We’d love to hear from you. Whether you have a question, want to get involved, or simply need more information, our team is here to help.
Sue Karzis
Board Chair
Sue Karzis held the role of Chief Executive Officer of State Schools’ Relief from 2018-2024. SSR is a Victorian based not for profit organisation that supports the needs of disadvantaged government school students by providing them with new school uniforms, school shoes and a range of other essential educational resources. Since her appointment in early 2018, Sue propelled the charity to record numbers of impact, assisting over 94,000 financially disadvantaged Victorian school children in 2023/24, with the number and value of items distributed exceeding 325,700 and $6.7m respectively.
Sue Karzis was previously the Associate Director, Student Services at Monash College and worked as the Director of Young Leaders Programs and Strategic Partnerships at Trinity College, The University of Melbourne. Sue has a passion for creating pathways for students to engage with education, regardless of their background and her career has had a strong focus on young people and education.
Sue is a passionate animal lover and has 3 rescue cats who rule the roost. Sue was appointed to the Board 20 September 2024.
Tanya Drakopoulos
CEO
Tanya joined The Lost Dogs’ Home in October 2025, bringing with her more than 20 years of experience in animal care. Her lifelong passion for improving animal welfare began in childhood, inspired by wildlife programs and adventures exploring the local bushland with friends.
Her career has included a range of leadership roles across pet retail and customer care, experiences that ultimately guided her toward a vocation in animal welfare.
From 2013, Tanya commenced her journey in animal welfare at RSPCA Victoria in various roles. In her most recent role as Head of Operations, she provided strategic and operational leadership across animal care and rehoming services. She also oversaw the organisation’s response to animal cruelty cases within the Victorian community, ensuring the highest standards of welfare and compassion.
Driven by a strong work ethic and deep commitment to improving the lives of animals, Tanya continues this mission at The Lost Dogs’ Home. Her focus is on developing and implementing effective animal care strategies and upholding best-practice welfare standards to ensure every lost and abandoned animal has the opportunity for a better life.
Jeremy Huntley
Finance
Jeremy Huntley is the Chief Financial Officer at The Lost Dogs’ Home, a role he has held since 2022. Coming from senior finance roles in the public sector, Jeremy relished the opportunity to bring his extensive financial management experience to the animal welfare sector, combining his love of animals with his knack for financial management. He plays a critical role in ensuring the financial sustainability of the Home, providing strategic oversight and operational support to drive informed decision-making. With a focus on transparency and accountability, Jeremy leads the finance and information technology teams in providing the organisation with the support they need to look after the animals in our care. His leadership supports the ongoing delivery of vital animal welfare services while positioning the organisation for long-term success.
Amy and Buttons
Amy was amongst one of The Lost Dogs’ Home’s most dedicated supporters. She started donating to the Home in the 1980s and continued supporting it for the rest of her life. During that time, her kindness and gifts touched the lives of thousands of lost animals.
Caring for others was in Amy’s nature. She spent her working life caring for new mothers and babies as a nurse in charge of the midwifery ward at Footscray Hospital.
Amy was also very passionate about the well-being of stray and abandoned cats and dogs. It was a passion inspired by the love of her own faithful cat, Buttons, who was a much-loved companion in her later years. Buttons provided her with much-needed comfort, warmth and friendship.
Amy chose to remember the Home in her Will by including a bequest gift to give future generations of lost pets the opportunity to be loved, and be able to love in return.
Louise Goh
Legal and Risk
Louise is an experienced in-house legal practitioner, passionate about helping not-for-profit organisations achieve their mission and purpose by supporting commercially focused, risk-based decision making in compliance with the law. As the General Counsel, Director Legal and Risk at the Home, Louise provides the Home with legal services and legal compliance, risk management and governance support. She has adopted three rescue dogs from the Home over the years, which makes the Home feel like part of the family!
Michael Vidovic
Naida Peiris
As Chief Operating Officer, Nadia Peiris is responsible for leading The Lost Dogs’ Home’s Shelter Operations, Veterinary Services, Behaviour and Service Delivery teams, ensuring the organisation delivers integrated, high-quality services that place animal welfare at the centre of every decision. She oversees the operational performance of the Home’s shelters while fostering collaboration across disciplines to deliver the best possible outcomes for animals, people and the community.
A passionate and experienced executive, Nadia works closely with the CEO, Executive Team and Board to deliver the organisation’s strategic priorities through strong governance, operational excellence and continuous improvement. She also partners with local councils, Victorian Government departments, regulators and sector organisations to strengthen animal welfare outcomes, support responsible animal management and help shape contemporary approaches to companion animal care across Victoria.
