A Dinner for Change – A Huge Success!
On Thursday 19 March 2026, the Daniela Dwyer Foundation held it’s A Dinner for Change at Canberra’s iconic Boat House restaurant.
The MC was Mark Riley, Seven News Political Editor, who was exceptional in guiding the evening which was to raise awareness of the need to challenge and change current treatments options for cancer patients. It is something DDF Directors Taylor Bow, Luisa and Kevin Dwyer have been championing since the passing of partner and daughter, Daniela, from aggressive glioblastoma brain cancer in 2022. Daniela passed away just eleven months after being diagnosed, and although undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatment, as do most brain cancer patients, the family learned that the standard treatment regime hasn’t changed for over three decades.
Special guest speakers Professor Sudha Rao from Brisbane’s QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, and Dr Thiru Prasanna, Staff Specialist in the Medical Oncology Department at The Canberra Hospital each delivered an address on Professor Rao’s non-invasive liquid biopsy digital pathology platform and the positive change it can make to a cancer patient’s treatment. Dinner guests were thoroughly engaged and came away with an understanding of the significance of the testing platform, and the importance of continuing the push to get the test out to cancer patients as soon as possible.
Special guests included leading Canberra oncologists and clinicians, Professor Desmond Yip, Professor Jane Dahlstron, Professor Frances Shannon, Dr Monica Tencic, and Dr John Friend, CEO, Kazia Therapeutics. Amongst other guests, DDF also welcomed ambassadors from Uruguay, Costa Rica, Peru, Panama, Guatemala, Croatia, Thailand, Romania, Greece and Zimbabwe.
Guests were treated to a very special display of tango dancing by Tengo Tango principals Serkan and Christian, who expertly showed how they have mastered the very intricate and intimate movements of the beautiful dance.
The live auction was conducted by James Scott, from Someday Property, a new and bright star amongst Canberra’s auctioneers, who entertained with humour, as he skillfully drew out contesting bids from guests. Of all the terrific auction items, the outstanding one had to be a morning tea at Government House including an address by H.E. Ms Sam Mostyn AO, Governor General of Australia. A special video message from the Governor General was played congratulating DDF on its work, before James auctioned the morning tea, which will be hosted by DDF Directors. The lucky winner and their accompanying eleven guests will be in for a treat. There was a vast array of silent auction items including a stunning pink tourmaline, cut by world renowned Mark Gronlund, and two very lucky raffle prize winners went home with a south sea pearl drop necklace, and a Tag Heuer Formula 1 men’s watch.
“The Foundation brings such extraordinary energy and determination to confronting brain cancer’s tragically high mortality rate. You are all making a practical and purposeful contribution to changing outcomes for people diagnosed with brain, and other cancers.” – H.E. Ms Sam Mostyn AO, Governor General of Australia
It was a remarkable night with exceptional guests and sponsors who so willingly support DDF’s cause. It doesn’t stop there however. To be able to ensure Professor Rao’s testing platform progresses to accreditation, more funds will be required so that this test can become part of standard cancer care and be made available to patients as soon as they are diagnosed. Please consider making a donation, whether it is a one off or on a regular basis, every donation gets us closer to our goal. Help us make the change that’s needed.
DD would sincerely like to thank H.E. Ms Sam Mostyn, Governor General of Australia for her kind message of support and allowing DDF to host a morning tea in Government House.
We also thank the following sponsors for their very generous support and donations, and especially their encouragement to continue to work towards our goal:
Also, to the many extraordinary individuals who continue to support us and believe in our mission, we thank you.
We look forward to hosting A Dinner for Change next year and seeing you all there.