Governance reform

A contemporary governance framework to strengthen accountability, clarity and strategic delivery

The College is committed to a contemporary, transparent, compliant, future-focused and efficient governance framework that is understood by members, supports strategic delivery and strengthens accountability across the organisation.

To achieve this, the College is implementing a structured governance reform program designed to strengthen decision-making, accountability, capability, transparency and strategic alignment, while reducing unnecessary complexity and meeting accreditation and regulatory requirements.

Rationale for reform

The need for reform is grounded in the Australian Medical Council’s 2023 accreditation process, the 2025 update report, and additional reviews and feedback from members and staff. Together, these findings show the importance of clearer accountability, more consistent governance and stronger alignment between governance arrangements and the College’s strategic priorities.

The reform responds directly to identified challenges including complex committee structures, unclear decision rights, variable reporting lines and administrative burden without clear outcomes. It aims to make governance more purposeful and consistent, clarify roles and responsibilities, strengthen support for staff and align committee activity more effectively with the work of the College.

Governance Reform Taskforce

The College Board has established the Governance Reform Taskforce (GRT), supported by the Governance Reform Working Party (GRWP), to lead this work. Together, these groups will consult widely, test options and develop new governance pathways, improved feedback loops and more transparent decision-making processes so governance is easier to understand, better able to meet external expectations, and more sustainable for the future.

The Taskforce members are:

Dr Alan Altham
A/Prof Alex Cockram
Mr Damian Ferrie
Prof Megan Galbally
Ms Felicity Loxton
Prof Richard Newton
Dr Hiran Thebrew
Dr Angelo Virgona
Prof Andrew Way

Taskforce principles

• Clarity: every group’s role is clearly defined.
• Accountability: transparent reporting and decision-making.
• Strategic alignment: governance supports College goals.
• Representation: all jurisdictions, specialties, and lived and living experience are included.
• Efficiency: streamlined processes with reduced administrative burden.
• Agility: groups tasked for emerging needs.
• Engagement: member contributions are valued and acknowledged.
• Independent evaluation: ongoing review for continuous improvement.

Engagement and consultation

Engagement will follow a staged approach that combines broad awareness-building with targeted consultation at key points in the reform process. Members, trainees, staff and external stakeholders will receive regular updates through emails, webinars, events and online channels so they understand why reform is needed, what is changing, what is not, and when they can contribute. Consultation will focus on areas open to feedback, with tailored opportunities to test proposals, identify practical impacts and raise questions relevant to different stakeholder groups. The taskforce will review and synthesise input, communicate what has been heard and explain how feedback has informed the next phase of the work, supporting transparency, trust and shared ownership of the reform process.

Resources

• Governance Reform project - Congress 2026 presentation by A/Prof Alex Cockram

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Read answers to FAQs about the governance reform project.