Governance
Council and committees
The RANZCOG 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 Māori Fellow, the Chair of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Health Committee, the Chair of He Hono Wāhine, the Chair of the Trainees’ Committee, and a Community representative. Non-voting members include the 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 Twelfth RANZCOG Council took office at the College Annual General Meeting held on 9 November 2021. The Council will serve a two-year term until November 2023.
Members of the 12th RANZCOG Council
| Members of Council | |
|---|---|
| Councillor, Australian Capital Territory | Dr Elizabeth Gallagher |
| Councillor, New South Wales | Dr Jessica Caudwell-Hall |
| Councillor, New South Wales | A/Prof Amanda Henry |
| Councillor, New South Wales | Dr Marisa Martin |
| Councillor, New South Wales | Prof Thierry Vancaillie |
| Councillor, Māori | Dr Philip Suisted |
| Councillor, New Zealand | Dr Emma Jackson |
| Councillor, New Zealand | Dr Sue Belgrave |
| Councillor, Regional Fellows | Dr Kathleen Braniff |
| Councillor, Regional Fellows | Dr Romany Erwin |
| Councillor, Queensland | Dr Kathryn Saba |
| Councillor, Queensland | Dr Samantha Scherman |
| Councillor, Queensland | Dr Gary Swift |
| Councillor, South Australia/Northern Territory | Dr Kasia Siwicki |
| Councillor, South Australia/Northern Territory | Dr Heather Waterfall |
| Councillor, Tasmania | Dr Frank O’Keeffe |
| Councillor, Victoria | Dr Jenny Dowd |
| Councillor, Victoria | Dr Marilla Druitt |
| Councillor, Victoria | Dr Deborah Nisbet |
| Councillor, Victoria | Dr Michael Rasmussen |
| Councillor, Western Australia | Dr Anna Clare |
| Councillor, Western Australia | Dr Scott White |
| Immediate Past-President | Dr Vijay Roach |
| Chair, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Health Committee | Dr Marilyn Clarke |
| Chair, He Hono Wāhine | Dr Leigh Duncan |
| Chair, Trainees Committee | Dr Sara Ooi |
| Community Representative | Tessa Kowaliw |
| Representatives (non-voting) | |
|---|---|
| NASOG Representative | A/Prof Gino Pecoraro |
| Subspecialties Committee Representative | (shared by Subspeciality Committees Chairs) |
| Trainee Committee Representative (Deputy Chair, Australia) | Dr Rania Abdou |
| Trainee Committee Representative (Deputy Chair, New Zealand) | Dr Sam Holford |
| 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 the 2023 elections.
Timelines and election details are mentioned below — watch this space for more updates.
Current elections
Please click the links below to learn more about our current elections.
Elected Councillors for the Thirteenth RANZCOG Council
Following the close of the casual vacancy ballot on Wednesday 16 August 2023, for the election of the Thirteenth RANZCOG Council to take office from November 2023 to November 2025, the following nominees have been successful in their election to the Thirteenth RANZCOG Council:
Councillor resident in the Australian Capital Territory
Dr Elizabeth Gallagher
Councillors resident in New South Wales
Dr James Brown
Associate Professor Amanda Henry
Dr Mark Ruff
Professor Thierry Vancaillie
Councillors resident in Aotearoa New Zealand
Dr Emma Jackson
Dr Per Kempe
Councillor representing Māori Fellows resident in Aotearoa New Zealand
Dr Angela Beard
Councillors resident in Queensland
Dr Elisha Broom
Dr Kathryn Saba
Dr Samantha Scherman
Councillors resident in South Australia or the Northern Territory (to represent both places)
Dr Magda Halt
Dr Kasia Siwicki
Councillor resident in Tasmania
Dr Frank Clark
Councillors resident in Victoria
Dr Pallavi Desai
Dr Jennifer Dowd
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
In accordance with section 2.7 of the Election of RANZCOG Council Members Policy and Procedure and clause 9.4 of the RANZCOG Constitution, the elected Councillors shall assume office at the conclusion of the 2023 Annual General Meeting.
Trainees’ Committee Members for the Thirteenth RANZCOG Council
Ballot
Following the close of call for nominations on Thursday 7 September 2023, the number of nominations received for the following positions exceeded the number of vacancies, and therefore a ballot will be conducted.
Ballot opens: 10:00am AEST on Thursday 14 September 2023
Ballot closes: 12:00pm (midday) AEST on Thursday 21 September 2023
This election will be run in accordance with the following policy and procedure:
Number of elected positions:
FRANZCOG training program
Australian Capital Territory (ACT) — one trainee representative
New South Wales (NSW) — two trainee representatives
Aotearoa New Zealand — one trainee representatives (South Island)
Queensland (QLD) — two trainee representatives
South Australia/Northern Territory (SA/NT) — one trainee representative
Western Australian (WA) — one trainee representative
CWH/DRANZCOG/DRANZCOG Advanced
CWH/DRANZCOG/DRANZCOG Advanced — one trainee representative
If you have any queries regarding this election, please contact:
Laura Le, Governance Officer
Email: elections@ranzcog.edu.au
Casual vacancy call for nominations
As the number of nominations received was less than the vacancies for the following positions, casual vacancy call for nominations for the election of RAINZCOG Trainees’ Committee members for the term of the Thirteenth RANZCOG Council, to take office from November 2023 to November 2025, will open at 10:00am AEST on Thursday 14 September 2023.
This election will be run in accordance with the following policy and procedure:
Number of elected positions to be filled:
FRANZCOG training program
Aotearoa New Zealand — one trainee representative (North Island)
Victoria (VIC) — one trainee representative
DRANZCOG/DRANZCOG Advanced
DRANZCOG/DRANZCOG Advanced — three trainee representatives
These positions are in addition to the one CWH/DRANZCOG/DRANZCOG Advanced Representative position for election in the initial call for nominations, as there has been a recent change to the Trainees’ Committee Terms of Reference and the Election of RANZCOG Trainees’ Committee Members Policy and Procedure to include these positions.
Specialist International Medical Graduate (SIMG) program
SIMG — one trainee representative
If you have any queries regarding this election, please contact:
Laura Le, Governance Officer
Email: elections@ranzcog.edu.au
Diplomates Committee Members for the Thirteenth RANZCOG Council
Casual vacancy call for nominations
As the number of nominations received was less than the number of vacancies for the following positions, casual vacancy call for nominations for the election of members on the Diplomates Committee for the term of the Thirteenth RANZCOG Council, to take office from November 2023 to November 2025, will open at 10:00 am AEST on Tuesday 5 September 2023.
This election will be run in accordance with the following policy and procedure:
Call for nominations will close at 12:00 pm (midday) AEST on Tuesday 26 September 2023.
Number of elected positions to be filled:
Intrapartum care Diplomates
Two intrapartum care (procedural) Diplomates are to be elected to represent intrapartum care
Shared care Diplomates
One shared care Diplomate (not involved in intrapartum care) is to be elected to represent shared care
If you have any queries regarding this election, please contact:
Laura Le, Governance Officer
Email: elections@ranzcog.edu.au
Subspecialty Committee Representatives for the Thirteenth RANZCOG Council
Second call — casual vacancy elections
Following the close of nominations on Wednesday 6 September 2023, the number of nominations received for the following positions were less than the number of vacancies. Therefore, in accordance with section 2.10 of the Election of Representatives onto Subspecialty Committees Committee Policy and Procedure, a casual vacancy election will be conducted.
Second call casual vacancy call for nominations open: 10:00 am AEST on Wednesday 13 September 2023
Second call casual vacancy call for nominations close: 12:00 pm (midday) AEDT on Wednesday 4 October 2023
This election will be run in accordance with the following policy and procedure:
Number of elected positions:
Maternal Fetal Medicine (CMFM) Subspecialty Committee
One Early Career Subspecialist Representative
Obstetrical and Gynaecological Ultrasound (COGU) Subspecialty Committee
Three Subspecialist Representatives
with at least one Early Career Subspecialist Representative
Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (CREI) Subspecialty Committee
One CREI Trainee Representative
If you have any queries regarding this election, please contact:
Laura Le, Governance Officer
Email: elections@ranzcog.edu.au
State and Territory Committees and Te Kāhui Oranga ō Nuku for the Thirteenth RANZCOG Council
Casual vacancy ballot
Following the close of casual vacancy nominations on Monday 11 September 2023, the number of nominations received exceeded the number of vacancies to be filled for the following positions. Therefore, in accordance with section 2.12 of the Election of State and Territory Committee/Te Kāhui Oranga ō Nuku members Policy and Procedure, a ballot will be conducted.
Casual vacancy ballot opens: 10:00am AEST on Monday 18 September 2023
Casual vacancy ballot closes: 12:00pm (midday) AEST on Monday 25 September 2023
This election is run in accordance with the following policy and procedure:
Positions for ballot:
Queensland (QLD) State Committee
One Diplomates’ Representative
Te Kāhui Oranga ō Nuku
Two Fellow Representatives
If you have any queries regarding this election, please contact:
Laura Le, Governance Officer
Email: elections@ranzcog.edu.au
Second call — casual vacancy elections
Following the close of casual vacancy nominations on Monday 11 September 2023, the number of nominations received exceeded the number of vacancies to be filled for the following positions. Therefore, in accordance with section 2.15 of the Election of State and Territory Committee/Te Kāhui Oranga ō Nuku Members Policy and Procedure, a second call casual vacancy election will be conducted.
Second call casual vacancy call for nominations open: 10:00am AEST on Monday 18 September 2023
Second call casual vacancy call for nominations close: 12:00pm (midday) AEDT on Wednesday 18 October 2023
This election is run in accordance with the following policy and procedure:
Number of positions to be filled:
New South Wales (NSW) State Committee
Four Fellow Representatives
One Regional Fellow Representative
Tasmanian (TAS) State Committee
Two Fellow Representatives
One Diplomates’ Representative
Victorian (VIC) State Committee
Three Fellow Representatives
One Diplomates’ Representative
Western Australia (WA) State Committee
One Regional Fellow Representative
If you have any queries regarding this election, please contact:
Laura Le, Governance Officer
Email: elections@ranzcog.edu.au
Timetable for 2023
As mandated by the Constitution, Regulations or Election Policy, the timetable for the 2023 election year is outlined below.
Please note that all elections will be conducted prior to the commencement of the RANZCOG Thirteenth Council in November 2023.
Listed completion dates are 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 Kāhui Oranga ō Nuku | July | September |
| Subspecialty Committees (x5) | July | September |
| Diplomates Committee | August | September |
| Trainees Committee | August | September |
Previous elections
Please click the link below for a summary of results from our previous elections.
Results
| Election for RANZCOG President of Thirteenth Council | |
|---|---|
| President-Elect | Dr Gillian Gibson |
| Election for RANZCOG Board of Thirteenth Council | |
|---|---|
| Vice-President | Dr Susan Fleming |
| Vice-President | Dr Nisha Khot |
| Vice-President | A/Prof Boon Lim |
| Elected Director | Dr Michael Rasmussen |
| Elected Director | Dr John Regan |
| Elected Director | Dr Jared Watts |
| Casual vacancy election for Trainees’ Committee | |
|---|---|
| Trainee Representative for Tasmania | Dr Carly Sands |
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 RANZCOG. 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 RANZCOG and the Global Health Unit, working closely with Te Kāhui Oranga ō Nuku, He Hono Wāhine 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 RANZCOG 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 RANZCOG 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 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 RANZCOG 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 RANZCOG election processes, please contact:
Phone: +61 3 9412 2920
Email: elections@ranzcog.edu.au
ADDRESS
Djeembana
1 Bowen Crescent
Naarm (Melbourne)
Victoria 3004 Australia