Council members

The Council is our governing body. They are responsible for the governance of our organisation and, ultimately, for making sure we carry out our functions under the Veterinarians Act.

There are seven members. Three are elected by veterinarians. Two are lay people appointed by the Minister of Agriculture. One member is a veterinarian also appointed by the Minister.

The seventh member is the Academic Programme Director of the undergraduate veterinary programme at Massey University.

Dr Lindsay Burton

Appointed veterinarian and Chair

Dr Lindsay Burton was first appointed to the Council in May 2015 and has been Chair since March 2019.

He graduated from Massey University in 1975 with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc) and spent five years working in mixed animal practice. He then joined the New Zealand Dairy Board in 1980 and was involved in animal breeding. This was followed by a period as Principal Veterinarian at Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC) until 2004. Additional roles he has held include Director of National Animal Identification and Traceability; Principal Scientist Johne's Disease Research Consortium; and Chair of the Ministry for Primary Industries Farm to Processor Animal Welfare Forum.

In 2005, Lindsay joined the Fonterra Cooperative Group as Risk Management Programme Specialist/Manager. The areas he covered included biosecurity; animal health (including disease control); food safety arising from animal pathogens; residue risk assessment; and animal welfare policy and strategy for the Milk Supply Technical and Food Assurance team. He was then appointed General Manager Veterinary, Technical and Risk Management from 2014 – 2019 at Fonterra, where he led the team responsible for key elements of food safety, animal health, and reputational risk. This related to farms, animals and raw milk within New Zealand and its offshore milk supplies.

Lindsay has extensive experience and expertise in science-based decision making. He is a member of the Council's Professional Standards Committee, and Finance and Risk Committee.

Dr Ben Davidson

Elected veterinarian and Deputy Chair

Ben graduated from Massey University in 2000. After working as a large animal veterinarian and as managing director of Rangiora Vet Centre for 20 years, he set up a vet contracting and consultancy service in March 2023, with a focus on wildlife, conservation medicine and governance. Ben is also a trustee on the Orana Wildlife Park Board, and has an executive role with DairySmart NZ.

His interest in governance and leadership began when he was the Massey University Veterinary Students Association (MUVSA) President. He also spent seven years on the New Zealand Veterinary Association (NZVA) Sheep and Beef Special Interest Branch, including two as President. Ben has had formal training in governance and strategic planning through the New Zealand Institute of Directors. He has also facilitated strategic planning sessions for various organisations including the School of Veterinary Science, VCNZ, and The Vet Company.

Ben was elected to the Council in December 2016 and was previously a member of the Council's Complaints Assessment Committee. He has been Deputy Chair since March 2019 and is Chair of the Finance and Risk Committee.

Dr Liz Shackleton

Elected veterinarian

A graduate of University College Dublin, Liz has spent the last 15 years in New Zealand working in clinical practice and various industry strategic leadership roles.

Her work has included supporting teams and governance functions across private and public partnerships in the primary sector. Supporting the development of New Zealand’s primary industry talent is a key interest.

Liz is a chartered member of the Institute of Directors New Zealand, a past president and member of the Australia New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (Pharmacology), Institute for Strategic Leadership alumnus, and brings experience across primary industry, biosecurity, regulatory and animal health sectors.

Liz was elected to the Council in December 2022.

Dr Julie Everett-Hincks

Appointed non-veterinarian

Dr Julie Everett-Hincks is one of the Vet Council’s appointed non-veterinarians. She works as a Principal Advisor at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) on an 18-month secondment from the Ministry for the Environment (MfE). She is an enrolled barrister and solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand. Julie has a PhD in animal science, and previously worked as a senior scientist at AgResearch for 11 years before completing a law degree. Before taking up her current role, Julie was the Science Manager at Otago Regional Council and the Legal Advisor to the Royal Society Te Apārangi’s Gene Editing Panel.

Julie’s work on improving lamb survival won her national recognition: she was the first woman to receive the Sir Arthur Ward Award in 2016 from the New Zealand Society of Animal Production. She is a member of the Council’s Professional Standards Committee.

She was raised on a sheep farm and lives with her family on a small property in Otago.

Mr Zach Mounsey

Appointed non-veterinarian

Zach is passionate about growing the value of New Zealand’s primary industries and influencing their long-term sustainability. After growing up on a dairy farm in Ōtorohanga, he recognised the opportunity in agriculture, both on-farm and beyond the farm gate. Zach graduated from the University of Waikato with a Bachelor of Management Studies adding financial, economic, and business disciplines to his farming knowledge.

After graduating, he held roles in public trading and finance at Fonterra in the office of the Chief Financial Officer. He then made the move to DairyNZ as an economist, followed by an inaugural corporate support role to the Chief Executive before joining Happy Valley Nutrition. Zach has also spent time abroad with Harvard Business School developing his leadership and strategic capability.

He is a member of the Council’s Finance and Risk Committee. Zach and his partner sharemilk on a dairy farm in Ōtorohanga, where they live.

Prof Jenny Weston

Ex officio member

Jenny is the Academic Lead for Veterinary Science at Massey University. She graduated from Massey University in 1994 and worked in clinical practice (mainly dairy) in Taranaki for eight years, before returning to Massey to run the Farm Services Clinic for 10 years. She then coordinated the final year clinical rosters for the BVSc students for several years before her appointment as Academic Lead in May 2016. The leader of the BVSc programme at Massey is statutorily appointed to the Council.

Since her return to Massey, Jenny has undertaken further study in veterinary epidemiology, leading to her becoming a member of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (ANZCVS). She has completed a PhD in diagnosis and control of Neospora caninum abortion in cattle, and more recently completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Educational Administration and Leadership.

Jenny was on the Executive Committee of the Society of Dairy Cattle Veterinarians Branch of the NZVA for 20 years and served on the NZVA Board for six years, including one term as President.

She is a member of the Council’s Recency of Practice and Registration Advisory Groups, and represents New Zealand on the Veterinary Schools Accreditation Advisory Committee (VSAAC), which accredits veterinary schools in Australia and New Zealand.

Her interests include endurance riding, travel, and tramping. She lives on a lifestyle block at Ashhurst with her husband and their animals.

Dr Kylie Lawson

Elected veterinary member

Information coming soon!