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Behind the scenes in the IBTA

People are sometimes curious as to how the IBTA manages to operate an almost 24-hour operation and to achieve so much with limited resources.

In effect there are two locations for the IBTA, apart from its registered office, which is c/o of a solicitor’s office in London. They are in Canberra, Australia, and the other in the UK.


IBTA Chair Denis Strangman at work in Canberra, Australia.

IBTA Secretary Kathy Oliver at work in Surrey, United Kingdom.

Emails and documents are exchanged daily between the two volunteer officials who work on an unpaid basis. Because of the different time zones matters that are still outstanding at the end of the day in one time zone will often be followed through by the person whose day is only commencing in the other time zone.
 
As well, use has been made of software programs that enable databases and spreadsheets to be uploaded to a server and accessed from different locations around the globe at any time.

Denis and Kathy are also assisted by importer Chris Tse from New Zealand, who looks after the webpage listing for scientific and patient conferences, and by Sally Payne from Sydney, who is a lecturer in programming and maintains the IBTA database. Both Chris and Sally also give advice on policy matters.

Wellington-based IBTA advisor Chris Tse in his Taipei office

Sally Payne

Tara Gent from Melbourne looks after other IBTA databases, particularly the record of the distances covered in the Walk Around the World events. Retired accountant Fraser Legge from Surrey (UK) helps to keep the IBTA accounts in an appropriate format so as to fulfill our obligations as a Company registered in the UK.

Tara Gent

Verbal communication takes place using the very economical and efficient SKYPE system of Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP).

All of those mentioned above, including the two co-directors, are unpaid volunteers.

Specialist services are contracted in or supplied free of charge when required. Instant Colour Press in Australia and other printing companies in the UK (such as Wyndeham Grange) do most of the IBTA's printing, CBTRUS, based in Chicago, undertook commissioned statistical research for the IBTA during 2007. A London solicitor has provided pro bono legal advice. Foreign language translations have been undertaken by friends of the IBTA in Germany, Italy, Spain, Hungary, Lithuania, France and Australia, with major projects undertaken by professional translators from the SBS In Language in Sydney.
 
Advice about other matters is sought occasionally from the members of a private email group consisting mostly of the founders of the IBTA who were present at the 2005 meeting held in Edinburgh and who are committed to the IBTA.

Because of its presence at scientific conferences the IBTA has built up strong personal links with many of the worlds leading clinicians and researchers in the brain tumour area. A number of these people have been very generous with their time in giving advice to the IBTA about technical medical matters.  In addition, Denis and Kathy regularly present at scientific and patient conferences in various countries.

Between them Denis and Kathy during the past five years have met personally with key leaders of the national brain tumour patient and caregiver organisations in the USA, UK, Europe and Oceania and often discuss projects and developments with these people.

Because of their involvement in other brain tumour, cancer, and palliative care organisations in their respective countries both Denis and Kathy are also able to seek advice from a wide range of people with similar interests. The IBTA is truly an international organisation both in spirit and practice.