Author Resume

Author, presenter, leadership coach and television presenter Phil Kerslake is an award-winning 6-time cancer survivor living in New Zealand. Phil is known internationally as a champion for patients managing the emotional impacts of cancer to enhance their quality of life and to optimise their treatment efficacy.

As a teenager in 1979 Phil was diagnosed with an incurable lymphoma, and told he had up to 10 years to live. In the decades since, through enquiry and experience he developed in-depth know-how on coping emotionally, psychologically and physically with the significant challenges of cancer and its treatments present.

While keeping abreast of the international literature on coping with cancer and monitoring the empirical research in immunology and psychoneuroimmunology as they evolved over the decades, he exchanged with some of the world's leading cancer support, research and medical professionals , some of whom contributed to or are cited in Phil's critically acclaimed, best selling book Life, Happiness  & Cancer.

Phil has addressed many thousands of cancer patients and cancer support and medical professionals on the art and practice of coping with cancer for best outcomes. A sought-after keynote speaker at conferences and many other forums, his presentations are always highly rated and acknowledged as informative, good-humoured and inspiring.

Phil has worked with some of New Zealand's District Health Boards on their cancer services strategic reviews (these feed directly into the country's Cancer Control Strategy). He has also helped cancer support organisations enhance their patient support services and is a Member of Cancer Voices NZ , a Charitable Trust which advocates for patients' needs across the cancer services sector.

Phil is also a member of the American Cancer Society's Cancer Survivors' Network; and many articles written by and about him appear on the Society's website for the benefit of the Network's members.

Life, Happiness .... & Cancer is Phil's first book; however he is an experienced writer, with scores of published feature articles to his credit. He is a former property and business columnist for an Asian-New Zealand newspaper and has written for many of New Zealand's leading business and management publications.

Phil's articles on psychosocial support in the cancer treatment context have been published in United States and United Kingdom, as well as in New Zealand and Australia. He pens a regular psychosocial support column for the Leukaemia and Blood Foundation of New Zealand, and is a frequent contributor to the Cancer Society of New Zealand's patient newsletters. He has represented and advocated for both these organisations in all media.

In June 2007, from hundreds of nominees worldwide, Phil won one of three international Re-Building Lives Awards in Vienna, Austria, for his inspiring story of survival and for his work in cancer support.

Phil lives with his wife, Gillian, and their son Rhys (born 1 July 2007) in Wellington, New Zealand. He always welcomes contact by e-mail at phil@lifepaths.co.nz.