Governance

AVA Board of Directors 2026 – 2027

The AVA is governed by a distinguished Board of Directors, each of whom is appointed according to the Association’s Constitution.

Directors are elected by members and include four (4) veterinarian directors, three (3) sector directors each representing the Cattle (1), Equine (1) and Small Animal (1) sectors and up to two (2) independent directors.

All Directors have a three-year term and are remunerated. The President , Vice President and Chair are elected by the Board as outlined in the Constitution.

Dr Diana Barker
President

Dr Diana Barker is an experienced small animal surgeon and the managing director of a practice group in Melbourne’s inner suburbs employing more than 60 staff. She holds an Executive MBA from the Monash Business School and obtained her Membership with Australia New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in small animal surgery. Diana has represented the profession at both regional and state level including roles with the Melbourne Metropolitan Practitioners Branch and the Victorian AVA Division, as well as being an active member of the AVA’s Veterinary Business Group and the Chair of the THRIVE Advisory Committee. 

Professor James Gilkerson
Vice President

James is currently a Professor of Veterinary Microbiology at the University of Melbourne. Previously, he served the AVA as a Director (2014-2017), as the President of Equine Veterinarian Australia (2007-2008) and as the President of the Victorian Division (2005-6). James is a Fellow of the AVA and the recipient of the AVA President’s Prize, as well as an AVA Meritorious Service Award. His work in equine infectious diseases has been recognised by his peers with the EVA award for excellence (2009) and the South African equine veterinary association ‘Spirit of SAEVA award’ (2020).

Dr Gemma Chuck
Immediate Past President

Dr Gemma Chuck graduated from The Royal Veterinary College, London, in 2006. Moving to Queensland in 2007, Gemma focused on dairy and beef cattle. In 2010, Gemma undertook a residency in dairy cattle medicine at the University of Melbourne, completing a PhD in dairy heifer performance in 2016. She held various roles at Apiam Animal Health and founded her own business, Vetuosity, in 2023, focusing on continuing education for the veterinary profession and its clients. Gemma is a Director of the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA), has served on the Executive Committee of the Australian Cattle Veterinarians, and is an adjunct lecturer at James Cook University and Charles Sturt University. She continues to consult on calf and heifer health in the dairy and beef industries and has co-authored key veterinary textbooks. Gemma is passionate about women’s professional development and advocates for veterinary mental wellbeing. She lives with her husband Jason and daughters Georgina and Emily.

Dr Margaret Reilly
Board Chair

Dr Margaret Reilly graduated from Murdoch University with a Master of Veterinary Studies in 1994. Margaret holds an MBA, is a fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia (FGIA) and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD). As former Professor of Practice (Veterinary Science) at James Cook University, she developed and managed external relationships with the profession, the provision of continuing education for the veterinary discipline and taught veterinary business management to undergraduate students. Margaret has extensive corporate, clinical and academic experience and is the Deputy Chair of the Veterinary Surgeons Board of Queensland. Previously, she owned (or co-owned) two privately operated veterinary practices for 13 years. Margaret has served in numerous leadership roles within the AVA, including Division and Branch President, and has been actively involved in key committees including the AVA Advocacy Advisory Committee and AVBC Sustainable Practice Committee. In 2020, she was awarded the AVA Meritorious Service Award, as testament to her long-term service to the AVA.

Dr David Johnson

Dr David Johnson is a highly respected veterinarian with over 40 years of experience in mixed practice, particularly equine medicine. Over that time, his regional practice grew to a 16-vet team and was recognised with the AVA’s Best Mixed Practice Award in 2014. David has extensive experience in equine sports medicine and attended three Olympics as a vet: Sydney, Hong Kong (Beijing) and was a member of the Australian Olympic Team in London as the show jumping team veterinarian. He is an FEI Official and remains active at race meetings and Three-Day Events nationwide. His contributions to the profession have been honoured with a Fellowship of the Australian Veterinary Association (2017) and Honorary Life Membership of Equine Veterinarians Australia (2021). Now retired, David enjoys golf, bridge, travelling, and time with his family.

Dr Peter Letchford

Dr Peter Letchford grew up on a mixed farm in Queensland, inspiring a veterinary career both managing and caring for livestock. He graduated from Qld University in 1982 and for the last 33 years he has served the north Australian beef industry, working as a flying vet across the Kimberley and Northern Territory. In 2023 he was named Australian Bovine Practitioner of the Year.

Dr Geeta Saini

Dr Geeta Saini has been a small animal GP veterinarian on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, since graduating from the University of Queensland with First Class Honours in 1980. She owned a small animal practice for 30 years, co-founded the first Animal Emergency Clinic (Pet ER) on the Sunshine Coast in 2005 and now works part-time in small animal practice. She has been passionately involved with the AVA throughout her career – at local and divisional levels, serving on the ASAV Executive Committee 2013-2022, ASAV President 2015-2017, ASAV Policy Councillor 2014-2022 and is the current ASAV representative to the WSAVA Assembly. She is a current member and past Chair of the WSAVA Membership and Nominations Committee. She received the AVA Meritorious Service award in 2019 and the ASAV John Holt Memorial award in 2022.

Dr Mark Schipp

Dr Mark Schipp is the former Australian Chief Veterinary Officer, a position he held for 12 years. During that time, he was also a member of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH/OIE) Council, including 3 years as President (2018-21). Mark is an experienced board member and an Australian Institute of Company Directors graduate. As a previous member of the ACT Veterinary Practitioners Board, he has a good appreciation of the issues facing veterinarians in Australia, both in the private sector and in government service. He continues to serve the veterinary profession as a Director of the AVA.

Chris Taylor

Chris is an experienced board director and Chartered Accountant, and former CEO of an animal agriculture research and innovation corporation. He brings expertise in governance, financial oversight and strategy, and has worked extensively across agriculture, innovation, natural resources, sport, member bodies and government to support sustainable, high-performing organisations.

AVA Constitution & Strategic Plan

AVA Board and Committee documents