Mother, businesswoman and soon-to-be Pilates instructor Jen Benfield has lived with Stage IV melanoma since 2013. With her Greek heritage and olive skin, Jen never imagined she would be affected by melanoma until the discovery of a small mole on her back turned her world upside down.

Since her diagnosis whilst living overseas with her young family and far from her support networks, Jen has become a vocal advocate for the work of Melanoma Institute Australia (MIA); actively promoting their annual awareness campaign, ‘Game on Mole’ and national fundraising event, ‘Melanoma March’.

She has also appeared extensively in media interviews representing MIA, highlighting their sun-safety, prevention and ‘know the skin you’re in’ messages as well as sharing her family’s lived experience in discussion groups in the healthcare, corporate and community sectors.

With her natural warmth and ability to convey the complex into simple and clear messages coupled with her unique insights of life with cancer, Jen’s presentation is relatable, informative and engaging.

“Melanoma is a diagnosis no-one wants to hear, yet it’s still one of Australia’s most common cancers. I hope that by sharing my story, I can contribute to changing our sun-worship culture, and encourage people to pay a little extra attention to the skin they’re in – I’ve seen first-hand how the smallest change in a mole can have the biggest impact on your life.”