Our Team

Dr Ian Douglas

Director & Chair

VBB has been an important part of Ian’s veterinary life since 2005, when he was elected its inaugural president and commenced work, together with Sikkimese veterinarian, Dr Thinlay Bhutia, to establish the now highly regarded SARAH Programme, India’s first state-wide ABC/AR project. He has devised and delivered several surgical training courses in the Asia-Pacific region, is the author of widely referenced publications on clinical aspects of ABC/AR programmes and has been a regular guest speaker at animal welfare meetings. Ian was a VBB director from 2012 until 2021, serving as Chair from 2015 until 2021. Until retiring from veterinary practice in October 2022, Ian operated a neurological and neurosurgical referral service in Adelaide, South Australia. He is a strong proponent of the “one health” philosophy, promoting the collaboration of veterinarians, doctors and other health professionals in efforts to combat disease.

Dr John Allen

Director & Treasurer

Dr John Allen brings with him a wealth of experience in epidemiology and international animal health programs.

After leading DFAT and ACIAR animal and zoonotic disease research and control projects in Indonesia, John vastly expanded his assignments to areas such as Lao, Thailand, Vietnam, Bhutan, Mongolia, and Yemen to name a few.

Following completion of an MBA, John sought a change of career and followed an interest in licensing and commercialisation of research outcomes. Since 2009, John has been the Program Leader for CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness through their International Engagement Program.

John also has made a significant contribution to the ethical conduct of research involving animals and has chaired and held membership on animal ethics committees in Australia and has facilitated the establishment of ethics committees in developing countries.

Dr Helen Byrnes

Director

Helen joined VBB in 2006 when she volunteered in the SARAH Program in Sikkim. She subsequently volunteered on VBB’s Ladakh and Bylakuppe projects, before joining the Board of VBB. Helen graduated with first class honours in veterinary science from University of Queensland in 1988 and subsequently completed a Bachelor of Medical Studies and Graduate Certificate in Trade Mark Law and Practice. Helen is a member of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists by examination in pharmacology. She also has private veterinary practices in Brisbane, Australia. For several years, Helen served as coordinator of the SARAH Program.

Dr Kirsty Officer

Director

Kirsty graduated as a veterinarian from Murdoch University in 1995. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts (Politics and History) and a Master of Veterinary Studies (Conservation Medicine). Alongside her career as a veterinary clinician, Kirsty has maintained strong professional interests in animal welfare, public health, and conservation medicine.

Kirsty first encountered VBB as a volunteer in 2007 and was a part of the team which delivered the first VetTrain initiative in India 2009. She remains passionate about the health and welfare of community dogs, and continues to be regularly involved in dog health programmes both within Australia and overseas. Since 2009 Kirsty’s work has been centred in Southeast Asia, with roles in the development and oversight of sustainable veterinary programmes with organisations focused on wildlife conservation and welfare. Working alongside remarkable veterinarians across a range of different contexts has strengthened Kirsty’s belief in the power of accessible and relevant veterinary education initiatives to improve animal welfare.

Kirsty is currently undertaking a PhD, focussed on the transmission of human disease to captive wildlife.

Jane Sharwood

Director

Jane has brought to Vets Beyond Borders experience from close to 40 years of local and state government economic, community development and governance. Jane’s experience from remote and regional councils (New South Wales and Victoria) and most recently at the City of Melbourne building a strong network of international city to city relationships. Through the fostering of partnerships with business, government and community partners Jane expertise contributes to VBB’s program through developing, mutually beneficial and collaborative projects.

Jane was appointed in 2007, as the lay member of Museum Victoria’s animal ethics committee. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Australian National University), Graduate Diploma in Recreation Planning (University of Canberra), a Certificate in Wool Classing and is a member of the Australia Institute of Company Directors. Fine weather finds Jane working in the garden, volunteering at the local nature reserve, and supporting a range of local community organisations.

Dr Norman Blackman

Director

Norm Blackman is a veterinary professional with extensive experience as a Company Director, a consultant to industry and government and in a range of leadership and management roles involving animal and agricultural industries with a primary focus on the health and welfare of animals. Key areas include various roles involving industry and government policy development, program operations management, change management, management of technical and trade issues, research, provision of management and policy advice to other organisations, human resource management, financial management, compliance management, risk management and corporate governance. Through his experience as a Non-Executive Director on the Board of a medium sized insurance and financial services company for 8 years he clearly understands the relationship between the Board, the CEO and Senior Management. In senior management roles throughout his career, he gained extensive experience in strategic and operational planning and the preparation of detailed reports on technical and policy issues, Board papers and other documents requiring Board consideration He has a proven track record in internal and external stakeholder engagement and has successfully facilitated consensus-based outcomes, often in complex situations where stakeholders have conflicted interests.

Dr Nicholas Sangster

Director

Nick was a University teacher and researcher including roles as Professor in Veterinary Parasitology (Sydney) and Professor in Veterinary Pathobiology and Head of School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences (Charles Sturt). He is a registered Specialist in Veterinary Parasitology and a private consultant in the area of antiparasitic agents as well as past Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal for Parasitology. For the AVA Nick was a Board Director from 2019 to 2022 and member/chair of the Audit and Risk Committee. He remains an Associate Editor of the Australian Veterinary Journal. Other awards include Fellow of the Australian Society for Parasitology, Diplomate of the European Veterinary Parasitology College and Presidents Award from the AVA (2022). Previous engagements include with Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority  APVMA), Veterinary Surgeons Board of NSW, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), Council of Veterinary Deans of Australia and New Zealand and Meat and Livestock Australia.

Ben Stapley

Director

Ben graduated from the University of Adelaide with qualifications in Architecture and Law in 1998. With a deep interest in public policy – especially the interactions between human and natural environments, Ben has worked across governments and industry to promote careful and considered approaches to public policy. With roles in the Commonwealth Department of the Environment, Ben worked to harmonise Australian ozone protection regulation consistent with international commitments. After leaving public service in 2007, Ben has worked for multiple national industry associations including those representing the crop protection industry, chemistry industries and dairy farmers. In 2016, Ben was appointed as the Executive Director of Animal Medicines Australia where he continues to promote animal health as a key tool that can help address sustainability, food security and animal welfare issues.