A message from Forever Friends President and Founder, Saskia

I’m delighted to introduce Dr Sasha Nefedova, who has joined Forever Friends Animal Rescue as our new Chair of the Board of Directors.

Sasha brings more than 18 years of veterinary experience across Australia and New Zealand, along with extensive executive leadership and governance expertise. I’m incredibly excited to have her experience, knowledge and passion helping guide Forever Friends into our next chapter.

Sasha first connected with FFAR in 2024, when she visited our sanctuary while working as General Manager of Pet Health at Petstock. What began as a visit to deliver a donation quickly became a strong connection with our mission, our people and our unique approach to animal welfare.

Since then, Sasha has become a passionate advocate for the work we do, and I know she shares our ambition to create even better outcomes for vulnerable animals.

As we celebrate 15 years of Forever Friends, there is so much to look forward to. Sasha will play an important role in helping us strengthen our organisation, support sustainable growth and ensure we can continue helping animals for many years to come.

I recently sat down with Sasha to talk about what first drew her to Forever Friends, the challenges facing animal charities today, her vision for a more compassionate world for animals and, of course, one very special kitten named Sasha.

Meet Sasha

What attracted you to Forever Friends?

Sasha: I have worked in the vet industry for nearly 20 years and was General Manager of Pet Health with Petstock in 2024 when I first met Saskia.

Petstock had awarded FFAR a donation and the Petstock Charity team thought it would be a nice touch to deliver the donation in person, so I came down to the sanctuary.

Saskia gave me a tour of the grounds and vet clinic and I was really taken by the science-led approach of FFAR, both in having the vet clinic onsite and using various medical tools to rehabilitate animals.

The dedication of the volunteers and staff, beautiful grounds and warm and friendly culture are all unique pillars of FFAR — I truly have never come across a charity quite like it.

What do you think is the biggest challenge for animal charities such as FFAR right now?

Sasha: Succeeding in the not-for-profit sector is a constant juggling act between community expectations, funding and attracting and retaining the right teams.

Right now, most Australians are impacted by the cost-of-living crisis in some way, with funding and volunteer labour not as available. At the same time, the need to support vulnerable animals in our community remains higher than ever before.

Looking forward, technology will become more important, along with finding the right professionals to educate and execute time- and cost-saving initiatives.

Being efficient and effective is critical in rehoming hundreds of animals through FFAR adoption and vet clinic operations.

Ultimately, the bond between people and animals touches so many that FFAR will continue growing our network, with our tranquil 100-acre sanctuary providing an oasis for animals and a place of connection for our volunteers and supporters.

A compassionate future for animals

What would a truly compassionate world for animals look like to you?

Sasha: Working as a veterinarian in emergency and critical care, I treated hundreds of patients and saw them improve in front of my eyes.

I felt connected to the animals I treated in an immediate way and know that access to medical care is fundamental to compassion and welfare.

I personally believe in treating animals with respect, acknowledging their unique needs and language based on their species and leaning away from anthropomorphisation.

A truly compassionate world for animals takes their needs into account with a well-rounded approach to their physical and emotional requirements.

FFAR takes this approach and relays it in a welcoming way, respecting everyone’s unique connection to animals.

A very special kitten named Sasha

What is your favourite animal story?

Sasha: Having my background, I have lots!

Three years ago, I was managing a vet clinic where vet nurses would organise rehoming of kittens for adoption. Just for fun, the vet nurses decided to name the kittens after the management team, including the head vet, practice manager and myself as kitten “Sasha”.

All the kittens were adopted except Sasha and, lo and behold, my mum came into the clinic.

The nurses told her kitten “Sasha” was named after me and she is now a member of my mum’s three-cat household.

I often do a double take when I visit Mum and hear a curt, “Sasha! Get off the curtains!”

Life beyond the boardroom

What do you like doing in your spare time?

Sasha: Currently I work full time for VetChat, Australia’s largest vet telehealth business, and love dedicating my spare time to Board Chair duties at FFAR.

Meeting with the FFAR team at the sanctuary, seeing the animals we help and talking to the volunteers is truly rewarding and fun.

My non-furry human children keep me busy, with my daughter sometimes visiting the FFAR Sanctuary to do odd jobs.

I love sharing my love of veterinary medicine and animal welfare with my kids and inspiring the next generation to love our planet and all its creatures long into the future.

An exciting time ahead

Sasha’s appointment comes at an exciting time for Forever Friends as we celebrate 15 years of helping animals in need.

Her combination of veterinary expertise, leadership experience and genuine passion for animal welfare will be invaluable as we continue to grow and evolve.

As Board Chair, Sasha will work closely with our Board and leadership team to strengthen governance, support sustainable growth and help ensure Forever Friends continues delivering life-changing outcomes for animals in need.

For me, one of the most exciting things about Sasha joining our Board is that she understands what makes Forever Friends special. She sees the value of our science-led approach, our onsite veterinary care, our incredible volunteers and staff, and the sanctuary as a place where animals — and people — can find connection.

As we look towards the next 15 years, we know there is still so much to do. More animals to rescue. More lives to change. More people to bring into our community.

We’re so excited to have Sasha alongside us for the journey.

Please join me in welcoming Sasha to the Forever Friends family.

Saskia
President and Founder, Forever Friends Animal Rescue