Nicola Cotton with labrador puppy

Dr Nicola Cotton (Chair)

Veterinary and Reproduction Manager
Vision Australia Seeing Eye Dogs

As Veterinary and Reproduction Manager at Seeing Eye Dogs Australia, Nicola oversees the veterinary care of the organisation’s dog population, breeding, reproductive health and neonatal care. Nicola joined Seeing Eye Dogs in 2014, before this having worked as a veterinarian for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and as an emergency veterinarian.

Nicola is enthusiastic about using data to promote continuous improvement in success rates and animal welfare within the dog guide industry, and exploring the interactions between these concepts. Collaboration and knowledge sharing within the industry to deliver enhanced outcomes for dogs and clients are additional areas of focus for Nicola. 

To advance this cause, Nicola has presented on dog health and breeding topics at ADI and IGDF conferences, and has taken on several roles in the industry, being a member of the IGDF Animal Welfare Special Interest Group and the ADI Breeding Standards Subcommittee. Nicola also led the development of the Seeing Eye Dogs Animal Welfare Strategy and headed Seeing Eye Dogs’ participation in the ADI Oceanic Breeding Co-operative as a founding member and currently sits on the ADI International Breeding Co-operative Steering Committee.

Barry O’Toole

Guide Dog Mobility Specialist
The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, UK

Barry is an experienced Guide Dog Mobility Instructor (GDMI). He has been working for Guide Dogs for the Blind UK in their London office for over 13 years. He has a degree in Zoology from the Trinity College  Dublin and a post-graduate degree in Biodiversity and Conservation. He is also a quailed Vision and Rehabilitation Specialist.

A keen traveler, Barry has worked as a veterinary nurse in both Hawaii and Australia, a wildlife orphanage assistant in South Africa, a speaker and tour guide at Aukland Zoo in New Zealand and volunteered at a sight saving NGO in Ethiopia. In his spare time, he loves swimming, cycling and cooking. Barry was appointed to the Standards Committee in October 2023.

Jim Kessler sitting with a black labrador

Jim Kessler

Assistant Director, Instruction and Training 
The Seeing Eye Inc, USA

Jim Kessler graduated from Miami of Ohio class of 1994 receiving a B.S. in Business Administration.  He started his career in New York City working in the financial services industry. He worked for both Lehman Brothers and the Federal Reserve Bank and in September of 2001, was hired at the Seeing Eye where he began his career as an apprentice.  He worked as a GDMI until February 2011 and assumed a different role as a Senior Manager of Instruction and Training. During April 2016, Jim was promoted to Assistant Director of Instruction and Training. He has also enjoyed his role as an assessor for the IGDF since 2019.

He is happily married with 4 children. Jim is an avid runner participating in marathons and a cyclist. He truly enjoys his family and spending time with them.

Roland Wu (Board Liaison)

Chair & pro bono CEO
Hong Kong Guide Dog Association, Hong Kong

Roland Wu is the Chairman and Pro Bono CEO of the Hong Kong Guide Dogs Association. He began his career at KPMG Hong Kong as an auditor before becoming CEO of DeNeuville Chocolat for the China and Hong Kong markets.

He also serves as a council member of the Hong Kong Society for the Blind and as a council member and Honorary Treasurer of the Hong Kong Society for the Deaf. He is a Fellow of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants and a member of CPA Australia. On the more active side, Roland is also a qualified ski instructor with the New Zealand Snowsports Instructor Association (NZSIA).