Governance
Council and committees
The ·ÛºìÅ®ÀÉ Council has general oversight of the policy and strategic planning of the College and meets three times a year (generally in March, July, and November) at College Place in Melbourne, Australia.
The Council comprises the members of the Board, 19 Fellows representing each State and Territory of Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, two regional Fellows, the Board, the Immediate Past-President, one MÄori Fellow, the Chair of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Health Committee, the Chair of He Hono WÄhine, the Chair of the Trainees’ Committee, and a Community representative. Non-voting members include the Dean of Education, Dean of Policy & Research, Deputy Chairs (Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand) of the Trainees’ Committee, a Subspecialties Committee representative, and a representative of the National Association of Specialist Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (NASOG).
The Thirteenth ·ÛºìÅ®ÀÉ Council took office at the College Annual General Meeting held on 15 November ·ÛºìÅ®ÀÉ 2023. The Council will serve a two-year term until November 2025.
Members of the 13th ·ÛºìÅ®ÀÉ Council
Members of Council | |
|---|---|
| President | Dr Gillian Gibson |
| Vice-President | A/Prof Boon Lim Dr Susan Fleming Dr Nisha Khot |
| Board Director | Dr John Regan Dr Michael Rasmussen A/Prof Jared Watts |
| Board Director, Associate Procedural or Advanced Procedural member (or equivalent) | Dr Martina Mende |
| Board Director, Independent | Ms Julie Hamblin |
| Councillor resident in Australian Capital Territory | Dr Elizabeth Gallagher |
| Councillors resident in New South Wales | A/Prof Amanda Henry Dr James Brown Dr Mark Ruff Prof Thierry Vancaillie |
| Councillor representing MÄori Fellow resident in Aotearoa New Zealand | Dr Angela Beard |
| Councillors resident in Aotearoa New Zealand | Dr Emma Jackson Dr Per Kempe |
| Councillors resident in Queensland | Dr Elisha Broom Dr Kathryn Saba Dr Samantha Scherman |
| Councillors resident in South Australia or Northern Territory (to represent both places) | Dr Kasia Siwicki Dr Magda Halt |
| Councillor resident in Tasmania | Dr Frank Clark |
| Councillors resident in Victoria | Dr Jenny Dowd Dr Pallavi Desai Dr Marilla Druitt Dr Victoria Carson |
| Councillors resident in Western Australia | Dr Anna Clare Dr Uchechukwu Nwangwu Ijeneme |
| Councillors representing Regional Fellows | Dr Adam Bush Dr Romany Erwin |
| Immediate Past-President | Dr Benjamin Bopp |
| Chair, Trainees Committee | Dr Sophie Doherty |
| Chair, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Health Committee | Dr Marilyn Clarke |
| Chair, He Hono WÄhine | Dr Leigh Duncan |
| Community Representative | Tessa Kowaliw |
| Representatives (non-voting) | |
|---|---|
| Dean of Education | Professor Ian Symonds |
| Dean of Research and Policy | Professor Cynthia Farquhar |
| NASOG Representative | A/Prof Gino Pecoraro |
| Subspecialties Committee Representative | (shared by Subspeciality Committees Chairs) |
| Trainee Committee Representative (Deputy Chair, Australia) | TBC |
| Trainee Committee Representative (Deputy Chair, New Zealand) | TBC |
| College staff (non-voting) | |
|---|---|
| Chief Executive Officer | Vase Jovanoska |
| Manager, Executive Office & Advocacy | Bec McPhee |
| Lead, Executive Office & Advocacy | Alex Jackson |
Elections
Want to get involved with the leadership of your College?
Consider participating in future elections — watch this space for more updates.
Current elections
Casual Vacancy Election Results for the Thirteenth ·ÛºìÅ®ÀÉ Council
Following the close of the casual vacancy call for nominations on Wednesday 13 March, 2024 for the Councillor resident in South Australia of the Thirteenth ·ÛºìÅ®ÀÉ Council to take office until November 2025, the following nominee has been successful:
Councillor resident in South Australia
Dr Aimee Woods
Previous elections
Results
| Casual Vacancy Election for ·ÛºìÅ®ÀÉ Council | |
|---|---|
| Councillor resident in South Australia | Dr Aimee Woods |
Timetable
As mandated by the Constitution, Regulations or Election Policy, the timetable for the ·ÛºìÅ®ÀÉ 2023 election year is outlined below.
Please note that all elections were conducted prior to the commencement of the ·ÛºìÅ®ÀÉ Thirteenth Council in November ·ÛºìÅ®ÀÉ 2023, with listed completion dates subject to casual vacancy elections.
| Body/Position | Commencement | Completion |
|---|---|---|
| President | January | March |
| Board | April | Mid-May |
| Council | May | July |
| State and Territory Committees (x7) and Te KÄhui Oranga Å Nuku | July | September |
| Subspecialty Committees (x5) | July | September |
| Associate Procedural Members and Certificants Committee | August | September |
| Trainees Committee | August | September |
Executive Leadership Team
The Executive Leadership Team (ELT) are integral to College governance. They meet weekly to determine matters, or make recommendations to the CEO and Board, regarding the direction and operations of the College.
Meet our ELT
Vase Jovanoska
Chief Executive Officer
MBA, MHSM, BA (Accounting)
Vase’s corporate experience extends more than 22 years across the corporate and not-for-profit sectors. In addition to her tertiary qualifications, Vase has also completed the Executive Program in Leading for Strategic Change with Melbourne Business School, the Women’s Executive Leadership Program and Negotiations Strategies Program with Yale University. She is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a qualified CPA, and a Fellow of the Institute of Managers and Leaders, Australia, and New Zealand.
Sudi Sekhar
Deputy CEO and Executive Director, Innovation, Learning and Quality Assurance
Sudi has over 14 years’ experience across tertiary, not-for-profit and health sectors, and includes strategy development and implementation, project management, strategic partnerships, business development, change management and client services.
Sudi holds a Master of Business Administration, Master of International Business, and a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering. He is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors as well as the Fundraising Institute of Australia. Sudi also holds an Agile Practitioner (AgilePM) qualification.
Daniel Petkovski
Executive Director, People, Wellbeing and Facilities
Daniel is responsible for leading the People, Wellbeing and Facilities department at ·ÛºìÅ®ÀÉ. His career encompasses experience within community health, and the NFP and commercial sector. Daniel is a member of the Australian HR Institute (AHRI) and holds a Bachelor of Business (Human Resource Management).
Mel Pietsch
Executive Director, Communication and Engagement
Mel currently oversees the State and Territory offices and the communication, publications, marketing and website activities at the College. She has over 15 years’ experience working in the public sector where she developed a strong understanding of the medical training system and medical workforce. Mel has a Certificate III in Financial Services and is currently undertaking a Certificate in Business Leadership.
Catherine Cooper
Executive Director, Aotearoa New Zealand and Global Health
Catherine leads the Aotearoa New Zealand Office of ·ÛºìÅ®ÀÉ and the Global Health Unit, working closely with Te KÄhui Oranga Å Nuku, He Hono WÄhine and the staff team. She has a background of many years in management roles in the New Zealand public service, and not-for-profit and membership organisations. Catherine also has governance experience, chairing school Boards, as well as a Masters in management and a BA in psychology and education.
Stephen White
Executive Director, Education
Stephen is responsible for the Education activities of the College, encompassing curriculum development, training program operations, examinations, accreditation, evaluation, trainee selection and SIMG assessment. With an Honours degree in English Studies, Stephen worked in academic publishing for eight years in the UK before moving to Australia. He then spent 11 years in the vocational education and training sector, before shifting into the specialist medical college world. Stephen worked on strategic education and curriculum development for ANZCA before joining ·ÛºìÅ®ÀÉ in early 2020.
Michelle Zhang
Executive Director, Finance, STP and Risk
Michelle is a certified practising accountant (CPA) with more than 15 years’ experience in financial and management accounting, project management and data analysis. As the Head of STP, Finance and Risk, Michelle manages several government funded programs and work closely with project managers on various projects as well as oversees workforce related activities. Michelle has completed the Master of Professional Accounting (MPA).
Independent External Reviewer
The Independent External Reviewer (IER) provides independent oversight of the College’s complaints and whistleblower processes and seeks to ensure concerns can be raised and issues addressed fairly without fear of reprisal or retribution.
The Independent External Reviewer is an independent non-member and non-College staff member, appointed for the term of the ·ÛºìÅ®ÀÉ Council.
Responsibilities
Investigate and determine applications for review of complaints referred by the College or directly submitted to the IER, including bullying, discrimination and sexual harassment complaints;
Investigate and determine disclosures referred by the College or directly submitted to the IER under the WhistleBlower Policy;
Liaise and provide instruction and guidance to disputing parties, including the complainant and the respondent in relation to the external review process;
Write clear and logical decisions setting out the basis for the decision, relevant findings of fact and the material on which those findings were based;
Work closely but independently with the College Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and governance staff working within the Office of the President and CEO to provide guidance on the independent external review processes;
Build and maintain collaborative working relationships with internal stakeholders and provide support relating to or arising out of the external review process;
Provide relevant process improvement recommendations to the Board on complaints and whistleblower processes;
Conduct a review of all the complaints and whistleblower disclosures and provide a report to the Board, annually or as requested;
Conduct a review of processes relating to reconsideration, review or appeal and provide a report to the Board, annually or as requested;
Act in accordance with the Code of Conduct;
Act in accordance with all relevant laws, regulations and policies governing complaints and whistleblower processes.
Meet our IER
Ms Candy Caballero was appointed as Independent External Reviewer on 11 May ·ÛºìÅ®ÀÉ 2023.
Ms Caballero has worked for more than 20 years as a lawyer and public servant in trade and commercial law, contracts and procurement, administrative law and regulatory practices. Registered to practise law in California and Victoria, she is also a member of the Governance Institute of Australia and the Institute of Community Directors.
She has a particular interest in complaints handling and the identification and management of systemic risks and emerging issues through complaints data analysis. She has worked in the regulation of company directors, health professionals, hospitals and architects.
Complaints Pathway Support
The ·ÛºìÅ®ÀÉ Governance Unit will provide potential complainants guidance to navigate different complaint pathways offered by the College in the following policies when considering or exploring pathways to making a complaint:
Complaints Policy
Informal complaints
Formal complaints
Independent External Reviewer Policy
Frequently asked questions
Our FAQs are here to help!
What advice does the Complaints Pathway Support provide?
Complaints Pathway Support assists individuals by providing guidance on how to navigate the College’s complaint procedures and policies, helping them make informed decisions when considering or exploring the process of lodging a complaint.
How do I contact the Complaints Pathway Support?
Please contact:
Ms May Raguine
Email: governance@ranzcog.edu.au
Phone: +61 3 9412 2911
Am I obligated to lodge a complaint after contacting Complaints Pathway Support?
No, this is obligation-free guidance available to members of the College and trainees, including Specialist International Medical Graduates (SIMGs) on the pathway to Fellowship or certification in a Subspecialty of obstetrics and gynaecology.
Contact our IER
If you are submitting a whistleblower disclosure, or you are a member of the College making a complaint, you can contact the IER by sending an email to ier@ranzcog.edu.au as per the relevant policies listed below.
For any questions regarding relevant policies and processes, you can contact the Governance team by sending an email to governance@ranzcog.edu.au.
RELATED POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
RELATED POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Independent external reviewer policy
Bullying, Harassment and Discrimination Policy
Whistle-blower Policy
Complaints Policy
Contact
For general governance enquiries, please contact:
Email: governance@ranzcog.edu.au
If you have any queries in relation to ·ÛºìÅ®ÀÉ election processes, please contact:
Phone: +61 3 9412 2920
Email: elections@ranzcog.edu.au
ADDRESS
Djeembana
1 Bowen Crescent
Naarm (Melbourne)
Victoria 3004 Australia