The Head of Dentistry and Professor of Oral & Maxillofacial Sciences in the College of Medicine & Dentistry, James Cook University, Profess at or Peter Thomson gained fellowships in dental surgery and surgery (specialising in head & neck oncology) before completing MSc and PhD degrees in epithelial biology and cancer research. Following roles in both the UK and Australia, and the obtaining of further qualifications in oral oncology research, and interventional management of oral potentially malignant disorders, Professor Thomson moved to The University of Hong Kong in October 2017 to become Associate Dean at the Faculty of Dentistry and Director of the Prince Philip Dental Hospital. Author of more than 300 research papers and two oral cancer textbooks, Professor Thomson is an internationally recognised authority in oncology, with a particular emphasis on oral carcinogenesis, epithelial cell biology, early diagnosis and interventional management of potentially malignant disease and the prevention of cancer.