BAMOS Dec 2020
President ’ s report
Angela Maharaj
By the end of 2020 , Fiji was assessing the damage left by Cyclone Yasa — reported to be the strongest tropical cyclone in the South Pacific since Winston ( 2016 ). Queensland and northern NSW were also cleaning up after heavy rain and dangerous flooding . And Sydney was on high alert with a COVID-19 outbreak . We ended 2020 in the same vein as we spent much of the year — navigating our way through a series of compound events .
2020 was a busy year for AMOS . We wrote seven government submissions , contributed to submissions and statements developed by other scientific organisations and participated in a range of virtual events . 2021 looks to be even busier . AMOS will hold its first ever virtual conference . With more than 400 abstracts submitted , the organising committee is now working hard to provide a high quality event which meets the professional needs of our community .
BAMOS is also going through some changes . Belinda Campbell has stepped down as Editor and Melissa Lyne has taken the helm . My deepest thanks to Belinda for all her hard work over the past three years and welcome to Melissa in this new role . Belinda will continue contributing to BAMOS as part of the editorial team and Melissa is moving up from her Assistant Editor role . We have an excellent editorial team that helps keep BAMOS sourced with news and interesting articles from across the community and I want to express my gratitude to the entire editorial team for ensuring that BAMOS lands in our inboxes four times a year . One of the news pieces in this edition is the announcement of our prize winners and new AMOS Fellows . I hope you will join me in congratulating each and every one of them .
In other news , AMOS is looking for a new Secretary to join the Executive team as Sonya Fiddes ’ term will expire at the next AGM . The Secretary is probably the most important role in the society and I strongly encourage AMOS members to consider taking this on . Sonya and I are available to chat with anyone who would like to know more about the role .
I don ’ t know about the rest of you , but 2020 left me spent . I hope you set time to put work aside over the holiday break , put your feet up and spent quality time with family , friends and a good book . I wish you and yours a happy 2021 .