Board of directors

Dr Graeme Smith, OAM

Managing Director

General Manager/Managing Director for the past 20 years, Graeme's face and name is synonymous with The Lost Dogs Home. He is often featured in newspapers, radio and television as an expert on animal welfare issues.

He is passionate about the Home and animal welfare in Australia, and is always looking to improve animal management services in the community. He is a leader and visionary in his field.

Graeme's range of duties at the Home include:

• Leadership & strategic planning for the Home
• Supervision and management of the functions & activities of the Home, including:
  • Policy Development & Implementation
  • Animal Shelters
  • Animal Management Contracts
  • The Veterinary Clinic
  • Human Relations & Staff Training
  • Publicity (IT, Newsletter & Internet website)
  • The National Pet Register
  • Marketing & Fundraising
  • Media Liaison & Promotion of Responsible Pet Ownership
• Liaison with all levels of government & other stake-holders on issues relevant to the Animal Care Industry
• Quality Management & continuous quality improvement
• Represent The Lost Dogs Home Board regarding publicity and policy implementation

John Allen, B. Bus. (Marketing), Dip. Ed.

John brings a wealth of broad-ranging fundraising experience to the Board with over 22 years experience in the sector. He has particular experience and interest in program development, marketing and strategic planning, and governance issues all to enhance professionalism within the not-for-profit sector.

A past President of the Fundraising Institute Australia (Victoria), he was also a Board member of the Institute for seven years until his retirement from this role in 2005. He is a Fellow of the Institute and was recognised by his peers in 2006 through the awarding of the prestigious Arthur Venn Award. He is currently the Executive Director of the Monash University Medical Foundation.

With an avid interest in the conservation of our environment and its habitat, John's passion for animal welfare stems from an over-arching belief that human actions and attitudes to animals reflect mankind's worth within a civil society.

Dr Andrew Tribe

Andrew Tribe has been a member of the Board of The Lost Dogs Home for 11 years, and is currently its Chairperson. He has worked with companion animals for the past 20 years, both in Brisbane and previously in Melbourne, and is currently Senior Lecturer in Animal Behaviour and Management in the Schools of Veterinary Science and Animal Studies at the University of Queensland

From 1992 to 1996 Andrew was Director of the University's Veterinary Science Farm and prior to this was the Senior Veterinarian at the Royal Melbourne Zoological Gardens.

Dr Tribe is actively involved in Animal Behaviour teaching and research, and in particular has recently been supervising a number of animal behaviour research projects investigating the effectiveness of environmental enrichment and temperament assessment in improving animal management and welfare.

Dr Keith Farfor

Dr. Keith Farfor was educated at Melbourne Grammar School & Universities of Melbourne, Zurich, & London. Married Deirdre Hyde, daughter of Admiral Sir Francis Hyde.

Keen ocean racer for many years, won places in all major East Coast Australian races, owner/skipper of "Superstar" 1977 Admiral’s Cup. Chairman Victorian Yachting Council Committee that wrote the Safety Rules for Yachting Victorian waters.

Founder of Keith Farfor & Associates Pty Ltd, consultants in Occupational Health & Safety and all matters relating to WorkCover. Has served on numerous Victorian Government Committees in Occupational Health & Safety matters. Founder President of Australian Lighthouse Association, former president of the Wine and Food Society of Australia, Justice of the Peace, Bail Justice (retired 2000), adviser to some animal welfare groups including The Lort Smith Animal Hospital, “Puppy” sponsor, Guide Dogs Victoria.

Brian Walsh

Brian has been a Director of The Lost Dogs Home since 2002. He is also the Director of Communications for www.ourcommunity.com.au, an online resource for Australia's 700,000 community groups. He joined the management team at Our Community in 2001 after a background in media, mainly with News Limited.

He worked with The Sun and the Herald Sun in various senior reporting and management roles over 15 years including deputy chief of staff, National Editor and Weekend Editor. Appointed Managing Editor - Sport in 1999, he was in charge of the News Limited group Olympic sporting coverage at Homebush and was one of 40 editors worldwide selected to judge the finalists in the 2000 World Sports Awards. Brian also spent two years in media and marketing with Tourism Victoria. He is currently a member of the Committee for Melbourne Future Focus Group.

Dorothy McGuiness

Jenny Scovell

Margaret Crossley