The Animals Australia Team

Executive Director, Glenys Oogjes BBSc.

Glenys is one of Australia's most experienced and respected animal advocates. She has held the position of Executive Director at Animals Australia for the past 24 years as well as serving on the RSPCA Victoria Council for 10 years.

Glenys completed a Behavioural Science degree and, since the 1980s, has worked as an animal advocate. She was instrumental in the lobby effort to establish the first-ever ‘Senate Standing Committee on Animal Welfare in Australia’ in 1983.

Glenys is a member of numerous committees including the National Consultative Committee on Animal Welfare – advising the federal Minister for Agriculture, a number of institutional Animals Ethics Committees and the ‘Code Liaison Group’ which determines the national policy and Code relating to animal in research She is also a long-standing member of the Victorian Animal Welfare Advisory Committee, and represents the animal view on many special purpose Government-initiated review and writing groups.

Communications Director, Lyn White

Formerly a South Australian police officer, Lyn then worked with the Animals Asia Foundation on South East Asia animal cruelty issues before joining Animals Australia in 2003. Lyn has conducted six investigations in the Middle East into the treatment of live exported animals. Evidence gathered resulted in a leading live export company being prosecuted for animal cruelty and three 60 Minutes and three 7.30 Report segments highlighting the brutal treatment of exported Australian animals. Lyn's January 2006 investigation in Egypt resulted in the Federal Government suspending the live trade to Egypt. More recently in Jordan Lyn has been assisting H.R.H. Princess Alia bint Al Hussein to achieve significant welfare breakthroughs in the country.

Lyn's work was featured in Australia's most respected publication The Bulletin.

Operations Manager, Kerri Martin

Prior to joining Animals Australia Kerri worked in the health care industry as a clinician and in a variety of management and project management positions in the public health system. She has a range of undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications including a Masters of Management. Kerri left her career in health care to pursue her life long interest in animal welfare and after working at Save-A-Dog Scheme joined Animals Australia in the role of operations manager where she has been able to combine her interest in animal welfare with her skills in management.

National Outreach Coordinator, Jesse Marks

Jesse has quite a diverse background. He has studied Linguistics and Psychology; taught English as a second language; worked in audio production; and finally left a career as a circus performer to pursue full time advocacy for animals.

Since setting aside the juggling balls and taking up the cause for animals Jesse has interned with PETA; led a team of fundraisers for WSPA; and now works as Animals Australia's National Outreach Coordinator.

Creative Manager, Karen Nilsen

Karen has been working as a graphic artist and web developer for over a decade. She has also worked as a circus performance artist, but has cast aside the bright lights of the stage—and the office—to become the creative manager for Animals Australia, working from her eco-home in South Australia. A passionate campaigner for change, Karen has worked with many animal protection organisations, and is also a web designer for PETA.

Graphic Designer & Campaign Assistant, Angie Otten

Angie has always had a passion for animal welfare, spending much of her childhood making friends with and attempting to rescue stray animals. Her first job at 15 was as an assistant veterinary nurse. She then went to uni to study visual communications and pursue her other love of design and the arts. She has spent the past several years in the design world of publishing, corporate packing and communications, only to come full circle and use her skills to return to animal welfare, designing and campaigning for Animals Australia. Angie works from her home in Sydney as a graphic artist and also co-ordinates and works at most of the Animals Australia Sydney events.

Supporter Liaison, Sarah Evans

Sarah has had a long-standing interest in animal welfare, and joined Animals Australia in late 2005. She is currently the (honorary) President of AA member society BOAR - a grass-roots group based in Ballarat (Vic) which campaigns against animal exploitation, with current focus on recreational duck shooting and the intensive farming of pigs in Australia.

Administration Assistant, Kylie Allan

From a young age, Kylie was surrounded by animals and has had a natural love for all creatures great and small. This passion led her to search for work in a field where she could help them which started with work experience with a veterinarian, volunteering with the RSPCA in their inspectorate office, and now in an administrative role which she proudly holds with Animals Australia. With her cheerful personality and exceptional organisational skills she is a welcome addition to the Animals Australia team.

When she is not at work, Kylie adores quality time with her beautiful four legged fur babies, all of whom she believes, enrich her world beyond words.

Office Assistant, Piper

At 18 years of age, Piper is one of our most loved and famous staff members. Piper has her own page in Animals Australia's magazine Animals Today where she humorously reports on office happenings and has appeared with Lyn in The Bulletin, Women's Day and on Australian Story. Rescued by Lyn 10 years ago from a shelter, Piper enthusiastically 'assists' in the office kitchen before overseeing other office activities from the comfort of her basket.

Piper's Assistant, Rosie

Rescued by Animals Australia in mid 2005. Rosie works on a voluntary basis by assisting Piper with her many office activities (especially those undertaken in the kitchen!). All who visit the Animals Australia office are ensured of a warm and enthusiastic 'border collie' greeting!