The independent interim chair appointed by the ACNC praised former college president Professor Jennifer Martin for her ‘rare form of courage and resilience’ over the past year.
The title of Royal Australasian College of Physicians president has officially been passed on from Professor Jennifer Martin at today’s Annual General Meeting, marking the beginning of what many hope will be a transparent and constructive era for the college.
Under normal circumstances, today would have been the day that Dr Sharmila Chandran took over as president of the college.
But this is not normal circumstances.
Dr Chandran was suspended from her board position by the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission last week after she broke a SafeWork NSW notice which prohibited her from contacting college staff.
As it stands, Dr Chandran has undertaken not to act or hold herself out as the president-elect of the RACP until her suspension is lifted in September.
In her place, ACNC-appointed independent interim chair Adjunct Professor Susan Pascoe will assume the role of college president.
Earlier this week, Supreme Court of NSW Justice Francois Kunc declared that the board meeting called by Dr Chandran immediately following the 22 April extraordinary general meeting (EGM) was invalid.
The directors that appointed during that meeting and any further action they had taken was therefore also invalid, Justice Kunc ruled.
He did not provide an opinion on whether the much-disputed 22 April EGM was valid; the RACP says it will continue to investigate the matter.
The Supreme Court of NSW matter – which was brought by the college, not Dr Chandran – which sought to stop today’s AGM and obtain a ruling on the validity of the 22 April EGM, is now closed.
The RACP has not publicly stated how much its detour to the Supreme Court of NSW cost members.
It was the topic of questions from at least one member at today’s AGM. RACP fellow Associate Professor Vikram Palit told The Medical Republic that he had asked the board to confirm how much it had spent on related costs associated with the court hearing, the various EGMs and the associated legal action.
“Will the Board commit to transparently disclosing the total legal expenditure to members, including external legal fees, court related costs, any costs sought from or recovered from members and any anticipated ongoing legal costs?” he asked.
“As members, we deserve transparency about how our fees are being used, particularly when those funds are being spent on litigation and internal governance disputes.”
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In an email to members directly following the AGM, Professor Pascoe and RACP CEO Steffen Faurby expressed their gratitude to Professor Martin.
“Our members may not be aware of the true extent to which Professor Martin, as Chair, exhibited a rare form of courage and resilience during one of the most challenging times for The RACP and at great personal cost,” the email read.
“Rather than provide a legal undertaking in Court earlier this week, despite the AGM being the formal conclusion of her term, Jenny simply agreed not to participate in the conduct or the Chairing of the meeting for the good of her College, and we took her at her word.
“We would expect nothing less.
“Jenny, from all of us – the Board, Steffen as CEO, the RACP team, the College community, and from me personally as Chair – thank you for your outstanding service and dedication.”
TMR understands that some questions at the AGM were taken on notice and will be released online later.
This AGM also marked the beginning of Dr Julian Kelly’s term as RACP president-elect.
