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\ud83c\udf84 A Message from Your Trustees <\/strong>– Season\u2019s Greetings to all CLL patients, your caregivers, and wh\u0101nau.<\/strong><\/span> <\/p>\n \ud83c\udf1f Trustee Updates<\/strong><\/span> \ud83d\udde3 Opinion Pieces<\/strong><\/span> \ud83d\udc8a Pharmac News<\/strong><\/span>
\nCLL Advocates NZ is becoming more active as we look ahead to a General Election less than a year away.
\n1. New Trustees:<\/strong>
\nWe welcome Bronny Colquhoun, Craig Marshall, and Sue Osborne \u2013 all New Zealanders living with CLL who bring valuable skills to our mission.
\n2. Patient Support Officer:<\/strong>
\nWe are pleased to appoint Ingrid Ovenstone, whose husband was recently diagnosed with CLL.
\nLearn more about our team on the CLL Advocates About Us page<\/a><\/span><\/strong>
\n3. We continue to benefit from the expertise of Amy Holmes, Consultant Haematologist at St George\u2019s Cancer Care Centre in Christchurch, as our Medical Director.
\n4. We are also privileged to have Ruth Spearing, a distinguished New Zealand haematologist and global leader in clinical trials, as part of our advisory team.<\/p>\n
\nWith election year approaching, our focus is on advocacy and patient voices.
\n1. Ingrid Ovenstone has written an opinion piece \u2013 read it here<\/a><\/span><\/strong>
\n2. Bronny Colquhoun\u2019s piece is in progress and will be published soon.
\n3. Together with Blood Cancer NZ (formerly Leukaemia & Blood Foundation), we are contributing to a major election-year campaign for better treatment options and outcomes.<\/p>\n
\nRob Crozier has been participating in monthly Consumer Stakeholder meetings with Pharmac executives.
\nKey updates from the 10 December meeting:
\n1. OFI Consultation:<\/strong> Pharmac has decided not to proceed as proposed. They are considering alternative options and will make a formal announcement before Christmas.
\n2. 2026 Budget Bid:<\/strong> Pharmac is one of the few Government entities allowed to bid for extra funds. Most others face freezes or cuts.<\/p>\n