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Chairperson
Brenton Thomass
Manager Community & Environmental Health, City of Port Adelaide Enfield, SA
Brenton is the Manager Community & Environmental Health at the City of Port Adelaide Enfield, one of South Australia’s largest metropolitan councils. He has more than 20 years’ experience in local government, having held a range of operational and leadership roles across regulatory services, community safety, environmental health and animal management.
Throughout his career, Brenton has been a strong advocate for contemporary, evidence-based approaches to animal management and community safety. His experience spans strategic leadership, service delivery, policy development, regulatory reform, stakeholder engagement and workforce development.
Brenton currently serves as a Board Member of the Dog and Cat Management Board of South Australia and is Chairperson of the Australian Institute of Animal Management (AIAM), and previous Vice-President of the Local Government Authorised Persons Association. He is passionate about advancing the animal management profession, fostering collaboration across jurisdictions, and promoting innovative practices that deliver positive outcomes for both communities and animals.
He is committed to supporting the continued growth and professionalism of animal management officers across Australia.
Secretary
Nell Thompson
Australian Companion Animal Management & Sheltering Services (ACAMSS)
Nell is the principal consultant for ACAMSS and has supported NFP’s and LG’s with their project, planning and program needs for 15 years. She was coordinator of the national Getting 2 Zero (G2Z) program for 14 years and is the Secretary for the Australian Institute of Animal Management, the peak body for Local Government Animal Management officers.
Nell is respected for her expert knowledge of companion animal welfare and management issues for the sector and community at large. She has practical and theoretical experience and training in animal behaviour, care, health, and management, across multiple domestic species, gained and utilised across the veterinary, boarding and shelter sectors. Nell is a Certified Animal Welfare Administrator (Association of Animal Welfare Advancement), holds a Bachelor of Animal and Veterinary Biosciences (La Trobe University) Diploma of Management and an Animal Shelter Management Certificate (University of the Pacific) and is a qualified Veterinary Nurse.
Treasurer
Dr Diana Rayment
Program Specialist, PetRescue
Dr Diana Rayment has been on the AIAM board since 2019. Diana has over 20 years' experience working with companion animals, in hands-on, research, and teaching roles. Diana spent 10 years in academia during which she completed her PhD researching applied behaviour assessments of dogs, co-supervised over 30 Honours students, and taught undergraduate animal health, welfare, and management subjects. Since then, Diana has worked in TAFE teaching, led the behaviour team at GAP Victoria, and managed operations at an animal shelter. Diana now works in program development at PetRescue and runs her own training and consulting service for animal welfare organisations and animal management teams.
Director
Dr. Brooke Rankmore
CEO, Animal Management in Rural and Remote Indigenous Communities
Brooke took up the role of CEO with AMRRIC in February 2018. With a passion for rural and remote Australia, Brooke has lived and worked in the Northern Territory for 20 years.
Brooke has a Bachelor of Science with Honours, a Doctor of Philosophy and extensive experience in conservation and natural resources management across the Top End. She completed the Australian Rural Leadership Program in 2010 and among other roles has held the position of Manager of Regulatory Services with the City of Darwin, overseeing Council’s regulation of animal management.
Brooke is currently a Board Director of Territory Natural Resource Management and Bereaved Parent Support Northern Territory.
Director
Nishu Ellawala
Manager Community Education and Compliance, Isaac Regional Council
Nishu has worked in Local Government both in New Zealand and Australia for over 18 years, leading large multidisciplinary development & compliance services teams in building, planning & environment and local laws.
Nishu is passionate about animal management with a key focus on community education and community partnerships to improve responsible pet ownership, the well-being of animals and that of the community.
Director
Tina Martin
Animal Management Supervisor, Cairns Regional Council
Tina Martin has had over 25 years’ experience in the animal welfare and animal management field. Starting off her career with RSPCA,she worked in a range of positions from vet nursing to shelter manager all up and down the Queensland Coast. This diversity of positions and locations for 14 years gave Tina an immense understanding of animal management issues faced by many communities. Tina now brings her wealth of knowledge to Cairns Regional Council as their Animal Management Supervisor.
Director
Kylie Ashley BanVetbioSc(Hons), MEnv, Cert IV Proj Mgt
Regional Cat Management Coordinator, Cradle Coast Authority
Kylie joins the board from her current role as Regional Cat Management Coordinator in the beautiful northwest of Tasmania. With a career that started as an animal attendant at the Cat Protection Society of Victoria, Kylie has grown into a passionate advocate for cat welfare, and has fronted several initiatives in Tasmania, including the Cradle Coast Desexing Project and the Cradle Coast Cat Containment Subsidy Project.
She is passionate about community outreach and engagement, and has experience working with a wide range of stakeholders through managing the Cradle Coast Cat Management Working Group.