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Image Courtesy of Ákos Lumnitzer - amatteroflight.com
Wildlife Health Australia (WHA) staff at Head Office.
Rupe has been with WHA from its beginnings as the Australian Wildlife Health Network in 2002. His main activity involves supporting the WHA Management Committee, staff and a diversity of stakeholders in their efforts to further develop and improve Australia’s animal health system with an emphasis on improving Australia’s overall national surveillance capability to support protection of Australia's natural environment. The priority is for a good general wildlife health surveillance system that can be used to help protect Australia's trade and animal health industries, human health, biodiversity and tourism. A second priority is assisting in improving Australia’s emergency disease preparedness and response capability by focussing on any wildlife component. Rupe's PhD was in elephant seal anaesthesia and he assisted Larry Vogelnest in editing the Medicine of Australian Mammals. He is a member of the International Association for Public Participation, Governance Institute of Australia and the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Rupe is interested in Australia, people and how good decisions are made. View Rupe’s profile on LinkedIn.
Rupe was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia in the Queen's Birthday 2016 Honours List for significant services to veterinary science, and to the management of wildlife health and welfare.
Andrea is a veterinarian who joined Wildlife Health Australia as a part time project officer in January 2016. After graduating from Sydney University, Andrea completed a veterinary residency at Melbourne Zoo, gaining a Masters in Zoo and Wildlife Medicine. Andrea has over 17 years experience working as a clinical vet in Australia’s major zoos, including Perth, Taronga and Melbourne Zoos and is a member of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists in Medicine of Australasian Wildlife. She has been involved in a wide variety of wildlife and conservation programs both within Australia and overseas, including in situ conservation programs for the endangered northern hairy nosed wombat, brush-tailed bettong, eastern barred bandicoot and African painted dog. Andrea recently lead a collaborative research project to investigate the potential role of disease in small mammal population declines in Northern Australia.
Silvia is a veterinarian from Brazil who has joined Wildlife Health Australia in the end of May 2016. After graduating, she has coordinated an array of database projects and has also a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Following her interest in wildlife health and conservation, she concluded a Masters of Wildlife Health and Population Management at The University of Sydney. Her research project was on coccidiosis in green turtles. Silvia has also consolidated risks and mitigation strategies of feeding wild birds in Australia, and she is thrilled to work in a multi-stakeholder environment that improves wildlife disease management.
Malcolm joined WHA as a Systems Analyst in September 2019, and is analysing Wildlife Health Australia’s website and database, and reviewing current IT processes and security. Malcolm is working to develop solutions to any technical difficulties that can be implemented by WHA, and provides expert support to current and new technical processes. Malcolm previously worked in the corporate information and communication technology world for over 30 years at a number of large scale multinational companies. During that time he held a variety of IT service delivery roles ranging from hands-on technical support, account management, project and program management across the Asia Pacific region. Malcolm has always had a strong interest in the environment and related issues. A desire to use his experience in a more meaningful way led him to WHA.
Lisa is a communications professional who has worked in public and private practice, for NGOs, not-for-profits and state and federal governments. She has tertiary qualifications in professional communications and Australian history and politics. Her early work with the Australian Defence Force enabled public information activities to be supported from national and overseas deployments, United Nations missions and conflict zones. Her more recent work has highlighted the plight of threatened species in Australia and around the world, and engendered public understanding and support. Lisa has provided services to Wildlife Health Australia for several years, and was proud to join the team officially in August 2019.
