Judge Profile

Kellie Hughes was born in Melbourne into a family who loved all animals but with a special love of dogs, her parents had purchased their first Samoyed a year before Kellie was born, soon there were more Samoyeds added to the family as sticking to one just wasn't an option.

During her childhood Kellie often accompanied her mother to visit Mrs Yvonne Sydenham-Clarke (all breeds judge) from the famous Kalina Kennels, who imported over 40 imports to help establish the breed in Australia. Mrs Sydenham-Clarke shared her vast knowledge, looking at many photos of the early dogs and imports. Those early years helped fuel a passion to continue to learn and become deeply involved with not only the Samoyed breed but extend that learning to all pure breed dogs.

Kellie was made an official partner in the family "Airebis" prefix in 2009 but has been involved in breeding and showing for over 35 years. Since 2009, Airebis have bred 73 puppies (the most recent born June 2025), 36 have Champion to their name, 5 have achieved Supreme Champion, and 1 Grand Neuter Champion who was No.1 Neuter in Australia back-to-back (2021 & 2022), also the first ANKC Dam of Merit Samoyed in Australia. Kellie also is active in dog sports achieving titles in Rally, Sprint Dog and Herding titles. She is extremely passionate about the Samoyed breed.

Kellie with her parents have imported Samoyeds from Italy, Slovenia and New Zealand, and semen from dogs from England and Estonia to help expand the gene pool in Australia.

Kellie is a member of the SCV Health committee and has been since it was established in 2012. She has served on the Samoyed Club of Victoria committee for a combined total of 14 years, 7 years as the assistant secretary and was the inaugural Convenor of Samoyed of the Year coordinating the event for 7 years. Kellie is currently the assistant secretary of Frankston & Peninsula All Breeds Kennel Club and a member of multiple clubs.

Kellie also co-owns and loves exhibiting Jap Spitz, "Joker" C.I.B A2O Ch Supreme CH Belzbentley Wild Card, "Comet" Supreme Ch Grand A2O CH Belzbentley Blazing Skies" and is enjoying showcasing her new puppy "Bling" C.I.B-J Aust Ch Belzbentley DeJu Blu SPRD

Kellie enjoys travelling and has had the privilege of handling Samoyeds at Westminster Dog Show (New York, USA), at a CAC International Show in Italy, Multiple times in NZ and at the world-famous dog show "Crufts" (UK). Kellie had the privilege of judging the YKC Finals at the 2016 New Zealand National in Christchurch.

Kellie gained her Utility licence in 2023 and her Non-Sporting in 2025 and continues her journey studying Working Dogs


A few of Kellie's Show Career Highlights include:
*In 2010, the first kennel to be awarded Best in Show & Runner Up Best in Show at the prestigious Samoyed National Speciality and the only kennel to achieve this with two home bred half-brothers, under well respected breed specialist Carol Hamilton from the famous Zamoyski kennels (UK)
* Winning Best in Shows (All Breeds) with three generation of Airebis bitches,
"Dannika", her daughter "Tamikka" and her daughter "Sapphire
* Being awarded Best Puppy in Show at the 2015 Melbourne Royal with Tamikka
* Owner/Breeder/Handler of the Youngest Supreme Ch Samoyed in Australia "Topaz" Supreme Ch Airebis My One True Love
* Winning Best in Show again at the 13th Samoyed National with owner breeder handled "Tamikka" C.I.B-V Supreme Ch Airebis I Will Always Love You RN, almost 11 years old.

Judging Appointments (Australia and NZ Only)

Appointments are based on shows entered in our system since 2012. Please inform us of any errors.