Career
Sarfati was appointed Interim Chief Executive of the Cancer Control Agency on 1 December 2019, becoming the permanent chief on 1 July 2020 for what is now known as Te Aho o Te Kahu, Cancer Control Agency. [4]
In that role, she reported to the Minister and Associate Ministers of Health, [5] and advised Government on cancer-related matters. Since being in this role, Te Aho o Te Kahu has produced a number of key reports including a state of nation in cancer report, [6] regular reports on the impact of Covid on cancer services, [7] a cancer prevention report, [8] and a report defining the gap in cancer medicine availability between Australia and New Zealand. [9] Sarfati was also involved in the establishment of Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy in New Zealand. [10]
She also sat on Health New Zealand's Planned Care Taskforce. [11]
Sarfati completed a PhD in 2014 at the University of Otago. [12] Prior to her appointment, Sarfati was Head of the Department of Public Health and the Director of the Cancer and Chronic Conditions (C3) research group at University of Otago, Wellington. [13] Sarfati has focused on researching disparities in cancer outcomes, this work has identified key patient and health system factors that influence cancer survival. It is used extensively by health policy makers, clinicians and other researchers to develop policies and practices that aim to reduce inequities in cancer outcomes in New Zealand and internationally. [14] [15]
Sarfati is also a member of the International Advisory Committee to Lancet Oncology, [16] IARC's international expert group on social inequalities in cancer, [17] the Board of the International Cancer Benchmarking Project, [18] and she led a Lancet Oncology series on cancer in small island developing states. [19] She is a former member of the National Cancer Programme Leadership Board, the National Screening Advisory Group, the National Ethics Advisory Committee, the Bowel Cancer Taskforce and the National Bowel Cancer Screening Advisory Committee.
In 2019, Sarfati was named NEXT's Woman of the Year for her focus on promoting equitable cancer treatment. [20]
In July 2022, she became acting Director-General of Health, replacing Ashley Bloomfield. [21] In November 2022 she was confirmed as the permanent Director-General for a period of five years. [2] She announced her resignation from the position in February 2025. [22]
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