Antonio Almeida was born into a family of dog lovers and began showing at the age of 8, winning Best Handler titles as both a junior and adult. Antonio has been involved with numerous breeds over the years including specialising in German Shepherds, Boxers, Shar Pei, the Siberian Husky, Rottweilers and Shih Tzu. He founded Belaxe Kennel and from 2018 focused primarily on Basenjis, producing numerous Champions and Best in Show winners. His Basenjis have achieved top breed ranking in China and remarkable results at international Competitions worldwide.

In addition to his work as a practicing attorney in Macau, Antonio has had the privilege of judging in countries around the world including Japan, Canada, Brazil, the Philippines and Russia. 

Boris Spoljaric has had a long and esteemed involvement with the show world, has judged in more than 65 countries and at more than 
20 European and World Dog Shows. An all-breeds Judge since 2003, Boris has awarded over 200 Best in Show winners in the past 25 years.
By profession Boris is a Civil Engineer, he is also the author of three books on dogs and many articles published in zoological and cynological magazines. His depth of knowledge on shepherds, sheepdogs, sighthounds, scent hounds and spitz breeds is particularly significant, 
having conducted extensive field research.

Boris is looking forward to being part of the Sydney Royal Dog Show judging panel in 2026.

Janelle Robbins began handling Boxers in the 1960s and with her parents, built Tobana Kennels into one of Australia’s most respected 
Boxer lines. Her love of dogs was also fostered by her grandfather, Arthur Walshaw, a respected hound breeder, and further shaped by 
her uncle, Kevin Walshaw, an ANKC Hall of Fame inductee and judge whose influence sparked her enduring interest in gundogs.

Throughout her canine career, Janelle has successfully handled breeds from every Group and has been a licensed judge since the early 1980s. She has officiated on every continent and since 2013, has held ANKC–FCI and AKC Championship Show credentials as an All-Breeds and Best-in-Show judge. In addition, she is an accredited Junior Handler Judge and was instrumental in expanding opportunities for young exhibitors including raising the age limits for Junior Handling Classes, helping to establish the national Junior Handling Competition that selects Australia’s representative to Crufts, and founding the Junior Kennel Club NSW, where she served as the first President.

Alongside her distinguished career in the dog world, Janelle is an accomplished consultant to governments and companies across Australia, the USA, and the United Kingdom. Despite her international professional commitments, she considers it a special honour to return home to 
officiate at the Sydney Royal Easter Show, proudly continuing in the footsteps of her late father, Wally Robbins. 

Warner Céspedes Arias began his distinguished involvement with the dog show world as an exhibitor of German Shepherds, achieving remarkable results both at home in Costa Rica as well as abroad.

With an interest in helping to grow the purebred canine world, Warner began developing the breeding of the English Pointer and English Setter, producing multiple national and international champions. He’s also bred Australian Terriers, Papillons, Wire Fox Terriers, Pugs, Pekingese and later Dobermanns which he is still heavily involved with.

A lawyer by profession, Warner has worked and represented the Costa Rican Association during FCI assemblies over a decade, he is the President of the Society of Exchange of Latin American Canofilia SICALAM.

As a Judge Warner has officiated across the world including Africa, New Zealand, China, Malaysia, the Philippines and United Kingdom. He is honoured to be part of the Judging panel for the 2026 Sydney Royal.

Mary’s passion for the dog show world began in 1971 with an Irish Setter but her renowned Freespirits Kennel was founded two years 
later with Doberman Pinscher bitch, Ch Freespirits Electra CDX.

Under the Freespirits kennel name, Mary has bred over 150 Canadian and American champion Dobermans, Salukis and Papillons including many National Specialty, Specialty, Group and Best in Show winners. Ch Freespirits Far and Away was Canada’s Top Dog of All Breeds in 2001.

Between 1979 and 1995 Mary handled all breeds of dog professionally, experiencing great success before retiring in 1996 to pursue her judging career. She is fortunate to have judged at shows across the world while also exhibiting her own dogs, including lure coursing on occasion with her hounds.

Mary is a lifetime member of the Canadian Kennel Club, has served on the board of the Doberman Pinscher Club of Canada and is a member in good standing of the Saluki Club of Canada as well as the American Saluki Association. She currently resides in Ohio in the USA with her husband and three lovely hounds. Mary is honoured and excited to be part of the 2026 Sydney Royal Dog Show judging panel.

For renowned Judge Aramis Lim, dogs were in his DNA! His parents were both all-breed Judges as well as breeders of German Shepherds, 
Boxers, Great Danes, Poodles, Min Pins and Dachshunds which Aramis began show handling from childhood.

Since moving to Australia in 1984 Aramis and his wife Pauline began breeding and showing Shetland Sheepdogs, many of which have achieved Best in Show wins at both All Breeds and Specialist Shows.

Aramis has had the privilege of Judging in more than 40 different countries around the world over a period of 30 years including at World Dog Shows, FCI Section Shows and the FCI European Winners Show.

He is delighted to be part of the esteemed 2026 Sydney Royal Dog Show Judging panel.