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Promoting safer practices at incidents involving domestic animals
Strategy - Policy - Knowledge Advancement- Practices
About
Photo supplied by David King
Photo supplied by David King
The purposes of the association are:
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To provide a focus and benefit for, and collaborate with, a range of stakeholder groups to promote safer practices at incidents involving domestic animals. To advance practices and knowledge in all aspects of incident management involving animals, including research, policy, education, planning, safety, and practices to improve animal welfare outcomes.
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Engage with local, national and international organisations to share knowledge, skills and identify opportunities to inform continuous improvement, knowledge, and skills transfer in all aspects of incidents involving animals incorporating contexts relating to people, and the environment
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Contribute to strategic direction, advice and advocacy services promoting best practices to government, agencies, businesses and the community through formal channels and informal opportunities.
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Promote and facilitate collaboration and sharing of resources, including data and lessons learnt, amongst government, educational, professional, para-professional, non-profit and community organisations with direct or indirect roles related to incidents involving animals.
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Contribute to organisational, professional or personal improvement pathways through developing, delivery or evaluating policies, plans and projects focusing on transferable skills and knowledge between government agencies, organisations, professions and individuals.
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Contribute to education and career pathways through policy, standards development, mapping, resource production, delivery or evaluation for accredited or non-accredited, formal and informal learning opportunities at all levels from professional qualifications and continuing professional development to just-in-time community upskilling.
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To explore future opportunities in wildlife, marine, birds and across categories, including pets, commercial livestock, therapy, sports, entertainment, working and wild animals and across social, cultural and geographic settings and scenarios.
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Contribute to continuous improvement and the generation of solutions through leading or participating in research, new initiatives or other arrangements to advance the field of incidents involving animals.
Model Rules (Constitution)
Board job descriptions (2024)
Board Member Code of Conduct
2025/2026 Board
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Secretary
Julie Fiedler
Julie is currently undertaking a PhD relating to sports horse welfare at the University of Melbourne. Read more here
Vice Chair
David King ESM
David is a NSW State Emergency Service (NSW SES) Hawkesbury Unit Senior Operator and member of the NSW SES General Land Rescue Capability Development Group. David has been rescuing horses and cattle from creeks, dams, floats, buildings and bogs for over thirty years; and is now actively training rescue agencies throughout the State in all aspects of large animal rescue and relocation. David has authored numerous NSW SES training resources including road crash rescue, industrial and domestic rescue, flood rescue and more recently large animal rescue. In 2015, David was awarded an Emergency Services Medal (ESM) for his outstanding commitment, professionalism and dedication to building the operational capability of the NSW SES.
Treasurer
Dr Kathy Klein
For over 35 years, Dr Kathy Klein has operated Western Australia's first independent mobile equine veterinary practice. A graduate of the University of California-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Kathy received her Bachelor of Animal Science (Equine) in 1981 and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1985. Kathy came to Australia as the inaugural overseas intern at Murdoch University Veterinary Hospital (MUVH) in 1985, completing her internship/residency in equine medicine & surgery in 1990.
For 15 years, she has been a pivotal member (now Chair) of the West Australian Horse Council (WAHC), with a particular focus on its welfare and large animal rescue portfolios. Kathy has represented WAHC on the Committee for Animal Welfare in Emergencies (CAWE/DPIRD WA), A member Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) University of Western Australia and Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research and currently AEC Cat A member TeleMedVet (nuclear medicine and research centre WA). Kathy has been selected for the WA Emergency Disease Veterinary Reserve/DPIRD in 2024 to increase veterinarians to contribute to an EAD response in WA.
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Professor Josh Slater
Josh Slater BVM&S PhD DipECEIM MRCVS is an Honorary Professor at the University of Melbourne and Programme Director Liverpool-Al Dhaid Veterinary Education Partnership. University of Liverpool (UK).
He has been an equine practitioner for almost 40 years and has extensive experience in Europe, having worked in private veterinary practice and in referral hospitals at the University of Cambridge and Royal Veterinary College, London. He is a past president of the British Equine Veterinary Association, the Federation of European Equine Veterinary Associations and the European College of Equine Internal Medicine and was secretary of the European Board of Veterinary Specialisation. He is chairman of the Horse Trust, one of the UK’s major equine welfare charities, and has served on the boards of several international animal charities. He was a co-founder of the British Animal Rescue and Trauma Association (BARTA) and is a current board member. He was the veterinary lead for animal emergency incident management in the UK, working closely with emergency responders and other agencies, and was a significant contributor to the establishment of emergency services and veterinary training in animal incident management and was an advisor for the FRS during the writing of the UK’s National Occupational Guidance for incidents involving animals. He is a practising veterinarian, clinical researcher and educator, speaker and author of book chapters and scientific articles on a wide range of equine veterinary topics.
Dr Natasha (Tash) Bassett is a wildlife and companion animal welfare veterinarian with substantial operational experience in animal emergency response. She has a special interest in the welfare of macropods.
Dr Tash Bassett
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Dr Christine Smith
I am an equine veterinarian who works in a busy private practice. I live and work in Hawkesbury, which is a high-risk area for flooding. I have been involved in training emergency services and veterinarians/veterinary students across Australia and have been lucky to learn from and work with people (emergency personnel and other veterinarians) experienced in large animal incidents.
Dr Steve De Grey
I am a practising veterinarian with over 30 years of experience, currently serving as a senior clinician and educator at Massey University School of Veterinary Science. As a member of the Massey University Veterinary Emergency Response Team (MU VERT), I have extensive training in animal rescue and emergency response, having responded to significant incidents, including the Edgecombe Floods, Pigeon Valley Fires, and Cyclone Gabrielle. I am completing an MVSc focused on understanding and managing risks for responders in animal-related emergencies.
Rod Stebbing
As principal of his own company, Emtrain Fire and Community Safety Pty. Ltd. (Emtrain), and CEO of National Workplace Services Group Pty Ltd (NWSG) RTO 22148, Rod brings to AEIMN (ANZ) extensive knowledge and experience in vocational training and education.
Working alongside large animal rescue stakeholders and client groups, Rod has provided guidance and support over the past five years in developing animal incident management. With over 40 year’s volunteer experience in fire and emergency response, his aim is to assist building operational capability and capacity in the sector to support the future growth of animal incident management in Australia.
Patrice Palleson-Putt
I am the current Manager of the Massey University Veterinary Emergency Response Team (MUVERT), based in Palmerston North, New Zealand. I have been a trained animal responder for nine years now and am passionate about improving the welfare outcomes of animals in disasters. My aim is to increase the educational offerings, research outputs in this field, and further contribute to building community resilience in the face of adversity. I firmly believe collaboration and connection are crucial, as we strive to build the capacity of animal emergency response in New Zealand.
Fiona Ryan
Fiona Ryan is the Senior Manager of Wildlife Welfare Programs at Zoos Victoria; a role focused on the welfare of free ranging wildlife. Fiona represents Zoos Victoria as a DEECA liaison, supporting the DEECA led preparedness for wildlife emergencies. As a career zoo and wildlife veterinary nurse, Fiona has more than 20 years’ experience in the field, with post graduate studies in Animal Welfare and One Health. Fiona’s has extensive experience in response to wildlife impacted by day-to-day emergencies and disasters
Robert Leach
I bring field experience as a rescue technician and veterinary nurse, whilst, through my role at IFAW, also sitting at the table with government agencies across multiples states and levels. I bring insight into frontline challenges whilst understanding policy-level decision-making. I’ve responded to and supported major disaster efforts including coordination of veterinary professionals in the 2019–20 Black Summer fires, supporting the temporary animal shelter during Cyclone Gabrielle (NZ, 2023), leading the wildlife emergency response operations during Cyclone Alfred (2025), and leading a damage assessment team during the Mid-North NSW floods with Disaster Relief Australia. I am a member of my local wildlife rescue group, and I am a marine mammal rescuer. I’ve also joined the NSW SES to bolster my knowledge of animal impacts at the incident level, intersecting with the first responders and emergency services.