Board - Assistance Dogs Australia

OUR GOVERNANCE

Strong governance underpins everything we do

Our Board of Directors brings together deep expertise across law, business, healthcare, and lived experience of disability – ensuring integrity, transparency, and accountability in every decision we make.

Guided by their leadership, we continue to deliver life-changing outcomes for people with disabilities across Australia.

Rowan McDonald

PRESIDENT / CHAIR

Rowan McDonald was elected President and Chair of the Board of Assistance Dogs Australia in 2005 and since that time has worked with the other Board members in setting the strategic direction of Assistance Dogs Australia and ensuring the Board and staff of Assistance Dogs Australia adhere to high standards of corporate governance.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Economics from Macquarie University Rowan commenced his business career at the Australian Securities Exchange while studying for a Bachelor of Laws at the University of Technology, Sydney.

Since graduating with a Bachelor of Laws and being admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of NSW Rowan has gained over 20 years’ experience as a corporate and commercial lawyer having worked as an employed solicitor at leading Australian law firms and as a Partner at an international law firm before settling into his current role as Partner in the Sydney Corporate & Commercial Group at HWL Ebsworth Lawyers.

In addition to advising clients on mergers and acquisitions, restructures, joint ventures and securities law matters, Rowan regularly advises clients on corporate governance and Board related matters. Rowan applies the knowledge he has obtained, and the experience he has gained, as corporate and commercial lawyer to his role as President and Chair of the Board of Assistance Dogs Australia.

Robert Biggs

OAM VICE PRESIDENT

Robert Biggs founded Assistance Dogs Australia in 1996 after returning from a trip to the USA. Bob and his wife, Hannie, visited a not-for-profit organisation that was training dogs for people with disabilities to enable them to live a more independent lifestyle, and knew they had to establish a similar charity upon their return to Australia.

Bob was re-elected Secretary/Treasurer of Assistance Dogs Australia in 2005 and became Vice President in 2017.

Hanrob Pty Ltd, a family owned and run business since 1981, is now one of Australia’s leading dog and cat accommodation, transport, and training businesses, with facilities in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra. It is also a registered training organisation (RTO), which gave Bob the idea for Assistance Dogs Australia to utilise these dog training facilities and offer similar services to the disability community as those being offered in the USA. He remains a director of Hanrob Pty Ltd.

Yvonne Duncan

Yvonne is a physiotherapist with over 30 years’ experience working with people with spinal cord injuries, acquired brain injuries, and progressive neurological diseases, as well as people with severe disability.

Yvonne is presently working as an advanced practitioner in the area of wheelchair prescription and is mentoring Occupational Therapists at Cohealth in Melbourne.

She is a past president of the Victorian Branch of the Australian Physiotherapy Association and currently runs education programs for Occupational and Physiotherapists. She also runs a small private practice in Victoria.

Tim McCallum

Tim McCallum has served as Ambassador of Assistance Dogs Australia since 2005 and became a director in 2016.

Tim is a long-term client of Assistance Dogs Australia, receiving his first physical assistance dog, Buster, in late 1999 after a diving accident left him a quadriplegic, with no use of his hands or fingers and the use of a wheelchair for mobility. He now has his third assistance dog, Casper, who succeeds Roxy and Buster.

Tim is an acclaimed singer and speaker known globally, with over 25 years’ experience on the stage. More importantly, these have been opportunities to represent the disability community and showcase the talents of those who strive through adversity.

His advocacy work and attitude to spreading a positive message about disability have earned him the following honours: Australian Humanitarian Award, Centenary Medal recipient, Young Australian of the Year finalist, and he is currently National Ambassador of Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Week and International Day for People With A Disability Ambassador

Rebekah Lam

Rebekah joined the board of Assistance Dogs Australia in January 2025. She is an experienced and commercially focussed Legal Counsel and Chartered Accountant with a demonstrated history of working with multinational corporations.

Skilled in Accounting, Financial Analysis, Risk Management, Legal Writing, Corporate Law, Project Management, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Due Diligence, and Corporate Governance, she will bring deep expertise and Not For Profit board experience to her role as a Director.

Rebekah has also held the role of one of ADA’s very important volunteers, with first-hand insight and experience in puppy raising. As a volunteer she has cared for a dog on their path to becoming a transformative change and support, for people with disability.

Why your support matters

We rely on donations to continue our work. With demand higher than ever, some people wait up to two years for a dog.

Your support helps us:

Place Assistance Dogs with people with disabilities – free of charge.
Provide a lifetime of support.
Maintain the highest standards of training.

Together, we can change lives – one dog at a time.

MAKE A DONATION