About · Biography

Prof. Françoise Meunier

MD, PhD, FRCP (UK) · Founder of the European Initiative on Ending Discrimination against Cancer Survivors (2018) · Former Director-General of the EORTC (1991–2015)

Royal Academy of Medicine of BelgiumVice-President, and next President as of 30 January 2027
European Academy of Cancer SciencesMember of the Science Policy Committee
European Cancer OrganisationMember of the Steering Committee of the Survivorship and Quality of Life Network
Cancer Patients EuropeMember of the Scientific Committee

Videos and interviews are in Resources →  ·  Full biography (PDF)

Talks and media

TEDxMonteCarlo · 2016Cancer survivors should not pay twice

An 11-minute talk on the progress made against cancer over 40 years – and her dream for survivors: survive and thrive.

Watch →Beating Cancer Belgium podcast · Sciensano · 2026The fight to end financial discrimination against cancer survivors

Episode 6, with host Jinane Ghattas: Belgium’s state of play, the remaining challenges and the need for a harmonised European approach.

Listen →LinkedInFollow Prof. Meunier’s updates

News on the Right to be Forgotten, the High-Level Conferences and EU policy developments.

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Watch

Prof. Meunier at the European ParliamentEnding discrimination against cancer survivors
European Cancer Summit · November 2023State of play of Right to be Forgotten legislation in the EU
Cancerforum 2023 (Sweden)Quality of life and reducing inequalities
TEDxMonteCarlo · 2016Cancer survivors should not pay twice
Recent conferences and talks

Speaking engagements, 2023–2026

  • 9 Nov 2026Invited speaker – Advancing Skin Cancer Prevention in Europe
  • 21 Oct 2026Organiser and co-chair (with Prof. Mark Lawler) – High-Level Conference “The Right to Be Forgotten as a Human Right”, associated event of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU, Fondation Universitaire, Brussels See the page →
  • 1 Oct 2026“Ending discrimination against cancer survivors: there is life after cancer” – Women@PACE, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Strasbourg Read more →
  • 30 Sep 2026“The Right to be Forgotten: ending financial discrimination of cancer survivors” – MEPs Against Cancer & Association of European Cancer Leagues, European Parliament, Brussels Read more →
  • Oct 2026Guest – Beating Cancer Belgium podcast, episode 6, Sciensano Read more →
  • 2026Guest speaker – first “Meet the Doctor” session, Cigna Europe & Diplomatic World, Brussels Read more →
  • 25 Jun 2026“Addressing financial discrimination against cancer survivors” – Cancer Patients Europe Annual Meeting 2026, Brussels Read more →
  • 8 Jun 2026Panellist, “Living Well With and Beyond Cancer” – Economist Impact, World Cancer Series Europe, Brussels Read more →
  • 25 Apr 2026Invited speaker – European Multiple Sclerosis Platform (EMSP) Annual Conference 2026, Berlin Read more →
  • 22–24 Apr 2026Invited speaker – Lung Cancer Europe (LuCE) Conference 2026, Vienna Read more →
  • 23–25 Mar 2026Invited speaker – 52nd Annual Meeting of the EBMT, Madrid
  • 4 Nov 2025Host and moderator – closed-door roundtable on harmonised Right to be Forgotten reference grids, online Read more →
  • Sep 2025“Protecting cancer survivors: survival and survivorship in Europe and Africa” – Rotary Fusion 2025 Summit, Brussels Read more →
  • Jun 2025“Financial toxicity and the Right to Be Forgotten” – Cancer Patients Europe Annual Conference, Brussels Read more →
  • 20–22 May 2025Cancer Mission Fair and launch of the first National Cancer Mission Hub, National Research Institute of Oncology, Warsaw Read more →
  • Feb 2025Lecture on financial discrimination and the Right to Be Forgotten – CCI4EU online course, European School of Oncology
  • Oct 2024Launch event, ThinkPink Belgium – Breast Cancer Awareness Month
  • Sep 2024Europa Donna Belgium Symposium – rights and needs around breast cancer
  • 2024Webinar on the Right to Be Forgotten – Cancer Patients Europe, European Week Against Cancer Read more →
  • 15 Feb 2024Organiser – High-Level Conference “Ending Financial Discrimination Against Cancer Survivors”, under the auspices of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU, Brussels See the page →
  • Nov 2023Status of Right to Be Forgotten legislation in the EU – European Cancer Summit 2023, European Cancer Organisation, Brussels Read more →
  • Nov 2016“Cancer survivors should not pay twice” – TEDxMonteCarlo

Awards and distinctions

Selected honours received by Prof. Meunier over five decades in oncology, research and patient advocacy.

2025Paul Harris Fellow – Rotary International (District 2201), for her advocacy for the financial rights of cancer survivors
2025Honourable mention, BestinBrussels Awards – Best EU Public Affairs Campaign, for the Ending Discrimination against Cancer Survivors initiative
2024 & 2025OncoDaily “100 Influential Women in Oncology”
2024Lifetime Contribution to Oncology award – European Cancer Organisation, Dublin
2015Doctor of Medical Science (honoris causa) – Queen’s University Belfast
2013ECCO Lifetime Achievement Award
2013Ben De Pauw Medal – for her dedication to medical mycology
2012ESMO Lifetime Achievement Award, awarded to the EORTC and accepted on its behalf by Prof. Meunier as Director General – read more
2009Pezcoller Foundation Award for contribution to oncology as a scientific leader and mentor
2007Title of Baroness conferred by H.M. King Albert II of Belgium
2006“Femme Leaders” award – Association Belge des Femmes Chefs d’Entreprise
2004–2005Belgian Laureate of the “Prix Femmes d’Europe”
1997Pfizer Belgium Clinical Research Award
1990Fernand Hirsch Prize (AMUB)
1977Fulbright Prize

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