Mags was born in Beirut, Lebanon immigrating to Australia in 1975 just as the civil war was breaking. She is fluent in conversational Arabic, is one of 7 children (Yes-Catholic Family!) and understands the difficulties of growing up between 2 cultures. Whilst at RSPCA , she helped develop and operate programs that improved access to veterinary care for those in our community that were socially isolated, elderly and financially constrained as well as those in remote and indigenous communities in NSW. She is passionate about Animal Welfare but knows that improving the lives of the Veterinarians that look after them is a key factor. She is an advocate for diversity and inclusion in our profession and breaking down barriers that still exist so that we have a sustainable profession into the future.

The daughter of Malaysian immigrants, Sharmila has lived the struggles faced by migrants in Australia. Since graduating as a Veterinarian in 2018, the intersection of her LGBTIQA+ identity and ethnicity has driven her to remove barriers to the creation of a diverse veterinary workforce. An active member of Australian Rainbow Veterinarians and Allies she worked on the float design for the 2021 and 2022 Mardi Gras Parade and is the Creative Director for World Pride 2023 ARVA Parade float.

Sharmila actively promotes health and wellbeing both within and outside of the veterinary profession. She is founder of dessert brand Sweet Bites of Mine, providing healthy and delicious ethical treats and snacks. She also teaches Les Mills group fitness classes around Sydney. Somewhere between all of this she also works in clinical veterinary practice around Sydney.

Alex is Australia’s first profoundly deaf veterinarian and has been a part of the profession for 22 years.

He has diverse experience working in the University of Melbourne vet school in academia, has worked in corporate small animal practice and has also spent 10 years of those as a practice owner in a large group of veterinary hospitals in Adelaide, before suffering professional burnout and needing to step away to spend time with his family. Alex passionately believes in tapping into diversity in the community, and exploring how different people bring different skills to the table for the benefit of all. He sees embracing the differences as embracing the strengths, and that is a mindset that the veterinary profession needs to embrace now and into the future. Mental health and disability advocacy are two passions of his.

He is a proud father of 2 girls, and loves scuba diving, travel and photography.

Jodie is a warrior, and her remarkable resilience, unique perspectives, and ability to innovate have shaped her award-winning veterinary career. As a diagnosed autistic and ADHD individual with a late life acquired physical disability, she knows what overcoming challenge to succeed really looks like.

Jodie’s passion belongs to the people who make up her communities, and her mission is to move the individuals she works with from surviving, to thriving. Jodie is currently sharing her time between her family, wellbeing consultancy, PhD research, and her work as an emergency and critical care veterinarian at Australia’s busiest animal emergency hospital.