Presidents Award past winners

Presidents Award winner 2025

Dr Harrison’s leadership has shifted national conversations on ableism in veterinary culture, moving the focus from individual “resilience” to systemic accountability and inclusive practice. He has been a key advocate for normalising closed captioning at veterinary conferences. His advocacy efforts have also led to reforms in regulatory language around “impairment” on registration forms, reducing stigma and promoting clarity for practitioners with disabilities. 

Serving on corporate DEI councils, Dr Harrison has encouraged organisations to broaden their focus beyond gender and race, championing the inclusion of disability, neurodiversity, and chronic illness, and supporting initiatives like the Gender Identity Bill of Rights. As an executive committee member of The Veterinary Kaleidoscope (TVK), he helps lead inclusive summit design, student outreach, and mentoring programs, while building international partnerships to share best practices in accessibility and inclusion. 

A frequent speaker and panellist, Dr Harrison has worked with veterinary practices to improve both physical and digital accessibility. His work has fundamentally changed the veterinary profession in Australia, making it more accessible and inclusive for all, and earning him the 2025 AVA President’s Award for his outstanding practical contributions to the profession. 

Presidents Award winner 2024

Throughout her career, Dr Lissi has observed firsthand the profound, positive impact that companion animals have on people's emotional and mental well-being. However, she also recognised the significant challenges faced by vulnerable individuals in caring for their pets.  

She identified key gaps in services available to clients facing complex social issues, including ageing, disability, domestic violence, homelessness, and mental health. In response, she developed the Cherished Pets model of care, which pairs a Veterinary Social Worker with a multidisciplinary care team to provide comprehensive support. This model bridges the divide between veterinary and social services, ensuring that vulnerable clients and their pets receive holistic care. 

As a passionate advocate for the social value of veterinarians, Dr Lissi emphasises the critical role they play in fostering stronger, more resilient communities. She has been a leading voice in advocating for the integration of animal welfare and human health services, highlighting the importance of addressing social issues within veterinary practice.  

Presidents Award winner 2023

She is a full time academic staff member at the Sydney School of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney where she coordinates the teaching of veterinary microbiology and has previously overseen the veterinary curriculum as the Sub Dean for the Bachelor of Veterinary Science and later the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. She is passionate about teaching clinically relevant infectious disease courses for veterinary postgraduates, veterinary practitioners and companion animal breeders. Jacqui leads the microbiology area of the school's Veterinary Pathology Diagnostic Service and is the current Head of School at Sydney School of Veterinary Science.