Tēnā koutou katoa,

You will be aware of significant events in the College.

We have received a request from more than 100 members for an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) to remove Professor Jennifer Martin as Director and President of the College. The EGM will be held on 22 April. I urge you to review the notice and explanatory notes which you would have received on Friday, 20 March. The College has also received a valid member request to obtain the member register to communicate with members about the EGM and this has been provided. There are details about the EGM available on the College website.

I am pleased to advise that the Fair Work Commission application against senior members of the College has been withdrawn.

I would also like to extend my thanks to Mr Vincent So, who acted as an external Director of the College from September 2025 to February 2026 and was Honorary Treasurer during this period. The Honorary Treasurer role is now being filled by Dr Nick Buckmaster. The Board is seeking the involvement of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) in the governance of the College following a prolonged period of governance difficulty, which is affecting the Board’s ability to operate effectively.

Despite these events I want to emphasise that the College’s core functions of training, education and member services will continue.

Nominations for College and Board roles have closed. Voting will open on 26 March and close 28 April. I urge you to make your voice heard. Results will be announced at the Annual General Meeting (AGM), held in-person in Sydney and online on Friday, 29 May. Some roles, including Aotearoa New Zealand specific roles, remain unfilled and there remains the opportunity to contribute to the future of the College. If you are at all interested, please reach out to me or other members of the Aotearoa New Zealand committee. More information about the RACP elections are on the College website.

Many of you will be watching events unfold in Iran and across the Middle East with concern. We know many people in the College have lived and trained in the Middle East, or have connections to the region, and will be worried about the situation. Our thoughts are with you. There is free and confidential support available through the RACP support program, as well as self-paced online resources and I encourage you to access these if needed.

The Divisional Written Examination (DWE) Part 1 exams occurred on 10 February, with results released on 12 March. We look forward to supporting trainees preparing for the clinical exam. I have undertaken a couple of practice long cases in the last week and have been impressed by our trainees.

The College has also rolled out a new Training Management Platform (TMP), has worked closely with Health NZ to help with trainee fees, and plans are in place for a Trainees’ Day later this year.

We are pleased to announce the launch of RACP LIFT 2026 – a program of dynamic events and rapid-fire clinical updates designed to showcase emerging evidence, guide practice changes, and reflect the evolving medical landscape of our members. In nephrology, we know that transitioning paediatric patients into adult care can be particularly challenging. On Friday, 8 May, we will be hosting an update in Auckland focused on best practice in managing this complex transition. Further details, including registration for the Auckland event, are available on the RACP LIFT 2026 webpage.

We’re excited to introduce a new initiative – Aotearoa NZ News and Updates. This dedicated webpage will feature the latest news, updates, member interviews, committee EOIs, and other relevant information for our Aotearoa New Zealand members. The Aotearoa NZ News webpage will be launching soon – we’ll update you shortly.

If there are any issues you would like the Aotearoa New Zealand Committee to consider or any concerns you wish to raise, please do not hesitate to reach out via: AotearoaNZPresident@racp.org.nz

Kia maiea tō rā.

Janak de Zoysa
President-Elect