My journey with Sydney Dogs & Cats Home started more than 24 years ago as a committed supporter and volunteer.  From working directly with the animals in our care to helping secure our forever home, this organisation has certainly fueled my passion for animal welfare!  I’ve served as the Vice President of our Board to work on the governance of our organisation, and in early 2022, I was subsequently appointed as Managing Director.

For me, it’s more than just a job though. I’ve fostered and adopted dogs and cats over the past two decades and I’ve seen firsthand the love a shelter animal can bring.

Over the span of 30 years, I’ve gathered extensive experience in Operations and General Management, Project and Change Management, and Leadership & Governance in senior leadership positions across various sectors, such as Business Management, Direct Marketing, Finance and Mental Health. This experience fuels my deep commitment to ensuring the well-being of our staff, volunteers and foster carers as we all work together to look after animals in need. I also currently serve as the President of Companion Animal Network Australia (CANA).

My diverse background has also equipped me with skills to help navigate complex business operations, lead transformative projects, and facilitate effective change management, that is helping to secure the future of Sydney Dogs & Cats Home.

As Head of Animal Care at Sydney Dogs & Cats Home, my dedication to animal welfare drives every aspect of my work. Since graduating as a veterinarian in 2012, my goal has been to merge medical expertise with a passion for animal welfare and behaviour.  

Shelter medicine holds a special place in my heart. It’s not just about providing veterinary care; it’s about understanding the intricate world of animal behaviour within a shelter environment. My vision revolves around transforming shelters into proactive hubs, focusing on prevention through initiatives like desexing and community education.  

I am passionate about addressing the root causes of animal homelessness and believe that community support and education are paramount in the solution to this, coupled with preventative measures such as microchipping and desexing. 

With a strong foundation in Veterinary science and dedication to advancing shelter medicine, my team and I aim to improve the lives of animals at Sydney Dogs & Cats Home. My mission is to spark change and advocate for a world where every single animal is treated with the care and empathy they rightfully deserve

As a passionate fundraising and marketing specialist with 25 years’ experience in not-for-profit, corporate and agency, I am committed to bringing pets and people together. I’ve had rescue dogs all my life and I’ve seen the benefits a rescue animal has on family life. 

I’ve worked with some of the biggest global charities in aid and development, conservation and healthcare, running large and complex fundraising, advocacy and marketing campaigns, to grow relationships, revenue, reputation, and to advocate for change. I’m passionate about understanding and engaging with our supporters and partners. They are key to our sustainable future.

I’m also experienced and passionate about taking a strategic approach, creating efficient processes, capturing robust data to aid decision making and identifying ways to improve.  

At Sydney Dogs & Cats Home, my team and I are excited to support the organisation’s growth and connection with the community so we can help even more animals in need.  

Our volunteer Board is democratically elected by our Membership and provides strategic direction, governance and oversight to Sydney Dogs & Cats Home.

I’ve proudly maintained a long-standing connection with Sydney Dogs & Cats Home, beginning in 2012 when I was appointed as the Home’s first Fundraising & Marketing Manager. Over eight incredible years, I worked alongside a dedicated team of staff and volunteers to elevate the Home’s profile, deliver impactful fundraising campaigns and events, and build long lasting and successful partnerships.

Among my proudest achievements include; laying the foundations for our successful fundraising programs, leading our rebrand, and securing our crown-land site in Kurnell. As well as opening my heart and home to 3 Chihuahua’s, Checkers, Chilli and Chia, SDCH alumni who were and are (we lost Checkers in 2024) the centre of our family.

Currently, I hold the position as Senior Manager – Aviation Relationships at Sydney Airport. I thrive on building and nurturing strong, long-lasting partnerships. My career spans over 20 years in leadership roles, with 15 years dedicated to the not-for-profit sector.

I’m deeply passionate about the animal welfare space and the core values that Sydney Dogs & Cats Home represents. The impact we make—both for the animals in our care and the joy and compassion we bring to the broader community—is something I hold close to heart.

My advocacy for Sydney Dogs & Cats Home and what our staff and volunteers do day in, and day out remains unwavering. I’m committed to continuing our momentum as we strengthen our strategic direction and continue to build a sustainable financial position—ensuring we remain the Home of Hope for Sydney’s lost and abandoned pets for generations to come.

I’ve been a volunteer at SDCH since 2019 and my volunteering has continued throughout the transition of the dog kennel operations from Carlton to the Austral site. Over the past two years, my involvement expanded to become President of the Board. I attend regular shifts at the Austral kennels and I’m looking forward to my first volunteer shift at our new purpose-built Home in Kurnell!

Professionally I am a Director at an advisory firm that helps businesses improve performance, manage risk, and achieve stability and growth. Over my career I have held leadership positions in governance, operations management, continuous improvement, and risk management.

During the past seven years I have demonstrated my commitment to the SDCH as an active volunteer in the kennels and a Board Member. I remain committed to actively volunteering in the shelter, and value the opportunity to work alongside our volunteers and dedicated staff members to deliver expert care, love and hope to animals in need.

I will also maintain my involvement in community events, where I have contributed for many years, with the aim of raising awareness and educating the broader public about the essential services provided by our dedicated team of staff, volunteers, foster carers, donors and supporters.

I look forward to the transition to the new Home at Kurnell and the opportunity to chart a sustainable path forward, and to contribute to the ongoing development and success of SDCH.

I am very passionate about rescues, and the team at Sydney Dogs & Cats Home is one very close to my heart. I began volunteering both as a kennel hand and in reception in 2017. My dog, Cookie, is a foster-fail from Sydney Dogs & Cats Home, and have fostered many puppies to help them find their furever homes.

Since that time, I’ve also been fostering countless cats (4 foster fails to-date), 12 rescue chickens & 4 rescue ducks. I have since studied my Cert II in Animal Studies, and have almost completed my Cert IV in Vet Nursing. I am passionate to continue learning about companion animals, as well as supporting the amazing team at Sydney Dogs and Cats Home to continue to grow & evolve.

My background is Telecommunications Engineering. I have been in the telecommunications industry for the past 20 years, and have had a career grow from selling mobile phones for Vodafone, C2One & Crazy Johns, to delivering projects, enabling sales, developing change & comms plans for customers through Optus, AAPT and Telstra. I am currently Head of Programs for Canary Technology Solutions, where I own the delivery for both our clients, and internal strategic projects.

I’m thrilled at the opportunity to support the build & launch of Kurnell and hope to contribute to the future strategy & growth of this fantastic organisation.

Growing up in Tasmania, on what would be considered a hobby farm, I’ve always been surrounded by and loved animals of all shapes and sizes.

I volunteered at a young age with my mother for Meals on Wheels in our local Tasmanian community, before continuing my volunteering with Catholic Healthcare in Sydney as a companion for nursing home residents and also Sydney Dogs & Cats Home as a dog walker!

With my passion for volunteering and animals, as well as my background in finance, when the opportunity to assist Sydney Dogs & Cats Home as an active board member arose, I was excited to be involved.

I look forward to becoming part of the team and assisting in any way that I can.

My involvement with the Sydney Dogs and Cats Home (SDCH) started over 20 years ago as part of a corporate volunteering day for Westpac. My team and I walked the dogs, helped with admin tasks and were super impressed with the amazing work the SDCH team did with very little resources.

The original SDCH home in Carlton was already surrounded by higher density housing, and over the next few years it became clear that a new home would be needed, because the landlord wanted to redevelop the site.

I stayed involved by becoming a member, then a donor and, during COVID, a foster carer as well. Two years ago, I joined the board to help with the build of the new SDCH home in Kurnell.

I started my career in corporate strategy design and implementation at the Boston Consulting Group in Sydney and worked for several large Australian and international corporations, including Westpac, TABCORP and Macquarie Group. I have a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Wuerzburg in Germany and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Cornell University in the USA.

Since 2015, I’ve held the position of Managing Director of Trinity Ventures, which invests in unlisted high-growth companies and Crissan Property Pty Ltd, a property investment and development company operating in NSW and QLD.

In addition, I serve on a number of boards, including Hullbot, The Conflict Islands Conservation Initiative (CICI) and the Rona Ellis Foundation.

This coming year marks the beginning of a new chapter for SDCH and the amazing team with the opening of its purpose-built facilities and I am excited to offer my skills and support.

I am a passionate advocate for animal welfare, and I am honoured to serve on the board of Sydney Dogs and Cats Home. With more than 20 years of executive experience across property, human resources, and transformation—including senior roles at Sydney Airport and Brambles—I bring a strategic mindset and a commitment to creating positive community impact.

Animals have always been a central part of my life. I share my home with Daisy, my 15-year-old rescue greyhound, and have volunteered with animal charities including the RSPCA for over five years. These experiences have deepened my belief in the importance of compassionate care and sustainable outcomes for both people and animals.

I hold an MBA from MGSM, a Master of Labour Law from Sydney University, and a Bachelor of Business from Western Sydney University. I am dedicated to using my skills in strategy, stakeholder engagement and transformation to support the mission of Sydney Dogs and Cats Home—helping to deliver measurable social value and foster a caring community for Sydney’s most vulnerable pets.