THRIVE Advisory Committee

Diana 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 Veterinary Wellness Steering Group. Diana was President of the AVA in 2023 – 2024.

BVSc (Hons), Grad Cert. Management Improving the health and wellness of the veterinary profession has been a key focus for Debbie in the many projects that she has undertaken during her career. Debbie is the current President of the ACT Veterinary Practitioners Board and a member of the AVA NSW Division committee. Debbie has previously served the profession in several roles within the AVA, including as the AVA National Strategy Manager, AVA Policy Manager, AVA National Membership and Strategy Manager, Executive Officer of the NSW Division and Executive Officer of the Australian Veterinary Practice Management Association (now the Veterinary Business Group). Prior to this Debbie, owned three successful small animal practices. As the AVA National Strategy Manager in 2014, Debbie prepared a Veterinary Health and Wellbeing Strategy including the Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Framework for the AVA; part of this strategy was adopted by the Board. Debbie became responsible for the development and introduction of the current AVA Graduate Mentoring Program, the AVA’s gate keeper training using the Mental Health First Aid Training program and improving the AVA online VetHealth resources. Through her work, particularly as the Executive Officer of the AVA business group, Debbie developed an appreciation of the fact that improving wellness within the profession requires prosperous practices, long term career satisfaction and good client-veterinarian relationships.

Rosie Overfield is well-known and well-respected in the Australian veterinary profession as an experienced counsellor, HR advisor and mental health and well-being programs facilitator. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, she has a strong focus on consultancy and training in mentally healthy workplace design and practices, HR and leadership models for psychological safety and psychosocial factors. Rosie is a nationally registered counsellor with a Bachelor of Communication, a Graduate Diploma of Counselling and a Master of Human Resources and Organisational Development. Rosie is proud to be the Australian Veterinary Association’s Principal Master Mental Health First Aid Educator since 2016. Her engaging and warm style has seen her train over 800 veterinary professionals to proactively support each other. Rosie is also a practice owner and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors course, giving her a unique perspective and diverse skillset to positively contribute to the AVA’s Veterinary Wellness Steering Group. Rosie feels privileged to promote the THRIVE principles – prevent harm, promote the positives of the veterinary profession, and protect those in crisis. B. Communication, Grad Dip Counselling, MHROD, GAICD, Cert IV VN

Michael is a University of Queensland graduate who worked in private veterinary practice, in Australia and the UK. He joined the then Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia in the 1984. Gained Australian College of Veterinary Scientists qualification in epidemiology in 1989. He led a team studying the epidemiology of Caseous Lymphadenitis (CLA) in sheep and has published two book chapters, 21 scientific papers and 41 international and national conference papers and his PhD on CLA and other topics. He was a Councillor and Honorary Treasurer of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists and President of the Animal Welfare Chapter. He was WA AVA President in 1991 and 2017/18 and is currently a policy councillor. He has been an AVA mentor since 2005 and assisted the development of the AVA’s National Mentoring Program. Michael has been a member of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association’s Professional Wellness Group since 2018. This group was formed as a focus to address the wellness challenges in the global veterinary family. He has a strong background in strategic planning and prioritisation skills in all his work and volunteer activities, but particularly promoting the benefits of a national wellness approach within the AVA and internationally, using epidemiology principles in animal welfare science and in major research projects on chronic sheep disease. BVSc., MACVSc (Epidemiology), Grad Cert Animal Welfare, PhD

Pip is a Melbourne University graduate who has mostly been a small animal practitioner for the past 36 years. For the last 20 years she has been an owner of a very successful practice with an aim to disrupt the traditional veterinary model. She created family friendly rosters, flexible leave arrangements and a place where the culture strived to provide safety and support to everyone. She has been a Practitioner in Residence at Melbourne University and a long term AVA mentor. She is particularly passionate about mentoring recent graduates and helping them curate their career to allow them to love the profession as much as she does. Pip is very much looking forward to contributing to the TAC.