Zoos SA
Zoos SA is a non-government conservation charity, every visit, adoption, donation and ticket helps to save species from extinction.

Julieann Riedstra

President

Julieann has had a long career in the public sector in South Australia and most recently was the Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Operating Officer of the Department for Education.

Julieann is a Fellow of Certified Practicing Accountants (CPA) Australia and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD). Julieann has been a member for many years and became a Life Member in 2008.

David Martin

Vice President

David is an orthopaedic surgeon, and has held many positions in the Australian Orthopaedic Association, culminating in the role of president in 2019, and being awarded an OAM in 2020.

His current role is Chair of the AOA Research Foundation. David is a Zoos SA life member and his very first job as a fifteen year old was as a part time keeper in the old children’s zoo in the 1970s.

Dennis Mutton JP

Board Member

dennis-003

Dennis is an independent consultant in the fields of natural resource management, primary industries, regional growth initiatives and leadership development.

He is a fellow of the AICD and holds a range of board directorships in government, business and not-for-profit organisations.

Gavin Bates

Board Member

Gavin is a Senior Relationship Executive with the Commonwealth Bank, with qualifications and memberships in Accountancy, Finance and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

He has 25 years’ experience as a qualified Chartered Accountant and in Corporate Banking both domestically and internationally.

Kristofer Helgen

Board Member

Kris is an expert in mammalian evolution and conservation and serves as the Chief Scientist of the Australian Museum in Sydney.

Kris was also the curator in charge of mammals at the Smithsonian from 2008 to 2017.

Peter McCarthy

Board Member

Peter is a retired Clinical Biochemist. He and his colleague, Brian Rich, set up the laboratory in the Animal Health & Research Centre in late 1999.

Both were honoured by the then Board as Honorary Research Associates in 2003 for their contribution to the Zoo in providing a service to the Veterinary staff as an aid to diagnosis & treatment of our animals and for their research work. In 2019 Peter was part of the six person team who won “The Unsung Hero” Award of South Australian Science.

Peter’s interests lie in expanding the service that they currently offer and encouraging a greater commitment to research.

Ursula Bradshaw

Board Member

Ursula is an Assurance Director with EY, with qualifications and memberships in Accountancy in both Australia and the United States.

She has over 16 years’ experience as a qualified Chartered Accountant working with various publicly traded companies, and not-for-profit entities in Australia and the United States.

Ursula has gained experience and understanding of strong governance and best practices through extensive involvement with audit client Boards, and through serving on the Board of various Not-For-Profit entities and Associations.

Tyson Grubb

Board Member

Tyson is CEO/Founder of Instrument Choice, Australia’s largest online retailer of scientific measurement and lab equipment, a multiple award winning, industry leading company, promoting over 10,000 lab & measurement tools to scientists throughout Australia & New Zealand. His most recent board role was as the Learning Chair for the Entrepreneurs Organization Adelaide.

Tyson’s skills and background can help the zoological society engage with visitors to increase attendance and membership, leading to more available funds that can be re-invested into improving the animal’s experience along with conservation efforts.

Eoin Loftus

Board Member

Eoin has near 30-years’ experience in developing and operating tourism accommodation businesses, across South Australia. Establishing his own consultancy businesses in Loftus Business Advisory and Hotel Refurbs in 2022.

He currently sits on the boards of the Tourism Industry Council of South Australia as Chairman and the South Australian Tourism Commission.

Kate Hartwig

Board Secretary/Public Officer

Kate Hartwig

Kate has had a long career in not-for-profit organisations having been CEO of a range of industry, professional and charitable organisations in Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne.

She was appointed as the Zoos SA Board Secretary and Public Officer in 2013. Kate is a Life Member and Volunteer at Zoos SA.

About Zoos SA

Zoos SA is a not-for-profit conservation charity that exists to connect people with nature and save species from extinction. Zoos SA acknowledges the Country on which we stand always was, and always will be, Aboriginal land and we pay our deepest respect and gratitude to Kaurna (Adelaide Zoo) and Ngarrindjeri (Monarto Safari Park) Elders, past, present and emerging. We undertake critical conservation work throughout Australia and acknowledge the traditional custodians of these lands.

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