Our Board.
This is your Team section. It's a great place to introduce your team and talk about what makes it special, such as your culture and work philosophy. Don't be afraid to illustrate personality and character to help users connect with your team.
Dr Megan Barnes
Chairperson/Director of Welfare
​
Megan has a wealth of experience in research, welfare, working dog management and deployment, science communication, and not‑for‑profit management. She holds a Ph.D. in conservation science, is a certified professional dog trainer with the IMDT, founder and CEO of Detection for Good, and a skilled operational detection dog trainer and handler.
​
As an operational detection dog handler, Megan works in remote environments to detect threatened species to an exceptional standard of welfare. She holds multiple Animal Ethics permits for working dogs nationally, and has undertaken extensive safety and welfare training.
​
Megan is the current Treasurer of the Australian Dog Conservation Network and a founding member of the Conservation Dog Alliance — an international not‑for‑profit focused on enhancing access to education for conservation detection dogs. She is also an engaging and sought‑after presenter with experience in science communication across audiences ranging from Senators to school students.
Training dogs to detect difficult targets and make the world a better place is both her passion and her calling. At Detection for Good, her dogs are trained to find cryptic, low‑volume odour and environmental pathogens, and she is highly experienced in adaptively developing novel applications — a critical skill set for our organisation.
​
Megan shares her life with four operational working dogs — three working‑line Labradors, an English Springer Spaniel, and a sassy Australian Shepherd with a back condition — and is committed to continuous learning to provide these exceptional animals with an amazing life.
Jorren Kuster
Vice-Chairperson/Strategic Plan Director
Jorren is a final year PhD student in cancer immunology research at The University of Western Australia & The Kids Research Institute Australia. Jorren obtained his Bachelor of Science in Medical Biology and his Master of Science in Medical Epigenetics at the Radboud University Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
His research background is firmly evidence-based, with a focus on rigorous experimental design, data analysis and critical interpretation of data. Jorren has experience translating complex scientific findings into clear, accessible outputs for both specialist and non-specialist audiences. Jorren has presented his work at national and international meetings, and his research presentations have been recognised with competitive prizes
Jorren has a strong track record of leadership and service alongside his academic and research work. Jorren has held multiple committee and chair positions in the Netherlands and Australia, where he has contributed to strategic planning, governance, advocacy and coordination of collaborative initiatives. In these roles, he has worked closely with diverse stakeholders, helping to shape agendas, facilitate discussion and ensure effective delivery of projects and events. Across these activities, Jorren values collaboration, integrity and creating environments where people can thrive
Dr Alice Domenichini
Treasurer
Scientific Director
Alice brings in a wealth of experience in biomedical research, cancer research and other chronic diseases having worked in major Research Institutes in WA, The Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute (CHIRI) - currently Curtin Medical Research Institute (Curtin MRI) and The Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research. Alice graduated from the second oldest University in Italy, University of Padova (est 1222) in Northern Italy, an institution with a prestigious scientific reputation. She holds a Ph.D. in Genetics and Molecular Biology of Development, is a certified professional dog trainer with the IMDT, a Medical Alert Assistance Dog Trainer under Western Australia Assistance and Therapy Dogs, Therapy Dog Trainer and handler and DLGIRS Approved Independent Public Access Test Assessor.
As a Medical Alert Assistance Dog trainer, Alice has focused on perfecting training protocols to support the registration of the first exclusively scent-trained POTS Alert Assistance Dog in WA and has an interest in developing a training methodology that is evidence-based, rigorous and reliable.
Alice has a track record of cancer and chronic conditions-related publications in collaboration with prominent national and international experts and has been one the recipient of the Spinnaker Health Research Foundation Awards, sponsored by the Fremantle and Attadale Rotary Club. She has participated and presented at numerous science conferences nationally and internationally, before taking her knowledge into training life savings dogs.
Alice has trained dogs to perform unique life saving tasks for their handlers, including medical alert and response, CPR and assisting with daily living tasks. Within Western Australian Assistance and Therapy Dogs, Alice is co-responsible for the only Specialised Clinical Therapy Dog Course in WA, working alongside Allied Health professionals in training dogs with unique skills applied in therapeutic settings.
Alice shares her life with 3 dogs. Rhodesian Ridgeback Willow - a semi-retired 10 ½ yo Therapy Dog, Ziggy - a 6 yo Rhodesian Ridgeback with a spinal condition learning the ropes of Therapy Dog work, and a prematurely retired task trained Assistance Dog, a Golden Retriever named Bear.
Mr Stephen McPherson
Secretary
Compliance and Admin Director
Stephen is BioPaws Detection’s Secretary and responsible for compliance and major reporting administration for BioPaws Detection. Stephen comes with invaluable experience, being an International business owner for 20 years running his own Safety and Compliance company. Stephen has not only a lot of compliance knowledge but legal knowledge as well. This will ensure that BioPaws Detection remains compliant with reporting requirements for the ACNC.
Stephen is a disabled veteran with his own Assistance Dog bringing into the Team experience in handling and training dogs to perform life saving jobs.
Stephen is also currently the CEO and Chairperson for the Western Australian Head & Neck Cancer Support Foundation.
Elissa Oakey
Director
Advocacy and Outreach, Health & Wellbeing (POTS Division)
Elissa is a final-year Bachelor of Science (Occupational Therapy) Honours student with a strong interest in research and evidence-based practice. Living with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and other chronic health conditions, Elissa brings valuable lived experience to BioPaws Detection's mission of ethical research, advocacy, and education.
She is the handler of Western Australia’s first exclusively scent-trained POTS alert assistance dog, who was a finalist for the Australian Dog of the Year in 2024. Elissa is a passionate advocate for assistance animal awareness and invisible disability education. She self-published ‘’The Crooked Carrot’’, a children’s picture book promoting early scoliosis detection and preventative health education.
Elissa’s advocacy and community engagement have been recognised through multiple awards and nominations, including the 7NEWS Young Achiever Awards (Health & Wellbeing), the Department of Communities Young Women Leader Award, and the Awards Australia Foundation Local Legend Award (2025, Western Australia). She was also formally commended as a finalist and top contender for the Vice-Chancellor’s Student Award for Community Engagement at Edith Cowan University.
Through her role at BioPaws Detection, Elissa is dedicated to making sure lived experience guides ethical research, strengthens access to healthcare in regional communities, and supports compassionate, person‑centred change.
Nikki van den Berg
Director
Marketing and Communication
Nikki brings invaluable research management experience and clinical applications. Nikki finished her Master’s at the Radboud University in the Netherlands in 2020, after completing a master Internship at Harry Perkins Research Institute in Australia in cardiovascular Research involving an important population research, the Busselton Study. After achieving her degree she worked in cardiovascular Research at Amsterdam UMC in the Netherlands. Following her move to Australia in 2022, Nikki worked for 2 years in Clinical Cancer Research at Linear Clinical Research.
Nikki currently works as a Research Assistant for a group working on Mitochondrial diseases at The Kids Research Institute WA.
She is also a Qualified Dog Trainer with the IMDT, and following her scentwork journey with her own dog Mowgli (Rhodesian Ridgeback), under the guidance of Dr. Alice Domenichini, Nikki became very passionate about further exploring the value of using the dog nose to train life saving dogs.
Nikki is passionate about applying modern and ethical dog training methods and capturing special moments thanks to her passion for photography. Roaming With a Lens Photography is her little business where she captures the beauty of animals and nature.
Nikki is dedicated to bringing her work as a researcher together with her passion for scent work in dogs, to improve healthcare and diagnostics.