RACS was delighted to see a strong turnout from our members at various IWD events on 7-8 March 2025. Attendees had the opportunity to hear from inspiring women from the surgical profession and beyond as they shared their insights on women’s leadership, female representation in the health workforce and more. We share some of the event highlights of International Women’s Day 2025 at RACS.
International Women’s Day 2025 – March Forward
The Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA), Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) and RACS joined forces on Friday 7 March for an online Zoom webinar on the collective theme of ‘March forward – Together’.
Hosted by ANZCA’s Gender Equity Sub-Committee (GESC) Chair, Dr Claire Stewart, the webinar featured a presenter from each college:
• Associate Professor Kerin Fielding – RACS President
• Dr Jacob Koshy – ANZCA, Director of Anaesthesia, Alice Springs Hospital
• Professor Rebecca Grainger – RACP, Academic rheumatologist
A/Prof Kerin Fielding spoke about her experience as the first female orthopaedic surgeon in NSW, taking on leadership roles within RACS and how female patients have better outcomes with female surgeons. While great strides have been made in female representation in the surgical profession, there is still a long way to go, with only 32% of trainees in surgery being women.
Dr Jacob Koshy spoke on the Indian quota/reservation system which has been able to uplift female representation over the past 70 years. One example cited was the Panchayati Raj Constitutional amendment mandating the number of seats women could be elected to councils in villages. He also described how the Northern Territory Public Service has been working to increase Aboriginal employee representation.
Professor Rebecca Grainger spoke on the importance of professional resilience and being ready to ask for help when necessary.
Thank you to all the speakers for sharing their valuable insights on women in leadership, uplifting female representation and being resilient in the face of adversity.
The guest speaker at the RACS Aotearoa New Zealand International Women’s Day Breakfast Zoom brought a very human perspective to what it is to be a surgeon.
Dr Ineke Meredith, an Aotearoa New Zealand-trained general surgeon with mixed-Samoan heritage, had a frank chat with host Dr Jane Strang during a morning session on Friday 7 March. Their discussion covered wide-ranging topics including growing up in Samoa and Dr Meredith’s drive to spread her wings; navigating medical school and single parenthood; the draw of General Surgery; systemic sexism; and why women might just make better surgeons than men.
Open and unguarded, Dr Meredith was perhaps at her most vulnerable when talking about “resilience”; a term she hates.
“Just because you have the capacity to do it all, is it a good thing? That’s not a quality; just coming back every day.”
She says “resilience” ignores things like emotion and sustainability, and described a time when she was continuing on despite not being in a good place emotionally. Find out more about Dr Meredith and the RACS Aotearoa New Zealand International Women’s Day Breakfast Zoom.
Victoria
The Victorian State Committee celebrated International Women’s Day with a High Tea on Saturday 8 March. There was plenty of delicious food, a relaxed atmosphere and most importantly, an inspiring group of attendees.
A special thank you to our exceptional speakers, Dr. Lisa Brown, who captivated us with her talk on surgery in space - surely inspiring many trainees to consider this exciting career path - and Dr. Kate Drummond, whose genuine and motivational approach left a lasting impact on all of us.
We would also like to extend our gratitude to our generous sponsors, Avant and Bongiorno, for their support in making this celebration of women in medicine truly memorable.
Tasmania
The International Women’s Day Breakfast in Tasmania was a resounding success, set against the backdrop of a beautiful morning in Hobart on Friday 7 March. The event featured delicious food, perfect weather and most importantly, an inspiring group of attendees. Notable guests included The Honourable Jacqui Petrusma MP, RACS CEO Stephanie Clota and RACS President Kerin Fielding, who opened the event with a compelling speech encouraging women to be trailblazers across all fields. Thank you to our keynote speakers Caroline Sharpen, CEO of the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and Dr. Amy Gibbens, an orthopaedic surgeon and winner of the Bongiorno’s 2024 Women in Surgery Grant. Thank you also to our sponsors Bongiorno and Avant, for making this celebration of women in medicine truly unforgettable.
Western Australia
The RACS WA Women in Surgery High Tea, held on Saturday 8 March at the Crystal Club Lounge, Crown Towers, was a memorable celebration of International Women’s Day. The event brought together WA Fellows, Trainees, and medical students to honour the achievements of women in surgery. Providing an insightful presentation at the event was our guest speaker, Dr Jacqueline Boaks, who spoke on the crucial topic of Ethics and Leadership, focusing on ethical decision making within organisations. The gathering provided a wonderful opportunity for networking, learning, and celebrating the contributions of women in the field of surgery, against the backdrop of the beautiful city skyline & Swan River. We thank our valued event partner, MDA National.