ADRF Board of Directors

A New South Wales rural practitioner who graduated from the University of Sydney in 1979, Hugo received a Master of Dental Surgery in 1993. Holding fellowships with several organisations including the International College of Dentists, Academy of Dentistry International and Pierre Fauchard Academy.  Hugo has been a Federal Councillor for the ADA from 2003 to 2019 serving as President 2017 - 2019 and was an ADA NSW Councillor from 1999 to 2021  (NSW President from 2003-2004). He continues to hold various roles on ADA Committees. In addition, he has been a tutor at the School of Dentistry at Charles Sturt University since 2010. A Rotarian since 1985, he has twice served as Rotary Club President.

Shane is the past president of the ADA (2010-2012) and also served as the ADA NSW Branch President in 1997. In addition to his position with the ADRF, he currently operates a specialist Orthodontic practice in Wollongong. A fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons (FRACDFS) Shane has also been awarded honorary fellowships in the Pierre Fauchard Academy, the Academy of Dentistry International and the International College of Dentists.

Eithne Irving has been at the ADA for 13 years and over that time has had responsibility for a wide range of issues affecting the dental profession. With extensive experience in clinical practice, state and federal government roles, Eithne has unique access to government and regulatory bodies bureaucracy that ensures the ADA’s voice is heard at all levels. She represents the ADA on a number of external bodies where she is a knowledgeable and articulate advocate for the dental profession. She holds an MBA and is a Certified Association Executive.

Kym De Britt is an experienced, versatile Executive with a track record of building businesses and business culture through change management and leadership across a range of sectors. Kym holds a Master of Business Administration (HR), a Bachelor of Business Management (Finance), completed a Kaplan Norton Strategic Planning Course, and is an associate member of CPA Australia. Kym’s previous experience includes working as the General Manager, Chief Operating Officer, and Financial Manager at the Franchise Council of Australia, the Chief Executive Officer of Brazilian Butterfly Franchise Group, as well as the Melbourne Airport Manager for Jetstar

Rachel is a registered dentist and specialist in Public Health Dentistry. Passionate about health equity, she is director and co-founder of the Network for the Integration of Oral Health (NIOH). NIOH is committed to improving the oral health of Australians through collaboration to build the evidence base and translation into practice of oral health within general health. Rachel chairs the ADAVB Public Dentists Committee and co-chairs the National Notification and Immediate Action Committees of the Dental Board of Australia. In 2020 she was awarded a Fellowship of the International College of Dentists, and a Fellowship of the Pierre Fauchard Academy for outstanding leadership in the profession of dentistry. 

Deb is an experienced national and international specialist dental practitioner with over 25 years of leadership experience in a range of sectors including tertiary education, NFP and professional associations. An accomplished teacher, a people person, an empathic communicator and a successful leader. Through vision, creativity and problem solving, a committed, passionate and conscientious team player who inspires colleagues to follow the lead.

Since graduating from Adelaide University in 1975, Mark has been active on a range of local issues in South Australia including water fluoridation in Mt Gambier where his practice is located. Mark has been a SA branch Country Councillor since 1996, serving as President of the SA Branch in 2004 and 2007. In 2004, Mark was elected as a Federal Councillor and was elected to Federal Executive in 2014. He has actively contributed to a wide range of ADA committees including the Constitution and Policy Committee, which he has chaired until 2021. He is a Fellow of the International College of Dentists, the Academy of Dentistry International and the Pierre Fauchard Academy.

Alastair is Head of School, Melbourne Dental School, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry & Health Sciences at University of Melbourne. He has 23 years’ experience as a research principal investigator / group leader and teaching academic in the fields of oral biology and pathology, bioengineering and mineralised tissue infection. An experienced negotiator for national and international education / research partnerships and development of transnational education programmes and an established background in University / Institution reviews.

He has 17 years international leadership experience through strategic management committees of international professional societies and 6 years non-executive board member experience.