Researcher profile

Ian Olver

Ian Olver graduated MB,BS, University of Melbourne in 1976 and was awarded an MD in 1991 for a project on clinical trial methodology. He completed a bioethics PhD from Monash University in 1997, 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 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 PMCI jointly developing an oncology clinic at Bendigo Base Hospital. He then became Clinical Director, Royal Adelaide Hospital Cancer Centre (now holds an emeritus appointment in medical oncology) and was the first Cancer Council SA Professor of Cancer Care at the University of Adelaide. He established the first oncology clinic in Alice Springs and developed a telemedicine link for multidisciplinary cancer care between Adelaide and Darwin. He trained the first oncologist for the Christian Medical College Hospital Vellore, India. From May 2006 to December 2014 he was 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 became Director, Sansom Institute Health Research (which became the UniSA Cancer Research institute in 2018) Professor of Translational Cancer Research and Dean of Research Strategy in the Division of Health Sciences, University of South Australia. From 2020-22 he was part-time 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 Psychology . He Co-ordinated the Masters of Bioethics program at the University of Notre Dame Australia in 2002- 2003. He has published 405 journal articles, 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 edited 2 editions, MASCC Textbook of Cancer Supportive Care and Survivorship , and co-edited 3 books, When Cancer Crosses Disciplines, 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, he served on the Australian Health Ethics Committee of the NHMRC for 9 years chairing it for 6 years until 2018, and on 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 a Past President, Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC). He Chaired the Board of the Sax Institute 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 received the NHMRC Ethics Award for contributions to Australian bioethics. In 2025 He was awarded Fellowships of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer as well as Honorary membership of the MOGA. He received Membership of the Order of Australia 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.”