Russell Harrison

Chief Veterinary and Operations Officer

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

About

• Proven experience in successfully leading and managing the operations of large, multi-site service organisations • Experience in managing large-scale accommodation services • Extensive experience in quality management and complaint resolution • Excellent leadership skills and proven experience leading a high-performance culture • Highly developed communication and influencing skills • Experience in establishing performance management and skill development frameworks • Strong financial management, budgeting and resource allocation skills • Experience in improving financial performance by growing high-margin services and divesting poor-performing misaligned services • Experience in government relations and business development • A strong curiosity to learn, high-level abstract thinking skills, and strategic planning skills • I am a registered Veterinarian and have extensive experience in animal welfare and fundraising

Experience

  • VetPartners Australia and New Zealand (Australia)
    • Chief Veterinary and Operations Officer
      May 2026 - Present · 2 mos

    • Chief Veterinary Officer
      Feb 2025 - May 2026 · 1 yr 4 mos

  • Seymour Health (7 yrs)
    • Deputy Chair
      Jul 2024 - Present · 2 yrs

    • Non Executive Director
      Jul 2019 - Present · 7 yrs

      With over 200 staff, Seymour Health provide clinical care, support services, residential care for high needs clients and a wide range of community services to the communities in the Lower Hume region.

  • Deputy Chair - Animal Welfare Advisory Committee at Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action
    Dec 2024 - Present · 1 yr 7 mos

    The Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (AWAC) provides the Minister for Agriculture (Minister) with expert and strategic advice on animal welfare related issues.

  • General Manager Dog and Vision Services at Guide Dogs Victoria
    May 2023 - Feb 2025 · 1 yr 10 mos

  • Chief Outcomes Officer (COO) and Deputy CEO at Melba Support Services
    Oct 2020 - May 2023 · 2 yrs 8 mos