ANZCA Council meeting update - September 2025

ANZCA Council | 12 and 13 September 2025  

This is a report of the ANZCA Council meeting held in Wellington from 12-13 September 2025. Information about ANZCA Council and its committees can be found here.

Council welcomed New Zealand National Committee Chair Dr Rachel Dempsey who provided an update on issues affecting the New Zealand anaesthesia workforce.

The ANZCA Trainee Committee Co-chairs Dr Nicole Wong and Dr Sukhi Hegde provided an update of the work of that committee and trainee issues. 

Council also received reports from Associate Professor Peter Kruger, President, College of Intensive Care Medicine and from Dr Jonathan Panckhurst, Vice-president, New Zealand Society of Anaesthetists. The ANZCA President Professor Dave Story acknowledged outgoing NZSA President Dr Morgan Edwards for her excellent work.

Corporate services and governance

2026-2028 strategic plan 

Council approved the college 2026-2028 strategic plan. An operational plan to implement the new strategy will be developed and presented to council in December.

2026 budget

Council noted the ongoing development of the 2026 budget with the final draft budget being presented in October. Council will be asked to approve the final 2026 budget in November. 

Renewing community representation at ANZCA

Councillors discussed considerations for developing a refreshed community representation framework including the purpose of community representation and how they can speak for ANZCA in the community, the effectiveness of the current policy and how the policy is monitored in future. Further advice will be provided at a future council meeting.

Information, Technology and Security 

Project Elevate

Councillors were provided with an update on Project ELEVATE, the replacement of our training portfolio system (TPS), including its status, build progress and insights from the second assurance review. Council approved a third full go-live readiness assessment which will include technical and business readiness, security practices, as well as change management and stakeholder engagement plans. 

Fellowship Affairs

DEI framework and roadmap

Council approved the diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) framework which formalises the college’s position in relation to supporting and promoting DEI efforts across all aspects of college functions and activities.

Trauma-informed care

Council approved the trauma-informed care (TIC) definitions. Next steps will involve the development of a TIC roadmap that will seek to explore how to embed TIC principles across college functions and within business processes. This includes stakeholder engagement to ensure TIC is embedded internally via the health and safety program and training. Key measurables and metrics of success will also be prepared for council approval.

Renaming museum 

Council approved the renaming of the Geoffrey Kaye Museum of Anaesthetic History to the Kaye Anaesthesia Museum. 

Research grant funding

Council noted there has been no increase to the maximum amount for ANZCA Foundation research grants to allow for cost inflation since 2012.

Council approved several changes to foundation research grants, noting the cost-neutral position with no increase in the annual allocation for research sought. The changes were funded within the annual research allocation calculated using the council-approved foundation funding formula.

Education

Planning for the new regional and rural workforce strategy

Council noted the regional and rural workforce strategy is being updated to reflect changed government priorities with about 40 ideas collected from various sources. Literature reviews are under way to develop a more evidence-based approach. The next version of the strategy is being prepared for council consideration.

Policy and Communication

Te Tiriti o Waitangi action plan

Council approved the Te Tiriti o Waitangi Action Plan 2025-2028 and authorised the CEO to execute the plan according to the proposed budget. 

Professional documents

CP25 External guideline endorsement

Council approved the ANZCA professional document CP25 External guideline endorsement and its accompanying background paper (CP25BP) as the final version for promulgation on the ANZCA website.

Professor Dave Story

ANZCA President