Meet Nor Aina! She’s been with The Max Foundation for 15 years, working as an HR and Admin Officer for our Asia and Eastern Europe region. Learn more about why she started with the organization, what she enjoys about her job, and a special memory she had with a patient.
When did you start with The Max Foundation, and why were you interested in working here?
I started with The Max Foundation in August 2010, shortly after graduating from college. At that time, I was looking for a place where I could build a meaningful career and not just a job. When I learned about Max and the work it does for patients and communities, I felt an immediate connection. The organization’s mission to provide dignity and support to people facing cancer deeply resonated with me. I knew this was where I wanted to begin my journey. Over the years, I’ve grown alongside Max, moving through different stages of my career while staying anchored to the same mission that first inspired me. I feel grateful to still be here today, contributing to something bigger than myself.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
What I enjoy most is how my role has continuously evolved, allowing me to grow both personally and professionally. I started as an Administrative Assistant, and today I serve as the HR & Admin Officer. While much of my work takes place behind the scenes, I’ve learned that strong administrative support is the backbone of any organization. When we do our jobs well, everything else from program delivery to patient support flows more smoothly. That sense of being the quiet support system, enabling colleagues to focus fully on serving patients, is something I take pride in. Knowing that even my smallest contributions ripple outward to support the larger mission keeps me motivated every day. It reminds me that every role, whether seen or unseen, plays a part in achieving our collective impact.
What is a special memory you have with a patient?
One memory that has stayed with me is from the early days of the Max Schooling Project in Malaysia, when we supported only four students. I became close with one family, a single mother raising four children while going through chemotherapy. She often called me during her treatment to talk and share stories about her kids, and those conversations built a bond that went beyond my role at work. Even after she passed away, I kept in touch with her children and encouraged them whenever I could. Seeing them grow has been deeply meaningful and reminds me that our work is about more than immediate support, it is about planting seeds of hope that last.
The Max Foundation is a leading global health nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating health equity. For 28 years, Max has pioneered practical, scalable, high-quality solutions to bring life-extending treatments and patient-centered health care to more than 100,000 people living with cancer and critical illness in low- and middle-income countries. Max believes in a world where all people can access high-impact medicines, where geography is not destiny, and where everyone can strive for health with dignity and with hope.
The anniversary of someone’s death is always difficult. Just as we recently remembered Max’s passing, we also hold the others who have passed too soon. Below, Beena shares a remembrance of our dear Jaya, who was a committed team member and played that role of a patient advocate amazingly well until she so sadly lost her battle….
Understanding and recognizing the inequities in cancer care around the globe underpins the 2022-24 World Cancer Day theme to Close the Care Gap. The needs are urgent, and the opportunity exists to make progress toward equitable cancer care for all. We must listen to the perspectives of people living with cancer and let those lived….
Every day can feel like World Cancer Day when you are living with Cancer. A diagnosis changes our lives and our family’s lives from the moment we hear the news. We want you to know that you are not alone in facing your diagnosis. In fact, we created a playlist of inspiring songs from around the world to keep you going so you can listen anytime and feel the support of your community.
