Meet Our People

Samantha Hedges

After 16 successful years growing the Royal Canin business in New Zealand I relocated to Melbourne in 2013 to manage the Professional Business Unit for Australia and New Zealand – managing the breeder, kennel and cattery, government agency and shelter business for Australia and New Zealand.

I am passionate about my work at Royal Canin and one of the reasons is that I have experienced the benefits of feeding it first hand for over 20 years. Royal Canin has enabled me to combine my passion with my career, as I have been breeding and showing winning Dobermanns for almost 30 years. I have represented New Zealand at Crufts and my dogs have won many “Best in Show” awards in NZ and Australia, as well as winning Dog and Puppy of the Year, and five of them becoming Grand Champions.

Cass Cooper

I grew up on a farm south of Christchurch, New Zealand, before relocating to Melbourne in 2014 after completing a Bachelor’s Degree in Media Studies and Communications and a Graduate Diploma in Event Management. I worked in Corporate and Conference Management for four years before joining Royal Canin at the beginning of 2017. I have two dogs of my own and am so excited to be able to combine my passion for dogs and cats with my role at Royal Canin. 

Jess Harris

Growing up I always had a passion for animals, with cats, dogs, pigs, horses, sheep, birds, rats, the list goes on! After finishing high school I completed a Certificate in Veterinary Nursing before changing path and doing a Bachelor of Business Management. I made the move across the ditch from Christchurch NZ, to Melbourne in 2008 and after several marketing roles was lucky enough to join the amazing Royal Canin® family in early 2017 combining my passion for animals and my career. In Melbourne my home is ruled by Eddie my cat and the remainder of my time by Darryl my horse.

Michele Ristuccia

I started showing and breeding Pedigree cats under the Miamber prefix over 20 years ago, and even though I started out with Burmese I am best known for my Burmillas and Mandalay, two very little known breeds and both developed from Burmese. I have been honored with recognition for my work by show wins not only for my own cats but for those really lovely examples of the breed in Europe and New Zealand which have been bred down from my cats. In recent years I have sent Burmillas to the USA where they became one of the fastest tracked breeds for recognition in CFA, shortly followed by recognition in TICA, now they are truly an internationally recognized breed, I am a passionate experimental breeder who enjoys the challenge of developing a true breeding, healthy , beautiful well-tempered companion cat. As if the cat breeding and showing wasn't enough I became an All Shorthair judge some years ago and spend quite a few weekends of the year travelling and judging at Cat shows in Australia and New Zealand.

Dogs are a relatively new adventure for me, when I met the Griffon Bruxellois at a dog show I decided that I couldn't be without one. I am now owned by two smooth red Griffons. Breeding healthy animals with a few as possible genetic issues is very important to me, and equally important is supporting that health with a great diet. Employment with Royal Canin gives me the opportunity to communicate the benefits of feeding a great diet to breeders and pet owners alike.

Michelle Hill

My passion is breeding and showing Samoyeds and I was lucky enough to join Royal Canin as Retail Sales Executive in May 2004. Since then I have been able to combine my passion for dogs with my role at Royal Canin.

I have been successfully working on the retail side of the business for the past 10 years, dealing with our chain and independent store customers, an area where we have seen huge growth of our brand. I am now excited to also be working with our PRO customers including Breeders. I’m also a strong believer in the philosophy of “cat and dog first” which is in line with Royal Canin beliefs.

I have been showing and breeding Samoyeds for 18 years, during this time I have bred and shown Best in Show winners, Champions and Grand Champions. We have also been lucky enough to export some of our beautiful dogs overseas. I have served on numerous dog committees and played major roles on these committees over the years. I have also been instrumental in organising and running events to raise money for charity.

I also own two cats – British Shorthairs, Bronson and Chad, we don’t show them, however they are a major part of our family.

Stacy Guilfoyle

In 1989 I purchased and started showing my first St Bernard and hence the “Draycan” prefixed was established. The kennel has amassed 29 Champions including 20 homebred plus three homebred Grand Champions, with Best In Show All Breeds and Specialties and Best of Breed Royals along the way; in addition to obedience titling five Companion Dog St Bernards and Australia’s only Agility titled St Bernard.

The kennel is also home to Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and more recently I have been involved with Australian Cattle Dogs. I have grown up with cats and was fortunate enough to have lived with a Persian Cattery for a short time. My home now has the company of a British Shorthair. I have obtained my Championship Group six and Open Show Group seven Dog Conformation Judge’s licence and am now Studying Group one also.

I am fortunate to have been able to combine my work with my passion since 2002. I enjoy helping people achieve that ‘edge’ in conditioning their dogs or cats by developing muscle tone, healthy coat with great colour definition and most importantly a sense of wellbeing through feeding the best nutrition.