The RACP held its annual general meeting on Friday, confirming a new board and president-elect, as the college’s interim chair and CEO issued a warm tribute to outgoing president Professor Jennifer Martin that left little doubt about where their sympathies lay in the college’s bitter leadership dispute.

The AGM capped a turbulent week in which the NSW Supreme Court cleared the way for the meeting after suspended president-elect Dr Sharmila Chandran conceded the board she appointed in April was never legitimate.

The RACP, which trains and accredits more than 33,000 doctors across 33 specialties in Australia and New Zealand, has been consumed by months of infighting between two factions: one backing outgoing president Professor Jennifer Martin, the other backing Dr Chandran, her elected successor.

Trouble escalated in April when Dr Chandran convened an extraordinary general meeting that voted to oust Professor Martin, then appointed several new board directors, including former RACP president Professor John Wilson AM, Mr Antonio Tenaglia and Professor Abbi Sharma. The college disputed the validity of that meeting and sought court intervention. Dr Chandran has also been separately suspended by the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profit Commission (ACNC) until 20 September 2026.

Read our coverage on the RACP board crisis:

• ACNC suspends Dr Sharmila Chandran from RACP board
• Police, $1m, no women: the RACP’s governance emergency
• RACP president refuses to quit after police called to EGM

At Wednesday’s hearing, Justice Francois Kunc opened by questioning whether proceedings were even necessary. When told Professor Martin would not stand for re-election at Friday’s AGM, he responded: “Why are we here?” according to the Sydney Morning Herald [link here].

Dr Chandran’s barrister Nicolas Kirby conceded the April board meeting was invalid, as no proper notice had been given, meaning all subsequent appointments also fell away. Both Dr Chandran and Professor Martin agreed they would not chair the AGM.

Professor Martin welcomed the outcome. “The intervention of the ACNC in May in suspending a board director and appointing an interim chair, and the ruling of the NSW Supreme Court this week have addressed some of the most pressing issues,” she said in a statement.

Adjunct Professor Susan Pascoe AM, appointed by the ACNC to replace Dr Chandran, chaired Friday’s AGM remotely while overseas. Professor Wilson stood to challenge the validity of her appointment and to dispute her summary of the Supreme Court rulings. Dr Sujie Chandran, Dr Sharmila Chandran’s husband, also challenged Adjunct Professor Pascoe’s appointment and called for a poll to replace her as chair, nominating Professor Wilson for the role.

However, Adjunct Professor Pascoe told the meeting her appointment was made under the ACNC Act, which overrode the college constitution.

The new board confirmed at the AGM includes Dr Julian Kelly, a Melbourne paediatrician, as president-elect, along with Professor Tissa Wijeratne, Adjunct Associate Professor Anthony Sasse as member directors, and Dr Nixon Tan as trainee director.

Adjunct Professor Pascoe will serve as interim president until Dr Chandran’s suspension is lifted.

Before closing, Adjunct Professor Pascoe urged members to move on from the disputes and put their energy into restoring the college.

The validity of the 22 April EGM itself, including its conduct, chairing and vote scrutineering, remains subject to ongoing investigation by the college.

The meeting also marked the end of Professor Martin’s two-year term. In a message to members, Adjunct Professor Pascoe paid tribute to the outgoing president, noting she had shown “great loyalty” to the college throughout her tenure, tirelessly campaigning for constitutional change “at great personal cost.”

CEO Steffen Faurby added: “I have worked closely alongside Jen throughout her presidency and have seen firsthand her unwavering commitment to the College and its members; whether advocating for improved healthcare outcomes, fostering collaboration across the sector, strengthening member support, or addressing inequities.”

Adjunct Professor Pascoe noted that rather than provide a formal legal undertaking in court earlier this week, Professor Martin had simply agreed not to participate in the conduct or chairing of the AGM. “We took her at her word,” she wrote. “We would expect nothing less.”

The validity of the 22 April EGM itself, including its conduct, chairing and vote scrutineering, remains subject to ongoing investigation by the college.