Di began her career as a nurse in Melbourne, spending 16 years helping others before an injury led her into IT and business support. It was during this time she began reuniting stray dogs with their owners, inspired by the impact of fireworks on local animals. After moving to Cairns in 2005, Di founded the Cairns Dog Registry and Australian Pet Registry, and later, with her husband Carey, expanded their work through the AuCaDo forum to support cattle dog rescues across Australia, the USA and Canada.

Building on this success, Di co-founded Australian Working Dog Rescue, where she remains deeply involved in everything from technology to hands-on rescue efforts. A passionate advocate for working breeds, she is driven by the belief that no dog should be euthanised for lack of space or ability, and continues to dedicate her life to giving these animals a second chance.