I apply for election as BAPES President in order to bring my skills and networks to bear on the next phase of development of this important organization.

The current executive committee has achieved stability with regard to membership, finances, meetings and courses. The next President will need to lead the consolidation of these gains and develop and highlight charitable aspects of the association.

I have been a keen practitioner and strong advocate of paediatric minimal access surgery throughout my career. My previous contributions to BAPES include being on faculty for multiple courses, review of the constitution and active membership of the executive committee.

As past Chair of the Children’s Surgical Services Group at Medway Foundation Trust, past Paediatric Surgery Lead for the West African College of Surgeons UK and Chair the International Affairs Committee (IAC) of BAPS, I have helped establish high impact clinical services, training programs and research both locally and abroad.

I am temperate and measured. I am often asked to mediate in conflict situations and trusted with confidences. I am good at identifying talent and building and supporting teams. My style is to be clear about aims, to provide the space to hear from all stakeholders and then build consensus for actions that emerge in the pursuit of the clearly defined goals. It would be a privilege and pleasure to bring these skills to bear on the job if elected President of BAPES.

Niyi Ade-Ajayi

Dear Colleagues,

I would like to put my name forward for the position of President of BAPES. I was trained in the BBC consortium, and did a clinical fellowship in Washington D.C. before been appointed consultant in Cambridge in 1999. I was one of the first trainees trained in laparoscopic surgery in the U.K., and have always been passionate about MIS. I have had a long association with BAPES. I been member since 2000, and an executive member since 2019.

I introduced paediatric laparoscopic surgery to Cambridge and we now do the full range of paediatric MIS procedures. I wrote up one of the first papers on early experience of thoracoscopic lobectomy in the U.K. I have a lot of experience in teaching and training. I have been running the advanced 3 mm Storz/BAPES laparoscopic course in Slough for the last 6 years, which has trained many of our young colleagues. In addition I bring a lot of experience in U.K administration and organizational matters. I have been clinical director for nearly 10 years in Cambridge, have run National ST3 registrar selection for 4 years, been Royal College representative for 4 years, and have been serving on the SAC for the last 3. I have examined for JCIE and Cambridge University for many years. I have links with many colleagues in the USA and Europe and will be an asset to the association.

As president I will ensure a modern and forward-looking outlook for BAPES. I will like to maintain our independence, and yet collaborate more with our sister associations in U.K, Europe, and the USA. I think regular joint meetings and exchange of expertise, research, and views is important to our future development, and will strive for that. I am a big advocate for mentorship and training at consultant level. I will maintain a regular register of mentors in every region, who can support the development of all centres for MIS. This will ensure smaller centres are not left behind, and their voice is heard. I will strive to make the process easier and centralised so that individuals do not have to organise everything themselves. I will maintain active collaboration with regulatory, educational, and statuary bodies to facilitate support of colleagues and for paediatric MIS. I will enhance outreach to developing countries with regular courses and exchange of expertise.

As president it will be my duty to advocate for our young patients and ensure safety and standards are met at all times. I will be an advocate for clinical standards and evidence-based and results-oriented approach to MIS. I will also strive for more research and development in our specialty. It will also be a huge pleasure to serve all our colleagues and association for the tenure of president, and make sure everyone is supported to the maximum of my ability.

Best wishes,

Adil Aslam