registry, leading cancer surveillance and research in South Africa. She directs the IARC Global Initiative for Cancer Registry Development Centre of Expertise in Johannesburg, advancing cancer data quality across Africa. Her work spans cancer epidemiology, policy development, capacity building and large scale studies, including the national HIV Cancer Match Study. Dr Muchengeti is committed to developing future experts through her training and mentoring of postgraduate students and SAFETP fellows. She is also a senior lecturer at the Wits School of Public Health and a research associate at SACEMA.
Olivia Wagner
Advisor
Olivia is a graphic designer who serves as the Brand Manager and Creative Lead for Living With Cancer. She shapes the organisation’s visual identity and ensures every message is communicated with intention and care.
Olivia manages all creative avenues, leads social media content and engagement, and produces campaign materials that strengthen public awareness. She also oversees the website, ensuring it remains accessible, informative and aligned with the organisation’s mission. With a blend of design skill and creative strategic thinking, Olivia helps bring patient stories to life and supports the organisation’s work to make cancer visible across South Africa.
Oscar Chalupsky
Advisor
Oscar Chalupsky is a world renowned ocean paddler and twelve time Molokai Challenge champion whose career is defined by resilience, mental strength, and high performance. As a coach, author, and international speaker, he supports athletes and professionals in developing discipline and overcoming pressure. Oscar is also a cancer warrior who openly shares his personal journey to inspire others facing adversity. His experience has shaped his dedication to patient advocacy and support. As an Advisor to Living with Cancer, Oscar contributes valuable insight on mindset, courage, and the lived realities of those navigating serious illness.
Nick Cawood
Advisor
Igor Monga
Advisor
Igor helps organizations unlock the power of digital transformation. He specializes in building enterprise software solutions that streamline operations and fuel business growth. Combining technical mastery with strategic communication, Petrove crafts solutions that resonate with stakeholders and deliver real results. His forward‑thinking approach ensures every project is not just functional, but transformative.
The Heart of Our Community
Volunteers are at the heart of Living with Cancer and play a vital role in bringing our mission to life. They support our programmes, events, campaigns, and community engagements with dedication, compassion, and a strong commitment to service. Their contributions allow us to extend our reach, provide support to patients and families, and strengthen awareness around the lived experience of cancer in South Africa. Every volunteer helps make cancer visible by giving their time, skills, and care, and their involvement is essential to creating a community that stands with patients throughout their journey.
Adri Fassen
Volunteer
Anitha Ramdas
Volunteer
Charlene Olivier
Volunteer
Colette Routley
Volunteer
Di WIlson
Volunteer
Gillian Bridger
Volunteer
Juli Yates
Volunteer
Madison Wagner
Volunteer
Nicki Sacker Schmidt
Volunteer
Olivia Wagner
Volunteer
Ronell Moodley
Volunteer
Richard Keymer
Volunteer
We would like to encourage you to join our real-time patient-led cancer registry, share patient insights, read other testimonials, listen to our podcasts and connect with fellow cancer warriors and carers.