Board members and approved persons

Board members

The members of the Veterinary Practitioners Registration Board of Victoria are nominated by the Minister of Agriculture (currently Michaela Settle MP) and appointed by the Governor in Council. The Board has 9 members* made up of 6 veterinary practitioners (including one employed by the Crown and one with veterinary education knowledge), a lawyer, and 2 persons who are not veterinary practitioners.

• President Dr Kate Clarke - veterinary practitioner
• Deputy President Dr Tracey Bradley - veterinary practitioner, Crown appointment
• Dr Charlie Blackwood - veterinary practitioner
• Dr David Colson - veterinary practitioner
• Mr Andrew Jaworski - lawyer
• Ms Sue Lebish - not a veterinary practitioner
• Dr Peta Rak - veterinary practitioner with experience in veterinary education
• Ms Anna Storti - not a veterinary practitioner

* NOTE President Dr John Harte departed the Board 17 June 2026, with Kate Clarke and Tracey Bradley appointed to the positions of President and Deputy President effective from 18 June 2026. Dr Charlie Blackwood will be departing the Board effective 1 July 2026. Recruitment is underway for two Board members to fill the positions left by Dr Harte and Dr Blackwood.

Scroll down to view biographical information about Tenth Board members.

Approved persons

• conduct a preliminary investigation into a complaint, or
• be part of an informal or formal hearing panel if there are not enough Board members available to sit on the panel or the Board decides a person with special expertise or a lawyer is required for a hearing.

• Dr Susan Chaney
• Dr Adrian Coghill
• Dr Lynsey Etheridge
• Dr Ian Freckelton
• Ms Carol Geyer
• Mr Jack Jacoby
• Dr Clara Lauinger
• Ms Andrea Lester
• Dr Omid Nejad
• Ms Rachel Matulis
• Ms Sophia Panagiotidis
• Ms Mary Sevdalis
• Dr Suffien Suharju
• Dr Helsa Teh
• Dr Lucy White 
• Mr Stephen White

Biographies of Board members

		Dr Kate Clarke President from 18 June 2026,  previously Deputy President, veterinary member A graduate of the University of Queensland and Member by examination of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (ANZCVS) in Small Animal Medicine, Dr Clarke has practised as a veterinary practitioner in mixed and small animal regional practice for over 20 years in Australia and the United Kingdom (UK). An AICD graduate with a Master of Business Administration, Dr Clarke serves as a Director on Victorian regulatory, not-for-profit and community boards. With a strong interest in sustained career engagement, she represented the Board on the Sustainable Practice Committee of the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council and is the Australian Veterinary Association's policy advisory councillor for the Veterinary Business Group.
		Dr Tracey Bradley Deputy President from 18 June 2026, previously veterinary member - Crown appointment Dr Tracey Bradley was reappointed to the Ninth Board as the Crown nominee for the Board. A graduate of the University of Melbourne, Dr Bradley has worked as a veterinary practitioner in mixed practice in Australia and the UK. Dr Bradley is an ANZCVS Member by examination in Epidemiology and holds a Master of Public Health. Dr Bradley joined the Department of Agriculture in Victoria in 1995, working in field and laboratory roles. She now focuses on aquatic species as Principal Veterinary Officer, Aquatic Animal Health, covering areas of research, policy and national strategy.
		Dr Charlie Blackwood Veterinary member A graduate of the University of Sydney with a Master of Veterinary Science in small Animal Practice from Murdoch University, Dr Charlie Blackwood has had a 30-year career as a veterinary practitioner with a focus on small animals, horses and cattle. At Warrnambool Veterinary Clinic, Dr Blackwood’s work involves surgical and medical treatment of small animals, with additional work in beef and dairy cattle. Dr Blackwood is an ANZCVS member in Ruminant Nutrition. An AICD graduate, Dr Blackwood brings significant experience in governance to the Vet Board. He has been a Director of Warrnambool Veterinary for over 20 years and was a Member of the Board of Moyne Health Service for 12 years.
		Dr David Colson Veterinary member A graduate of the University of Melbourne with a Master of Dairy Cattle Medicine and Management and an ANZCVS member in Ruminant Nutrition, Dr David Colson has worked in mixed practice in South West Victoria for over 30 years - most recently as Senior Veterinarian with The Vet Group where he helped to develop strategy and policy and maintain clinical standards. Dr Colson brings extensive clinical experience as a small animal and production animal veterinary practitioner to the Board. His long-term professional involvement in many and varied industry, scientific and education programs and industry networking has given him a broad understanding of the Australian veterinary industry and the environment in which it operates. Dr Colson has held honorary or Board positions with WestVic Dairy (Dairy Australia Regional Development Program) and the Australian Veterinary Association, and he served as Deputy President during the term of the Eighth Board.
		Mr Andrew Jaworsksi Lawyer              Andrew Jaworski is a qualified solicitor with a focus on the health industry who has worked in both the public and private sectors. Mr Jaworski is General Counsel of the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, a role which has provided him with a strong understanding of enquiries, complaints, government and regulatory frameworks, ethics and statutory interpretation.
		Ms Sue Lebish Non-veterinary member              A Certified Practising Accountant, AICD graduate and member of the Institute of Community Directors Australia, Ms Sue Lebish has extensive experience in finance, business management, auditing, and accounting. Her comprehensive Board experience include roles as Chair of the Falls Creek Alpine Resort Management Board, Chair and member of three of Alpine Resort’s Audit & Risk Committees, a committee member of Winton Wetlands Committee of Management, Chair and member of the Alpine Shire Audit & Risk Committee, and Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee for an Indigenous Land Management Board.
		Dr Peta Rak Veterinary member with experience in veterinary education (University of Melbourne)             A graduate of the University of Sydney and ANZCVS Member in Small Animal Surgery, Dr Peta Rak is an experienced general practice veterinarian. A lecturer in small animal surgery at the University of Melbourne, Dr Rak also holds postgraduate qualifications in higher education and has a strong interest in veterinary education and professional standards. She has held strategic leadership and management roles in both small and mixed animal hospitals and contributed to governance and advocacy through her service on the Board of Riding for the Disabled Australia.
		Ms Anna Storti Non-veterinary member     Ms Anna Storti has exceptional experience in business and finance, having spent close to 30 years in financial services and other regulated industries. She has held leadership roles with Judo Bank, BOQ Group and Virgin Money in the UK and has served on boards across the not-for-profit and private sectors. Anna brings a breadth of capabilities in strategy, customer service and experience, operations, marketing, transformation, human resources, governance and risk management. She is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds an MBA (Executive) from the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM).