Master of Ceremonies

Cue - *play Zumba music*

We have your favourite MC back by popular demand at the 2025 Oceanic Palliative Care Conference, put your hands together for none other than Jo Doran!

Dr Jo Doran brings with her over 30 years’ of experience in palliative care. She currently works for the Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service as a senior consultant and is also an Honorary Adjunct Assistant Professor at Bond University Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine.

Originally from the UK, she trained in London and completed her post graduate training in Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney. From 1999-2012 she was the Area Medical Director for Palliative Care in Northern NSW.

She has been a strong advocate and champion for palliative care by being involved in policy development and implementation on local, state and national levels. She co-authored one of the first National Standards for Palliative Care, and Palliative Care Service Development Models. Both documents continue to underpin palliative care service delivery in Australia today.

As well as her leadership role, she is passionate about education in end-of-life care and is highly regarded as a guest speaker and lecturer. She is well known for her entertaining, original and informative talks, and always aims to challenge and inspire others with compassion, playfulness, insight and generosity.

In recognition of her contribution to palliative care she was awarded the Palliative Care NSW Leadership Award by her peers, was nominated for NSW Woman of the Year by the Health Service CEO and more recently was nominated as Mentor of the Year in her current role.

Her greatest love has always been the bedside care of patients and teaching, which is now the main focus of her work.

As a performer and scriptwriter for stage, television, radio, magazines and newspapers, Jean Kittson came to national attention on 'The Big Gig', followed by Let the Blood Run Free, Kittson Fahey, Good News Week, the Glasshouse, Flat Chat, The Einstein Factor, Media Dimensions and Strictly Speaking. 

Jean is an experienced MC, keynote speaker, panellist, debater and facilitator of conventions, conferences, award nights and other after dinner frolics, in corporate, government and community arena. 

She was a founding Director of the National Cord Blood Bank, the inaugural Chair of the Australian Gynaecological Cancer Foundation (AGCF) and a founding Ambassador for Ovarian Cancer Australia. 

Jean Kittson is currently an Ambassador for The Macular Disease Foundation, Northcott Disability Services, The Raise Foundation, Taldumande Youth Services and the Australian Gynaecological Cancer Foundation.

She is the Patron of Junction Works and most recently she has been appointed the Patron of Palliative Care Nurses Australia.

Jean has been a carer for her mum and dad, Elaine and Roy, for the last 10 years, and has also written a best-seller about the experience ‘We Need to Talk About Mum & Dad – a practical guide to parenting ageing parents.’

Jean has been a longtime advocate for palliative care and is the patron of Palliative Care Nurses Australia. Sadly, Elaine (99 years) and Roy (96 years) died earlier this year, without the palliative care Jean expected to be able to access, leaving her and her sister with deep trauma and grief from the experience.