I’m genuinely looking forward to the chance for us to come together as a College at the upcoming RANZCP 2026 Congress in Melbourne. This year’s meeting promises not only intellectual rigour, but also a renewed sense of collective purpose as we gather to reflect on the theme of Reform and renewal: Towards healing, equity and trust. It is not often we have the space to gather, pause, reflect and learn alongside our colleagues and friends – please do not miss out.

We’re honoured to welcome Professor Norman Sartorius, who has often been described as ‘psychiatry's living legend’. His steadfast commitment to improving systems of care, with an emphasis on openness, kindness, honesty, and great sense of humour, reminds us that our work is as much about values and leadership as it is about clinical expertise. His voice and contributions to psychiatry over more than five decades remain as relevant and compelling today as ever.

I am also delighted that we will also be joined by Dr Lade Smith, President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Dr Smith’s leadership has centred on driving improvements in access, experience and outcomes for people with mental illness in the UK and across the world.

Equally exciting is the participation of Dr Subodh Dave, Dean of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, whose work in psychiatric education has had profound international impact. We’re thankful for his advisory support for our own New Fellowship Program work – his insights into modernising training pathways while safeguarding quality are directly relevant to our own reform journey. 

We are also pleased to welcome Professor Thomas G. Schulze, an internationally recognised expert and President-Elect of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA). His work on the genotype–phenotype relationships in psychotic disorders has advanced our understanding of mental illness. 

These speakers represent the strong and enduring relationships the RANZCP shares with the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the WPA. These partnerships strengthen our collective voice, foster international collaboration, and ensure that our work is closely connected to global leadership and reform in mental health.

Another keynote speaker I’d like to mention is Professor Vikram Patel. His pioneering work on the burden of mental health problems across the life course, their association with social disadvantage, and the use of community resources for their prevention and treatment has transformed service delivery in low-resource settings. He has spent much of his career educating people on the importance of global mental health, published over 250 peer reviewed scientific articles, and was named in TIME Magazine’s 100 most influential persons in 2015.

Alongside these international leaders, we will hear from an outstanding group of invited speakers whose expertise spans clinical innovation, lived experience partnerships, and research. This lineup includes Ms De Backman-Hoyle, Professor Michael Berk, Professor Karen Jones, Dr Matthew Macfarlane, Professor Helen Milroy, Dr Annie Parsons, Professor Richard Porter, Professor Dan Siskind, Dr Calum Smith, Ms Hannah Whittaker-Komaku, A/Prof Shalini Arunogiri, Professor Rebecca McKetin, Professor Nagesh Pai, Professor Sathya Rao and Dr Peta Wright.

Congress is, of course, more than a series of presentations. It is a space for connecting with others, across subspecialties, career stages, and geography. I encourage you to register by Friday 27 February, to take advantage of the early bird rate and continue engaging with each other and the work of our College.

In that spirit of sustained engagement, I also want to draw your attention to the Section of Social, Cultural and Rehabilitation Psychiatry 2026 Conference in Launceston, Tasmania from 20–22 March. This year’s theme ‘Many minds, one mission: advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in mental health care’, embodies our collective commitment to fostering a mental health system that effectively addresses the diverse needs of all individuals and communities.

This Section reminds us that a diverse range of social and cultural factors impacts recovery from mental illness and emphasises quality of life and respect for individual values and beliefs. The conference program will address some of the debates around the evolving role and identity of rehabilitation psychiatry and explore the key social determinants of mental health. I invite you to browse through the program and consider attending. 

Our work on diversity, equity and inclusion is woven into a broader global context of mental health advocacy and awareness. As the world marks International Women’s Day, the RANZCP is honoured to co-host the Women’s Mental Health in Bloom webathon from Saturday 7 March. This landmark round-the-clock program brings together leading international psychiatric and academic organisations in a coordinated effort across seven world regions.

The College will be hosting the first three hours of the program commencing at 11 am AEDT. It’ll kick off with a video message from Australian Governor-General Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC. The Australasian segment features 10 leading voices in women’s mental health, including: Professor Anne Buist AO and Ariane Beeston, Professor Jayashri Kulkarni AM, Associate Professor Carolyn Quadrio AM, Professor Manjula O’Connor, Associate Professor Shalini Arunogiri, Ms Fiona (Community Member), Dr Lillian Ng, Associate Professor Samantha Loi, Dr Ramya Vadivel and Professor Helen Milroy AM. I encourage you to check out the full program and register to attend.

As President, I am continually inspired by the dedication and resilience of our members. I think particularly of our Rural Champions, like Dr Sasha Jones, Professor Kane Vellar and Professor Ravi Bhat AM whose work in rural Australia exemplifies the very heart of what psychiatry can be. Every day they demonstrate what it means to stay committed to patients and communities despite distance and limited resources. It is these stories of members stepping up and delivering care with passion and respect that give me confidence in the future of psychiatry. 

Thank you for the work you do every day. I look forward to connecting with many of you in the months ahead.

Dr Astha Tomar
President