Committee of ambassadors

Together, to achieve so much more

Being an ambassador is a BIG responsibility

We are proud to involve in our mission a group of driven and inspiring people, the committee of ambassadors. Each one of these prominent representatives of BIG against breast cancer has their own motivation and background story, and each member contributes in their own way. They form a bridge between our organisation and their Belgian and international networks. Influential members of the community, they support BIG against breast cancer and its philanthropy team to:

  • Develop and share ideas and strategies to raise awareness about breast cancer
  • Search for new donors and partners. They work every day on growing our network of supporters even BIGger
  • Engage with various communities to establish awareness about BIG’s work
  • Provide valuable advice and expertise

Meet our amazing strategic committee​

Our committee of ambassadors is overseen by a strategic committee – Nathalie Misson de Saint-Gilles, Princess Nathalie de Merode, Julia Carakéhian, Vladimir Cardon de Lichtbuer, Kayali Spiller, Mathy Kandiyoti,  and Melissa Kandiyoti.

Get to know them and read their stories:

Nathalie Misson de Saint-Gilles

President, Committee of Ambassadors

Ten years ago, the sky was falling down on my head: breast cancer. I was going to leave my loved ones forever. Thanks to Martine Piccart, and one of BIG’s studies named HERA, today I can say that I “survived”. Armed with this experience, I am convinced that bringing experts together to work on international trials – just the way BIG does – is the key to finding cures for breast cancer.

Nathalie de Merode

Honorary President, Committee of Ambassadors

As time goes by, as an ambassador, you become increasingly aware of the exceptional impact of BIG’s work on the world around us. The progress made in recent years has been extraordinary, bringing so much hope in the face of what remains one of the most devastating cancers. I am very proud and happy to be able to make a modest contribution to BIG.

Julia Carakehian

Julia Carakehian

Research is the key to beating this terrible disease that is breast cancer, overcoming the devastating effects that chemotherapy has on millions of women and giving them hope. BIG is vital to breast cancer research around the world. I am honoured to contribute in any small way I can as part of the Committee of Ambassadors.

Vladimir Cardon de Lichtbuer

Vladimir Cardon de Lichtbuer

I am honoured to serve the international BIG group, which is a unique research organisation focussing only on finding better treatments to cure and prevent breast cancer. The results of BIG studies are at the disposal of all breast cancer patients around the
world. BIG has already achieved many successful results in terms of treatments. The drug Herceptin® being one of them. Today, the number of breast cancer patients is increasing, and many of them are affected by the metastatic form of the disease. Therefore, substantial and urgent additional research is needed in particular in the metastatic setting.”

Kayali Spiller

Kayali Spiller

Being a part of BIG is a way for me to honour family members and friends who have fought their own battles with cancer. Breast cancer, but also uterine cancer, testicular cancer, skin cancer and lymphoma, all have a loved one’s name forever attached. I strongly believe that the international research that BIG facilitates brings necessary improvements in both treatments and outcomes. Each success story provides further inspiration and motivation to support BIG!

Corinne Hubinont

Corinne Hubinont

I am very happy to be part of BIG’s Committee of Ambassadors because… Breast cancer is a frequent severe disease affecting one in eight women. I personally suffered from breast cancer and I benefited largely from medical research. Global network of research groups from all over the world working only on breast cancer research and using a large number of patients is a guarantee  of rapidly finding new diagnostic tools and therapies for breast cancer.

Mathy Kandiyoti

Mathy Kandiyoti

It is with conviction that I adhere to this organisation. It’s hard not
to be concerned by this evil that affects so many women. This kind of
initiative really gives hope to recover, and the assurance of not feeling
lonely in front of adversity. It is so important to feel supported and
understood. In fact, this is a real part of the therapy. I consider BIG as
truly essential.

Melissa Kandiyoti

Melissa Kandiyoti

Never say it will never happen…
How many people have said and thought that breast cancer would not touch them or women around them; a family member, a friend? It is for that reason that I have decided to join the BIG against breast cancer committee. Dr Martine Piccart has already proven how successful the research she has led has been. I strongly believe that BIG’s current and future researches will help and cure more and more women.

Extended committee of ambassadors:

Amélie d’Arschot Schoonhoven, Florine Asch, Véronique Barbier, Juliette Berguet, John-Alexander Bogaerts, Patrice Bourg, Sylvia Chiche, Anne-Françoise Decrop, Anne-Marie Gillion Crowet, Laure Hilbert, Myriam de Fauconval,  Patsy Israël, Michael Lewis-Anderson, Eleonora de Ligne, Matilde de Medici, Sandrine de Montmort, Roseline d’Oreye, Jessica Parser, Léontine Prat Y Coll, Delphine Remy, Patrick Renson, Bernadette Reynders, Edith Roland, Brigitte de Roquemaurel, Joelle Thils, Frédéric Van der Schueren, Michèle van Dessel, Catherine Vaxelaire, Marc de Villenfagne​​