New RACGP CEO ready to ‘listen to learn’

‘I want members to know we have their back. That we will provide them with the education, the support, and the access to information that’s relevant when they need it.’
 
That is the ultimate goal of the RACGP’s new Chief Executive, Georgina van de Water, who is preparing to take on the top job in April.
 
With a background in business operations, improving systems and structures, and customer service, working alongside the Board and the President, she wants to see the college moving forward in a way that best serves its members, while at the same time making a difference in the Australian healthcare landscape.
 
‘We need to make sure we’re listening to learn – that we’re hearing what the members are looking for from us so that we can put our energy and efforts into the things that will give us the most impact,’ Ms van de Water told newsGP.

‘We need to understand where the challenges are for communities accessing quality care, and we need to understand what the impacts are for our GPs, as well as their practices and practice staff.
 
‘We need to really put our finger on the pulse and make a difference where it’s needed.’
 
Ms van de Water will officially commence her new role on 5 April, taking over from interim CEO Adjunct Associate Professor David Hillis.
 
Her appointment follows the sudden departure of former CEO Paul Wappett in November.
 
Commencing at the RACGP in 2022 as the Chief GP Training Officer, Ms van de Water came armed with an impressive resume of leadership and change-making roles, including CEO of GP Synergy, and Chief Operating Officer at regional training provider and primary health network, WentWest.
 
‘Access to care through the work that GPs do is just so immensely important and that’s the reason why I chose to come across to the RACGP in the first place,’ she said.
 
‘Immediately when I arrived at the college, my team was filled with amazing people who want to do really good work, and they do really good work.
 
‘What the organisation stands for is setting the standards for general practice, the education of our practitioners, and making sure we’re advocating for the things that are really important to communities.’
 
Ms van de Water said she has continuously been inspired by the work done by the college, but ‘thought long and hard’ about applying for the role of CEO.
 
‘But then I thought, “you know what, why wouldn’t I put my hand up?”,’ she said.
 
‘Being able to apply my skills and experience and actually make a substantive difference to the future of the college is really exciting.

‘I’ve always been a leader within the organisation, I’ve always held an executive role, so I’m continuing the journey but in a different layer within the organisation.’
 
Ms van de Water was unanimously selected by the RACGP Board as CEO, after an extensive search for the right person.
 
During her tenure as part of the general practice training program, the college tripled its employees and added a diverse range of systems and sites across Australia.
 
That program has already proven successful, with 2775 of the college’s GPs in training reporting improved experiences, teaching, supervision, and exams.
 
Now, Ms van de Water has big plans for the college’s future.
 
‘I feel an enormous amount of responsibility to ensure the college succeeds, and for me, that means working with the teams and ensuring they understand how every role within the organisation contributes to the college’s achievements,’ she said.
 
‘For me, it’s about enabling the experts to do the work they need to do and making sure we’re at the tables we need to be at to get those messages across.
 
‘I want to make sure that our members see the RACGP as adding value to their daily role and also as an organisation that they can rely on.’
 
Outside of work, Ms van de Water resides in Sydney with her husband and two sons – there, she likes to spend her down time with family, reading, or hitting the gym.
 
‘I like to exercise every day, so I either go for a walk with my husband in the morning or I’m actually a member of the Punch Love women’s fitness boxing gym, and I really enjoy it,’ she said.
 
‘Family is really important to me, and I’ve also got a 10-year-old dog, so he’s a key part of our family too.

‘I want [my family] to be proud and I know I’m setting an incredible example for them, but when they need me to be Mum, that’s what keeps me grounded.’
 
Ms van de Water will now take a few weeks off before she spends the next month transitioning into her new role.
 
And while she has a busy period ahead of her, learning to lead an organisation of more than 40,000 members, she is ready to take on that challenge.
 
‘Sometimes it might be more comfortable for people not to take opportunities when they’re presented to them, and the challenges are real,’ she said.
 
‘My goal is to not be overwhelmed by the enormity of what’s ahead, but to focus on the steps we can take to success and to draw on the strengths of others around me to help achieve that.’
 
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