As my term as president draws to a close, I reflect with gratitude on the opportunity to serve the College over many years—most recently as president, and previously as vice president, Queensland State Chair, and a member of Council. It has been a privilege to contribute to an organisation that plays such a vital role in setting standards, supporting our profession, and improving outcomes for patients.

I thank you, our Fellows and Trainees, for the trust you have placed in me to lead the College during a period of significant change.

Financial stability and member value
During my three years as vice president and then president, we have worked hard to strengthen the College’s foundations. A key priority has been restoring financial discipline and ensuring long-term sustainability. As I prepare to hand over the presidency,  with our centenary year fast approaching, I am delighted to report that this work has been a success. The College has delivered an operating surplus in 2025 for the third consecutive year. This reflects a deliberate and consistent approach to financial management and is enabling us to deliver tangible benefits back to you, our members. 

We have also made meaningful progress in modernising surgical education. I have met with all 13 specialty societies to progress a co-designed model that strengthens specialty leadership, reduces costs for Trainees, and delivers a more contemporary training experience. Engagement has been constructive, and this work will continue to be a key focus.

Organisational resilience
In my role as president and chair of the Board, an important focus has been on strengthening the College’s governance to ensure it remains fit for purpose.

Over the past two years, we have progressed constitutional reform and established a skills-based Board to work alongside Council, strengthening financial capability, accountability and decision-making at the highest level of the organisation. The appointment of Fellow directors, including Dr Brian Owler, and the addition of Dr Cathy Ferguson as an incoming director, has brought valuable expertise to the Board. Recruitment for an additional independent director will also commence shortly as we continue to evolve a sustainable governance model.

These reforms build on the recommendations of the Stitz Report (2011) and the Joyce Review (2024), which have now been implemented. Collectively, these changes provide a stronger and more enduring foundation for the College.

Importantly, this has been achieved while maintaining what matters most: a College that remains Fellow-led and owned by the profession. This is central to our role as the standard setter for surgery across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.

As we approach our centenary in 2027, we are conscious of our responsibility as stewards of this nearly 100-year-old institution. The reforms we have undertaken position the College well for the future and support our ability to uphold the reputation of FRACS as a symbol of excellence and innovation, recognised both locally and internationally.

One College, one voice
At the same time, the College remains active in advocating for the profession. We continue to engage with government and stakeholders on workforce planning, system capacity, and access to care. Current modelling indicates that while Australia does not face an overall shortage of surgeons in the near term, there are clear challenges in distribution and system capacity. And we know we have similar issues in Aotearoa New Zealand. Addressing these challenges is essential to ensuring patients receive timely care and that surgeons are able to work to their full capacity.

We have also contributed to discussions on private health transparency reforms in Australia. While we support measures that strengthen system integrity, we have been clear that approaches to cost transparency must reflect clinical complexity and protect the integrity of care. This includes advocating against the publication of individual surgeon outcomes unless they are clinically validated, risk-adjusted, and appropriately governed.

This year has also seen important discussions about the future structure of surgical training and accreditation. Following the Australian Orthopaedic Association ballot—where a majority of voting members, representing 35 per cent of Australian orthopaedic Fellows and Trainees, supported separation—our orthopaedic colleagues in Aotearoa New Zealand are now considering a similar question.

We believe our co-designed model addresses the core issue driving this debate: that specialties should lead their training, education, and assessment. At the same time, we remain clear that Trainees, Fellows and patients are best served by a unified College rather than separate structures.

A unified College provides shared standards, coordinated advocacy, and international recognition that would be difficult to replicate in smaller standalone bodies. A separate college would require duplicating accreditation, examinations, and regulatory relationships, adding cost and complexity. Structural change of this scale is not easily reversed.

While we respect that different views exist, our focus remains on maintaining consistent standards, supporting our members, and ensuring stability for patients and health systems. Our collective strength as a unified profession is worth protecting.

Stronger together
Throughout my presidency, I have consistently emphasised the importance of unity. We are strongest when we speak with one voice. That unity underpins our credibility, our influence, and our ability to deliver for patients, Trainees, and Fellows.

It is now time to hand over to new leadership. I am pleased to welcome Dr Phil Morreau as president and Dr Christine Lai as vice president. Both bring deep experience, a strong commitment to professional standards, and a clear focus on the future of surgical education and care. I leave the College in excellent hands.

RACS remains committed to all nine surgical specialties and to the principle that we are stronger together. I wish Phil and Christine every success as they continue to lead the College with integrity, collegiality, and purpose.

Thank you again for the opportunity to serve.

Warm regards,
Professor Owen Ung
President