Man kneeling with a golden labrador puppy on knee

Lee Buckingham (Chair)

General Manager, Guide Dog Services
Guide Dogs Queensland, Australia

Lee is an innovative leader who is passionate about operational strategies, project planning and people management with a strong focus on implementing processes to improve safety and culture in the workplace.

As the General Manager for Guide Dog Services, Lee currently provides leadership and direction across all Guide Dogs Queensland canine programs including  Veterinary, Breeding, Puppy Raising, and Guide Dog Training – always with the focus on achieving the best outcomes for both clients and canines.

Lee has professional experience spanning over three continents in a variety of industries including not-for-profit, hospitality, facilities management, food production and resources.

Lee is skilled at managing teams to successful outcomes and developing strategies to improve on workplace culture and output. He has overseen the commencement of a number of projects at Guide Dogs including the introduction of new Digital education programs. Puppy programs with interactive portals for volunteers.

Christine Baroni Pretsch with a yellow lab puppy and adult golden retriever.

Christine Baroni-Pretsch

IGDF Board Member
Chief Executive Officer
Foundation Romande pour Chiens Guides d’Aveugles, Switzerland

Christine Baroni-Pretsch started her guide dog carrier in 1988 as a GDMI apprentice in the German speaking part of Switzerland. She is the founder and current CEO of Foundation Romande pour Chiens Guides d’Aveugles which currently has two training centres in the French and Italian speaking part of Switzerland.

Christine is particularly interested in breeding better guide dogs and founded the European Breeding Network in 2007.

Working together, sharing and learning from each other is something which is really important to her. She has been elected to the IGDF Board in 2004 and was active in various positions, including vice-chair until 2012. Currently she is an IGDF assessor and has previously served as the board-elected chair of the Accreditation Committee from 2012 until 2016.

Christine feels passionate about helping blind and partially sighted people to build effective partnerships with excellent guide dogs. Working with these teams is incredibly inspiring.

She was co-opted to the IGDF Board in October 2019, and appointed by the membership for a term of four years at the AGM in September 2020. Christine is Board Liaison for the Accreditation Committee, and Co-Chair of the Education Committee.

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.

International Guide Dog Federation Badge

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.