APROP Junta Election 2025 – Final Candidates
At the next General Assembly of the APROP Association, the Associate Members of APROP will be asked to vote for various candidates for each of the roles within the APROP Junta.
As we reported previously, the overall management structure works well, but when trying to recruit new Junta members it has become apparent that while some people may be interested in managing specific activities in the organisation, they do not want or have the time to fulfil the additional responsibilities of being a Junta member. This has made finding new people for some roles challenging and we do not want to compromise on having the best person for the job just because it is designated as a Junta role. As a result, people who have been appointed to functional management roles by the Junta and who want to be elected to the Junta will be entitled to put their names forward for the election, but whether or not they are elected, this will not be a prerequisite for them doing the functional role/s they have been allocated.
To ensure that the Junta has the flexibility to include people who are currently not fulfilling one of the operational or functional roles, but have some specific skills or expertise or other attributes that will be tangibly useful to the Junta and the Association, we are also adding the possibility for two vocals (non-executive directors) to be elected to the Junta.
The diagram below provides an overview of the current structure. Each of the roles in this structure has a clearly defined set of responsibilities and/or criteria for election.
LEGALLY REQUIRED ROLES
The roles of President, Treasurer and Secretary are constitutionally required for a legal Association. These roles must all be held by different individuals and these individuals may not also be elected as Vice President.
The Vice President role will be voted in by the appointed members of the Junta from amongst their elected members. The Vice President deputises for the President and stands in when the President is unavailable or unable to perform the duties of the President role due to illness or other incapacity.
OPERATIONALLY REQUIRED ROLES
The Operations Directors for the Cat and the Dog sides of the Association have overall operational management responsibility for these areas.
FUNCTIONAL MANAGEMENT ROLES
These roles are appointed by and report to an elected Junta member. Qualifying people in these roles may choose to put themselves forward for election to the Junta, but it is not a prerequisite for being in this role.
APROP JUNTA VOCALS
Vocals must bring some form of value to the APROP Junta by demonstrating to the satisfaction of the Associates that they can bring some relevant and tangible expertise, experience or value to the Junta that is beneficial to the Association and does not already exist in the Junta management team.
QUALIFYING CRITERIA FOR ELECTION CANDIDATES:
Valid Associate Members of APROP are qualified to put themselves forward for election if they have been a continuous Member for at least one year.
Exceptionally, however, the Junta may exempt a Member from this requirement at the Member’s request, provided that positive references are available that endorse the Member’s suitability, and where the exemption is based on practical reasons that are useful for the association. A reasoned evaluation of this shall be conducted via a procedure that guarantees the transparency and fairness of the decision taken. To this end, a representative evaluative body shall be created which shall propose a decision to the Junta and which shall be formed by the President and at least two other members appointed by the President of special equity and authority in the Association, before which the exempted member may appear for any discussion.
The candidates for each role are listed underneath the role. Click the candidate name to see the information they have chosen to share about themselves to help you understand why they might be the best candidate for the role. Some individuals may be standing for more than one role. In such cases, please consider them separately for each of the roles that they are standing for.
President
The President of the Association will also be President of the body of representation (Junta).
The President has the following responsibilities:
- Management and legal representation of the Association, by delegation of the General Assembly and of the body of representation (Junta).
- The President manages and directs the debates of the organs of government and of representation.
- Signs the calls for the meetings of the General Assembly and the organ of representation (Junta).
- Countersigns the minutes and the certificates made by the Secretary of the Association.
- The remaining powers inherent to the post and those delegated to it by the General Assembly or the representative body (Junta).
The President will be substituted, in case of absence or illness, by the Vice President or a member of the Junta.
The President of the Association will also be President of the Body Of Representation (Junta).
Candidate 1: Moira Levy
How long have you volunteered or been associated with APROP and in what capacity?:
7 plus years as a volunteer, adoption manager and dog operations director
Tell us your motivations for applying for this role on the Junta?:
To ensure a smooth continuation of the operations of the shelter
What experience and skills do you bring to this role?:
I have a wide knowledge of the operating side of the dog shelter
What would be the top priorities you would like to achieve during your term as a Junta member in this role?:
To try to address the legal standing of the shelter and to examine ways to cut our veterinary costs
Treasurer
The Treasurer has the following responsibilities:
- The custody and monitoring of the financial resources and assets of the Association.
- The preparation of the quarterly and annual budget for the Association.
- The balance and settlement of accounts for the Association.
- Maintain the financial books of the Association.
- The presentation of the above to the Junta, as is determined in Article 17 of the Association’s Statutes.
- The presentation of the above to the Annual General Assembly, as is determined in Article 17 of the Association’s Statutes.
- Record and track all donations made to or by the Association.
- Record and track any and all other payments made or received by the association.
- He/she will ensure all transactions are appropriately receipted.
- Sign all documents produced by or on behalf of the Treasury.
- Pay bills according to pre-approved budgets, as approved by majority vote of the Junta or by direct approval of the President.
The Treasure must draft and present for review and approval, all financial information required by external organisations and authorities, to comply with all necessary laws and procedures. Once approval is obtained, the Treasurer must then submit these statements in the appropriate format to the appropriate organisation. Note that such submissions may be required to be performed electronically and must be completed within the required schedules..
Candidate 1: Timothy Carslake
How long have you volunteered or been associated with APROP and in what capacity?
I have been associated with APROP since January 2025 when I introduced myself to volunteer at the same time as making enquiries about adopting a dog after my old dog sadly passed late in 2024.
Tell us your motivations for applying for this role on the Junta?
1. My love of animals and caring for their wellbeing.
2. When other volunteers became aware of my financial background while we were chatting on a mountain walk with dogs I was asked if I would consider the Treasurer role.
What experience and skills do you bring to this role?
15 years Investment Banking and Financial Markets experience
12 years running my own businesses as a participant in financial markets
3 years Business Management/Financial Management in a major global banking institution
What would be the top priorities you would like to achieve during your term as a Junta member in this role?
1. To ensure the future FINANCIAL viability of APROP in order to ensure the continued care for dogs and cats in the area.
2. To streamline and simplify some of the financial transaction processes involved to make the role less time consuming which will hopefully make it easier to attract volunteers for the role in the future.
Tell us anything else about you that you would like to share?
I was born and grew up in Essex. I attended King Edward VI Grammar School in Chelmsford. I graduated from Exeter University in 1989 after which I I was recruited by an Investment Bank in London where I spent a large part of my career. I resigned in 2004 to manage my own business trading financial markets for my own account until 2016 when my wife and I moved to Edinburgh where I was a Business Management consultant for major global bank. My wife Carol and I moved to our Spanish home with our dog Maisie in 2019 and in 2024 we became Permanent Residents.
Secretary
The Secretary has the following responsibilities:
- Collate and issue all formal Association documents, as required by Royal Edict and/or according to Association rules.
- On request by the President or the General Assembly, arrange and convene the General Assembly Meeting.
- Write and sign the minutes of the General Assembly Meeting.
- On request by the President or as required by the pre-agreed schedule, arrange and convene the Junta meetings.
- Write and sign the minutes of the Junta.
- Ensure all necessary certifications are prepared, reviewed, finalised and submitted to all appropriate bodies (internal or external) according to the required timescales.
- Collate and manage all legal and contractual documents, ensuring compliance with all internal and external requirements.
- Collate and maintain an up-to-date record of all current and past Members or the Association. The Secretary must provide this list, as and when required to appropriate external organisations.
- Work with the Treasurer to ensure all financial records relating to the Members are correct and complete.
- Receive and action all Data Protection and GDPR requests for the Association.
Candidate 1: Lynda Dobson
How long have you volunteered or been associated with APROP and in what capacity?
I started volunteering at APROP just over 6 years ago as a walker with the dogs and over time I now manage the housekeeping role twice a week.
Tell us your motivations for applying for this role on the Junta?
To be perfectly honest with you all, I was concerned that there were not any other applications for this role and knowing how important it is for APROP I spoke to our current secretary to understand more about what is involved. I love my time at the shelter with our dogs and our team of volunteers. We are so lucky in that we have a brilliant team of volunteers and also an amazing group of supporters who have given so much support in many different ways and because of this, I didn’t want the APROP group to be at risk of not having the required legal positions. Hence my application and desire to support in a way that I know I can offer.
What experience and skills do you bring to this role?
In my working life I have had a variety of office based roles in administration and management. I am computer literate and can work with various applications. I am not an expert, however, I believe I am sufficiently knowledgeable to be able to carry out this role and support APROP. Whilst not necessarily experience / skills I can bring to this role, I care a great deal about the animals in our care, our team of volunteers and supporters and would like to be able to use my experience in this role
What would be the top priorities you would like to achieve during your term as a Junta member in this role?
Initially my priority would be to ensure I administer the legal requirements for the group and continue to support the processes already in place. I hope that as a member of the junta I would be able to contribute in other ways and also to support any initiatives that would be to the benefit of us all – both 2 legged and 4 legged
Candidate 2: Mike Dunkley
How long have you volunteered or been associated with APROP and in what capacity?
I have occasionally assisted my wife Sarah Tree in caring for the Aprop cats, and have helped with the bookstall when other commitments permit.
Tell us your motivations for applying for this role on the Junta?
I believe that Aprop is delivering an important service to the community, and I believe that I can make a small contribution to the organisation.
What experience and skills do you bring to this role?
I was Secretary to the Oliva U3A for 3 years and I am familiar with the core role of an association secretary. I am reasonably proficient in castellano (C1) and studying valencià. In a past life I served on the boards of several charitable organisations.
What would be the top priorities you would like to achieve during your term as a Junta member in this role?
Alongside others to help provide a solid, stable and sustainable organisational base for the Junta and Aprop as a whole.
Tell us anything else about you that you would like to share?
As a relative outsider to the organisation I believe there is a need to review and streamline the roles of the officers including that of secretary to ensure an efficient distribution of work, which would benefit the organisation as a whole, help to make roles more sustainable and reduce turnover of officers. Looking in particular at a document entitled ‘Duties of the Secretary’ and comparing this with the role as outlined above I feel there are some areas where the day to day work could be streamlined and made more sustainable long term. I have written to the Secretary to illustrate my impressions in greater detail. I would be grateful if this letter could be taken into account before this application is accepted or rejected.
Letter received.
Operations Director (Dogs)
The Operations Director has overall responsibility for co-ordinating the day to day management and running of the dog / cat shelters, according to the pre-agreed budget approved by the Junta.
This includes the following responsibilities:
- Volunteer recruitment and training
- Volunteer management, including the creation and maintenance of weekly volunteer rotas
- Animal accommodation allocation within the shelter
- Maintain a record of all animals entering and leaving the shelter
- To ensure that behavioural assessments are carried out for all animals and that remedial measures are recommended and implemented, where appropriate.
- To ensure all animals that may pose a risk to themselves, other animals or humans are identified and assessed and if appropriate, registered with the appropriate bodies. In such cases, to ensure that volunteers are also given appropriate training and procedures to ensure their safety around such animals.
- Site maintenance
- Inventory management
- Project management of special projects or initiatives, as allocated by the Board Of Directors.
- The creation, implementation and maintenance of Health & Safety standards for all Volunteers.
- The creation and maintenance of an Operations Guide for all elements of day to day operations.
Candidate 1: Rachel Levy
How long have you volunteered or been associated with APROP and in what capacity?:
7 years as a volunteer. Have been in this role before
Tell us your motivations for applying for this role on the Junta?:
I want to continue doing the best job I can for the dogs in our care. I want to support others in their new roles
What experience and skills do you bring to this role?:
Working at APROP for 7 years
What would be the top priorities you would like to achieve during your term as a Junta member in this role?:
Cutting down our costs
Operations Director (Cats)
The Operations Director has overall responsibility for co-ordinating the day to day management and running of the dog / cat shelters, according to the pre-agreed budget approved by the Junta.
This includes the following responsibilities:
- Volunteer recruitment and training
- Volunteer management, including the creation and maintenance of weekly volunteer rotas
- Animal accommodation allocation within the shelter
- Maintain a record of all animals entering and leaving the shelter
- To ensure that behavioural assessments are carried out for all animals and that remedial measures are recommended and implemented, where appropriate.
- To ensure all animals that may pose a risk to themselves, other animals or humans are identified and assessed and if appropriate, registered with the appropriate bodies. In such cases, to ensure that volunteers are also given appropriate training and procedures to ensure their safety around such animals.
- Site maintenance
- Inventory management
- Project management of special projects or initiatives, as allocated by the Board Of Directors.
- The creation, implementation and maintenance of Health & Safety standards for all Volunteers.
- The creation and maintenance of an Operations Guide for all elements of day to day operations.
Candidate 1: Elizabeth (Liz) Canham
How long have you volunteered or been associated with APROP and in what capacity?:
I have volunteered with the APROP Cats since July 2022, feeding, medicating, cleaning etc.
Since March 2024 I have been APROP Secretary as well as doing website updates for the Fundraising team and helping with the updating of the APROP website. Due to unforeseen circumstances, I have also undertaken some of the President’s duties and helped the Acting Director of Operations (Cats) with the rota, provision of monthly reports and contributing to the Cat Junta decision making.
Tell us your motivations for applying for this role on the Junta?:
I want to be an active advocate for the cats on the APROP Junta as they have been somewhat under-represented since the resignation of the previous Ops Director.
I want to try to contribute to the financial health of APROP by a variety of means, some of which are listed below.
What experience and skills do you bring to this role?:
I have been a cat lover since I was a child and have had cats of my own for the last 40 years. While this is not the same as looking after the welfare of some 30 cats, it does provide some insight.
As I said above, I have volunteered at the shelter since July 2022 and since May this year, I have been a member of the Cat Junta, contributing to the decision-making processes in terms of cat health, shelter management and procurement.
In my working life I was head of a department and responsible for a small team including workload management and conflict management.
What would be the top priorities you would like to achieve during your term as a Junta member in this role?:
The following are my priorities:
- Try and reduce vet bills by regular review of cleaning protocols and living conditions.
- Seek more generous funding from Government agencies and individuals
- Attract sponsors and donors
- Attract and keep volunteers
- Simplify the paperwork and electronic record keeping.
Tell us anything else about you that you would like to share?:
- I am hard-working and computer literate.
- I enjoy playing padel, swimming, socialising, reading, watching TV, art and travel.
Functional Manager (Fundraising Manager)
If you are currently fulfilling one of APROP’s functional management roles listed below, you may choose to apply for election to the Junta:
- Shelter Manager
- Health & Welfare Manager
- Adoption & Foster Manager
- Fundraising Manager
Candidate 1: Amber Statkeviciute
How long have you volunteered or been associated with APROP and in what capacity?:
I joined APROP in November after seeing a post on Facebook about collecting food and supplies for shelters affected by DANA. That led me to learn more about APROP, and I was immediately drawn to what the shelter stands for. APROP’s vision aligns so closely with mine – it’s clear how much the dogs thrive because of the amazing volunteers who dedicate their time to walking, playing, cleaning kennels, and giving so much love to every dog.
Since joining, I have volunteered as a dog walker and stepped up to help manage APROP’s Instagram page with another volunteer. I noticed we weren’t getting enough exposure, and I want to help change that by making sure we use all social media channels to reach more people.
Even though I’ve only been here a short time, I already feel connected to what APROP is doing and want to do as much as I can to support it.
Tell us your motivations for applying for this role on the Junta?:
I’m an organiser at heart – as a wedding and events planner, planning and coordinating is second nature to me, I thrive on turning ideas into reality. Whether it’s sourcing, scheduling, or perfecting every detail, I love seeing something come to life, especially when it’s for a good cause.
I’ve always had a soft spot for animals, but dogs hold a special place in my heart – they’re my soul animals. Since they can’t advocate for themselves, it’s up to us to bring like-minded people together, build community, and spread the word to make a difference. There’s no better feeling than doing good for those who need it most.
Being an only child, I learned early on the value of hard work. My father made sure I worked for what I wanted since I was 16, which shaped me into someone determined and resourceful. If I hear “no” nine times, I’ll keep going until I get that “yes” on the 10th try. I’m not afraid to knock on doors, share my beliefs, and inspire others to feel the same way.
For me, this role is the perfect way to get more involved in something I truly care about – helping APROP thrive and making a real difference for the animals we all love.
What experience and skills do you bring to this role?: I’ve had the chance to build a lot of experience working with people, planning events, and making sure things run smoothly.
Early in my career, I worked at The Ledbury, a two-Michelin-star restaurant in London known for its exceptional service and attention to detail. I also worked with the Sushisamba Group, a global dining destination famous for its unique mix of Japanese, Brazilian, and Peruvian cuisines, where I gained experience in marketing, reservations, and guest relations.
Later, I moved into event planning at CEME (Centre for Engineering and Manufacturing Excellence), a charitable organisation that supports businesses and skills development. At CEME, I organised private and corporate events, combining professional planning with a focus on making a difference.
Since 2017, I’ve been running my own wedding planning business, which is now well-established here in Alicante. Over the years, I’ve built strong relationships with venues, caterers, entertainers, photographers, and other suppliers. I believe these connections could help us organise upscale events to raise funds and awareness for APROP, touching people’s hearts for a great cause.
I’m confident that my skills, experience, and network make me a strong fit for this role and will help APROP continue to thrive.
What would be the top priorities you would like to achieve during your term as a Junta member in this role?:
As a Junta member, there are a few things I’d love to focus on:
Boosting Fundraising: I want to help create fun, engaging events that bring people together while raising funds for APROP. Whether it’s themed markets or charity galas, I’d love to tap into my event planning experience and connections to make these happen.
Spreading the Word: Increasing APROP’s visibility is so important. Sharing more stories about the animals, the amazing work of our volunteers, and the difference the donations make, can inspire more people to get involved.
Involving the Community: I’d love to build stronger ties with the local community, whether through volunteer programs, partnerships with businesses, or awareness campaigns. It’s amazing what we can achieve when people come together.
Planning for the Future: Finding ways to make fundraising sustainable is key. I want to help ensure APROP has steady support so it can keep doing its incredible work for years to come.
These are all things I’m passionate about, and I’d be so excited to work on them as part of the team!
Tell us anything else about you that you would like to share?:
I’m very excited about this role, but I want to be transparent that I wouldn’t be able to take it on entirely by myself due to my full-time work commitments. However, since I work for myself, my schedule is always well-organised and planned, which allows me to dedicate focused time to causes I’m passionate about.
I’d love to step into this role with the support of the current Fundraising Manager (Theresa), contributing my skills and learning from her expertise. With time, collaboration, and a strong foundation to build on, I’m confident I can take on the many responsibilities of this role and ensure everything runs smoothly and efficiently.
CV Submitted.
Vocal
You may apply for election as a Vocal if you have been invited to apply for election by the current Junta as a Vocal and/or have some specific skills or expertise, or can bring some other benefit to the Association that does not currently exist in the Junta that will be tangibly useful for the Association and its management. Candidates for election as vocals must be proposed and supported by three existing Associate Members who have been Members for at least one year.
Candidate 1: David Harrington
How long have you volunteered or been associated with APROP and in what capacity?:
I have been a volunteer at Aprop since August 2022, when I moved permanently to the area from the UK. I currently volunteer 1 day per week at the cat shelter, feeding, cleaning, administering medication and contributing to the day to day running of the shelter. I am also an admin on the cats Facebook page and a member of the cats adoption team, creating regular Facebook posts advertising cats and kittens for adoption, as well as vetting potential adopters, completing adoption contracts and facilitating the successful transfer of cats and kittens to their new owners. I was previously a member of the fundraising team, organising and running fundraising events in Orba, as well as helping with the sale of calendars etc. and taking ownership of ordering and distributing Aprop volunteering clothing (t-shirts, hoodies etc.). I completed my own fundraising event in the spring of 2024, walking the 800km Camino de Santiago and raising just under €4,000, some of which has already been used to improve conditions for both the cats and the volunteers at the cat shelter.
Tell us your motivations for applying for this role on the Junta?:
I have always been an animal lover, cats in particular, and I am keen to offer my skills and experience, beyond my existing volunteer roles, to support the activities of the Junta and wider management team, ensuring we maximise every opportunity to be an efficient, successful organisation and continue to care for and re-home abandoned cats and dogs in Pego and the surrounding areas.
What experience and skills do you bring to this role?:
Prior to retiring in 2021, I had a long and successful career in corporate sales and sales management, ultimately responsible for an account base with an annual turnover in excess of £12m. I have extensive experience in client engagement and people management, which I believe would add significant value in guiding and supporting multiple aspects of Aprop’s operations, in particular fundraising, volunteer engagement and recruitment, shelter management, problem solving and promoting Aprop to as wide an audience as possible.
What would be the top priorities you would like to achieve during your term as a Junta member in this role?:
I would like to support the new Fundraising Manager in getting established in their new role, providing advice and guidance where it can add value.
I would also like to provide business insight at Junta meetings to support problem solving, decision making and new initiatives.
Finally, I would like to make myself available to provide advice and support to the wider volunteer team, where my skills and experience can support their activities.
If you are applying for a Vocal role, please provide the names of three (3) other Associate Members who support your application. Your supporting members must have themselves been Associate Members for at least the last year and we will contact them to ask them for their opinion as to why you would make an excellent Vocal.:
1. Sam Weller
2. Julie O’Hagan
3. Liz Canham
Candidate 2: Karlijn Dueville
How long have you volunteered or been associated with APROP and in what capacity?:
I have been with APROP since April 2022. First only as housekeeping for the dogs, at the moment I take care of the administration of the dogs and as a vocal in the Junta, focusing on costs analysis and acting as dog representative. And the last 5 months as vice president.
Tell us your motivations for applying for this role on the Junta?:
I believe that there’s always room for improvement in how we organize ourselves, and I really believe that by being more mindful of our costs and income, we can achieve even better results together.
What experience and skills do you bring to this role?:
Almost 3 years with APROP, 1,5 years as Junta vocal. I have always worked in retail management, focusing on simplifying processes.
What would be the top priorities you would like to achieve during your term as a Junta member in this role?:
I want to ensure that every dog and cat that comes to us receives the best care and the chance to find a loving home. I also aspire to create an APROP family where all volunteers feel appreciated and valued, allowing us to utilize everyone’s unique skills. We can build a more effective organization dedicated to our mission through this approach.
If you are applying for a Vocal role, please provide the names of three (3) other Associate Members who support your application. Your supporting members must have themselves been Associate Members for at least the last year and we will contact them to ask them for their opinion as to why you would make an excellent Vocal.:
Moira Levy
Rachel Levy
Denise Stanners
Tell us anything else about you that you would like to share?:
Still holding the record of being a volunteer at a dog shelter, without having a dog of my own!
