Honouring Courage, Compassion, and Change: Lisa Briggs wins the inaugural Les Leckie Award for Lived Experience Leadership

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Lisa Briggs, Chair of the TRACKER Consumer Committee, has been awarded the inaugural Les Leckie Award for Lived Experience Leadership. Drawing on her own lung cancer journey, Lisa has transformed personal experience into purpose, driving compassionate, inclusive, and patient-centred research that is accelerating discovery and reshaping how cancer care is delivered.

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The TRACKER team is proud and elated to celebrate Lisa Briggs, our wonderful Consumer Committee Chair, who has been awarded the inaugural Les Leckie Award for Lived Experience Leadership at the 2025 VCCC Alliance Leading for Impact Awards.

Lisa’s journey is one of remarkable strength and generosity. Diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer in 2014 at the age of 32, she transformed personal adversity into an extraordinary force for change. As a young mother, non-smoker, and health professional, Lisa’s diagnosis highlighted critical gaps in how the healthcare and research systems engaged with people affected by cancer, particularly the lack of genuine consumer involvement. Over the past decade, she has dedicated herself to closing these gaps, championing the voices of patients and families, and driving meaningful, systemic change – one thoughtful action at a time.

Her mission has been simple but powerful: to ensure that every person affected by cancer is heard, respected, and represented in the research and care that shape their lives.

Championing Authentic Partnership

At TRACKER, Australia’s first national longitudinal lung cancer biobank, Lisa has redefined what authentic consumer engagement looks like. She has been instrumental in shaping TRACKER’s design and ethos from the very beginning, advocating for liquid biopsies to reduce patient burden, championing transparent governance and data privacy protections, and leading efforts to build an inclusive & representative Consumer Committee that reflects the diversity of Australians living with lung cancer.

Lisa has also driven innovation in how research is communicated and understood. Under her leadership, TRACKER will launch a multilingual, accessibility-focused animated explainer video, ensuring that everyone, regardless of background, language, or health literacy can understand and connect with the purpose of biobanking and the hope it represents.

“Leadership shouldn’t rest on the shoulders of people affected by the disease, but be carried by those holding the power to create systemic and sustainable change. The time to act is now through genuine partnership, bold investment and collective accountability.” — Lisa Briggs

Leadership for Change

Beyond TRACKER, Lisa’s advocacy has reshaped cancer research nationally and internationally. From addressing policymakers at the 2018 MRFF Public Forum to representing Australian voices through the IASLC STARS patient research advocacy program, she has consistently championed inclusion, compassion, and authenticity in research. Her leadership has inspired policy change, improved access to equitable care, and built frameworks for more meaningful partnerships between patients, clinicians, and scientists.

Dr Tracy Leong, TRACKER Co-Lead and Consultant Respiratory Physician at Austin Health, said:

“Lisa embodies the spirit of collaboration that TRACKER was built on. With her leadership, involving patients and families as genuine partners, and bringing diverse perspectives to the table, our research has become more meaningful, insightful, and impactful.”

Dr Sagun Parakh, TRACKER Co-Lead and Medical Oncologist at Austin Health, added:

“Lisa’s voice doesn’t just speak for patients, it transforms the culture of research itself, inspiring all of us to do better, listen deeper, and lead with purpose.”

Turning Lived Experience into Lasting Impact

Lisa’s impact extends far beyond her titles or roles. Through her leadership, she has created a safe, empowering space for others with lived experience to share their stories, shape research, and see their insights reflected in real-world change. She reminds everyone who works alongside her that “progress is only as powerful as the people it reaches,” a message that has become a guiding light for the TRACKER team and beyond.

The TRACKER team said:

“We are honoured to work with Lisa, to learn from her wisdom, to be inspired by her courage, and to share in her vision for research that reflects the people it serves. Her leadership has not only shaped TRACKER but helped reimagine how research across Australia can be more compassionate, inclusive, and impactful. This recognition is so deeply deserved, and we couldn’t be prouder.”

The Les Leckie Award for Lived Experience Leadership honours individuals who have used their lived experiences to drive innovative change, amplify underrepresented voices, and promote meaningful engagement across research, education, and care. Lisa’s recognition stands as a testament to her integrity, vision, and unwavering belief that the best research begins by working in true partnership with the people it is designed to benefit.

Reflecting on her impact, Dr Stephen Wong, TRACKER Scientific Committee Chair and Head of the Cancer Genomics Translational Research Centre at PeterMac, concluded:

“Lisa’s advocacy and leadership have redefined what patient partnership can achieve. Her courage, compassion, and vision for patient-centred research inspire everyone at TRACKER, driving us to ensure our work truly puts patients at the heart of everything we do.”

Lisa’s story is one of resilience, leadership, and love — for her family, for the community she represents, and for the future she’s helping to build.