Our Board
Rebecca Martin BEc MBA
Chairperson
Rebecca has held senior corporate positions at Ford Motor Company in Australia and in Detroit, USA over 20 years. These roles covered a diverse range of disciplines including Sales, Marketing, Finance and Government Relations. She has been the CEO for a JV start-up for Macquarie Leasing and held that position for three years before starting her own business – HEATHMARTIN – specialising in Executive Coaching, Leadership and Productivity.
Rebecca’s leadership experience extends from the management of large corporate teams with accompanying budgets to small start-up teams developing policies and processes and driving growth with limited budgets. She loves working with and motivating teams of people or individuals.
She has held a number of Board and Advisory Board positions over her career, is a mentor for the Young Professional Women’s Association and has been a Delta volunteer for five years visiting Long Bay Forensic Hospital. She is constantly amazed at the impact a dog can have on people’s lives.
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Christine Ryan
Deputy Chairperson
Christine joined the Delta Therapy Dogs as a volunteer in November 2013 working with her Schnoodle Marley at the spinal unit at the Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick. After a rigorous selection process, Christine was invited to join the board in November 2017.
Christine has an extensive background working as a retail executive for a number of Australia’s leading retailers. With a career specialising in marketing, she also brings to the Delta Therapy Dogs a wide range of skills including integrated communications, sourcing and procurement, customer service expertise and supplier relationship management, budget management and senior leadership.
In recent years Christine has worked as a retail consultant and work as a Delta volunteer at the Children’s Hospital at Randwick with her dog Marley as a therapy dog team.
Hannah Stenning
Director
Hannah is a Walkley Award winning journalist and digital newsroom leader. She has worked as Head of Video for Newscorp Australia, Commissioning Editor of News.com.au and as a producer of 60 Minutes.
She is passionate about both people and animals and lives with her husband, twin daughters and a bernese mountain dog named Pumpkin.
Dr Zara Boland
BVSc (Hons 1), BE (Hons 1), MRCVS
Director
Zara is a clinical veterinarian and an experienced, senior corporate external affairs & communications specialist, currently working in the field of veterinary external affairs. Originally from Ireland, she has over 15 years’ experience in the global pet food and pharmaceutical industries, which has led her to live and work all over the world. Zara has served as a Board Director for the British Veterinary Association and was the founding Director and CEO of Vet Voice Ltd, an independent veterinary communications consultancy based in London. She has also served as Board Director for the non-profit organisation Born Free, both in the UK and USA. She has broad experience as a media spokesperson on both proactive and reactive PR issues and campaigns and looks forward to bringing some of these skills to Delta.
Zara is currently owned by a rescue cat named Scamp, having lost her beloved 11-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog just 12 months ago. She is also fostering Lenny the Labrador puppy, who she hopes will grow up to be an Assistance Dog and transform the life of one very lucky human.
Shane Matthews
Director
Shane is a corporate lawyer with over 20 years’ experience across several industries, including education, professional services, government and veterinary services. Shane is currently General Counsel and Company Secretary at Australia's largest group of veterinary clinics and hospitals. Previously, Shane was General Counsel and Head of Compliance and Governance for a large international education company and held a senior in-house legal position at one of Australia's universities. Shane has a combined Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce degree, and a Masters of Laws from ANU. Shane's work as an in-house lawyer has earned him recognition as a finalist in the Corporate Counsel awards in 2016, 2017 and 2020. Outside of law, Shane enjoys spending time with two miniature Dachshunds, Diesel and Elle.
Julie Harris
Director
Julie Harris has over 20 years experience in the Veterinary Industry, with expertise in People and Culture functions. Julie experience includes, Sales and Marketing, Human Resources, Learning & Development, Payroll, Recruitment and Safety. Julie currently works as the Chief People Officer for a large Not for Profit organisation, in the employment services industry, focusing on people and culture initiatives. Throughout her career she has had a strong focus on leadership. Implementing programs to develop leaders to feel engaged in their work and life, and drive positive organisational culture.
John Broome
Director
John was CEO of the Association of Australian National Advertisers (AANA), an industry body prepresenting Australia's advertisers. Prior to AANA, John had a 25 year marketing career in serveral packaged goods categories uncluding food, confectionery, cleaning and personal care, having worked with a number of global companies including Unilever, Kellogg, Nestle and Reckitt Benckiser.
Originally from Yorkshire, England, John has lived ad worked in several countries, including the US and Canada and is married to Jacquie with two daughters, Leah & Anna He has never been without a dog in the home and having become a volunteer at Greyhound Rescue, he has now adopted two greyhounds, Grace Kelly & Arlo, to add to the already resident cattle dog, Rory.