Monica Kleijn Evason

I am a life-long learner with a curious mind and an energy for life. I value the power of diverse perspectives and collective wisdom, and I am a passionate believer in the power of human connection, especially when it comes to healthcare and patient advocacy. As “health becomes the new wealth”, human connection is more important than ever. My mission is to bring "WE" back into our lives, encouraging a sense of shared humanity over individualism and helping people connect and communicate with authenticity and empathy. I am a communication skills coach & trainer, event moderator, patient advocate and published author with a focus on relationships and quality of life. Through my work with various charities, I've helped create peer mentoring programmes, led workshops on storytelling, and developed global communication skills programmes focused on empathy and impact for patients, pharma and medical professionals. I am married to Phil who I met on a blind date 31 years ago and together we have three wonderful children, now independent young adults. They are my greatest teachers! When I’m not working, I dance, hike, read, play padel and spend as much time as I can with family and friends. Because is there anything more important in life?

When my husband and then my eldest son survived brain-related illnesses fourteen years ago, their patient experiences were radically different, and that contrast launched me into the world of patient advocacy. After my son's brain tumour treatment at 17, his doctor pulled me aside and asked why so few young survivors were taking up the free therapy she had fought so hard to make available. Inspired by that doctor's question, I began mentoring and advocating for young survivors navigating adulthood with life-altering diagnoses, who too often face gaps in support—particularly around survivorship and quality of life after the "all clear." There's a pressing need for greater education, awareness, and spaces where these survivors can share resources, tactics, and stories. Most of all, young survivors need a voice and so I co-authored Tumor Me with 17 young brain tumour survivors, aiming to spark courageous conversations about the challenges of life after treatment. And if you're curious about the doctor's question on why survivors turned down free therapy, please get in touch. There’s so much we can be doing together!

Advocacy for paediatric brain tumour survivors navigating adulthood | Communication skills certified coach and trainer | Medical event moderator and chairwoman