In 1993 when Lyn was told she had cancer over the phone by a medical receptionist in an offhand manner, she decided straight away that women with breast cancer deserved better. After undergoing surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and hormone therapy she felt there needed to be much better management of patients and a way for women to gain information and support. She became passionate about improving the treatment and sensitive support for women to learn about the disease and its treatments, to understand their options and to connect with other women and families with similar experiences.
In 1998 Lyn founded Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) and became its founding CEO. BCNA is now the peak national breast cancer ‘consumer’ organisation representing 130 Member Groups and more than 130,000 individuals across all states and territories. The mission of BCNA is to inform, empower, represent and link together Australians personally affected by breast cancer.
Lyn is also the creator of the Field of Women concept. This major public awareness and fundraising event began in 1998 with the planting of 10,000 pink silhouettes (representing the number of Australians diagnosed with breast cancer that year) and 2500 white silhouettes (representing the number who would die) on the lawns in front of Parliament House, Canberra. The event evolved in later years, with major events in Melbourne and Sydney involving many thousands of people standing together in pink ponchos in the shape of the Pink Lady silhouette. The Field of Women LIVE event at the MCG in 2010 was awarded the Meetings and Events Australia's Public Event of the Year. The concept has now been taken up by various groups around the world and has become an annual event in some countries. It acts as a powerful symbol of support for people affected by breast cancer.
Lyn retired as BCNA’s CEO at the end of 2011. Since that time, she has undertaken various non-executive director roles in the not-for-profit and corporate sectors. She was appointed Chair of the Royal Women’s Hospital Board in June 2015, a position she currently holds.
Her contribution to the community has been acknowledged widely including as Telstra Businesswoman of the Year in the Community and Government category in 2001, the Victorian Women’s Honour Role in 2003, a Finalist in Australian of the Year 2006, and one of BRW’s Top 10 Australian Women of Influence in 2017. She was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Social Sciences in 2015 by Swinburne University. In the 2019 Australia Day Honours List Lyn was awarded an AO for her distinguished service to women's health through advocacy roles, to public health governance and to the community of Melbourne. Lyn is currently the President of the Royal Melbourne Golf Club; the first female president in the club's 126 year history.