Board stacking allegations as RACP directors call snap meeting

Governance issues continue to plague the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) amid allegations of member silencing, board stacking and escalating internal power struggles. Stephanie Tran reports.

The Royal Australasian College of Physicians is preparing for another explosive board meeting today, with members calling for an emergency meeting after members overwhelmingly backed newly elected president Dr Sharmila Chandran last week.

An extraordinary general meeting (EGM), called by a group of members who wanted “Dr Chandran’s removal as president-elect and director of the board”, was rejected by 74% of members who voted last week, with 7,444 of the university’s 33,000 members attending.

This was the second time in less than a month that members had been asked to vote on the same proposal, following a series of EGMs that came at a cost to the university. estimated ($) 1 million dollars.

The latest outcome has also led to renewed calls from some members for current chair Professor Jennifer Martin to resign.

RACP board in disarray as dissenting director prevails at doctors’ meeting

‘Temporary controls’ consolidate power in the hands of the chair

Tensions within the College administration have intensified since the vote.

Internal documents seen by MWM It points to a suite of new “interim controls” for board meetings and communications introduced in recent days by the group, which is aligned with current RACP president and board chair Professor Jennifer Martin.

As part of the controls, chairman approval will be required to enter the virtual board meeting room; participants will remain silent unless invited to speak; and if the president thinks the behavior is “escalating,” he will be able to pause the hearing and move executives to the waiting room. Controls will be managed by the governance team “at the direction of the president.”

The measures were drawn up by chief executive Steffen Faurby and his staff as part of the WHS hazard report, which addressed what they described as the “psychosocial danger” of “unsafe behavior” at board meetings.

Both Faurby and Martin are currently the subject of bullying allegations in stop-bullying applications to the Fair Work Commission. Both deny wrongdoing.

Concerns about board stacking ahead of early meeting

The RACP board is set to meet today to appoint new directors, although there are no other board meetings until February.

Sources say the proposed appointments have not gone through an open expression of interest process or been discussed transparently across the board.

They expressed concern about the board meeting before Chandran took office as chairman in May; He would then also serve as chairman of the board of directors under existing university rules.

Concerns arise whistleblower complaints About the management of the RACP, including allegations that members’ funds were used to perpetuate internal factional disputes. Martin has previously rejected claims that university funds were used to “cover” critics and said all spending was related to maintaining proper management.

University response

MWM Ask the RACP questions about governance concerns within the university. In response, they provided a transcript of the video message Martin sent to College members following the EGM last week.

“The board respects the outcome and will follow the constitutional steps that follow,” Martin said.

“My own position is clear. I will continue in my role as president. I will not be distracted by campaigns or attempts to personalize institutional issues. I am here to chair the Board of Governors to ensure that the work of the College continues and is carried out under appropriate management.”

Shemozzle: RACP in crisis as doctors’ meeting approaches, whistleblower emerges