Associate Professor Lachlan McDowell is a Radiation Oncologist specialising in head and neck and skin cancers. He trained in Queensland and Victoria and completed a fellowship at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto, Canada, focusing on the long-term effects of head and neck cancer treatment. He currently works at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane.

Lachlan is Chair of the Trans Tasman Radiation Oncology Group Head and Neck and Skin Cancer Working Party and represents the group on the Head and Neck Cancer International Group Board. He is also Chair of the Metro South Health Cancer Survivorship Sub-Group and holds academic appointments with the University of Queensland and Flinders University.

Lachlan is actively involved in clinical research, with a particular focus on survivorship, quality of life and the functional consequences of head and neck cancer treatment. His research has examined swallowing, sexual health, fear of cancer recurrence and patients’ priorities following treatment. He has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and regularly contributes to national and international conferences, clinical trials and treatment guidelines.

Lachlan is passionate about ensuring that people affected by head and neck cancer receive high-quality information and support throughout treatment and survivorship. He is particularly committed to strengthening connections between patients, carers, clinicians and researchers. He is delighted to join the HANCA Board and looks forward to supporting the organisation’s clinical programs, advocacy and continued growth.