A message from the RACP Board to its members

The Board met on 22 September, essentially to sign off the three EGMs: one called by the Board to vote on Constitutional changes, and the other two by members to remove Directors.

Once an EGM has been called by members, there are strict timelines in the Constitution around the timing of the meeting and the member vote.

For the 31 October EGMs, there are three resolutions. In brief, these are to:

1. separate the role of President and Chair
2. remove Dr Chandran from the Board
3. remove Dr Buckmaster from the Board

The Board approved the appointment of Associate Professor Janak de Zoysa, Aotearoa New Zealand President-elect, as a member Director (casual vacancy) until the May 2026 AGM.

The Board approved the appointment of Vincent So, current member of the RACP Finance and Risk Committee and CEO of the Thoracic Society of Australia & New Zealand (TSANZ), to the Board. Vincent was interviewed by the Board and meets some of the skill gaps needed on the Board.

The Board has received a number of expressions of interest in filling the casual member vacancies. The Board decided to defer appointment decisions to a future meeting.

The Board noted the draft budget for 2026 and forecast for 2027–31. 

It approved the appointment of Vincent So, current member of the RACP Finance and Risk Committee and CEO of the Thoracic Society of Australia & New Zealand (TSANZ) to the Board. Vincent was interviewed by the Board and meets some of the skill gaps needed on the Board.

The Board has received a number of expressions of interest in filling the casual member vacancies. The Board decided to defer appointment decisions to a future meeting.

The Board noted the draft budget for 2026 and forecast for 2027-31. It approved a fee increase of four per cent for all fees and charges for the 2026 financial year (PDF). This is necessary to keep pace with CPI, given there were several years before and during the pandemic in which fees did not increase.

Loan options are being investigated to finance the College’s IT uplift project. Given the strong performance of the College’s investment of its reserves and our financial stability, this is a more prudent way of funding the project, rather than liquidating the investments.

The next Board meeting is 31 October 2025. The EGMs will be held at the below timings, followed by Board meeting.

• AEDT: 9.30am registration for a 10am start, concluding at 11.30am
• NZDT: 11.30am registration for a 12pm start, concluding at 1.30pm

Kind regards | Ngā mihi nui

RACP Board