President's Report

29th August 2002

In reflecting on the past four years I am pleased to report that the Society continues to be in a very healthy financial state, largely as a result of successful ANZSMS17 and ANZSMS18 conferences. Although the current number of ANZSMS members is relatively low at just over 100, this does not indicate the number of people actively involved in mass spectrometry, but is merely a reflection of the number of attendees at our previous conference. Perhaps the new committee might be able to establish a more meaningful membership which is divorced from our biennial conference program.

One of the main uses of our funds has been to support young mass spectrometrists wishing to attend and participate in both local and overseas conferences. It is hoped that the current level of funding will continue and increase over time.

The committee has been actively involved in assisting lecture tours by visiting international mass spectrometrists. These have included Catherine Fenselau (USA), Robert Cotter (USA), Vladimir Bondybey (Germany), John Holmes (Canada), Nico Nibbering (Netherlands), Einar Uggerud (Norway) and Herbert Budzikiewicz (Germany).

The high standing of Australasian mass spectrometry continues to be recognised both nationally and internationally. Our Vice-President, Margaret Sheil, has been invited to present one of the plenary lectures at next year's 16th IMSC in Edinburgh; Margaret is also the Morrison lecturer for ANZSMS19. Also, one of the younger members of our Society, Gavin Reid, has recently been awarded the prestigous Victorian Tall Poppy Award. If these two examples are any indication, mass spectrometry in Australasia clearly has a bright future.

Finally, I would like to offer my congratulations and support to the incoming President of the Society and hope that their term of of office is as enjoyable and rewarding as mine has been


John Traeger