As the worldwide consequences of COVID edge toward the first anniversary, 2021 appears to be delivering further disruption and the unknown. I recall the difficulties our Board had in the decision to cancel the Sydney 2020 Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand (USANZ) Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM). This decision has been vindicated, as now in-person international scientific meetings do not exist and may never be quite the same. We are observing the second wave of COVID with shock and hope that the production and rollout of the vaccination program bring relief soon. It is a time when we need to show kindness and collaboration, and share resources and learning to help everyone get through.

Australia and New Zealand have pursued an elimination strategy in dealing with COVID that has been remarkably successful in preventing cases plus maintaining business as usual locally. It has, however, kept us internationally isolated, which is likely to continue until global COVID herd immunity is obtained.

USANZ has elected to push “pause” on in-person events and review options for virtual member education. There has been an explosion of on-line educational material, although we recognize the value of our ASM was the memories created by personal interactions and direct observations. Virtual meetings have struggled to provide this engagement. We do need to continue and provide locally relevant educational content plus a vehicle for our members and trainees to present their research. We had scheduled our 2021 ASM for March and the Urological Association of Asia (UAA) meeting for August in Sydney, along with myriad sectional and training meetings.

The Royal Australian College of Surgeons (RACS) has elected to hold their Annual Scientific Congress (ASC) May 10 to 14 as a virtual meeting and invited all surgical disciplines to join them. This meeting is based in Melbourne and will be held in-person if possible, although it is set up as a virtual format. USANZ elected to integrate our ASM in the RACS ASC to celebrate the first ASC meeting that all surgical disciplines will attend. Professor Henry Woo, as urological convener, has developed a program mixed with international speakers, cross-discipline sessions, the best of local talent and our valued trainee presentations: the Keith Kirkland and Villis Marshall awards. There is a strong focus on equity and local relevance (https://www.surgeons.org/en/conferences-events/annual-scientific-congress).

Mr. David Winkle has stepped up as the UAA President-elect, and USANZ was planning to showcase Sydney at the Congress in August this year. The UAA leadership under the guidance of Allen Chui, Secretary General, elected to postpone this event and hold a combined virtual meeting instead. This will see scientific input from all 4 major regions of the UAA, use a central Professional Congress Organizer (PCO) and cover a broad urology footprint. USANZ, with David Winkle, will open this event to be held August 19 to 21. The proposed Sydney UAA Congress is now planed for 2022.