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Management Committee

An elected management committee (or board) provides strategic direction and oversight for Wildlife Health Australia.

Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment representative:	Chief Environmental Biosecurity Officer Ian Thompson (Chair)
Animal Health Committee representative:	Chief Veterinary Officer - Victoria Kevin de Witte
Individual member representative:	David Phalen
Organisational members representatives:	Wildlife Disease Association Australasia (represented by Andrew Peters) Wildlife Health Surveillance Victoria (represented by Anna Meredith) Australian Veterinary Conservation Biologists (represented by Robert Johnson)
Invited member:	Rodney Vile

Ian Thompson
		Ian Thompson is Australia’s inaugural Chief Environmental Biosecurity Officer. He is the primary representative of and advisor to the Australian Government on all matters relating environmental biosecurity risks. Ian has previously led biosecurity policy and emergency response, plant industry policy, field crop issues, plant health, native title, drought management, water infrastructure and water reform, rural adjustment, rural leadership and rural research issues. Most recently Ian’s responsibility spanned sustainable agriculture policies and programs, fisheries, forestry, agricultural and veterinary chemicals, community and Indigenous engagement and Landcare. Ian has a Bachelor of Natural Resources degree from the University of New England.

Kevin de Witte
		Kevin de Witte became the Tasmanian Chief Veterinary Officer in 2019. In this new role he is becoming acquainted with the different animal industries in Tasmania and their animal health issues and the arrangements in Biosecurity Tasmania and DPIPWE that service Tasmanian industry and community. A large part of his focus to date has been in the aquatic industries. His main responsibilities include the Centre for Aquatic Animal Health and Vaccines, disease surveillance, animal welfare and emergency response and he works closely with colleagues in the Animal Health Laboratory, product integrity, marine resources, EPA and cultural heritage to service all Tasmanian animals including wildlife. Most recently Kevin was CVO in the NT for three years with responsibilities including President of the Veterinary Board NT and responsibilities for abattoirs, livestock welfare and chemical residues. Prior to that period he was with Animal Health Australia for 10 years in the surveillance, emergency animal disease research, vaccine banks, endemic diseases and welfare areas. Kevin’s early career was spent as Regional and Principal Veterinary Officer in the NT based in Katherine (21 years) and other jobs and places in the NT between 1983 and 2006. Kevin's interests outside of veterinary work include anything outdoors especially walking and photography. Despite being born and raised in Far North Queensland and spending most of his life in the Top End, Kevin is enjoying the community, climate and environment in Tasmania.

David Phalen
		An Associate Professor of Wildlife Health and Conservation at the University of Sydney with 35 years of experience, David has expertise in infectious, nutritional and toxicological diseases of wild amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. David has worked in Australia since 2006 and routinely collaborates locally, nationally, and internationally with university-based scientists, government agencies and not for profit organisations. To this end, David has been a strong supporter of Wildlife Health Australia, and has been involved in writing new fact sheets and updating others, participating in the disease surveillance reporting, providing expert opinions, being a member of the Universities Focus Group, and promoting Wildlife Health Australia among students and members of the public whenever there is an opportunity. It is one of David’s most important missions to protect biodiversity in Australia.

Andrew Peters
		Andrew is Past Chair and Treasurer of the Wildlife Disease Association Australasian Section. He is a veterinarian who completed his PhD examining protozoal diversity and evolution in Australo-Papuan birds. He is employed as a Lecturer in Veterinary Pathology at Charles Sturt University's School of Animal & Veterinary Sciences where he divides his time between teaching, research and clinical diagnostics. Andrew has an interest in developing wildlife health capacity in PNG and views low regional animal health capacity as a threat to Australia's biosecurity.

Anna Meredith
		Professor Anna Meredith joined the University of Melbourne in July 2018. Previously, she was the Professor and Chair of Zoological and Conservation Medicine and Associate Dean International at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, and Director of Postgraduate Taught Programmes in the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine at the University of Edinburgh. She was Head Veterinary Surgeon at the Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland for 17 years and established the University of Edinburgh’s Exotic Animal and Wildlife Unit, leading its development into an eight-person team. She has written or edited a range of veterinary textbooks, including chapters in nine British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) manuals, as well as publishing almost 100 scientific publications. She received the BSAVA Blaine Award in 2003 for outstanding contributions to the advancement of small animal veterinary medicine or surgery. Professor Meredith’s research in conservation medicine examines the interrelationship between ecosystems, animal and human health; her work includes a recent high-profile study published in Science that showed British red squirrels harbour two strains of the bacterium that causes leprosy. Professor Meredith is a Fellow and Specialist in Zoological Medicine of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, a Fellow of the Zoological Society of London and a Specialist in Wildlife Population Health of the European College of Zoological Medicine.

Robert Johnson
		BVSc MANZCVS CertZooMed BA Grad Dip Asian Studies Robert Johnson is the nominated representative for the Australian Veterinary Conservation Biologists special interest group of the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA). He has a longstanding background in mixed, wildlife, zoo and reptile practice, including 7 years as a clinical veterinarian at Taronga Zoo. From 2015-17 Robert served as the National President of the Australian Veterinary Association. Robert is a member of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists and holds a Certificate in Zoological Medicine from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. In May 2015 he was elected President of the Australian Veterinary Association. Robert has extensive clinical experience in zoo animal medicine and has presented and written widely on reptile, zoo and wildlife medicine. Robert still serves as a director of the AVA, is also a director of Vets Beyond Borders and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. In his spare time Robert enjoys reading, cartooning and studying Mandarin.

Rodney Vile
		Rodney is the Principal Officer Wildlife Emergencies for the Victorian Department of Environment, Land Water and Planning (DELWP). In this role he develops policy, response plans and training programs for the declared wildlife emergencies within Victoria and provides strategic leadership and advice to the State during incidents. Rodney represents DELWP on Victorian and national committees to ensure that wildlife emergency response plans are developed in line with industry best practice and that synergies between response agencies are developed. He has undertaken a range of roles that has given him experience in extension, regulation and enforcement, vocational training and development, emergency management and program and project management at senior levels. The development of response plans and training programs is a key strength. Rodney is also the Victorian environmental representative for Wildlife Health Australia and is well familiarised with our work.

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