The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) is pleased to announce the election of Dr Gemma Chuck as President and Dr Diana Barker as Vice President of the AVA Board. The announcement was made during the AVA's annual Gala Dinner at the 2025 AVA Conference in Sydney on Thursday night.
Dr Chuck brings to the role extensive experience across clinical practice, academia, and industry. A respected cattle veterinarian with a PhD in dairy heifer performance, she is widely known for her work in veterinary education and her advocacy for rural practice and animal welfare. She has served on the AVA Board since 2021 and is a strong voice for sustainable veterinary careers, particularly in production animal practice.
"It's an incredible honour to be elected President of the AVA," said Dr Chuck. "I'm excited to lead the Association at such a pivotal time, as we implement our new strategic plan and continue to build a stronger, more united voice for veterinarians across Australia. I look forward to working with our members, stakeholders and the Board to build a thriving veterinary profession."
Dr Barker, who now steps into the role of Vice President, has served on the AVA Board since 2021 and held the position of President in 2023-24. A small animal veterinarian and managing director of a multi-site practice in Melbourne, she brings a valuable combination of clinical expertise, business acumen, and governance experience. Dr Barker also holds an Executive MBA and has been a longstanding contributor to the AVA's Veterinary Business Group.
Outgoing AVA President Dr Sally Colgan congratulated Dr Chuck and Dr Barker on their appointments.
"It's been a privilege to serve as AVA President, and I'm delighted to hand over to such capable and passionate leaders, the AVA is in excellent hands. I'm confident they'll continue to strengthen the Association and deliver meaningful outcomes for our members and the profession," Dr Colgan said.
The AVA thanks Dr Colgan for her leadership over the past year, particularly for championing workforce wellbeing and progressing key advocacy efforts including AVA's Federal Election priorities campaign.
