Haley Andrews (Chair)

Head of Career Change and Rehoming
Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, United Kingdom

Haley Andrews is an experienced national operations leader with more than 19 years dedicated to the development, welfare and delivery of guide dog services. Her career with Guide Dogs UK has spanned frontline mobility instruction, operational leadership and national programme management, providing her with extensive expertise across the full guide dog pathway — from puppy development and dog flow management to partnership training, placement and retirement support.

A strong advocate for collaboration and professional development across the sector, Haley has contributed extensively to international knowledge sharing and standards development within the guide dog community. She currently co-chairs the International Guide Dog Federation Puppy Raising Group alongside Sarah Blevins from Guide Dogs for the Blind Association (GDB), supporting collaboration and shared learning among member organisations worldwide.

Haley supports sector-wide collaboration through her involvement with the Assistance Dogs UK Volunteer Working Group, helping strengthen volunteer engagement and experience across assistance dog organisations.

Haley is recognised for her balanced, thoughtful and collaborative leadership style, and for her commitment to ethical canine management, operational excellence and high welfare standards. She remains passionate about supporting the continued development of guide dog services internationally, helping organisations work together to maximise independence, mobility and opportunity for people living with visual impairments.

Yuko INOUE

Yuko Inoue

Manager International Affairs
Japan Guide Dog Association (JGDA)

Yuko currently works as the Manager of the International Affairs Department at Kanagawa Training Centre of JGDA. She oversee all matters related to communicating with people and organisations abroad from breeding, to training, to fundraising, etc.

Yuko is from the 2nd graduating class from the school for guide dog trainers at JGDA and has been working at JGDA for the past 18 years.

Yuko is a Japanese national, but grew up in Abu Dhabi and went to university in the United States, majoring in Zoology and French.

A smiling Melinda Bowden

Melinda Bowden

Guide Dogs NSW/ACT, Australia

Melinda Bowden commenced her career with Guide Dogs working in kennels and then as a Therapy Dog Trainer whilst completing a B. Science (Biological Science). In 2007, Melinda completed a Masters of Special Education (Sensory Disability) and began work as an Orientation and Mobility Instructor and then later, as a Guide Dog Mobility Instructor with Guide Dogs NSW/ACT (Australia).

Melinda has a passion for continuous improvement and the education of trainees and the broader workforce. Melinda has been involved in the training of Guide Dog Trainers and Guide Dog Mobility Instructors for both Guide Dogs NSW/ACT and Guide Dogs Victoria. Melinda has also provided support internationally to emerging Orientation and Mobility Specialists, Guide Dog Trainers and Guide Dog Mobility Instructors through secondment roles as an educator or practitioner for various organisations, including South African Guide Dogs Association for the Blind, Guide Dogs Singapore and Hong Kong Guide Dogs Association. These opportunities to simultaneously learn and teach are what brings Melinda the most joy and satisfaction in her working life.

Melinda is also a Knowledge Assessed Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CCPDT-KA) with the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers.

A smiling Ben Cawley

Ben Cawley

Guiding Eyes for the Blind, USA

Ben Cawley joined Guide Dogs for the Blind, San Rafael, 25 years ago where he worked as a GDMI for more than 10 years. There he found a passion for working with the human side of the guide dog partnership. Ben moved back to the East Coast of the U.S. with his wife and infant son to be closer to family. There he joined Guiding Eyes for the Blind in New York where he currently serves as Director of Client Experience. Ben is also an IGDF Assessor and joined the IGDF Education Committee in 2023.