The presidential handover occurred at the College’s Annual General Meeting, held in conjunction with the College’s Year in Review. Due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, the event was conducted virtually with the Presidents’ speeches pre-recorded and participants attending the ceremony via Zoom.
Dr Skinner is a Senior Staff Specialist in emergency medicine, and former Director, at Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital in Sydney, New South Wales. She holds a Master of Public Health. Since attaining Fellowship in 2011, she has worked clinically across Northern Sydney and as Curriculum Advisor for the Sydney Medical School.
Dr Skinner has interests in leadership, advocacy, workplace culture, quality and safety, clinical redesign and health system reform. Her current areas of focus include transformation of the emergency department workforce, improving care of people with mental health symptoms, building a positive culture in hospitals, and fostering diversity and inclusion in health services.
Dr Skinner is the second woman to serve as ACEM’s President, following Dr Sally McCarthy’s two terms from 2008 to 2012.
Dr Bonning will serve as ACEM Immediate Past President and remain on the ACEM Board until the next College AGM in November 2022.
ACEM CEO Peter White said, ‘We thank Dr John Bonning for his energised and steady leadership through the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19. As we transition to the next chapter of navigating the College through living with COVID-19, we welcome Dr Clare Skinner to the role of President.’
ACEM President Dr Clare Skinner said, ‘I feel deeply honoured to have been chosen to lead the College in its vital work and I will do my best to represent each of our 6000 members and trainees for the next two years. Thank you to my friend and colleague Immediate Past President Dr John Bonning for his tireless work during difficult circumstances.’
ACEM Immediate Past President Dr John Bonning said, ‘It was a privilege and honour to lead the College as President over the past two years, despite the obvious challenges that COVID-19 presented. I have served each of you to the best of my ability and, with Dr Clare Skinner stepping up to the role, I know the College is in tremendously capable hands.’
