New RACGP CFO focused on improving member objectives

Away from the desk, you will find Pranay Lodhiya looking through a camera lens, ‘clicking away at whatever comes into my path’.
 
He is even a published author, transforming his experience of Melbourne’s COVID-19 lockdowns into a coffee table book.
 
But back behind the desk, Mr Lodhiya is the RACGP’s new chief financial officer (CFO), and he has big plans for the college’s future.
 
‘I’m very focused on driving cultural change and building strong teams that are committed to the cause,’ he told newsGP.
 
‘It’s about having the right people around you, having people who were better than you in some ways, and bringing the best out of people.’
 
Mr Lodhiya began with the college in August, bringing with him three decades of financial knowledge and experience.
 
His previous roles include CFO of Peninsula Health and the Bureau of Meteorology, as well as financial positions with The University of Western Australia and La Trobe University.
 
‘I’ve worked in health and hospitals and understand some of the challenges in the health sector more broadly in Australia, and how important the GP profession is to Australia,’ he said.
 
‘I’m very understanding of the challenges that are being faced with the decline in numbers in the profession and what that means in terms of the flow-on impact that goes through the hospital system.’
 
Mr Lodhiya said he has several key aims for the organisation and its future, all based around strong values and culture.
 
‘A large part of my career, particularly since 2008, has been focused around transforming finance and bringing cultural change in the way finance is managed,’ he said.
 
‘I want to spend time listening to my executive colleagues, listening to my leadership team, and just understanding some of the challenges and then trying to paint a picture as to where some of the pressure points are.’
 
He also believes the college is in a ‘fantastic position’ and ready to launch into its next phase, having only recently once again taken over Australian General Practice Training (AGPT).
 
‘In five years, I’d love to say that we’re in a financially sustainable position so that we have been able to reinvest in key initiatives that really improve member objectives,’ Mr Lodhiya said.
 
‘We have a very strong voice, and we have a strong policy input in terms of the health outcomes more broadly, and that can only be achieved if we’re in a position to be able to reinvest in some of those key objectives.
 
‘I’m very idealistic in terms of improving outcomes, but I’m also very pragmatic … sometimes you need to make decisions now and they may not be perfect, but they’re needed now to keep things moving.’
 
Mr Lodhiya said transparency is a key part of this push towards achieving better outcomes for GPs and the Australian public.
 
‘We have to be able to tell the story behind the numbers. We need to be accountable and we need to ensure that the financial stewardship is of the highest standard,’ he said.
 
‘We are now a large organisation, and we need to have the systems, the governance and the frameworks in place that align with a large organisation.’
 
As he spends more time delving into Australia’s healthcare landscape, Mr Lodhiya said his appreciation for GPs and the work they do each day is only growing.
 
‘It’s really interesting,’ he said.
 
‘It’s really quite emotive what the GPs have to face, the different communities with different needs.’
 
And while he’s already fascinated by the experience so far, he’s also excited about the college’s future and its potential for growth.
 
In the meantime, keep an eye for the RACGP’s new camera-wielding CFO.
 
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