Animal Ethics Commitee

The Southern Cross University Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) plays a vital role in ensuring the ethical care and use of animals in research and teaching. Reporting to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, the AEC upholds the University’s commitment to responsible and humane scientific practice.

Established under the NSW Animal Research Act 1985, the AEC is a statutory requirement for any institution conducting scientific work involving animals. It operates in accordance with the Australian Code for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes, ensuring that all activities involving animals meet strict ethical and legal standards.

Before any research or teaching activity involving the use of any non-human vertebrate or cephalopod can proceed, it must be reviewed and approved by the AEC. This process ensures that animal welfare is a central consideration in all decision-making.

Committee key contacts:

Chair
Associate Professor Adam Hamlin
e: ahamlin@une.edu.au

Secretary
Lizzie Bazarnik
e: animal.ethics@scu.edu.au

A person with qualifications in veterinary science that are recognised for registration as a veterinary surgeon in Australia, and with experience relevant to the institution’s activities or the ability to acquire relevant knowledge.

A suitably qualified person with substantial and recent experience in the use of animals for scientific purposes relevant to the institution and the business of the AEC. This must include possession of a higher degree in research or equivalent experience. If the business of the AEC relates to the use of animals for teaching only, a teacher with substantial and recent experience may be appointed.

A person with demonstrable commitment to, and established experience in, furthering the welfare of animals, who is not employed by or otherwise associated with the institution, and who is not currently involved in the care and use of animals for scientific purposes. Veterinarians with specific animal welfare interest and experience may meet the requirements of this category. While not representing an animal welfare organisation, the person should, where possible, be selected on the basis of active membership of, and endorsement by, such an organisation.

A person not employed by or otherwise associated with the institution and who has never been involved in the use of animals in scientific or teaching activities, either in their employment or beyond their undergraduate education. Category D members should be viewed by the wider community as bringing a completely independent view to the AEC and must not fit the requirements of any other category.

Committee Members

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Dr Adam Hamlin

Chair

Adam is an Associate Professor in Biomedical Science at the University of New England. Before academia, Dr Hamlin was an NHMRC post-doctoral fellow at Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, and UNSW. His research covers neurological disorders, gut-brain axis, neuroethology, and animal welfare. Dr Hamlin chairs the UNE, Southern Cross University, and Bellberry Animal Ethics Committees, and co-chairs the ANZCCART Forum.

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Dr Derek Spielman

Category A - Veterinarian

Derek is a veterinarian with over 25 years’ experience in zoo and wild animals, wildlife biology, teaching, and conservation programs. He spent 8 years at Taronga Zoo and completed a BSc in zoology and genetics. His interests include wildlife diseases, marine mammal health, and rehabilitation. Derek taught at the University of Sydney and published 30+ articles on wildlife disease, pathology, and conservation genetics.

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Dr Mike Fitzgerald

Category A - Veterinarian

Mike is a veterinarian with over 44 years’ experience in small animal practice. After graduating BVSc from the University of Sydney in 1982, he worked in the UK before establishing Alstonville Veterinary Hospital in 1985. He is a Member of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (Small Animal Medicine). His interests include tick paralysis in dogs, the Alberts Lyrebird Research and Conservancy, and wildlife sound recording. He is married with three adult children.

Mr Stephan Soule

Mr Stephen Soule

Category B - Animal Researcher

Stephan manages the Outreach and Education at Southern Cross University’s National Marine Science Centre. Along with providing educational opportunities for the community, he also curates the NMSC’s Solitary Islands Aquarium. Stephan has forty years of marine science and aquaculture experience, both within the research and commercial sectors, with expertise in finfish, molluscs, and crustacean biology and culture.

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Associate Professor David Newell

Category B - Animal Researcher and Deputy Chair

David is an Associate Professor within the Faculty of Science and Engineering (Northern Rivers campus). He has 30 years of experience conducting wildlife research and leads an animal husbandry and translocation program for endangered frogs at SCU. His primary research interests include climate and disease related impacts on Australian Rainforest frogs and the use of bioacoustics in wildlife research.

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Gwen Seznec

Category C - Animal Welfare

Gwen has served as a Category C member on Southern Cross University’s Animal Ethics Committee for over 15 years. She began her animal welfare work 20 years ago with Northern Rivers Wildlife Carers and Friends of the Koala, caring for and rehabilitating native fauna. Gwen holds degrees in Business Management and Environmental Resource Management, and works in risk management at a local mutual bank.

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Dr Claire Oelrichs

Category C - Animal Welfare

Claire is a retired Veterinarian in the Northern Rivers region of NSW. She has a degree in Veterinary Science and an Honours degree in Environmental Science. For many years she has been an active philanthropist. She is a conservationist with a foundation to Save Indonesian Endangered Species and is now actively engaged in a global fundraising program to support Ukraine. Claire lives on land with holiday accommodation near Byron Bay.

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Mrs Anna Dicker

Category C - Animal Welfare

Anna is a welfare representative on the Animal Ethics committee. Anna has a background in health (nursing, midwifery and community development in emergencies and humanitarian aid) and a longstanding association with an animal rescue organisation. She brings this interest in animal welfare to this committee to ensure the ethical use of animals in any research project.

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Mr Rob Browne

Category D - Independent

Rob is an Executive Coach with global and independent experience, specialising in leadership development, career transition and organisational change. Accredited Meta‑Coach with strong evidence‑based practice. Now serving on SCU ethics committees, volunteering at the Lismore Regional Gallery, and enjoying beach walks with his rescue dog, Andie.

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Vacant Position

Category D - Independent

Lizzie Bazarnik

Secretary

Emily Rodger

Research Ethics Support Officer

Lincoln Nettleton

Research Ethics Support Officer