The 2025 elections to Council were conducted between October and November 2025.

Members of the RACS Council are elected to represent the Fellowship and all surgical specialties, across all Australian regions and Aotearoa New Zealand.

Congratulations to our newly elected and re-elected Councillors who will take office at the end of the Annual General Meeting in May 2026.

Dr Richard Bradbury, FRACS, General Surgery
Dr Bradbury has recently moved from the Northern Territory (NT) to the Bega Valley in New South Wales, though the NT remains close to his heart. After three years on Council, he is passionate about improving access to high-quality surgical care for rural and remote communities. Richard advocates for equity in surgical training for Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, and Māori peoples and is committed to enhancing CPD programs.

Fun fact: Living on Djiringanj country, he enjoys hiking, camping, running, and surfing with his wife Kate, their three sons, and two spaniels.

Professor Payal Mukherjee, FRACS, Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery
Professor Mukherjee has contributed to RACS and her specialty for more than a decade, most recently as Scientific Convenor of the RACS ASC 2025. She is committed to ensuring surgical services remain viable and fostering innovation in surgery. Payal has championed initiatives from academic career development to developing ANZ consensus guidelines for Cochlear Implant surgery and has served on numerous state and federal committees. 

Fun fact: She loves regular exercise, travel, and dance.

Dr Rosalynd (Ros) Pochin, FRACS, General Surgery
Dr Pochin is a consultant general surgeon based in Aotearoa New Zealand and has served on RACS Council as Chair of the AoNZ National Committee. She is dedicated to strengthening professionalism, collegiality, and culture across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. Ros has contributed extensively to surgical education, including developing 14 modules and co-authoring the Operate with Respect campaign.

Fun fact: A keen amateur potter, she spends weekends at her off-grid tiny home, tramping, and exploring Aotearoa’s stunning tracks.

Associate Professor Mark Davis, FRACS, Neurosurgery
Associate Professor Davis is focussed on strengthening the relationship between Specialty Societies and the College—fostering collaboration while respecting the diversity of surgical specialties. His focus includes maintaining and developing robust education and training standards at a College level, while empowering specialties to deliver world-class programs.

Fun fact: He enjoys golf, swimming, travel and spending time with his grandchildren.

Dr Julia Crawford, FRACS, Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery
Dr Crawford is focused on strengthening the visibility, advocacy, and sustainability of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery within Australia’s surgical landscape. As department head of ENT at St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney, and president of the Australian and New Zealand Head & Neck Cancer Society, she brings extensive leadership experience across clinical, academic, and governance domains.

Fun fact: She enjoys travelling and exploring the outdoors with her dogs and is currently completing an MBA at the University of Sydney.

Professor Mark Ashton, FRACS, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Professor Ashton serves as the Specialty Elected Councillor for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and is committed to strengthening collaboration between RACS and Specialty Societies. As Chair of Professional Standards, he is leading reforms to make CPD more user-friendly and advocates for ethical healthcare, robust training standards, and financial stability within the College.

Fun fact: He runs a farm on the Mornington Peninsula, producing cattle, truffles, and olives.

Dr Hin-Wai Yap, FRACS , Urology
Hin-Wai wants to strengthen the voice for rural surgery within RACS. Based in Toowoomba for 20 years, he has led the development of Urology services in regional Queensland and supported SET Trainees and registrars navigating rural training challenges. As a former SIMG and long-standing Urology examiner, Hin-Wai brings valuable insight into workforce planning and SIMG integration.

Fun fact: He enjoys reading ancient history and travelling with his family.