Board members and approved persons

Board members

The members of the Veterinary Practitioners Registration Board of Victoria are nominated by the Minister of Agriculture (currently The Hon. Ros Spence MLC) and appointed by the Governor in Council. Appointments are for a 3-year term and Board members are eligible for re-appointment. The Board has 9 members made up of 4 veterinary practitioners, a veterinary practitioner employed by the Crown, a veterinary practitioner employed by the University of Melbourne, a lawyer, and 2 persons who are not veterinary practitioners.

The members of the Ninth Board, which started its 3-year term on 18 June 2022, are:

• President Dr John Harte - veterinary practitioner
• Deputy President Dr Kate Clarke - veterinary practitioner
• Dr Charlie Blackwood - veterinary practitioner
• Dr Tracey Bradley - veterinary practitioner, Crown appointment
• Dr David Colson - veterinary practitioner
• Mr Andrew Jaworski - lawyer
• Mrs Naomi Pye - not a veterinary practitione
• Professor Josh Slater - veterinary practitioner, University of Melbourne appointment

Note that non-veterinary member Ms Kerry Harris resigned from the Board in November 2023, so the Board currently has 8 members.

Scroll down to view biographical information about Ninth Board members.

Approved persons

To help the Board perform its functions, the Board or its President may appoint persons approved by the Governor in Council (known as "approved persons") to:

• conduct a preliminary investigation into a complaint, or
• be part of an informal or formal hearing panel if there are not enough Board members available to sit on the panel or the Board decides a person with special expertise or a lawyer is required for a hearing.

Approved persons appointed by Governor in Council for the period 2022-25 are:

• Dr Susan Chaney - veterinary practitioner
• Dr Clara Lauinger - veterinary practitioner
• Dr Omid Nejad -veterinary practitioner
• Dr Stewart Ryan -veterinary practitioner
• Dr Stacey Sullivan -veterinary practitioner
• Dr Helsa Teh - veterinary practitioner
• Dr Lucy White - veterinary practitioner
• Mr Geoffrey Coates - lawyer
• Ms Carol Geyer - lawyer
• Mr Jack Jacoby - community member
• Ms Sophia Panagiotidis - community member
• Ms Mary Sevdalis - lawyer

	Dr John Harte President, veterinary member  Dr John Harte is a veterinary practitioner with experience in small animal and equine practice. He has held director roles with the Vet Group in Timboon and the Lort Smith Animal Hospital in North Melbourne, and many other executive roles as a consultant, director, chairperson and CEO across various sectors including government, not-for-profit, membership-based, private and public sectors. A graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Dr Harte has a significant track record in both chair and non-executive director roles with over 16 different boards. >> BACK TO LIST OF BOARD MEMBERS
	Dr Kate Clarke Deputy President, veterinary member              Dr Kate Clarke was reappointed to the Ninth Board as Deputy President. A graduate of the University of Queensland and Member by examination of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in Small Animal Medicine, Dr Clarke has worked as a veterinary practitioner in mixed and small animal regional practice for over 20 years in Australia and the UK. Dr Clarke brings strategic planning, leadership, communication and governance skills to the Vet Board from her Master of Business Administration, service on various community councils and participation in the global Homeward Bound program. Dr Clarke works to bring people and initiatives together for sustained animal and human health and wellbeing. With a strong interest in mental health and career engagement, she is a Founding Director of the Sustainable Veterinary Careers not-for-profit initiative, a Policy Advisory Councillor for the Australian Veterinary Association’s (AVA's) Veterinary Business Group executive committee and an AVA graduate mentor, and the Board’s representative on the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council's Sustainable Practice Committee. >> BACK TO LIST OF BOARD MEMBERS
	Dr Charlie Blackwood Veterinary member A graduate of the University of Sydney with a Master of Veterinary Science in mall Animal Practice from Murdoch University, Dr Charlie Blackwood has had a 30-year career as a veterinary practitioner with a focus on small animals, horses and cattle. At Warrnambool Veterinary Clinic, Dr Blackwood’s work involves surgical and medical treatment of small animals, with additional work in beef and dairy cattle. Dr Blackwood is a Member of Australian and New College of Veterinary Scientists in Ruminant Nutrition. Dr Blackwood is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Directors and brings significant experience in governance to the Vet Board. He has been a Director of Warrnambool Veterinary for over 20 years and was a Member of the Board of Moyne Health Service for 12 years.  >> BACK TO LIST OF BOARD MEMBERS
	Dr Tracey Bradley Crown appointment, veterinary member Dr Tracey Bradley was reappointed to the Ninth Board as the Crown nominee for the Board. A graduate of the University of Melbourne, Dr Bradley has worked as a veterinary practitioner in mixed practice in Australia and the United Kingdom. Dr Bradley is a Member by examination of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in Epidemiology and holds a Master of Public Health. Dr Bradley joined the Department of Agriculture in Victoria in 1995, working in field and laboratory roles. She now focuses on aquatic species as Principal Veterinary Officer, Aquatic Animal Health, covering areas of research, policy and national strategy. Dr Bradley was recently seconded to the Department of Health for 8 months to work in the Intelligence Unit on the COVID-19 response in Victoria. >> BACK TO LIST OF BOARD MEMBERS
	Dr David Colson Veterinary member A graduate of the University of Melbourne with a Master of Dairy Cattle Medicine and Management and a member of the Cattle Chapter (Ruminant Nutrition) of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists, Dr David Colson worked in mixed practice in South West Victoria for over 30 years - most recently as Senior Veterinarian with The Vet Group where he helped to develop strategy and policy and maintain clinical standards. Dr Colson brings extensive clinical experience as a small animal and production animal veterinary practitioner to the Vet Board. His long-term professional involvement in many and varied industry, scientific and education programs and industry networking has given him a broad understanding of the Australian veterinary industry and the environment in which it operates. Dr Colson has held honorary or Board positions with WestVic Dairy (Dairy Australia Regional Development Program) and the Australian Veterinary Association, and he served as Deputy President during the term of the Eighth Vet Board.   >> BACK TO LIST OF BOARD MEMBERS
	Mr Andrew Jaworsksi Lawyer              Mr Andrew Jaworski is a qualified solicitor with a focus on the health industry who has worked in both the public and private sectors. Mr Jaworski is currently General Counsel of the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, a role which has provided him with a strong understanding of inquiries, complaints, government and regulatory frameworks, ethics and statutory interpretation. >> BACK TO LIST OF BOARD MEMBERS
	Mrs Naomi Pye Non-veterinary member              Mrs Naomi Pye has a business management background through her director roles with the Gardiner Foundation, Southern Rural Water and Boldrewood Dairies. Her committee experience with Australian Dairy Farmers, United Dairy Farmers Victoria and the Victorian Farmers Federation, has given her a sound understanding of the importance of governance, stakeholder engagement and innovation and and a strong industry reputational standing. As a non-veterinary member, Mrs Pye has experience in using veterinary services in an on-farm environment. >> BACK TO LIST OF BOARD MEMBERS
	Professor Josh Slater University of Melbourne appointment, veterinary member              Appointed to the Board in October 2021, Professor Josh Slater is a veterinary practitioner with 35 years’ experience in equine practice in the United Kingdom. Professor Slater is currently Acting Head of the Melbourne Veterinary School and Head of Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at the University of Melbourne. Professor Slater has worked extensively with regulatory and professional bodies in the UK and in Europe, having served on committees and advisory groups overseeing examination and registration, practice standards and complaints. He brings a range of experience to his role at the Vet Board including assessment and maintenance of competency at undergraduate and post-graduate level and professional development and continuing education. >> BACK TO LIST OF BOARD MEMBERS