QASP Team

Over the years, our research team has expanded to bring QASP the best possible animal care and research assistance. Each bringing their own unique talents, knowledge and like-minded passion for animals, our research team is dedicated, hardworking and qualified to assist with all levels, and variations of research.

Senior Management

Milou Dekkers

Senior Manager

Milou H. Dekkers completed her BSc Animal Science, in the Netherlands, majoring in epidemiology. She worked in process and project management prior to moving abroad. In 2007 she moved to Australia to study her first MSc in Natural Resource Management and in 2010 she completed her second MSc in environmental management. Milou has been working in the field of animal research for over 20 years and has worked on a large variety of animal research projects.

In 2016, she became the Senior Manager of QASP; and in addition to her senior management role in the QASP she has been conducting her PhD part-time. Her passion for Natural Resource Management and Animal Science is evident in her commitment and involvement in the various research projects both conducted in QASP and for her PhD.

Scott Cullen

Assistant Manager

Scott is a butcher by trade and has been working at QASP since 2014. He has over 10 years of experience working on and managing cattle properties all over Australia. Scott also has over a decade of experience working with animals in a research and teaching environment. Scott spent 3 years on the wharf driving 40 tonne forklifts and excavators.

Scott’s expertise, leadership and skills working with animals, and leading teams has seen him move into a management position where he continues to dedicate his energy to improving and maximising the potential of QASP. Scott’s commitment and effort was recognised with a nomination for the UQ DVCRI Deputy Vice-Chancellors award for Excellence in 2021.

QASP Senior Staff

Chelsea Baker

Research Officer

Chelsea was born and raised on a pork and beef cattle property in Gayndah, Queensland. She completed a Bachelor of Economics, majoring in Econometrics at the University of New England and after graduation, took an active role in the family’s farming enterprise working as the bookkeeper and Farrowing Shed Manager and Post Office Manager.

Chelsea since commenced her Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Hons) in 2018 at the University of Queensland and joined the QASP team in 2019 as a casual research assistant. Chelsea excels in consultation and planning and has since successfully moved into the Research Officer role, a testament to her hard work and dedication to research. Chelsea remains particularly interested in animal health and welfare, and large animal (and dachshund) reproduction.

Natalie Scott

Research Officer

Natalie joins the QASP team as a Research Officer after moving to Queensland from regional Victoria. She completed a Bachelor of Veterinary Nursing at Melbourne Polytechnic University while also working as farrowing support and manager at an outdoor piggery for four years, developing a love of working in research settings.

Relocating to Queensland for a career opportunity in research, Natalie worked as a senior Animal Technician at QUT's Medical Engineering Research Facility and as an Animal Nutritionists at a national stockfeed manufacturer before joining UQ and QASP.

Stacey Groves

Technical Officer

Stacey Groves has worked in animal handling for over fifteen years. Growing up on a farm provided her with rich knowledge and versatile skills, enabling her to shape a successful career in animal and research management. Before moving to QASP as the Technical Officer over 4 years ago, Stacey worked in meatworks, within a range of labour tasks to quality assurance.

At QASP, Stacey leads the research casual team, by handing and monitoring animal well-being, experimental procedures, routine animal husbandry and management, as well as non-surgical physiological testing. Stacey is equipped to handle a range of animals including, cattle, horses, pigs, sheep, goat, poultry, even rodents and reptiles. Stacey is a hard-working professional, who continues to seek the best possible outcomes for researchers, animals and the QASP community.

QASP Team

Lorin Grey

Research Administration Officer

Lorin joined the QASP team as a Research Administration Officer in 2023. She completed a Bachelor of Science at UQ and worked on epidemiology studies as a project coordinator at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research, before moving into a career in the animal care field in a remote area of the Arctic where she managed the health and welfare of 250 working sled dogs.

Hugh Wells

Animal Technician

Since 2021, Hugh has been working with QASP as the Animal Technician, focusing on animal attendance, husbandry, research team leading, and facility maintenance. Raised on a beef property near Pittsworth, Hugh then completed school in Toowoomba, before commencing his Bachelor of Veterinary Science at the University of Queensland.

Hugh has also gained his extensive experience and knowledge working in seismic exploration, trade businesses, and as a jackaroo and groundskeeper. Hugh’s goal working at QASP and completing his study is to maintain and deliver exceptional standard of work and attention to detail. He continues to aspire to be the best version of himself and empower those around him to do the same, especially his team at QASP.

Brodie Dance

Animal Technician

Brodie grew up working on his family farm at Willowbank, before completing an apprenticeship at Brassall butchery. It was here that Brodie was trained by butchers who rated in the top 10 per cent of butchers nation-wide. Now qualified with a certificate 3 in meat processing, Brodie is also food accredited and has a license for wild game harvesting.

Brodie spent two years in a piggery, and then continued to butcher for 6 years, where he also successfully operated in leadership positions for slaughter yards. Brodie has been working with QASP for over 18 months and continues to run his own on-farm butchering business on weekends. His extremely high-level knowledge and practical skills in this area has been instrumental for the establishment of QASP’s Meat Science Facility.