Philip (he/him)

Hi, my name is Phil, and I am deeply honoured to be the inaugural recipient of the Johan van Vloten Scholarship, generously funded by the Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG and his husband, Johan van Vloten, whose lifelong commitment to justice and equality reflects the kind of impact I hope to make through my work.

I am currently completing a PhD at the Daffodil Centre, a research partnership between the University of Sydney and Cancer Council NSW. My research investigates the potential of genomics-informed risk prediction to improve early detection for common cancers in Australia. Beyond my PhD, I bring experience across clinical trials, evidence synthesis, and both quantitative and qualitative research to projects within the ‘Melanoma and Skin Cancer’ and ‘Genomics and Precision Health’ teams at the Daffodil Centre.

I am also actively involved in teaching at the University of Sydney’s School of Public Health. My work sits at the intersection of cancer epidemiology, prevention and early detection. Equity and inclusion are central to how I approach research. As a queer Asian Australian and the child of immigrant parents, I have witnessed how systemic barriers limit access to care and representation in research.

I aim to challenge traditional research models and help build a future where cancer prevention and early detection efforts are equitable and responsive to lived experience, particularly for communities that have been historically marginalised and underrepresented in research.