The past year has been one of significant growth and progress for OCFNZ, and our new 2025–2026 Annual Report reflects the work of our team, volunteers, researchers, supporters and, most importantly, women and whānau affected by ovarian cancer.
From investing more than $150,000 in ovarian cancer research to strengthening support services and putting lived experience at the heart of our advocacy, it has been a year of building momentum towards a future where every woman has the chance to live the life she wants, free from ovarian cancer.
Investing in research for a better future
Research has always been at the heart of OCFNZ’s work. Ovarian cancer remains one of the least survivable women’s cancers, and more research is urgently needed to improve treatment and, ultimately, find a cure.
This year, OCFNZ invested more than $150,000 in ovarian cancer research, supporting research across a range of ovarian cancer types and helping strengthen the research community in Aotearoa.
Our fundraising community played an important role in making this increased investment possible. In 2025, we brought Frocktober to Aotearoa for the first time, and held our inaugural Auckland Long Lunch.
Together, these initiatives raised more than $240,000 gross and gave us the confidence to invest more in research than we had originally planned.
Putting lived experience at the centre
One of the most important steps we took this year was formalising our commitment to ensuring the voices of women and whānau affected by ovarian cancer are part of the decisions we make.
In December, we established two Lived Experience Advisory Committees: one made up of women who have faced an ovarian cancer diagnosis, and another made up of partners and parents of women who are facing or have passed away from ovarian cancer.
These committees are helping shape OCFNZ’s strategic direction and day-to-day work, bringing the realities of ovarian cancer directly into the conversations about what needs to change.
That lived experience was also central to our State of Ovarian Cancer in Aotearoa report, launched at Parliament in February 2026.
The report brought together the experiences of women and whānau, insights from GPs and health practitioners, public attitudes and available evidence to identify where change is needed. Eight clear asks emerged from this work, giving OCFNZ a strong evidence base for our ongoing advocacy.
Women with lived experience were not simply contributors to the report. Their experiences helped shape the issues we are advocating on and the changes we are calling for.
Supporting women across Aotearoa
Alongside our research and advocacy work, OCFNZ continued to provide practical and emotional support to women affected by ovarian cancer.
This year, 73 women received support through OCFNZ, including peer support, funded counselling, physiotherapy and rehabilitation. We also introduced Rongoā Māori to our funded counselling programme, expanding the support options available to women.
We also continued to raise awareness of ovarian cancer symptoms, reaching women and healthcare professionals through campaigns, community events and conversations across Aotearoa.
A stronger OCFNZ
This has also been a year of growth for OCFNZ itself.
We welcomed new team members and welcomed Liz Pennington as our General Manager, strengthening our capacity to support women, grow our research investment, raise awareness and advocate for change.
Growing our team has meant increased investment in our organisation, but it has also allowed us to significantly increase what we are able to achieve. New fundraising initiatives, increased research investment, the State of Ovarian Cancer report and our lived experience advisory committees are all part of this growth.
We know there is still a great deal to do.
But this year has shown what is possible when women with lived experience, researchers, whānau, supporters, volunteers and our wider community come together behind a shared goal.
We are proud of what has been achieved this year, and even more determined to build on it.
