Professor Ajay Rane is Professor and Head of Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Consultant Urogynaecologist at James Cook University. He is Director of Urogynaecology at The Townsville Hospital. He was born in England and after finishing his early schooling went to rural India and did his MBBS degree from the University of Poona and also his training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, which got him the MD in Obstetrics, and Gynaecology from the University of Poona. He then went to England and completed his Masters from Liverpool University in Urogynaecology before obtaining his MRCOG from the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in London and FRCS after doing Urology and General Surgery to improve his surgical skills.

He then moved to Australia as a specialist obstetrician and gynaecologist and was awarded the FRANZCOG by the Royal College in Australia. He also did advanced training in Urogynaecology for which he was awarded the CU in the year 2000. He has completed his PhD with the James Cook University looking at various postures on the toilet and its effect on micturition. He was awarded FICOG (Hon) in January 2010 by the Indian College of Obstetrics & Gynaecology for his work in Chennai and FRCPI (Hon) in 2013 for his work on FGM and female infanticide and feticide.

He was appointed Professor and Head of Faculty at the James Cook University in 2003.

He has written more than 100 peer reviewed papers and 160 non-peer reviewed papers. He has written 2 books and numerous chapters in his career to date. He is a Reviewer for International Urogynaecology Journal, ANZJOG, Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. He has been MRANZCOG examiner, Treasurer for RANZCOG, Chairman of Basic Surgical Skills Committee and member of Provincial Fellows Committee and Research Committee of the College and College Vice President. His unit is actively conducting research in physiology, neurophysiology, vaginal reconstructive surgery, the use of mesh in vaginal repairs etc.

His extra-curricular activities involve mountain climbing, golf and playing the saxophone. He has two children and a very supportive wife, Paula.

Prof Rane has been nominated for the Queenslander of the Year award in 2009 and was Queensland Finalist for the Australian of the Year award 2010, He has also been bestowed with the prestigious Paul Harris Fellowship by Rotary International. His was nominated for the ‘Queensland Greats’ award 2011 and Citizen of the Year 2013.

He was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for his work in Urogynaecology in 2013. He was also awarded the Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Award at the House of Lords in 2016 for philanthropic work in women’s’ health by a non-resident Indian. He was awarded the Pride of Australia medal in 2019 and most recently awarded Queensland Great 2021. His philanthropic works include setting up a fistula hospital in Chennai – The Paula Rane fistula ward named by the Tamil Nadu Government. He has now set similar models of care in Nepal, PNG and Fiji.

His wife and he support an orphanage in Chennai providing an auto rickshaw, computers, books, uniforms and dental kits for these children on a regular basis. As Chairman of FIGO fistula and genital trauma committee, he has a global task to eradicate obstetric fistulas and genital mutilation.

Prof Rane will provide regular Urogynaecology and General Gynaecology services at Ramsay Cairns, jointly with his colleague Dr Jay Iyer.