Is the doctors’ war at Royal College finally ending?
Internal conflicts that have been going on for months The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) concluded its vote of confidence today. Stephanie Tran reports.
The RACP board is meeting today to consider bullying allegations against the President and CEO and decide on the future of the embattled board.
More than 100 members of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) have signed a demand calling for an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) to sack College president Professor Jennifer Martin; The board is also considering new six-month termination terms for senior leaders behind closed doors.
In a supporting statement attached to the request, the signatories say they have “lost confidence in Prof Martin’s leadership as Chairman and Chair of the RaCP Board” and point to “serious dysfunction at board level” following four unsuccessful EGMs against chair-elect Dr Sharmila Chandran in 2025 and a series of director resignations.
“There was no clear accountability to members,” the statement reads.
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At the center of the push for his sacking are the findings of an external investigation carried out by consultancy Centium, which was appointed by the College in July to examine allegations of bullying made by company secretary Kim Davis against Prof Martin.
The report was seen MWMIt found that seven allegations could be proven “on the balance of probabilities”.
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Bullying allegations proven
The report said three of the substantiated allegations “constituted abusive behavior that was disrespectful and controversial, bullying and did not foster an atmosphere conducive to good working relationships” and found that Martin’s behavior likely breached the College’s code of conduct.
Martin has previously denied wrongdoing.
Members who requested the EGM argued that it was “unacceptable for the President to have findings of bullying and harassment of less competent staff”, adding that such findings were damaging to the College’s reputation. They also called for the Centium report to be released in full to members.
The EGM move followed a separate letter dated February 14, 2026, signed by “Concerned Members of the RaCP,” expressing distrust in Martin’s leadership and calling for him to resign as chairman and director. The letter states that if he resigns, the proposed EGM will not continue. However, if it remains, members will ask for votes.
The board of directors is expected to meet on Friday and evaluate the managers’ EGM request.
Extended notice periods
The board documents were disclosed in a whistleblower complaint filed with regulators. Them Demonstrate that managers will also be asked to approve the introduction of a six-month mutual notice period for designated senior leadership roles through voluntary change actions.
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Current notice periods across the senior leadership cohort range from one to three months. The article argues that extending notice periods in the context of “significant organizational transformation, regulatory oversight and governance complexity” will “strengthen continuity of leadership, support strategic delivery and reduce operational and reputational risk associated with the sudden departure of executives.”
It warns that shorter notice periods increase the risk of “sudden leadership transitions, loss of knowledge, disruption of strategic initiatives, and instability among employees and stakeholders.”
But some members question the timing of the proposal given the live coverage of the president’s impeachment and instability on the board.
The proposal was prepared by RACP managing director Steffen Faurby. Faurby sides with Martin in the stop-bullying order that Chandran submitted to the Fair Work Commission. Both deny wrongdoing.
The College has been contacted for comment.
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Stephanie is a journalist with a background in both law and journalism. He worked at The Guardian and as a paralegal, where he assisted Crikey’s defense team in the high-profile libel case brought by Lachlan Murdoch. His reporting has been recognized nationally, earning him the 2021 Guardians of Democracy Award for Student Investigative Reporting and a nomination for the 2021 Walkley Student Journalist of the Year Award.
