Meet Our Team

Karen has been involved with the Home since August 2006 when she adopted one of the Home’s long-termers, Homer. Karen’s background is marketing and advertising and she has led the Home in increasing awareness, fundraising and developing valuable corporate partnerships. Karen has adopted three beloved dogs from the home, Homer (adopted 2006), Bronson (adopted 2009) and senior Harley (adopted 2017). Sadly they have now crossed the rainbow bridge, but Karen’s house remains full of foster dogs. Karen devotes a huge volume of time to the Home and our dogs and is a regular weekend walker. She is always meeting her new “favourite” dog.

Prior to Lynne joining our Board, she was (and still is) a long-term volunteer dog walker and has assisted us with events and fundraising. Lynne spends more time at the Dogs’ Refuge Home than she does at home and whilst she doesn’t have a dog at home, Lynne treats all of our homeless hounds as if they are her own.

Chris is a lawyer in Perth specialising in commercial law. Chris has previously adopted two rescue dogs, one from the Hong Kong SPCA and the other from our Home. Chris worked on the Home’s successful application for Designated Gift Recipient Status (by which donors obtain a tax deduction). He has worked in Australia and Hong Kong and was previously Secretary of the Hong Kong SPCA. Having made a significant and ongoing contribution to the Home, Chris is recognised as a Life Member.

Phillip has over 40 years’ experience in the accounting profession advising a wide range of clients. He is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.

Since retiring Phillip has supported a number of not-for-profit organisations serving different sections of the community. He has rejoined the Dogs’ Refuge Home Board after a break of three years having been Treasurer from 2019 to 2023.

Together with his wife Jenny Phillip has owned dogs, including rescues, for many years. They are passionate about dogs, particularly golden retrievers.

Marsha is an avid animal lover and advocate and have been a volunteer at Perth Zoo since 1999. She is a Docent volunteer guide and has been training new Docent recruits for 12 years as well as participating in behaviour enrichment programs for the animals. Marsha joined the Dogs’ Refuge Home team in 2012 and has been an avid dog walker and is now regular Friday office team member.

Leanne is a communications, marketing and stakeholder engagement professional with extensive experience in urban planning and development, major infrastructure projects and the resources industry in Western Australia and New South Wales. She has been a volunteer dog walker since 2020, has two much loved rescue dogs and also adopted a dog from the Home in 2000.

Originally from Guernsey, in the British Channel Islands, Denise grew up in a world full of dogs! Her father bred German Shepherds and was also an experienced dog trainer and so she has never had a home without a dog! Denise has volunteered in various capacities at the Dogs’ Refuge Home and loves seeing our dogs rehomed with their forever families. She says that her own dog, Boy George, keeps her sane and focused on helping as many dogs as possible find love and sanctuary. She has volunteered with many local charity organisations over the years and is currently a Board Member of Police & Community Youth Centres (PCYC) WA.

Alex began volunteering for the Home in 2019 as a dog walker and foster carer. He is the Chair of the Home’s Risk Committee and has extensive experience as a Risk, Compliance and Audit professional across the banking, energy and not-for-profit sectors in both Australia and the UK. Although Alex does not have a dog at home as yet, he loves to foster and help dogs prepare for their forever home, and is always on the lookout for his next squishy faced best friend.

Justine is an avid dog lover and a strong believer in the joy and companionship of dogs and their ability to bring joy into our lives. She is a Partner at Deloitte in Consulting and has extensive experience in strategy and operations. She also has corporate executive experience in transformation and productivity as well as wide ranging experience in transformation governance, risk, performance & reporting Justine became a Kennel Sponsor at the Dogs Refuge Home in 2022 and joined the board in 2025. Justine is a member of both the Risk and Investments Committees.