Dr Gillian Gibson will step into the role of president for RANZCOG later this year, becoming the second female president and second New Zealander to hold the office.
“RANZCOG has an important role in ongoing advocacy for women’s health needs, and I welcome the opportunity to lead that,” says Dr Gibson.
“I hope my election will motivate and inspire a succession of women in senior College leadership, building on the significant advances the College has made in the areas of gender equity and diversity.”
RANZCOG, which stands for the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to bettering women’s health. The College trains specialist doctors and supports women’s health research.
Until November 2023, Dr Gibson will be in the position of president-elect and then will begin her role as College President for a two-year term.
Currently, she is Deputy Chair of the College’s Gender Equity and Diversity Working Group, and says, “We are on a journey and have a clear commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.”
With 25 years of experience as a full-time Auckland-based Generalist Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Dr Gibson will bring extensive public and private practice knowledge to her new position. She also holds Medical Officer and Service Clinical Director positions at Te Whatu Ora | Te Toka Tumai Auckland (formerly Auckland District Health Board).
Nearly 20 years ago, Dr Gibson joined the College’s Te Kāhui Oranga ō Nuku (formerly the New Zealand Committee), and she’s served two terms on the Council and two terms on the Board, culminating in her current Vice-President (New Zealand) role. Along with this, she has chaired several standing committees and working groups of the College.
“RANZCOG has an important role in ongoing advocacy for women’s health needs,” says Dr Gibson. “Over the past 20 years in Aotearoa New Zealand, I have helped successfully advocate for a maternity quality framework, abortion law reform, improvements to the cervical screening programme, Māori women’s health issues and most recently incorporating a women’s health strategy into New Zealand health legislation.”
While Dr Gibson will look to pursue the objectives set out in the College’s Strategic Plan, she points to two key areas she’ll focus on as president: workforce issues and access to sexual and reproductive health services.
“As Chair of the New Zealand Workforce Working Group I have a deep understanding of the challenges the College faces for future workforce planning,” she says.
“Aiming to keep maternity services open, an issue for both regional and rural Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, will require government support for expanding projects such as the successful OGET pilot (rural upskilling and training) and improving access for GPOs to ongoing procedural training.”
“Improved access to sexual and reproductive health services in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand requires government commitment, and responsibility as a College to train future specialists with the necessary skills.”