The 2025 New Year is here and seems to have just happened so immediately since my last communication in 2024. This update will be brief as understandably progress has not been rapid over the holiday break. As staff have returned to work, and we all refocus, the sleeves are rolled up and we are proceeding in earnest.  

Council have convened out of session and approved the establishment of an interim Board and nominations committee to recruit directors and constitute the formal RACS Board. While transition provisions in the new Constitution can be in place for up to 12 months, it is our intention to have the governance processes completed by the AGM in May 2025, presenting the new Board and inducting new Councillors and office holders.

As this communication reaches you, membership of the Joint Working Party of Council and the Board has been confirmed and the first meeting held in late January. This Governance Working Party will oversee the development of regulations to give effect to the implementation of the new Constitution. It will have a limited scope and tenure and once the Working Party has delivered its purpose, it will be dissolved.

A transitional RACS Board has been established to meet our regulatory requirements. This transitional Board will be in place until 30 June, by which time we will have formalised the appointment and recruitment of RACS Board Directors.   

Likewise, moving on from the interim nomination arrangements, once the recruitment process is enacted, a formal nominations committee will be able to evaluate against the developed skills matrix and approve Board member applicants for Council consideration.  

During this period of transition and progress, RACS has remained focused on delivering stability and continuity for our Trainees and Fellows. While we are always striving for improvement, our commitment to Fellowship engagement and advocating for the profession remains at the forefront. The recent governance reforms have strengthened our strategic direction, ensuring greater accountability and alignment with member priorities. Importantly, despite the broader inflationary environment, RACS has successfully maintained training fees and membership subscriptions at their current levels for 2025, reinforcing our dedication to financial sustainability and member value.

We continue to seek efficiencies and enhance our services in a way that is both sustainable and beneficial to our members, the health system, and patients. Looking ahead, I am excited about the opportunities and milestones that lie ahead in 2025. As we approach our centenary in 2027, I have no doubt there will be much to celebrate as we continue to evolve and strengthen RACS for the future.

RACS unequivocally condemns racism, discrimination, and intolerance in all its forms. The recent appalling exchange between two New South Wales health professionals is deeply distressing and has no place in healthcare or society. As an organisation committed to excellence in surgical care, we uphold the values of respect, diversity, equity, and inclusion, which are embedded in our Fellowship Code of Conduct and Building Respect program. We encourage all members to support one another—particularly Trainees, junior doctors, and colleagues—fostering a culture of unity, compassion, and professionalism.


 
Warm regards,
Professor Owen Ung
Vice President
Chair Governance Committee
Chair International Engagement