Stepping into the role of Vice President is a genuine privilege and a new chapter after three years as Chair of the Court of Examiners. In that role, I’m proud to have been part of some significant changes to the way the Fellowship Examination (FEX) is structured and delivered to make it more streamlined, fairer and more transparent, while maintaining its educational integrity. I’ve just returned from my final FEX, handing over the reins to Adjunct Professor Deborah Bailey, our first-ever woman Chair of the Court. 

While change is always bittersweet, I feel good about the future of the FEX—it’s in robust health and excellent hands. Now, I’m excited to serve the College in a new way and it feels like we’re in a period of real opportunity. The governance reforms we introduced last year, with your support, have laid solid foundations from which to build a modern College for a contemporary membership. 

My focus is on just that, ensuring we’re delivering strong value to you. I often hear the question: “What do I get for my membership?” It’s a fair question—and the answer is, a lot. The College plays a vital role in advocacy, education and training, professional standards, and research. But we must do better at communicating that value clearly and consistently. That’s a key priority for me. 

With dual citizenship and strong ties to both Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, I’ve always believed in bringing people together. My work with the College and my time as President of the Australian Society of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery (ASOHNS) has shown me the power of partnership. I’m a big believer in TEAM—Together Everyone Achieves More. 

That mindset will guide my approach as we strengthen the College’s relationship with our key stakeholders and partners, especially the specialty societies and associations. These organisations have grown, evolved, and earned their place as equal partners with RACS. It’s important we recognise this shifting dynamic while still understanding the important and unique role of the College in the surgical profession. As a collaborative network of equals I believe we can achieve better outcomes for surgeons and their patients. A big focus, for me, over the next 12 months is making sure Society voices are heard and included at every step. 

We’ve already seen what’s possible when we work together. The recent improvements to the FEX were only possible because we worked in close collaboration with the Specialty Courts. We listened. We adapted. We moved away from a one-size-fits-all approach and increased representation across specialties, regions and nations. We also welcomed the CSET Chair to the Court to help bridge training and assessment—another example of our commitment to meaningful, inclusive reform. 

That spirit of collaboration was front and centre at this year’s Younger Fellows Forum in Sydney. The passion, insight and leadership I saw there was inspiring—and as an indication of the calibre of the younger surgeons joining our profession, the future of surgery is in excellent hands. I’m looking forward to connecting with many more of you over the coming year, attending meetings, listening, and working together on the issues that matter most. 

And if you ever want to get in touch, I welcome that. Please feel free to contact me directly at [email protected]. 

Together, we’ve got important work to do.

Warm regards, 
Professor Ray Sacks