She is committed to reducing the burden of breast cancer for women and their families by advancing and implementing knowledge in breast cancer risk assessment, prevention and treatment. Professor Phillips founded the Peter MacCallum Breast and Ovarian Cancer Risk Management Clinic and is recognised internationally as an expert in breast cancer genetics and precision prevention. She has received awards for excellence in cancer prevention, women’s health and clinical trials research.

Professor Phillips is committed to ensuring high quality research findings are translated into policy and clinical practice. Her research and advocacy have been instrumental in improving equity of access in Australia to drugs for breast cancer treatment, cancer prevention and prevention of chemotherapy-induced menopause.