AGES XXXV ASM

Dear colleagues,

On behalf of the Australian Gynaecological Endoscopy Society, I am delighted to welcome you to beautiful Perth, Western Australia, for the AGES Annual Scientific Meeting 2025. This year’s theme is “Foundations, Finesse, Frontiers”. With this theme, we return to our roots, namely the provision and oversight of the safest and highest standard of clinical and minimally invasive surgical care.

• 'Foundations' represents our commitment to revisiting our core surgical roots and refreshing knowledge in advanced laparoscopic pelvic surgery
• 'Finesse' signifies our dedication to refining techniques and elevating our practice to excellence
• 'Frontiers' embodies our forward-looking approach, embracing research and innovation to propel our specialty into the future

We have designed an engaging program encompassing a wide variety of sessions,  tailored to meet the needs of both generalists and experienced laparoscopists. Over the course of three days, participants will have the opportunity to attend a wide range of sessions and workshops. In addition to focusing on complex surgery, there will also be sessions on endometriosis, fertility, hysteroscopy and more. This comprehensive agenda is intended to explore the full spectrum of contemporary issues and innovation in minimally invasive gynaecological surgery.

This year, we are excited to honour Perth as the home of the Anatomy of Complications (AC) Workshop. This workshop was the brainchild of Professor Ian Hammond and Dr John Taylor and has been running for almost 20 years. Current convenors Professor Yee Leung, Associate Professor Krish Karthigasu, and Dr Robyn Leake will facilitate a live, on-stage dynamic AC Workshop case discussion that promises to be highly educational, stimulating and entertaining.

We are also honoured to welcome many esteemed international speakers, in a meeting that will highlight AGES’ new commitment to strengthening our relationships with several international societies including APAGE, ESGE, BSGE and AAGL.

We warmly welcome Dr Jeffrey Woo, a minimally invasive gynaecological surgeon and Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, hailing from Eastern Virginia Medical School. Dr Woo was elected by the AAGL in 2023 as the Editor-in-Chief of SurgeryU, an international peer-reviewed surgery video library. Some of you may already be familiar with his highly popular and educational Instagram page @MigsTips. He brings a wealth of experience in complex gynaecological surgery alongside novel surgical education techniques.

We are delighted to highlight a live talk from Professor Horace Roman on day three of the program. Dr Roman is a pioneer of laparoscopic surgery and has been performing complex surgery for deeply infiltrating endometriosis with a dedicated multidisciplinary team for many years. He will focus on nerve sparing surgical techniques.

This year the conference will be hosted at the Crown Perth Complex, located on the edge of the Swan River and close to the city centre and airports. March is a beautiful month to visit our city: the wind has subsided, the temperature is still warm and the sun will be shining. We invite you to make the most of our wonderful weather and stunning beaches. Consider taking a short trip to the picturesque Swan Valley, the expansive Kings Park, or the renowned Margaret River wine regions during your stay. No visit is complete without a trip to Rottnest Island with it's incredible natural beauty, unspoilt landscape and endearing quokkas.

We look forward to a stimulating program filled with insightful discussions, innovative research, and opportunities for collaboration.

Thank you for joining us as we embark on this exciting journey together.

A/Prof Emma Readman and Dr Jennifer Pontré
On behalf of the Organising Committee