what's in a name?

The Snowdome Foundation has a single purpose – to fund blood cancer research, accelerating next-generation treatments to help Australians with blood cancer to live longer, better lives. We are dedicated to making hope real.

So why is the Foundation named after snowdomes?

In 2007 Chloe Rutherford was diagnosed with leukaemia. Chloe seemingly beat the disease only to relapse and pass away from complications from pneumonia in 2009.

The Foundation’s unusual name emerged from a case of mistaken identity rather than a flash of inspiration, but it’s entirely fitting.

On one of the first of her over 250 visits to the Royal Children’s Hospital, Chloe thought she saw a gift shop, with snowdomes from all over the world adorning its glass walls.

In fact, it was the nurses’ station where she was having surgery, but to Chloe it was beautiful and magical, and like all things beautiful, she just had to have a snowdome of her own. Of course, she got what she wished. And as she bravely battled her cancer, more and more snowdomes appeared; gifts from family, from friends both old and new and from the nurses who cared for her.

Soon, her collection grew to over 50 and every one of them has a story. Mostly bought from overseas, one was even blessed by a Chinese monk, in China, of course. One came from Paris where Chloe’s best friend was at the time. It sat alongside her and her mother in the Church of Notre Dame as they lit a candle and said a prayer.

So, the Snowdome Foundation name was born. Snowdomes are symbol of hope and wonder as much as Chloe is a beacon of love, strength for all those who continue to live with the most random of cancers.

what is blood cancer?

Blood cancers are common genetic diseases, but not in the sense that they’re conditions you inherit from your parents. Rather, they are caused by the genes; genes that suddenly decide to switch off or send confused messages to the cells that they control.

Blood cancers – leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma – combined, are the second most common cancer diagnosed and the second highest cause of death from cancer in Australia*. Many adult and some childhood blood cancers are still considered incurable and regrettably, Australia is leading the world in the growth of new diagnoses.

Unfortunately, blood cancers don’t discriminate. Men, women and children are all affected equally. And unlike other cancers, routine screening and public health awareness campaigns won’t reduce anyone’s risk of developing a blood cancer.

With blood cancer diagnosis only going up, there is an even more urgent need to seek a greater understanding of blood cancers and find new treatments and cures.

*https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/cancer/cancer-data-in-australia/contents/cancer-summary-data-visualisation.

what we do.

Snowdome collaborates with world-leading Australian and International blood cancer researchers to accelerate new therapies and bring next-generation treatments to Australian blood cancer patients faster. We are the only not-for-profit organisation exclusively focused on raising funds to support translational research into blood cancers: myeloma, lymphoma and leukaemia, research that takes basic scientific findings to create new treatments.

our mission

Snowdome’s mission is to accelerate next-generation treatments for Australian blood cancer patients to help them live longer, better lives. Put simply, we’re making the hope that patients can beat their blood cancer a reality.

our vision

Our vision is to give every Australian blood cancer patient the best opportunity for a cure.

our values

Passion beyond belief
Persistent in pursuit of cures
Excellence in everything we do
Partnership for the greater good

our achievements.

Since Snowdome was formed in 2010, we have proudly connected donors to Australia’s brightest research minds and the provision of world-leading blood cancer research and clinical trials.

Together we have committed more than $52 million to ground-breaking blood cancer research, helping more than 405 Australians gain access to new, cutting-edge diagnostic tools and therapies, including the latest pillars of cancer care – immunotherapy and targeted therapy.

Over the years, we have supported a rich diversity of innovative research projects in the quest to discover new and better diagnostic tools and treatments. Most importantly it has helped Australians living with blood cancer access next-generation treatments to help them live longer, better lives.

506 Australians diagnosed with blood cancer have gained access to clinical trials.
$ 52 m+
Over $52 million has been committed to advance world-leading research.
89 Research positions funded to advance new blood cancer diagnostic tools and treatments.
5000 +
Over 5,000 genomic tests have been completed at the Wilson Centre for Blood Cancer Genomics, to improve diagnosis and prognosis as well as identification of personalised treatments.
65 World-class blood cancer research projects funded.

our people.

directors

Many skills. Many walks of life. One thing in common. Every Snowdome board member present and past has a direct or indirect link to blood cancer. They know all too well the journey of a blood cancer patient and how they can make a difference.
  • John Salvaris
    John Salvaris
    Chairman Snowdome Foundation,
    Partner KPMG
  • Dr Richard Boyd
    Dr Richard Boyd
    Chief Scientific Officer,
    Cartherics Pty. Ltd
  • Helen Buckingham OAM
    Helen Buckingham OAM
    Retired MP,
    Blood cancer patient advocate
  • Helen Gandel
    Helen Gandel
    Philanthropist
  • Amanda Jones
    Amanda Jones
    IP Professional
  • Dr Andrew Pascoe
    Dr Andrew Pascoe
    Executive Chairman,
    Asia Pacific eHealth Group
  • Professor H Miles Prince AM
    Professor H Miles Prince AM
    Blood cancer specialist and researcher,
    Co-founder, Snowdome Foundation
  • Michael Robertson
    Michael Robertson
    Senior Lawyer, Corporate Advisory ,
    ANZ
  • Grant Rutherford
    Grant Rutherford
    Creative & Brand Consultant,
    Co-Founder, Snowdome Foundation, Co-Founder East of Everything
  • Rob Tandy
    Rob Tandy
    Co-founder, Snowdome Foundation
  • Ian Thompson
    Ian Thompson
    Risk Professional

our people.

executive

  • Kirstee Macbeth
    Kirstee Macbeth
    Chief Executive Officer
  • Cathy Rhodes
    Cathy Rhodes
    Head of Operations and Finance
  • Sally Cane
    Sally Cane
    Head of Philanthropy and Fundraising
  • Fiona Douglas
    Fiona Douglas
    Head of Marketing and Communications
  • Margaret Dandis
    Margaret Dandis
    ALA Administration Manager
  • Tanya Jorgensen
    Tanya Jorgensen
    Grants Co-ordinator
  • Suse Doepken
    Suse Doepken
    Administration and Event Coordinator
  • Chloe Lanyon
    Chloe Lanyon
    Administration Assistant

our partners.

Snowdome wouldn’t
exist without the
unwavering in-kind
or financial support
of some of Australia’s
leading
organisations

careers

At the Snowdome Foundation, we are driven by our ambition to give every Australian blood cancer patient the best opportunity for a cure.

This vision is a huge undertaking requiring a culture where all our people can thrive, feel supported to do their best work and feel empowered to let their ideas flourish.

Snowdome can offer you the chance to work with professionals who are best-in-class in a range of fields, development opportunities to grow your skills and the ability to see the impact of your work in making a real difference to people’s lives.

Just some of the many benefits of joining the Snowdome team.
  • A pivotal role in a mission-led private foundation.
  • An opportunity to be part of transformational projects in blood cancer research and clinical trials.
  • Flexible working environment with salary packaging.
  • Working in South Yarra, Melbourne.

APPLICATIONS INVITED: Marketing and Communications

Fancy a challenge? Now is a really rewarding time to join Snowdome as we look to build our digital capacity and embark on a transformational communications journey. We are looking for an exceptional Marketing and Comms person to join our team to help us deliver this, along with managing all things Marketing & Comms. Like dating, we think we have an idea of what this person looks like, but sometimes, you don’t know what you’re looking for until they are right in front of you. Could you be our perfect match?

We’d love to hear from you. Send your resume to hr@snowdome.org.au and outline how you think you can help us deliver the duties outlined in the position description along with what you are ideally looking for. We are open to full-time or part-time.

Position Description