AVA Board of Directors election results announced

The 2024 AVA Board of Directors election saw 9 outstanding veterinarians nominate.

This year there were vacancies for 2 nominees to be appointed as Directors for 3-year terms, and one vacancy for a Director to be appointed for a one-year term.

The 3 successful candidates were:

• Dr Diana Barker
• Dr Gemma Chuck
• Dr Mark Schipp

Terms for the elected directors will be announced at the Annual General Meeting on 20 May 2024. The AGM will be virtual and registration is required to attend. Please click here for more information

We congratulate Dr Barker and Dr Chuck on the renewal of their positions, and welcome Dr Schipp to the AVA Board.

About the elected Board Directors

Dr Diana Barker

“Thank you all for your trust and support in re-electing me back onto the AVA board. It's an honour to serve alongside dedicated individuals. I look forward to continuing to contribute meaningfully to the advancement of our association and our profession.”

Over the past three years, serving on the AVA Board and as President this year has been an honour. I've led impactful change, prioritising member value and advocating for our profession. As President, I've provided stability during leadership transitions, and continued driving constitutional reforms and membership restructuring to modernise the AVA. I've helped recruit a new CEO to renew AVA focus on member value. With a background in veterinary business and strategy, including an executive MBA from Monash University, and experience as a small animal veterinarian, I'm committed to further contributions on the board and seeing these initiatives through.

Dr Gemma Chuck

“I am thrilled to be re-elected for the AVA Board. A second term will enable me to help drive positive change for our association through completion of some very major projects. Thank you to all the members who supported me through this process. I feel privileged to have been given this opportunity.”

Having worked in private and corporate practice, academia and research, I have the breadth of experience to represent our diverse membership demographic. As a rural veterinarian, working mother and business owner, I am a strong advocate for equity and inclusion. An AVA director since 2021, I am actively involved in ongoing board initiatives, including Membership Model and Constitutional Change projects, aimed at increasing AVA flexibility and relevance for members. If re-elected, I will continue to help lead these projects to completion. I am committed to improve member engagement to help ensure the sustainability of the AVA and our amazing profession.

Dr Mark Schipp

“I am honoured to have been elected to the Board of the Australian Veterinary Association and I look forward to serving the profession in this role.”

Mark was Australia’s Chief Veterinary Officer for 12 years. He was a Council member (2012 - 2024) and President (2018 - 2021) of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH/OIE). Mark completed 3 years on the ACT Veterinary Practitioner’s Board, is an experienced board member and graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He is also a Councillor with the Commonwealth and World Veterinary Associations.