AVA Board of Directors

Diana is an experienced small animal surgeon and the managing director of a practice group in Melbourne’s inner suburbs employing more than 60 staff.  She holds an Executive MBA from the Monash Business School and obtained her Membership with Australia New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in small animal surgery. Diana has represented the profession at both regional and state level including roles with the Melbourne Metropolitan Practitioners Branch and the Victorian AVA Division, as well as being an active member of the AVA’s Veterinary Business Group and the Chair of the Veterinary Wellness Steering Group.

Since graduating (USyd 1990) Sally has been involved in many aspects of our profession - mixed practice, referral and university equine practice, wildlife, the pharmaceutical industry and research. An AVA member for over 20 years, past AVI President and past convenor of the AVA national conference (2014-2018), she believes in our Association and its unwavering commitment to animal health and welfare.

David worked in mixed practice for 20 years, before taking up an academic career at the University of Melbourne, where he graduated with a PhD in animal welfare in 2018.  David has been an AVA member since graduating from the University of Melbourne in 1990.  He has spent time as an employee, an employer, as deputy president of the Veterinary Practitioners Board of Victoria and as a member of the Victorian Government Animal Welfare Advisory Committee.  He currently works part-time at Apiam Animal Health, the University of Melbourne and is Editor-in-chief of the AVJ.  A Fellow of the AVA, David has held the positions of ACV Scientific Officer and Scientific Convenor of the AVA Annual Conference. David has been a member of the AVA since graduation in 1990.

Gemma graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2006 and completed her PhD from the University of Melbourne in 2016. Gemma works for Apiam Animal Health in the Dairy Operations team where she writes technical service programs, including the ProDairy Partnership, for famers and vets. Gemma is an Adjunct Senior Lecturer at James Cook University and dairy veterinarian at Tableland Veterinary Service, Malanda. She is currently on the Executive Committee of the Australian Cattle Veterinarians and enjoys contributing to the broader veterinary industry. Gemma has co-authored the calf health chapters of four globally renowned veterinary text-books, has multiple published papers in international peer-reviewed journals and was a contributing author to the most recent editions of Dairy Australia’s InCalf Book for Dairy Farmers and Rearing Healthy Calves.

James is currently a Professor of Veterinary Microbiology at the University of Melbourne. Previously, he served the AVA as a Director (2014-2017), as the President of Equine Veterinarian Australia (2007-2008) and as the President of the Victorian Division (2005-6). James is a Fellow of the AVA and the recipient of the AVA President's Prize, as well as an AVA Meritorious Service Award. His work in equine infectious diseases has been recognised by his peers with the EVA award for excellence (2009) and the South African equine veterinary association 'Spirit of SAEVA award' (2020). In 2023 James commenced a two-year term as the EVA nominee to the AVA Board.

A member of the AVA since 1969 with a wealth of 51 years’ experience as a GP veterinarian.  A member of EVA, ASAVA and VBG, an executive member of the ACV serving as President from 2017-2019. This included fighting the deregulation of pregnancy testing in Queensland.  With over 25 years of thoroughbred racing administration experience at control body level in Queensland.  I’m passionate about the sustainability of veterinary practices, ethics, the welfare of veterinarians and the mentoring of students.

Bronwyn served as the AVA President from May 2022 to May 2023 and has been on the Board since 2019. Bronwyn is a 2013 JCU graduate passionate about the veterinary profession. Since graduating, she's completed a Master of Science degree, Membership with the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists, a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She has experience across small and mixed practice, government, shelters, academia and policy. She currently works in government and private practice.

Tracy started her career in small animals whilst completing a Master’s. After, she focused on cattle and reproduction whilst completing a PhD. Tracy has also enjoyed government roles in biosecurity, live animal export, and abattoir. Currently, she operates Australian Veterinary Semen Morphology and is the distributor of iSperm. She has been an active member of the Australian Cattle Vets for over a decade, recently as President. Tracy also wears hats as a beef producer, for Cattle Australia, the Biosecurity Council of WA, and Roebuck Plains Station. Always learning, she is a graduate of the AICD and the ARLP, and is currently studying for a Graduate Certificate in Aboriginal Studies. She looks forward to contributing to the AVA Board.