Committee Members

NRAS Committee

JO PARKER – President

Jo joined NRAS is 2013 bringing her marketing & PR skills to the organisation, establishing its brand and positioning within the Northern Rivers community.

In 2015 Jo was elected President and embarked on overseeing the renovation of the Shelter at Piper Drive, the build of a three-room cat cottage and the extension of the outdoor kennel facilities.

Jo spent 10 years at SBS TV marketing its major sporting events, such as the FIFA World Cup and Tour de France; sat alongside her husband as General Manager of their boutique marketing consultancy and had a stint as Marketing Manager for the Brisbane Broncos Leagues Club.

Jo was with the GM’s office at the City of Sydney in the lead up to the Sydney 2000 Olympics and managed the electorate office for then Leader of the Opposition, John Hewson in the 90s.

A desire to ensure there is a voice for the voiceless, combined with her love of animals and talent for community engagement, has set her in good stead to oversee NRAS for over a decade.

BELINDA SEATON – Vice President

Belinda’s journey with NRAS started in 2016 as a volunteer and she has served on the Committee in various capacities since 2018.

Having spent over three decades working with non-profits, this provided Belinda with the skills in finance, administration, planning, and donor relations needed to help NRAS thrive.

Belinda confesses that animal welfare has always been her passion and, after spending years listening to the regular ‘Pet of the Week’ radio segments she knew that NRAS was where and how she wanted to give back during her retirement.

As a three-time rescue dog adopter, Belinda understands first-hand the trauma some animals face and is driven to help every local animal find their forever home.

TEENA JAMESON – Secretary & Public Officer

A highly regarded Brisbane media and advertising executive, Teena’s career spanned more than four decades. She built and ran two market leading industry businesses and was inducted into the Brisbane Advertising Association’s Hall of Fame for her contribution to the industry.

With a long association with the Arts and NFP sectors, Teena has also served on the boards of Brisbane Festival, Wesley Research Institute, Starlight Children’s Foundation and Cherish Women’s Foundation.

In retirement, Teena is fulfilling a long-held desire to support animal welfare.

DAWN BEAUMONT – Committee & Digital Coordinator

Dawn’s journey with NRAS began as a shelter volunteer and dog foster carer, fuelled by a genuine love of animals.

In 2024, Dawn joined the Committee, bringing her background in online marketing to help maintain and grow the organisation’s website and digital platforms.

Running her own business, alongside freelance and agency experience, has given Dawn a broad skill set in digital marketing, knowledge she now puts to work supporting NRAS’s online presence.

Combining her hands-on experience in volunteering at NRAS Shelter with her marketing expertise, Dawn is committed to improving the lives of dogs and cats in the local community.

DEBBIE WILESMITH – Committee & Foster Carer Coordinator

Debbie has a lifelong passion for animal care and welfare. As the former owner of a five-star boarding kennel resort, she spent many years providing high-quality care for pets and peace of mind for their owners.

Today, Debbie serves as the Foster Carer Coordinator for Northern Rivers Animal Services (NRAS), where she supports a network of dedicated foster carers across the Northern Rivers to ensure animals in need are placed in safe, nurturing homes while they wait for their forever families.

Debbie is deeply committed to improving the lives of animals and strengthening the community that supports them and sits on the NRAS Committee.

VICKI KELLY – Committee & SDS Coordinator

With a keen interest in animal rescue, Vicki became an invaluable part of the NRAS team in 2015.

After taking on her first foster dog, a Black Lab named Jasper, Vicki was hooked and while fostering is her passion, she has also spear-headed the organisations Subsidised Desexing Scheme (SDS), trying to combat the rescue battle from its origin – un-desexed dogs and cats.

Vicki most recently spent 3 years as a Vet Nurse but her previous career in the finance industry for almost 30 years, predominantly as a Project Manager across licensing, trading platforms, wealth management, legislative changes and compliance programs, plus risk & issue management, stakeholder management and governance has equipped her to bring a gambit of skills to the NRAS Committee and operations.

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