Dear Members and Colleagues,

It is with great pleasure and a sense of pride that I welcome you to this edition of the President’s Blog. I am excited to announce that AGES has now surpassed 1,000 members, making us one of the largest non-college surgical societies. This milestone reflects not only the growth of our Society but also the remarkable engagement of our members, whose dedication continues to strengthen our community of like-minded professionals.

I am often reminded of this when speaking with our international faculty and sponsors, who frequently remark on the unique camaraderie and enthusiasm they experience at AGES events. One of my primary goals as President was to foster both growth in membership and enhanced engagement across the Society. As I near the end of my term, I take great satisfaction in seeing these goals realised.

Sponsorship and Partnership – A Vital Collaboration
Recently, the AGES Executive Board held its annual day of sponsorship meetings—an intense but invaluable opportunity to meet with our major partners. During these sessions, we assess the past year’s achievements and outline plans for upcoming events. This dialogue is essential, as it allows us to provide feedback on the impact of our events and educational programs, while also giving our sponsors the opportunity to share their own insights on how we can continue to enhance the value of their partnership.

No other society, to my knowledge, offers such a forum for sponsor engagement. These meetings are vital for ensuring the continued success of AGES, as we rely on our strong partnerships to sustain our educational programs and events. I am confident that the relationships we have cultivated with our sponsors will continue to thrive and grow in the years ahead.

A key theme that emerged from these meetings was the focus on education—a principle that resonates deeply with AGES and aligns perfectly with our core pillars:

• Education
• Surgical Training
• Research

As CPD requirements have now moved to an annual basis, many of our members will be seeking educational opportunities to fulfil their obligations. I encourage you to explore the valuable resources offered by our sponsors, including:

• Medtronic (AGES Platinum Sponsor)
• Avant (AGES Education Sponsor)
• Johnson & Johnson
  

These resources are easily accessible via their respective websites by clicking on the names above, and provide a wealth of knowledge to support ongoing professional development.

The Return of the Pelvic Floor Meeting
The AGES Pelvic Floor Meeting made a successful return to Sydney from 26th to 27th July. I would like to extend my gratitude to the Local Organising Committee for putting together a highly engaging program. We were privileged to welcome Professor Jimmy Nomura from Kamogawa, Japan, as our international speaker. His dual expertise in Urology and Gynaecology, along with his role as Director of Urogynaecology at Kameda Medical Centre, brought unique insights to the meeting. Professor Nomura’s presentations were both informative and inspiring, and I know he thoroughly enjoyed his time with us in Sydney. The meeting attracted around 160 delegates over the two-day event, and the conference dinner, held in the picturesque setting of the Royal Botanic Gardens, was a memorable evening filled with the perfect blend of AGES camaraderie—dinner, drinks, and dancing.