AIAM Annual Conference on urban animal management
Mercure Hotel
Geelong Victoria

13-16 October 2009

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SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES

 

pauleenPauleen Bennett is currently the Director, Anthrozoology Research Group,  Animal Welfare Science Centre, Monash University. Pauleen trained as a Behavioural Neuroscientist and Clinical Neuropsychologist but was always interested in animals. After completing her PhD she began breeding and training dogs and became more and more interested in the complex roles that companion animals play in our lives. She was fascinated that some people are more devastated by the loss of a pet than by the loss of a family member, and that animals manage to find themselves embedded in every aspect of human community.   This prompted Pauleen to change career paths, and she now teaches  courses about animals in society and animal welfare in both Australia and the USA, as well as conducting research into various aspects of companion animal care and management. She hopes to have a real impact on the way that dogs and cats and other species are cared for in our community and ensure that companion animals continue to enrich the lives of community members. When she’s not at work she’s at home on her farm, surrounded by dogs, angora goats and alpacas. She also occasionally assists her partner Ron, who is responsible for caring for dogs and cats admitted to the local pound.

 

tonypeearsonTony Pearson has a background in building and environmental health. He has worked in local government for 20 years with experience working in Tasmania, Victoria and South Australia. For the past ten years Tony has been working in supervisory and management positions and has been the team leader for Health and Ranger services at the City of Onkaparinga since 2004.

Tony is active on local and state committees and has a passion for best practice in the industry. Tony thrives on the challenges that animal management presents on a daily basis and is keen to see Animal Management Officers recognised for the difficult roles they undertake.

 

debkelly2Deb Kelly completed a Bachelor of Science at Flinders in biochemistry and physiology and worked as a clinical biochemist in Victoria for a while then went and did a Bachelor of veterinary Science and a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery at Murdoch.

She is currently the executive officer to the Dog and Cat Managaement Board in South Australia managing the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the Dog and Cat Management Act and has done so for a decade now while taking on other positions and roles along the way. These have varied from Manager Resource Protection, Manager Public Communications, Ministerial Liaison Officer and Chief of Staff in the Office of the Chief Executive. Deb sits on the South Australian SAMSCAP committee and is the Government observer to the RSPCA Council, a member of the zoo board and a past Vice President of the Royal Zoological Society.

 

tammieTammie King completed a BSc (Hons) majoring in Zoology at The University of Melbourne and is currently undertaking a PhD at Monash University within the Anthrozoology Research Group and Animal Welfare Science Centre. She also works part time as a veterinary nurse. Tammie is interested in research involving human-animal interactions, more specifically, studies which involve domestic dog behaviour and ways in which dog welfare can be improved. Her current PhD involves developing a scientifically standardised and validated behaviour assessment for adult companion dogs.  

 

kateKate Mornement has held a life-long love of animals and a keen interest in their behaviour, how they learn and how their environment influences their behaviour lead her to pursue an education in Zoology. She completed a Bachelor of Science with honours in zoology at LaTrobe University in 2003. Kate is currently completing her PhD in canine behaviour at Monash University, Melbourne. Her research aims to develop and validate a standardised behavioural assessment protocol to determine adoption suitability in shelter dogs. Kate also runs an animal behaviour consulting business called Pets Behaving Badly, is editor of Shelter Research newsletter and writes about pet behaviour for various print on online media.

 

Dr Jacqui Ley BVSc(Hons), MACVSs(Veterinary Behaviour) CMAVA PhD, is the inaugural Hills Resident in Veterinary Behavioural Medicine and is currently working with Kersti Seksel and the Sydney Animal Behaviour Service in Sydney and the Melbourne Veterinary Specialist Centre in Melbourne. She graduated from Melbourne University in 1995. While studying she recognised veterinary behavioural medicine as an area of veterinary medicine that brought together her interests in animal behaviour, animal training and the functioning brain. She obtained her membership to the Veterinary Behaviour Chapter of the Australian College of Veterinary Medicine in 2000. Jacqui has completed a PhD describing a model and a questionnaire for assessing canine personality at Monash University as part of the Animal Welfare Science Centre. Jacqui has been involved in teaching the Graduate Certificate in Animal Welfare at Monash University. She has presented to dog owners, dog trainers, dog walkers, veterinarians and veterinary nurses, and dog clubs about owning dogs, understanding dogs, cats and other pets and helping them fit into our confusing and complex world.

 

susieSusie Chaseling is the NSW Consultant for Petcare Information and Advisory Service (PIAS) Susie works with the media, local and state government as well as industry, welfare and community groups to promote socially responsible pet ownership.  Susie has worked with PIAS since early 1995 and has been involved in the urban animal management movement for most of that time.  Prior to joining PIAS Susie worked in the grain and animal production industries, she has a Bachelor of Applied Science, Agriculture and is the Secretary of the Australian Companion Animal Council. 

 

Peter Maddern has the following formal qualifications - Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (1974); Master of Environmental Law, University of Adelaide (1998) and Master of Regional and Urban Planning, University of South Australia (2002), and is accredited by the: Institution of Engineers Australia; Australian Acoustical Society; Planning Institute of Australia (February 2004). He has practiced as a Consulting Engineer providing advice on acoustic and other mechanical engineering matters such as this since 1980, and has appeared as an expert witness on well in excess of 50 occasions, since the early 1980’s, inclusive of appearances (in South Australia) before the South Australian Supreme Court; South Australian District Court (Civil and Criminal); Environment, Resources & Development Court; Planning Appeals Tribunal; Liquor Licensing Court; Magistrates Court and the Industrial Court. He is the Court appointed acoustic expert for the South Australian Magistrates Court.

 

tamaraTamara Shardlow grew up in semi-rural NSW with her best friend Beau the Blue Cattle Dog. After finishing her Communications Degree, Tamara travelled around Australia living and working on farms and wildlife sanctuaries and studying horticulture. Having an innate interest in people and their links to community she has worked as a project manager for an art based community organisation in Adelaide, and in community engagement and communications officer positions for both corporate and community organisations in Melbourne. Since 2007, Tamara has married her interest in both pets and people by working as a consultant for the Petcare Information Advisory Service.  She has spent the last 6 months project managing the research translation document Living Well Together with Dr Lisa Wood.  Over two years, Tamara has worked closely with experts in the field of animal research, acted as secretary for the AVACCAC and co-authored submissions for government animal legislation.  She is now planning the next phase of Living Well Together which will target community at its grass roots. In her spare time Tamara illustrates and writes children’s books about dogs and cats that save the world.

 

davidDr David Jones BVSC (Hons), Grad Dip adult Ed, Dip Bus Man, Cert IV in Training and Assessment. After spending 20years in Veterinary Practice in rural SA, David is now Principal Lecturer of the TAFESA Veterinary and Applied Science Centre Gilles Plains SA and has been lecturing for TAFESA for 22 years. The Veterinary and Applied Centre provides training for the Animal, Racing and Laboratory Technology Industries in South Australia. He has been involved with the writing and implementation of the Animal Care and Management Training Package at a national and state level and the coordination and delivery of the Certificate IV in Animal Control and Management and short courses for Animal Management Officers in South Australia. In 2004 David coordinated the Pre conference training sessions for Animal Management officers when the UAM conference was held in Adelaide. He is currently involved in a joint project developing an induction package for newly employed Animal Management Officers for the Dog and Cat Management Board in SA. He is currently the Educators representative on the National Industry Advisory Group for Veterinary Nurse training.

 

Linda Marston is a Research Fellow with the Anthrozoology Research Group at Monash University. She completed her PhD in 2006, investigating ways to improve the success of dog adoptions from animal welfare shelters. This research has resulted in the development of many strategies to improve the well-being of dogs in shelters and has been recognised by the International Fund for Animal Welfare. Over the past four years Linda has worked with many Australian state governments to inform policy related to the management of dogs and cats in the community and to improve reporting from the shelters and pounds in their jurisdiction.
She has published widely in the scientific literature, writes occasionally for the print media, contributes to the review panels of a number of scientific journals and presents her research regularly at local and international conferences. Linda has designed and delivers courses on animal behaviour and handling for AMOs and pound employees, is currently involved in developing animal welfare education for children with Animal Aid. She works closely with urban planners to promote the positive incorporation of dogs and cats into the urban landscape.
Her research is focused on the human-companion-animal relationship in all its forms including; the welfare of companion animals, the effects of companion animals on human health and well-being and cultural differences in pet ownership.

 

georgeGeorge Sofronidis holds an honours degree in molecular biology and is business development manager of animal diagnostics at GTG. He has over 15 years of dedicated experience in molecular biology and the way it can assist in areas of animal management.  Following his initial work and research in forensic science at the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine he moved his focus into the area of animal reproduction and conservation.  A career which has seen him work on some of Australia’s most endangered mammals and research which has focused on the role of sperm competition and conservation genetics.  George has worked at Monash University, Melbourne University and the Zoological Parks and Gardens Board.  He has extensive experience in building and developing business relationships with animal enthusiasts both, domestic and livestock.  He continues to focus on educating breeders, farmers, vets, associations and pet owners on the benefits of DNA testing in particular the insight it brings to all animal enthusiasts. His thorough knowledge of the animal industry is driven by his strong appreciation of the benefits animals bring to our society.

 

Greg Talbot is the Executive Officer of the Shire of Yarra Rangers – Local laws team. A relative newcomer to the field of Animal Management Greg has worked in various roles for State Government with the Victorian Prison Service and Community Correctional Services.

 

Ms Adele Steel, is the Urban Animal Management Officer for the Dog and Cat Management Board and has worked in the in Animal Welfare Unit since June 2004. Adele says that the best part of her job is working with the animal management officer groups and team leaders to increase the professionalism and recognition of the role of an animal management officer.  She is a current member of the Veterinary Surgeons Board.  She emigrated to Australia in 2003.

 

Tracy Helman has been employed by the Bureau of Animal Welfare (Victorian Government) since December 2007. Her key role is Manager of Policy and Education specifically for Domestic (Feral and Nuisance) Animals legislation. The role oversees the Responsible Pet Ownership community, school and kinder programs, the "We are Family" program and "Who's for Cats?" campaign along with compliance and licensing. Tracy has a Post Graduate Diploma in Reproductive Science from Monash University, a Diploma in Applied Science (Animal Technology) and also holds a Certificate 4 in Workplace Assessment and Training. Previously Tracy was the Manager of Animal Ethics and Research at Peter MacCallum Cancer Hospital and has taught Genetics, Advanced Animal Breeding and Animal Ethics and Welfare as part of the Animal Care and Management training package. Tracy is a member of the board or Primary Skills Victoria the Industry Training Advisory Board for the Animal Care and Management, Agriculture and Conservation Management training packages and sits on a wide variety of national Industry training committees.

 

Vanessa Rohlf, a former Veterinary Nurse, is a PhD candidate studying relationships between owner attitudes and their behaviours towards dogs. She also lectures and tutors Psychology at Monash University Gippsland.

 

Cimon Burke

Cimon was admitted to legal practice in 2007 and holds an honours degree in Laws and Legal Practice and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Adelaide. Cimon worked briefly in the South Australian Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions before joining Wallmans Lawyers in 2008 as a specialist practitioner in the Local Government team. 

Cimon advises metropolitan and regional councils on a diverse range of governance issues and regulatory matters relevant to local government practices and procedures including:

With a keen passion for and an appreciation of the political environment in which local government operates, Cimon's approach is to provide her clients with practical solutions that will withstand public scrutiny.

 

Tony Rolfs is a Local Laws Officer with the Surf Coast Shire in Torquay.  Tony has 20 years in Local Government and has worked in a variety of fields which includes animal control in both metropolitan Councils and now with Surf Coast which is non-metropolitan/semi-rural.