Board & governance

RSPCA Australia is a federation, made up of eight state and territory RSPCA Societies and the national office, RSPCA Australia.

The RSPCA in Australia is a federation, with eight autonomous state and territory RSPCA entities being members of the federal body, RSPCA Australia. Each of the nine entities is governed by a Board. The Board of RSPCA Australia comprises one nominated director from each of the eight member Societies, plus a recruited Chair and a number of other recruited directors.

RSPCA Australia works with its members in establishing national policies and positions on animal welfare, as well as working with both government and industry on national animal welfare issues.

Jan Edwards

Chair

Jan Edwards was appointed to the Board of RSPCA Australia in August 2022.

Jan is a recently retired CEO of a regional bank that traded as a social enterprise. She has held senior positions in insurance & superannuation, banking, manufacturing, and consulting industries in Canada, the UK, USA and the Middle East.

In addition to her RSPCA appointment, she is a Board Member of Social Traders Australia, Warringah Financial Services Limited and Dying with Dignity NSW. Her past Board and Committee memberships include Wingecarribee Shire Council Risk and Audit Committee, HarbisonCare Retirement Village, Southern Highlands Botanic Gardens, APRA Advisory Committee, Prudential Assurance Superannuation Co Pty Limited and Oxley College Private School.

Jan has an Honours degree in Psychology and Statistics and a Master of Business Administration. She is a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Professional Accountant with membership with the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants and the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand. Jan is a member and graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Jan is a committed proponent of purpose driven organisations where the mission, vision and values are focused on positive societal impact. She is also the proud owner of three delightful, if exhausting Kelpies.

Alexandra Wedutenko

Director

Alexandra is the Board President of RSPCA ACT and joined the RSPCA Australia Board in 2019.

Alexandra is a leading Government and ICT lawyer and regularly presents on the latest developments in commercial law, contract management and cyber security and related topics. She has been voted by her peers as one of Australia's Best Lawyers: Government (2008-2019) and Information Technology Law (2015-2019).

She has served on the Board of Clayton Utz and been a member of its Finance Risk and Audit Committee. Alexandra has also held the role of managing partner of the Canberra office of Clayton Utz and is currently chair of the Clayton Utz Cyber Security Board (since 2014).

Alexandra has had diverse experience as a director of not-for-profit boards including the ANU School of Music and the National Foundation for Australian Women. Alexandra also has a strong pro bono practice in governance, corporate structuring and ICT.

She is an enthusiastic supporter of various charities focused on animals, medical/human health and human well-being. She has an interest in the arts and supports the work of the National Gallery of Australia and the National Library of Australia.

Alexandra has a strong interest in sporting activities and has represented the ACT in touch football and dragon boating and Australia in dragon boating.

Her current pets are two groodles named Remi and Oscar.

Chris Chilcott

Director

Chris joined the RSCPA Darwin Board in July 2023. Chris is a senior leader in science and industry working across Australia and internationally in the agricultural, resource and environment sectors. Chris has a PhD in ecology and a Bachelor of Science and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course.

In his current role as Deputy Director with CSIRO, Chris supports the strategic planning and operational delivery of the Environment Business Unit’s 800 strong national presence. He has extensive experience in governance, regulation, research and outreach and brings to the board an impressive depth of enterprise risk management.

Chris and his family have called the Northern Territory home for the last ten years and adopted Tango in 2021 from RSCPA Darwin.

Ian Cowie

Director

Ian is the Chief Executive Officer of the City of Gosnells, a position he has held since 2009.

Previously, Ian was the Director of Governance and Strategy at the City of Joondalup for three years and a Director at the Department of Local Government for over 10 years, where he represented Western Australia on the Commonwealth Government’s National Consultative Committee on Animal Welfare and participated in the development of Australia’s first National Animal Welfare Strategy. Ian was also responsible for the development and implementation of Western Australia’s current Animal Welfare Act 2002.

Ian holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree with first class honours from the University of Western Australia and a Masters Degree in Economics from the London School of Economics.

In June 2014, Ian received the Public Service Medal in the Queen's Birthday Honours, for his outstanding public service, particularly to the City of Gosnells.

Jo McKennariey

Director

Jo McKennariey is an accomplished executive and board member with over 20 years of experience in leadership and governance. Her dedication to animal welfare has been a lifelong commitment, leading her to join the RSPCA QLD board in 2017 and the RSPCA Australia board in 2022.

In addition to her deep advocacy for animal welfare, Jo brings expertise in strategy, governance, organisational design, culture, talent management, stakeholder engagement, communications, and community investment. She has applied her skills across diverse sectors, including financial services, energy, technology, government, and non-profits.

As an RSPCA QLD and RSPCA Australia board member, Jo has witnessed the importance of education and proactive support in preventing animal cruelty. This experience fuels her mission at Pet Card, where she is dedicated to advancing animal care and welfare standards.

Jo holds a Bachelor of Arts in Politics & Government from Griffith University, an Executive MBA from Melbourne Business School, and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).

Karen Malzard

Director

Karen Malzard joined the RSPCA Australia Board in January 2024, and is the Chair of the Finance, Audit & Risk Committee. Karen has over 25 years’ experience in the Australian Finance Services Industry, focussed on life insurance and superannuation. She is currently the Chief Risk Officer for Resolution Life Australasia.

Prior to joining RLA in 2020, Karen held senior executive roles in the Wealth Division of the ANZ Bank, Zurich Financial Services and BT Financial Group. Karen holds an MBA and a B.Comm from the University of New South Wales and is an associate member of the Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand.

Karen has a passion for dogs and horses, having previously spent time as a riding instructor for Riding for the Disabled and currently has a very cheeky Jack Russell named Teddy.

Mark Steele

Director

Mark is a member of the Board of RSPCA NSW and is a life member of RSPCA NSW. He has undertaken pro bono legal work for RSPCA NSW for many years, is Chair of its Governance Committee and a member of its Animal Welfare Committee. Mark joined the RSPCA Australia Board in 2022.

Mark’s background is as a barrister and senior counsel at the NSW Bar, where he specialises in commercial disputes and corporate law. He has practised as a barrister since 1995 and was appointed Senior Counsel in 2013. Prior to 1995, Mark worked for ten years as an investment banker in London, New York and Sydney, for Salomon Brothers Inc and Goldman Sachs & Co.

Mark has a Bachelor of Commerce degree and a Bachelor of Laws (1st class Honours) degree from the University of Melbourne and a Bachelor of Civil Law degree from Oxford University. He is currently undertaking a PhD in Law at the University of Sydney, where he is also on the Editorial Board of the Sydney Law Review.

Mark and his wife, Mia (who is also a director and life member of RSPCA NSW) have had a succession of beloved RSPCA rescue dogs over the years and are currently fostering a pug for the RSPCA, who is called Dora (when she is good) and Gremlin (when she is not so good).

Neelesh Mehta

Director

Neelesh has over 25 years’ experience across the financial services and retail industries in Australia and overseas. He has extensive experience working in international markets and a passion for the benefits of education.

Neelesh is a Fellow of the Institute of Company Directors, and a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia. He has served as Futurity Investment Groups Deputy Chairman and is currently on their Noms and Rem Committee and also their Investment Committee. Having worked on their Audit Committee and their Risk Committee earlier. He is also the CFO and Board Member of Texas Peak Group, and Managing Director of Jaipur Asset Management Pty Ltd.

He has served as Chairman of The Gawler Cancer Foundation and as an Invitee to the Governance Committee of Samarinda Ashburton Aged Services, whose Board he served previously. He has also worked as founder Chairman of We Ride (Australian Cycling Promotion Fund) and Emerge Australia.

Neelesh is an animal lover and Board Member of RSPCA Victoria, and chairs their Audit, Risk, and Finance Committee.

Rob DiMonte

Director

Rob joined the RSPCA Australia Board in April 2022 and is the President of RSPCA South Australia, where he has served on the Board for 7 years. He is a chartered accountant and professional company director.

Rob has held many board roles over the past 38 years and is currently a director of The Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium of South Australia, Chair of Junction Australia; GP Partners Australia; Australian Grain Technologies Pty Ltd, RAA Board Nominations Committee; Credit Union SA Board Nominations Committee and PIRSA Risk and Audit Committee.

He is driven by purpose and is passionate about improving the social and economic wellbeing of South Australians, the importance of animals in people’s lives and consequently their wellbeing.

RSPCA Australia is a federation, made up of eight state and territory RSPCA Societies and the national office, RSPCA Australia.

Member Society boards

RSPCA Australia board

Meet the RSPCA Australia Board

Jan Edwards

Alexandra Wedutenko

Chris Chilcott

Ian Cowie

Jo McKennariey

Karen Malzard

Mark Steele

Neelesh Mehta

Rob DiMonte

Stay informed on big issues and how you can help improve animal welfare across Australia.