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 Kylie Lawson

Chair

Kylie is an accomplished veterinarian with extensive expertise in clinical governance, strategic leadership, business operations, regulation and animal health. As Chair of the Vet Council, she supports the Council’s efforts to uphold the highest standards of professional practice, ethics, and public safety in veterinary medicine.

With a career spanning clinical practice, executive leadership, and governance, Kylie has contributed significantly to the growth and development of New Zealand’s veterinary sector. She was elected to the Council in 2023 and previously served as Chair of the Complaints Assessment Committee (CAC), where she played a key role in guiding veterinarians toward best practice and protecting the integrity of the profession.

In her current role as General Manager at Animates Vetcare, Kylie leads clinical operations for 18 veterinary clinics and more than 160 team members.

A strong advocate for advancing veterinary standards and animal welfare, Kylie is passionate about fostering innovation, workplace culture, and employee engagement. Her leadership philosophy emphasises a values-driven approach and creating psychologically safe environments to support and empower teams to reach their full potential.

Dedicated to continuous professional development, Kylie has completed the Company Directors Course at the Institute of Directors New Zealand, and holds a Certificate in Executive Leadership from the University of Oxford Business School.

Prof. Jenny Weston

Ex officio member & Deputy Chair

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 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 Olivia Buckley

Appointed veterinarian

After graduating from Massey University, Olivia worked in the veterinary industry for 20 years, with roles in mixed and large animal veterinary practice and tertiary education. She is now the Director and Co-owner of three farming businesses that specialise in integrated farming systems working with dairy, sheep and beef.

Olivia has considerable leadership experience and a strong interest in governance. She was Associate Director of Ballance Agri-Nutrients and is currently a trustee for the Waitomo Energy Services Customer Trust. In 2024, she finished her Master of Business Administration (MBA) at Waikato University with a dissertation on change management. Olivia has also completed formal governance training through Mayfield Group, as well as a leadership and governance course with the Agri-Women's Development Trust.

Olivia was appointed to the Vet Council in May 2025. She is passionate about New Zealand’s primary industries and looking strategically at innovation and sustainability in the sector. She said she is looking forward to contributing to the future of the veterinary profession during her time on the Council.

Outside of work, Olivia enjoys getting out in nature on hikes, spending time with her family and four children, and being involved in the King Country community.

Sue Fowler

Appointed non-veterinarian

Sue is a seasoned leader in animal health and biosecurity, currently serving as Programme Lead in Fonterra’s On-Farm Excellence – Animals team. In this role, she provides strategic direction on biosecurity policy, animal wellbeing, and food safety, ensuring alignment with Fonterra’s business strategy and regulatory expectations.

Sue represents Fonterra on the International Dairy Federation’s standing committees for Animal Welfare and Farm Management, and she is a key contributor to the Biosecurity Business Pledge Reference Group. She chairs the Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand technical working group for on-farm risk management, the Milk Quality Forum - roles that reflect her commitment to national alignment and pre-competitive collaboration across the agricultural sector.

Her influence extends across government and industry forums, including the Farm to Processor Animal Welfare and Endemic Disease Forums, the Inhibitor Operational Group, and the Livestock Sector Biosecurity Council. Notably, Sue had a pivotal role in developing New Zealand’s Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) readiness programme in 2015, which remains a cornerstone of national biosecurity planning.

Born and raised on a dairy farm in Taranaki and now based in Waikato, Sue brings both grassroots understanding and strategic foresight to her work. She is also a Civil Defence volunteer.

Dr Jessie Levens

Elected veterinarian

Jessie is the Clinical Director of a group of companion animal clinics in Northland and Auckland. She was elected to the Council in December 2025.

Her work is centred around supporting people - working alongside veterinarians, nurses, and practice teams to help them do their best work and provide high-quality care.

She has more than 14 years experience as a small animal veterinarian and has had several leadership roles within clinical practice. Jessie is currently completing an Executive MBA through Massey University, with a focus on strategy, governance, and organisational performance.

She has a strong interest in supporting veterinary teams to work in a way that is clinically excellent and personally sustainable, and emphasises team wellbeing, communication, and building positive workplace cultures.

Jessie brings a combination of frontline clinical experience and leadership across multi-site teams to the Council, along with a perspective that reflects the daily realities of the profession. She was motivated to stand for the Council to encourage veterinarians in their day-to-day work, while ensuring that guidance and decisions are clear, accessible, and meaningful.

Outside of work, Jessie enjoys family life and gardening, including working to restore native planting around their property, developing vegetable patches, and becoming more self-sufficient. She also values being involved in her children’s activities, including their acting classes and helping with surf lifesaving in the summertime.