Official Opening of the 2024 RACMA Conference

Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators President, Professor Erwin Loh and recent past President Dr Helen Parsons CSC, Members and Fellows of the College; delegates; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen.

I begin by thanking Shannon Ruska and Tribal Experiences for their Welcome to Country, and I also acknowledge the Original Custodians of the lands around Brisbane, the Turrbal and Jagera people, and pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and to all First Nations people here today.

It is an honour to be joining you all this morning, and to be surrounded by so many incredible individuals who are deeply passionate about improving healthcare across Australia, and throughout the world. I especially thank those delegates who have travelled from far and wide to be here, and hope you are enjoying your time in beautiful Brisbane.

As Governor of Queensland, it will soon be my official duty to ‘open’ this year’s Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators Conference, but as a former medical administrator—and friend to many of you here—I also understand and appreciate the immense and beneficial impact this profession is having on developing smarter, more efficient, and caring health systems.

In 1968, RACMA was founded to formalise, and further the roles of those in charge of the vast network of systems, resources and people upon which medicine itself relies.

Fundamental to its success over the years has been the value the College has always placed on the exchange of ideas, and the sharing of knowledge and experiences, to ensure clinicians leading our health service institutions are prepared to face inevitable challenges and complexities…while always striving for excellence.

This Conference provides a unique opportunity for such collaboration—one that wholeheartedly encourages the input of different perspectives.

The theme—“New Frontiers for Medical Leaders: from COVID to the Olympics”—highlights the fact that although the future is uncertain, the opportunities created by our workforce, technology, education and training will lead to initiatives that will continue to drive positive change, and help equip the leaders of tomorrow.

The conference program is bursting with interesting and important topics, presented by a range of exceptional speakers.

I personally think Friday’s debate—“The Future Medical Administrator will be replaced with AI”—promises to be a very dynamic one!

Aside from the formal sessions, you will have the rare chance to meet with 1,500 or so like-minded professionals all in one place, and I know that this networking will be as enjoyable as it is fruitful.

I am enormously proud to be a Fellow of RACMA, and of course, know how rewarding a career in medical administration can be.

Each one of you is vital to helping shape a more robust system for the public good—through our hospitals and healthcare centres, teaching facilities, government departments, and within our diverse communities.

We are relying on you to lift the quality of healthcare ever higher, and while this task will not be simple or easy, I am sure the brilliant minds in this room will spark the inspiring ideas needed to lead to better solutions.

I welcome you all—and thank RACMA President, Dr Helen Parsons, for inviting me to be here today.

Now, it is my great pleasure to declare the 2024 RACMA Conference officially open!