Fellows, Trainees, present and past, are invited to return to Dunedin in February 2027 to celebrate a significant milestone in the history of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS): 100 years since the College's foundation.

The RACS Founders Centenary will be held from Thursday 11 to Saturday 13 February 2027 in Dunedin, Aotearoa New Zealand, where the College was established in 1927.

The three days will see a combination of professional development, academic discussion and celebration, with a focus on the evolution of surgery, the challenges facing the profession, and opportunities for the future.

Bringing together members from across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, the celebrations will feature the Aotearoa New Zealand Annual Scientific Meeting, MIHI cultural competency workshop and the 2027 Louis Barnett Prize. A centenary dinner will be held at Larnach Castle, featuring a traditional ceilidh with the Dunedin Ceilidh Orchestra.

The centenary will also provide an opportunity to connect with colleagues and reflect on a century of surgical excellence across Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia.

Convenor Dr Ros Pochin said the event would offer a unique opportunity to celebrate the College's history while looking ahead to the next century of surgery.

"This centenary is an opportunity to come together in the city where RACS began, reflect on how far surgery has evolved over the past 100 years, and consider the opportunities and challenges ahead. We are looking forward to welcoming Fellows, Trainees and their families to Dunedin for what promises to be a memorable and rewarding event."

Registrations will open soon. 

Submit an expression of interest to stay informed and be first in line when registrations open.