By Christina Savopoulos
Eleni Millios-Hullick is a passionate Greek Australian from Townsville, Queensland, and the current CEO of The Cure Starts Now Australia, a foundation dedicated to funding child brain cancer research.
Born in Australia to Greek parents from Kastellorizo, Eleni sat down with The Greek Herald to share her dedication to making a meaningful impact in the world.
After owning several small businesses, Eleni decided to take a step back and reflect on where she wanted her career to lead her next. She was determined for her next position to have ‘value and give back’.
“I’m one of those people that I have to love what I do, there’s got to be purpose, there’s got to be meaning,” she said.
When The Cure Starts Now Australia approached her in 2020 to become their next CEO, Eleni saw an opportunity to find meaning in her work and positively impact the medical community.
The Cure Starts Now Australia was founded by a Townsville father who lost his daughter to brain cancer. Their holistic approach involves working closely with researchers and their projects, as well as viewing the outcomes of trials. There is frequent communication between the researchers and the foundation to ensure they stay connected with the projects they are funding.
Eleni’s passion for the role grew when she met researchers and families involved in child brain cancer research. Although her family noted how challenging the role would be and how empathetic Eleni is, she was determined.
“I can do this,” she recalled thinking. “I look at it from a business perspective… we raise money and awareness for research into childhood brain cancer… when you meet the researchers and then of course, the families and children who sadly pass way too early, you’re driven by something… because in 30 years the statistics have not changed.”
On average, approximately 1,600 cases of brain cancer are diagnosed each year in Australia, and brain cancer receives less than 5% of federal government cancer research funding (The Cure Starts Now).
Eleni believes that “when we find the cure for child brain cancer, we will be able to find the cure for adult brain cancer.”
To ensure all funded research projects are “only the best,” Eleni explained how each research application is reviewed by a highly skilled medical advisory committee consisting of Australian and international medical experts. If any research duplicates appear in the applications, Eleni connects the researchers to collaborate.
“We make sure that we invest our donor’s money with the most integrity… I work really hard all year round to make sure that no projects… [that] have the green light are left on the table,” she said.
While Eleni’s work directly connects her to researchers and families, she also suggested ways Australians can support the cause. She highlighted how private foundations such as the Cure Starts Now Australia make up the majority of research funding.
“We ask the people of Australia that when they see… an opportunity to help through fundraising, or to support our advocacy, that they take that opportunity up if they’re in a position to,” she said.
She referenced how her own Townsville community raised an incredible $700,000 in 2024, which funded five vital research projects.
“As CEO of The Cure Starts Now Australia, it is a privilege and honour to do the work that I get to do, it really is. I wake up with purpose every day and I’ve been blessed to be able to be put in a position to use my contacts and connections to raise money for treatments and trials and research. It is something that’s super special,” she said.
Funding is what will ultimately enable foundations like The Cure Starts Now Australia to achieve breakthroughs in research and move projects into clinical trials. Under Eleni’s leadership, the foundation has made significant improvements in fundraisers and research grants.
“I feel like I will be part of something special in my… time in this field,” Eleni said.
“When you meet the researchers and of course the families, it drives you to bring more money in for research.”
Despite the heartbreaking losses of so many children to brain cancer, Eleni remains inspired by the light at the end of the tunnel and is committed to playing her role in finding a cure for brain cancer.
