Rob has over 30 years experience with CSIRO in agricultural research and facility/site management.  He has extensive experience in leading multi-disciplinary teams. He has been an Irish Sport Horse breeder for the past 15 years,  is the current President of the Irish Draught and Sport Horse Society of Australia, an Honorary Steward at the Royal Queensland Show’s Horse Breed Expo, co-ordinator of the Irish Draught and Sport Horse stand at the EKKA’s Horse Breeds Expo and in more recent years in collaboration with the Queensland Connemara Action Group.  He brings to the QHC Board considerable management experience and a passion for Irish horses.

To email Rob click here

Debbie has been involved in the horse world for more than 45yrs, getting her first pony when she was only 4 years old.  She grew up through the ranks of Pony Club competing in sporting, showjumping and dressage and successfully representing Pony Club at State level in all those fields.  She started the foundation of her Stud when she was only 17 and has been breeding Andalusian horses ever since. She has been heavily involved in showing in hand and performance, both under saddle and more recently harness.  She has competed successfully in EFA Dressage at State and National Championships to Intermediate II.  

At 18 Debbie became an Andalusian Horse Association Australia (AHAA) committee member at the foundation meeting of the QLD Branch and has been actively involved ever since serving as President of the Qld Branch for 12yrs, Federal Delegate for 7yrs and 1 term as President of the Federal Council.  She is a regular Judge and Steward at any show or discipline which needs help and has organised breed shows for State and National Championships.  She has run the Andalusian stand at the Horse Breeds Expo at Brisbane Royal Show for more than 12yrs.

Debbie was employed by the DPI&F during the EI crisis as a Field Officer and in 2008 she did the DPI&F Building Rural Leaders Course.  Debbie has a strong sense of “giving back” to the horse community and a long history of volunteer work.

To email Debbie click here

To email Linda click here.

MaryAnne Leighton is the author of Equine Emergency Rescue – a guide to Large Animal Rescue, a book that has been embraced by emergency responders, equine vets, RSPCA and stock inspectors, animal control officers and horse owners and is the course material for all Large Animal Rescue training in Australia and New Zealand.

Since 2010, MaryAnne has promoted Large Animal Rescue through: numerous published articles; presentations and demonstrations to conferences, seminars, AGMs, clubs and groups; coordinating visits and teaching tours by international experts; and the hugely successful QHC Large Animal Rescue Roadshow workshops. Attendees describe her presentations and workshops as “compelling” and “not to be missed”.

She gained her experience with horses through twenty years of managing horse studs that ranged in size from one stallion and a handful of mares to seven stallions, 400 mares and 200 foals born each year. MaryAnne has a background in marketing and public relations and is a freelance writer and the author of Living the Legend: the Ian Francis Story, the biography of one of the world's most accomplished horsemen.

For her tireless work in promoting Large Animal Rescue in Australia, in May 2012 MaryAnne was nominated for two awards, the Queensland Rural Regional and Remote Women’s Network Strong Women Leadership Awards and Quest Equine Welfare’s 2012 Equitarian Award that honours individuals for consistent, compassionate and selfless service that improves the welfare of equines.