Meet the Board
Julia Cockram
Board Chair and Managing Director
Julia Cockram joined the Gumtree Greys Board in January 2018 and has served as Board Chair since 2020. She brings decades of experience in business management, having spent many years as Business Manager of an architectural practice with responsibility for governance, finance, human resources, systems and day-to-day operations. In addition to her Board role, Julia is closely involved in Gumtree Greys’ operations as Behaviour Coordinator, helping ensure that strategic decisions are practical, ethical and firmly in the best interests of both dogs and volunteers.
Julia is the Managing Director of Confident Hounds, a behaviour consulting practice, and a Certified Dog Behaviour Consultant (CDBC) through the IAABC. She is passionate about strong, transparent governance in the charity sector and about bridging the gap between strategy and hands-on delivery. Known for her calm and practical leadership style, Julia has a strong focus on sustainability, ethical decision-making and volunteer wellbeing. She is a passionate advocate for greyhounds and is very happily owned by greyhound Timmy and staghound cross Freya.
Will Sarah
Treasurer
Will joined the Gumtree Greys Board in 2025. He is a CPA and Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD), bringing strong financial governance and strategic oversight to the Board of Gumtree Greys. He has experience in senior accounting and finance roles across the defence and software sectors, providing expertise in risk management, compliance, budgeting, and organisational sustainability. His professional background supports Gumtree Greys’ commitment to transparency, accountability, and long-term viability.
A lifelong dog lover, Will is deeply passionate about animal welfare and rescue. He shares his home with two German Shepherds and has a strong appreciation for responsible breeding, training, and rehabilitation. His blend of professional expertise and personal commitment to dogs makes him a valued contributor to Gumtree Greys’ mission of improving outcomes for dogs in need.
Jeanette Danos
Director and Company Secretary
Jeanette joined the Gumtree Greys Board in 2024. She is an experienced people, culture and organisational capability executive with over 30 years’ experience across banking, resources, energy and facilities management. Jeanette has held senior leadership roles with ANZ and BHP Billiton, City FM, and CitiPower and Powercor, leading people, culture and organisational development initiatives grounded in strong governance and ethical practice.
Her expertise includes leadership and succession planning, workforce capability development, performance and engagement, wellbeing programs and organisational change. She brings a thoughtful, values-led approach to governance, with a strong focus on sustainability, volunteer wellbeing and responsible decision-making.
Jeanette is deeply passionate about animal welfare and considers it a privilege to work alongside the compassionate volunteers, foster carers and Board members of Gumtree Greys, whose shared commitment ensures greyhounds are treated with care, dignity and respect.
Dan Pittman
Director
Dan joined the Gumtree Greys Board in 2025 and brings extensive senior leadership, governance and commercial experience to the Gumtree Greys Board. He is an accomplished executive with a strong background in strategic leadership, business growth and organisational management across the consumer, retail and e-commerce sectors. Dan is the Managing Director of Zinus Australia and New Zealand, where he leads regional operations for a fast-growing international furniture and mattress brand. His experience includes director-level leadership, commercial strategy, omnichannel and direct-to-consumer business models, and stakeholder engagement, providing a strong foundation for sustainable growth and effective governance. Throughout his career, Dan has overseen complex operations, supported teams through periods of growth and change, and contributed at board level to long-term planning and decision-making. His background in sales and marketing allows him to provide informed guidance on branding and go-to-market strategy. He has also held previous board roles and actively supports a range of not-for-profit and charitable organisations.
A passionate advocate for greyhound welfare, Dan is also a proud greyhound dad. He and his family share their home with two greyhounds, Neil Diamond and Kiki. His lived experience as an adopter ensures his contribution to Gumtree Greys remains grounded in the real needs of greyhounds and the families who welcome them into their homes.
Carly Wladkowski
Director
Carly joined the Gumtree Greys Board in 2025. She is an experienced communications and media professional with deep expertise in corporate, crisis and digital communications across complex and highly regulated environments. She is currently Media and Communications Lead at Brockwell, where she advises clients on strategic communications across multiple sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, tourism and aerospace. Previously, Carly was an Associate Partner at SEC Newgate Australia, leading high-stakes crisis communications, public relations and strategic advisory work for organisations ranging from small charities to ASX 200 and Fortune 500 companies. Carly brings strong governance insight, stakeholder engagement expertise and a calm, strategic approach to risk and reputation management.
She is passionate about animal welfare and is proud to serve as a Director of Gumtree Greys, supporting the organisation to communicate ethically, transparently and effectively in the best interests of greyhounds and the volunteers who care for them.