The RACS Board manages the general business of the College including finance, audit, risk and operations.

The Board is a skills-based governing body comprising the following directors:
• The president and vice president of the College
• Fellows recommended by Council based on skills, experience and abilities aligned to the College’s strategy
• Independent skills-based directors.

Professor Brian Owler AM
Chair and Fellow director

Professor Brian Owler AM is a Sydney-based neurosurgeon and chair of the RACS Board. He provides comprehensive neurosurgical care for both adults and children and is recognised for his research in hydrocephalus, brain tumours and deep brain stimulation surgery. A former president of the Australian Medical Association (AMA) and past president of AMA NSW, he has spent many years advocating for improvements in health policy, patient safety and public health.

His leadership has extended beyond clinical practice, including campaigns to improve road safety, prevent childhood injuries and enhance pool safety standards. Awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for his significant contribution to medicine, Professor Owler brings extensive experience in governance, finance and health system leadership to the Board.

Fun fact: Brian is an avid rugby league fan. He enjoys sailing and fishing and has particular expertise in catching beach worms.

Dr Philip Morreau
Fellow director and president

Dr Philip (Phil) Morreau is an Auckland-based paediatric surgeon and president of RACS. His clinical interests include thoracic, oncological and hepatobiliary surgery in children, along with the management of vascular anomalies. He has served on Council for five years and was Censor in Chief before being elected president in 2026.

Drawing on a career spanning Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom, Dr Morreau brings a deep commitment to patient care, surgical education and professional standards. He values collaboration and the collective strength of Fellows, Trainees, SIMGs and the team, and is passionate about ensuring the College continues to evolve while remaining true to its core responsibilities in training, assessment, advocacy and leadership.

Fun fact: Phil is an active relaxer but when he was a medical student he learnt to spin wool from the fleece into knitting yarn. His wheel is still under the house somewhere.

Dr Christine Lai
Fellow director and vice president

Dr Christine Lai is a general surgeon with subspecialty expertise in breast and endocrine surgery. A longstanding contributor to College governance, she has served on Council for eight years and chaired the Professional Standards and Fellowship Services Committee before being elected vice president in 2026.

Dr Lai believes surgeons should play an active role in shaping the future of their profession. She sees Fellowship as a community built on shared standards, collaboration, leadership and advocacy. Committed to fostering a culture of respect and inclusion, she is focused on ensuring RACS continues to support its members while championing the best outcomes for patients and communities.

Fun fact: When not publishing in peer-reviewed surgical journals, Christine enjoys landscape and nightscape photography, and aurora chasing. She's had an aurora photograph published in The Adelaide Advertiser but is still waiting for it to be cited.

Dr Catherine Ferguson ONZM
Fellow director

Dr Catherine (Cathy) Ferguson ONZM is an otolaryngology head and neck surgeon whose career has been marked by a longstanding commitment to clinical excellence, education and professional leadership. Her contributions to surgery and the community were recognised in 2025 when she was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

Over almost three decades of service to RACS, Dr Ferguson has held numerous leadership and governance roles, including vice president and becoming the first woman to chair the Aotearoa New Zealand National Committee. She recently served as deputy chair of the Court of Examiners and has been a strong advocate for fair assessment processes, surgical education, and professionalism in all aspects of surgical practice.

Fun fact: As well as being an avid wine collector and enthusiastic home chef, Cathy loves to travel and always writes a comprehensive travel blog.

Professor Owen Ung
Fellow director

Professor Owen Ung is a breast and endocrine surgeon at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Mayne Professor of Surgery for the University of Queensland, Director of the Metro North Comprehensive Breast Cancer Institute and program lead for breast reconstruction at the Herston Biofabrication Institute. He also served as president and Board chair of RACS before completing his term in May 2026. Widely respected for his clinical leadership, he has held numerous governance and leadership roles at state, national and international levels.

A prolific researcher, Professor Ung has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and led several clinical trials of international significance. In 2022, he led a world-first human trial of a 3D-printed bioresorbable breast scaffold, pioneering an innovative approach to breast reconstruction that may transform future treatment options for patients.

Fun fact: Owen flipped meat patties at the first McDonalds store in Brisbane at Aspley in 1976.  His leadership trajectory began at the age of 17 when he was promoted to part-time store manager, which helped to support him through medical school.

Ms Souella Cumming ONZM
Independent director

Ms Souella Cumming ONZM is a professional director and governance expert from Aotearoa New Zealand. She had a distinguished 42-year career with KPMG New Zealand, where she specialised in governance, risk management, assurance and organisational performance. Currently, she serves on a range of boards across the health, education and community sectors.

Her governance portfolio includes leadership roles with St John New Zealand, Zonta International, Hohepa Wellington, the Special Olympics New Zealand Foundation and the Victoria University of Wellington Foundation. A Fellow Chartered Accountant, Ms Cumming was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2022 in recognition of her significant contribution to governance in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Fun fact: Souella enjoys Formula One (she was a fan long before Drive to Survive made it so popular) and travel but mostly spending time on the beautiful Kapiti Coast with family and friends.

Mr Shane Solomon
Independent director

Mr Shane Solomon is an experienced health executive, consultant and non-executive director with more than 30 years of leadership experience across Australia, Asia and the United Kingdom. He currently serves on a number of health boards, including Barwon Health and Cabrini Health, and is widely recognised for his expertise in healthcare strategy, governance and digital transformation.

His career has included senior leadership roles in both government and health services, including as founding Managing Director of Telstra Health, Partner-in-Charge of Healthcare at KPMG, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Hospital Authority, and Under-Secretary of Health in Victoria. Mr Solomon brings deep experience in health system reform, innovation and organisational leadership to the RACS Board.

Fun fact: Shane’s online meetings are regularly joined by his dog who considers that governance priorities should be walks and food.