Our governance
Led by a board and a representative college council
CPMC’s governance model enables Australia’s medical colleges to speak with one unified voice. Together, we represent more than 80,000 medical specialists across Australia.
Our board charts our course, the council ensures every college is heard, and our constitution anchors everything in clear principles.
Our board
CPMC has evolved from its origins as a representative forum, to a modern board-led organisation built on accountability, transparency, and collaboration. This change has enabled us to act decisively on behalf of colleges, and become a trusted advisor to government on specialist workforce policy, training, and system reform.
Broad Expertise
The Board comprises between 7 and 9 directors and may include:
- The Chair and either a Chair-Elect or Immediate Past Chair
- Up to 2 Current Presidents and Up to 2 Past Presidents of member colleges
- Up to 2 CEOs from member colleges
- Up to 2 Independent Directors
*Not all categories may be represented at any given time.
Shared Responsibilities
The Board’s responsibilities include:
- Approving the organisation’s strategy, budget and policies
- Supporting the CEO and ensuring organisational performance
- Overseeing governance, compliance, and risk
- Upholding the mission, values, and purpose of CPMC
Our Chair:
A/Prof Kerin Fielding
Associate Professor Fielding was the first woman in New South Wales to become an orthopaedic surgeon and is only the third woman to undertake the role of president of RACS.
For nearly 20 years, Associate Professor Fielding has held positions as chair of the Clinical Surgical Training Council at the Health Education and Training Institute of New South Wales.
She has also been involved with the Early Management of Severe Trauma course at RACS for more than two decades, and is a long-time RACS councillor, chairing the Scholarship and Grants committee, the SIMG committee and the professional standards committee.
Immediate Past President Dir.
A/Prof Sanjay Jeganathan
Clinical Associate Professor Sanjay Jeganathan is based in Australia. He presently holds the professional positions of Radiologist at Perth Radiological Clinic and Consultant Radiologist at two other Perth hospitals. He is also an Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor at Curtin University Medical School.
Sanjay’s qualifications include MBChB, M.MED, FRANZCR, as well as post-fellowship training in Breast MRI. Clinical Associate Professor Sanjay Jeganathan has held hospital appointments as a Radiologists in Australia and New Zealand.
Board Director
Dr Helen Parsons CSC is an experienced medical leader and past President of the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators. She has worked across rural and urban health services, government, defence and correctional health. Her expertise includes clinical governance, health service strategy, medical leadership, workplace culture, cultural safety, and diversity, inclusion and equity.
Board Director
Dr Rod Martin is a Rural Generalist with nearly 20 years’ experience and President of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine. He continues to practise across anaesthetics, obstetrics and emergency medicine and contributes extensively to medical education and rural workforce development. He has held numerous College, health and community board roles and has a particular focus on rural and remote healthcare.
Board Director
Dr Nicole Higgins is a GP and past President of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. She brings extensive governance, leadership and advocacy experience, including national board and chairperson roles. Nicole is also a medical practice owner, mentor and advocate for medical leadership, with a strong commitment to continuity of care, teaching and the role of general practice in the community.
Board Director
Duane is a senior executive with extensive experience across member associations, not-for-profit organisations, professional services and corporate businesses. He brings more than a decade of executive leadership experience spanning education, governance, infrastructure, consulting and the medical sector.
He served as Interim CEO of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians from 2018 to 2020, leading the organisation through a period of significant challenge. His governance experience includes board directorships, chairing a national organisation and advising major charities on governance.
Board Director
Dr Nisha Khot is a Victorian obstetrician and medical leader with clinical and education roles across metropolitan and rural healthcare. She has held senior leadership and governance roles within RANZCOG and the broader health sector, including membership of RANZCOG Council since 2018. Nisha is a strong advocate for equity, diversity and inclusive representation in healthcare leadership.
Board Director
Leads initiatives in medical education and specialist training across Australia. Content to be inserted here once approved.
Our council
Each of Australia’s 16 medical colleges is represented on our council, ensuring all voices are heard.
Our constitution
The founding document that establishes our governance principles and operational framework.
