Sandra graduated from Edinburgh University in 1994.

Sandra originates from the UK, and we have been lucky enough to have her here at Kamo Vets since 2000.

Sandra is our senior companion animal clinical vet who you will see most of the time when you bring your pets into the clinic. Sandra is our clinical team leader & has a varied surgical and medical experience so your pets are in wonderful hands with her.

Sandra’s interests are internal medicine but she is also involved with the treatment of DOC birds such as kiwi that we see from time to time.

Graduated BVSc Massey (1986), PhD Massey (1999)

Broad clinical and geographic experience with domestic species and wildlife. Trend is toward investigation of infectious and epidemic disease in large populations. The most recent and large scale endeavour has been into vertebral deformity syndromes of farmed  King Salmon.

Speaker bio coming soon.

Jacqui graduated with a BVSc (Hons) from the University of Sydney. She completed a small animal medicine and surgery residency program and clinical Masters at the University of Melbourne before returning to the University of Sydney to complete a PhD on the aetiology of periodontal disease in domestic cats with the late Professor Daria Love while maintaining her clinical work as a veterinarian.

Roly has been Chief Executive of World Horse Welfare since 2008, already knowing the charity well, having led its fundraising and communication teams from 1999 to 2003. Roly qualified as a veterinary surgeon at Cambridge University in 1992 and worked in the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, which included a posting as the Veterinary Officer at the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment in London.
Roly is actively involved in the charity’s work in the UK and worldwide, and is a Director of the British Horse Council, Treasurer for the British Equine Veterinary Association and on the Management Board of the European Horse Network. He established the UK’s Equine Disease Coalition, of which he is Chair. He also leads the charity’s work advising horse sport regulators, including the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) and the British Horseracing Authority.

I qualified in 2006 and spent 11 years in first opinion practice working in a variety of different hospitals including one of the busiest charity and emergency hospitals in the U.K. It was here I gained my ECC certificate. I then moved to North West Veterinary Specialists where I am a specialised anaesthesia nurse. I gained my Veterinary Technician Specialist qualification in Anaesthesia & Analgesia in 2019 after flying all the way to Washington DC to sit my exams.

For over 14 years Victoria has dedicated her career to the pursuit of knowledge and excellence. Victoria passion for the continued development of the profession, and for incorporating technology to raise the standard of patient care, has seen her sought after to deliver seminars and workshops to both domestic and international audiences. Victoria has advanced through the roles of Veterinary Nurse Manager, Practice Manager, Regional Manager, Training and Development Manager and is now a Consultant for Animal Industries Resource Centre and Crampton Consulting Group. In June 2019, Victoria became Australia’s first Veterinary Technician Specialist in the field of Nutrition.

Dr Mike Scanlan is the Director of Kind Minds Health and Wellbeing and was responsible for setting up and designing the clinical model for the successful and award winning ‘Changing Minds’ Improving Access to Psychological Therapy (IAPT) service. He has also led the development of the Northamptonshire Long Term Conditions Psychological Therapy Service. Mike is trained to use Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Response prevention (EMDR), Mindfulness and Compassionate Focussed Therapy approaches. He has led a project supported by the Department of Health to illustrate how telehealth principles can be utilised to deliver IAPT group therapy via videoconferencing to people with mental health problems with co morbid long-term conditions. Mike worked as a Senior Lecturer in mental health at Northampton University and was a member of the IAPT education and training steering group. He is a member of the Institute for Learning and Teaching in Higher Education.

Mike regularly presents at IAPT conferences and has published widely on the topic of primary care mental health. He has recently led the clinical development of a Court liaison Mental Health Service in Milton Keynes and worked in 2015 to design and write the service specification for an IAPT equivalent service in Qatar. Mike is the author of the widely used and well respected CBT guided self-help series of books entitled ‘Moving Forward’. These books blend theories of bibliotherapy with CBT principles. The books are used in a number of IAPT services across the UK.

Esmaeil is Adjunct Associate Professor (Bioinformatics & Biostatistics) at School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences of The University of Adelaide, Bioinformatician at La Trobe Genomics Research Platform (La Trobe University), and Honorary Principal Fellow at School of BioSciences of The University of Melbourne. He has a strong track record in the innovative application of a range of bioinformatic pipelines and modern statistics (machine learning models) in different genomes. Esmaeil has published 144 papers, 84 of these in the last 5 years in internationally well-known journals.

As affiliate member (2016-onwards) in Australian Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Ecology (ACARE) at The University of Adelaide, he has been involved in data analysis of many microbiome projects on the effects of new antibiotic compounds, probiotics and microbiome profiling, such as: (1) Microbiome profiling in rabbits following different doses of oral pradofloxacin treatment, (2) Abundance analysis of Oxalate-degrading bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract of koalas with oxalate nephrosis, (3) Oral microbiome profiling in health and periodontal disease of captive macropods, (4) Microbiome profiling of captive animals such as herbivorous chelonids and tamarins, (5) Analysis the effect of oral anthelminitic treatment on the canine microbiome, (6) Unravelling microbiome profile that contributes to Marmoset Wasting Syndrome, and (7) Microbiome based classification of antibiotics and antimicrobial alternatives and developing an expert system for prediction of the effective antimicrobials based on microbiome profile by novel machine learning (artificial intelligence) models.

Natalie graduated as a veterinarian from Massey University in 2008. She worked predominantly in mixed practice in the Far North of New Zealand and then in companion animal practice in Auckland. After eight years in clinical work she went on to study and work as a web developer. Having been a career changer herself, she was lured back to Massey University when an opportunity came up to undertake a PhD looking at career changes among New Zealand veterinary graduates. Her research explores the career pathways of two cohorts of Massey veterinary graduates (10- and 20-years since graduating) and the factors that have influenced their career decisions along the way.

Carolin qualified as a veterinary surgeon in 2007 from the University Tierärztliche Hochschule Hannover in Germany. Before moving to the UK she worked in a busy sports horse practice in Bremen. 

In 2008 Carolin joined the team at Rossdales Equine Hospital in Newmarket, UK. After completing the diagnostic imaging internship in 2009 she stayed on as an orthopaedic assistant. She has worked as a senior clinician at Rossdales Diagnostic Centre seeing referral cases from a wide variety of disciplines. In May 2018 Carolin moved back to Germany and is now based as the head of orthopaedics at the Equine Hospital of Tierklinik Hochmoor.

Carolin has been invited to speak at a number of national and international meetings and lectures regularly at CPD events. Her special interests are orthopaedics, diagnostic imaging and poor performance investigations.

Elena graduated the Veterinary Medicine Faculty of Bucharest in 2009. In 2011 she moved to UK and shortly after started her career in food safety and delivery of Official controls (OC), gaining the Official Veterinarian (OV) qualification. In 2015 she joined Food Standards Scotland as Veterinary Manager. Within FSS she has been leading a series of projects and undertook secondments, such as Head of Incidents within the Scottish Food Crime and Incidents Unit. Currently she manages a team of 11 OVs, who deliver OCs in Scottish abattoirs, cutting plants and game handling establishments.

Stuart Gordon PGDipEd PGDipEd M.Phil BVSc BSc(Hons) BSc

Stuart is a Senior Veterinary and Animal Science Lecturer in the School of Veterinary Science at Massey University, teaching Equine Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Professionalism. He is currently engaged in research on veterinary professionalism and aspects of veterinary teaching and learning. Stuart is passionate about active learning and student engagement. This presentation considers the need for veterinary schools to assume responsibility for educating veterinary students for the workplace to ensure that the profession continues to meet the needs and expectations of society.

I graduated with distinction from the University of Bristol in 2003. After this I worked at House and Jackson Vets in Essex and the Liphook Equine Hospital in Hampshire before heading to the United States to pursue my career in equine internal medicine. I completed a residency at the University of California, Davis and became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. Since 2009 I have been working at Rossdales Equine Hospital in Newmarket. My main interests are in all aspects of equine internal medicine and neonatology. I became an associate partner of the practice in 2016.

Debbie qualified from Glasgow Vet School in 1996 and after 2 years in mixed practice followed by 2 years in equine practice, she undertook a Residency in Equine Surgery at the University of Liverpool between 2000-2003. She holds the ECVS Diploma in Equine Surgery and RCVS Certificate in Equine Soft Tissue Surgery. Debbie then completed a PhD on the Epidemiology of Equine Colic in 2006 and joined the Equine Hospital team at Liverpool as Senior Lecturer and in 2013, was made Professor of Equine Surgery. Debbie leads the Equine Surgery team at the university and colic is one of her key areas of clinical interest and research.

Sophie McMurrough RVN VTS (SAIM)

Sophie qualified as a Registered Veterinary Nurse in 2011. After passing her AIMVT examinations in Washington DC, Sophie became a Veterinary 

Technician Specialist in Small Animal Internal Medicine.

She is one of 3 Head Nurse’s at Northwest Veterinary Specialists in Frodsham, England.

Sophie’s areas of interest are endocrinology and emergency medicine.

Katie is currently appointed as Senior Emergency and Critical Care Nurse at the Royal Veterinary College where she has been since late 2012. Katie’s favourite cases are those who are critically unwell in ICU, especially septic patients and those on mechanical ventilation. Katie is on the BSAVA Metropolitan Committee organising CPD throughout London and is currently working towards her PG Cert in Veterinary Education at the RVC. In her spare time, Katie enjoys spending time with her two spaniels, Flo and Martha, and her rescue cat Hendricks.

Mike Herrtage graduated from Liverpool University and is currently Professor of Small Animal Medicine at the University of Cambridge and a Fellow of St. Edmund’s College, Cambridgeshire. He is Dean of the Cambridge Veterinary School and is in charge of the small animal medicine and diagnostic imaging services at the Queen’s Veterinary School Hospital. His clinical responsibilities include all aspects of small animal medicine and diagnostic imaging, but he has a particular interest in endocrine and metabolic disorders.

He was awarded the British Small Animal Verterinary Association (B.S.A.V.A.) Woodrow Award in 1996 for outstanding contributions in the field of small animal veterinary medicine and the B.S.A.V.A. Blaine Award for outstanding contributions to the advancement of small animal medicine in 2000. He has been President of the British Veterinary Radiology Association, President of the Small Animal Veterinary Association, President of the European Society of Veterinary Internal Medicine, and President of the European Board of Veterinary Specialisation. He is a Dipolmat of both the Eurpoean College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and of the European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging and was recently President of the European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

Dr. Deborah Thomson develops One Health lessons for children ages 6 to 18 so that they can understand the inextricable connection between human health and the health of animals and the environment.

She is passionate about the science field and has taught her One Health lessons in under-served public schools and online.  Based on teacher feedback, she has inspired over 1,000 children to consider a future in science. Her lessons have been taught internationally. Besides developing student lessons (which are delivered virtually or in the classroom), she is a veterinarian, a science policy advisor, a public speaker, a musician, and an overall One Health advocate.

Before becoming a veterinarian, she taught music in a primary school and was a full-time instructor of English Language Learners between the ages of 11 and 65. Throughout veterinary school and for years after graduation, she never lost her passion for teaching children. With these lessons, she combines her two passions:  One Health and primary/secondary school education.

Graeme is a Brisbane-based veterinary industry management consultant. His 30+years of corporate and business consulting experience within the veterinary and animal health industries equips him with a valuable global perspective of these dynamic environments.

After a period in private veterinary practice, Graeme built a successful leadership career that included senior executive roles in Australasia, Europe and Japan with a leading multinational organisation.

As a director of two consulting firms, he has worked on a variety of business development initiatives including the design and delivery of corporate sales and customer service training resources, marketing planning and change management projects.

In addition to his veterinary qualifications, Graeme holds a Master’s degree in Applied Finance, and an MBA from MGSM.

Vijay is a veterinarian from India who graduated from Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University in 2009. He has been associated with Brooke – Action for Working Horses and Donkeys, India for the last 10 years in different roles relating to equine welfare. Vijay is currently the Team Leader – Extension and Training. Within the organization Vijay is responsible for improving welfare in 68 governments and privately organized equine fairs where working equids come for trading.

He is very passionate to build the capacity of Brooke India and Partners NGO staff on Brooke’s Animal Health Mentoring Framework and Farrier Mentoring Framework, standardized work-based mentoring, and monitoring tool. Vijay enjoyed his work as it provides the opportunity to work closely with horses, mules and donkeys.

Mactar graduated in Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences. He has a diversified experience beginning his research career in genetics (Senegalese Institute of Agricultural Research) for four years, before working as a clinician in a Dakar veterinary practice for eight years. In 2009 Mactar got a scholarship to study in Canada where he obtained a MSc in Animal Sciences, specializing in nutrition.

Mactar went on to work in dairy cattle nutrition at Agriculture Canada for four years before joining Brooke in 2014. He started as Animal Welfare Officer before becoming Programme Manager two years later. Mactar’s dedication to the equine welfare cause earned him the World Veterinary Association Animal Welfare Award in May 2018.

Dr Jelena Vukcevic is the veterinarian for the Canberra branch of the “The Fish Vet”, providing mobile veterinary services to ornamental fish keepers in the greater Canberra region. She is also the university veterinarian at the Australian National University, working with a variety of laboratory, aquatic and Australian native animals in a research setting. She also manages to fill the gaps in her spare time by working as one of the local zoo vets and consulting in a small animal and exotic pet practice.

Craig is a 1992 graduate of the BVSc program at The University of Queensland, Australia. After a variety of mixed- and small-animal practice experiences, he returned to UQ to complete a PhD degree investigating severity markers in severe acute pancreatitis in dogs. On completion of his PhD he joined the Gastrointestinal Laboratory at the Texas A&M University School of Veterinary Science as a research scientist, before moving to Oregon State University for a residency in Small Animal Medicine, becoming a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in 2008.

Craig remained at Oregon State University as a faculty member, rising to the rank of Associate Professor with tenure, until returning to the southern hemisphere to join the faculty at the Massey University School of Veterinary Science in 2017. Craig is currently and Associate Professor in Small Animal Internal Medicine at Massey University, and is a registered specialist in small animal internal medicine.

Ruth is a veterinarian who specialised in the molecular epidemiology of bacterial infectious diseases affecting livestock and humans. During and after her DVM, MSc, MRes and PhD training in the Netherlands, she lived and worked in sub-Saharan Africa, North America and Europe, with additional collaborations in South America and Southeast Asia. Her interest is in understanding transmission and control of pathogens and antimicrobial resistance determinants that affect the health, welfare and productivity of people and animals. While her initial focus was on biological understanding of such processes, behavioural and societal drivers have become increasingly important elements of recent collaborations. Her work has been funded by farmers’ organisations, industry, research councils and government bodies, and goes from barn to bioinformatics and beyond. She joined the University of Sydney in September 2019 and is currently Professor of Production Animal Health in the Sydney School of Veterinary Science in the Faculty of Science.

Elwin is a 5th year veterinary student at Utrecht University with a great interest in climate change and the effect it has on all aspects of life. He is the current president of the International Veterinary Students’ Association and thus will be able to give a students’ perspective on the climate change debate.

Professor Darren Trott graduated from Murdoch University School of Veterinary Science in 1990. He worked in companion animal practice for eight years during which time he also completed an Honours degree and PhD. Following PhD graduation, he spent three years as a postdoctoral researcher in Ames, Iowa and since mid-2000, has been a full-time academic at The University of Queensland (2000-2009) and University of Adelaide (2010-present). In 2016, he established and was appointed inaugural Director of the first new Research Centre at the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, The Australian Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Ecology. Prof Trott’s research covers a broad area. He has focused on antimicrobial resistance issues facing companion, performance and food-producing animal health and their impacts to public health as well as develop new and repurposed antimicrobial agents for resistant infections. Most recently he has focused attention on the microbiome and is particularly interested in the effects of antimicrobials on gut health, particularly early in life.

Matthew is a veterinary epidemiologist from New Zealand, and the Deputy Director General – International Standards and Science at the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) at their Paris headquarters. After five years in mixed veterinary practice, Matthew worked for the next 20 years with the government veterinary authority of New Zealand, the Ministry for Primary Industries, serving in numerous veterinary and management roles, including as the New Zealand Delegate to the OIE. In that capacity he served as the Secretary General for the OIE Asia Far East and Oceania region. Matthew has been President of the Epidemiology Branch of the New Zealand Veterinary Association; and a member of the Professional Standards Committee of the New Zealand Veterinary Council; the Stakeholder Council for the New Zealand Tb Free and National Animal Identification and Traceability programmes; and the Wellington SPCA Board. In OIE Matthew oversees the organisation’s processes for setting international standards; the global strategies for foot and mouth disease (FMD), peste des petits ruminants (PPR), Rabies, Animal Welfare and antimicrobial resistance (AMR); and represented OIE on the United Nations Inter-Agency Coordination Group for AMR.

Since 2010, Carmen has been working as a Technical Officer in the Department of Food Safety and Zoonoses (renamed the Department of Nutrition and Food Safety in 2020) at the World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. As part of the Secretariat of the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN), Carmen works to strengthen multi-sectoral collaboration nationally and internationally to facilitate communication on food safety issues, particularly during emergencies. A skilled public speaker and facilitator, Carmen regularly runs workshops and training courses on a wide range of technical topics related to food safety and foodborne disease detection, prevention and response. Prior to joining WHO, Carmen worked from 2007 as an epidemiologist at the Public Health Agency of Canada within the Centre for Foodborne, Environmental and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, investigating national outbreaks of foodborne illness. An avid traveller, Carmen has visited more than 40 countries on 5 continents for both professional endeavours and personal adventures. Carmen obtained his BSc in biomedical science from the University of Guelph (Canada), as well as a Certificate in Leadership from the University’s College of Business and Economics and a MPH from the University of Waterloo (Canada). His PhD research at Lancaster University (United Kingdom) has focused on improving communication during food safety emergencies and facilitating knowledge transfer and exchange among an international community of practitioners on matters related to food safety.

Dirk graduated in Veterinary Medicine at the Justus-Liebig University, Giessen, Germany in 1984. This was followed by postgraduate research towards a Dr.med.vet degree at the same university. He obtained a PhD from Massey University, New Zealand, in 1994, where he also worked as an academic for 9 years. Since 1999, he has been holding the Chair in Veterinary Epidemiology at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), London, UK. In 2016, Dirk joined City University of Hong Kong as Chair Professor of One Health, while still maintaining a 20% appointment at RVC. He is currently the Chow Tak Fung Chair Professor of One Health. Dirk’s research has covered many diseases and production systems around the world, with a special emphasis on translation of science into policy, evidence-based veterinary medicine, analytical epidemiology, advanced multivariate techniques, spatial and temporal analysis of epidemiological data, development of animal health information systems, computer modelling of animal disease, and field ecological research methods. Dirk has extensive experience in advisory roles to policy makers such as the European Union, the United Nations and several national governments.

David is Dean and Head of Campus at the University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand. A clinical microbiologist and infectious diseases physician by background, his main research interests are the epidemiology, diagnosis and prevention of respiratory tract infections, pneumococcal disease, legionellosis, bloodstream infections, and the role of vitamin D in infectious diseases. He is Co-Director of One Health Aotearoa, an alliance of New Zealand’s leading infectious diseases researchers that aims to improve health and well-being through integrated, cross-sectoral and ‘whole of society’ approaches to health hazards.

Nigel is Chief Scientist for the New Zealand Food Safety Science and Research Centre and Professor of Food Safety and Veterinary Public Health in the School of Veterinary Sciences at Massey University, New Zealand. Nigel is also founder and Executive Director of the Infectious Disease Research Centre, specializing in research and training in molecular epidemiology, food safety and the control of infectious diseases, and Co-director of One Health Aotearoa https://onehealth.org.nz/. He has published over 280 peer-reviewed journal articles, and 9 book chapters; many in the area of food safety, public health and the control of infectious diseases. Nigel is a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand, a Fellow of Food Standards Australia New Zealand, a member of the New Zealand Food Safety and Assurance Advisory Council. He holds honorary/visiting professorships at the University of Surrey in the UK and the University of Otago Medical School in New Zealand. He was the recipient of the Massey University Research Medal in 2012 and recipient of the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries ‘Significant Contribution to Food Safety’ award in 2018. He was also Awarded Honorary Fellowship of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in 2018.

Dr. Lujain Alqodmani is the Co-Chair of the the World Medical Association Environment Caucus and the International Relations Director of Kuwait Medical Association. She currently serves as the Special Adviser for EAT’s Founder and Executive Chair Dr. Gunhild Stordalen and the climate project lead of EAT. Prior to this, she worked in various positions including serving as an emergency physician in Amiri Hospital, Kuwait.

Dr. Alqodmani has a background in global health policy and economics and in medicine. She was Regional Coordinator of the Eastern Mediterranean Region of the International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA) and served as IFMSA’s Vice President for Internal Affairs and on the executive board. She was also a member of the Health Adaptation Committee of Environment Public Authority in preparation of Kuwait’s Second National Determined Contributions Report to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Lujain has participated in several UN conferences and World Health Assemblies. She has a medical degree from Kuwait University, and a master’s degree in international healthcare management, policy and economics from SDA Bocconi School of Management.

Lis has been involved in the design of the Danish Salmonella surveillance-and-control programme. Her dual affiliation with the Danish Agriculture & Food Council and the University of Copenhagen makes it possible for her to engage in the development of trust-worthy, cost-effective and evidence-based surveillance programmes. Lis has been involved in the entire shift of the meat inspection of swine from traditional to visual-only. Her dual affiliation with the Danish Agriculture and Food Council and the University of Copenhagen makes it possible for her to engage in development of trust-worthy, cost-effective and evidence-based surveillance programmes. Lis has been engaged in risk assessments for use of antimicrobials in livestock, development of official AM guidelines, and analyses of association between antimicrobials, biosecurity, vaccination and productivity in the Danish pig sector. Her dual affiliation with the Danish Agriculture & Food Council and the University of Copenhagen makes it possible for her to engage in development of trust-worthy, cost-effective and evidence-based surveillance programmes.

Debbie is one of the most in-demand speakers in New Zealand and Australia and sits in the top 7% of speakers worldwide. A media columnist as well as best-selling author of sixteen books, Debbie has sharpened the acumen of over one million individuals around the world through her presentations, quick-tip newsletters, articles, books and videos. You are going to love her entertaining and practical, plain talking technology quick tips. She is known as Ms Productivity not just for her work – Debbie is also a mother of six children including twins and triplets and is also the proud owner of long-haired Chihuahuas Gremlin and Bella.

A Yorkshire farmer’s daughter, Alison qualified from Liverpool University in 1989. She worked in practice for several years before pursuing a career with Hills Pet Nutrition and MARS, discovering the customer experience passion that her award-winning company, Onswitch, is renowned for today. Established in 2001, Onswitch promotes customer-centred practice so pets, horses and livestock receive better care; providing research, marketing, CPD and business consultancy with an effective, innovative, straight-talking and client-led approach. Alison is Honorary Associate Professor at Nottingham University’s School of Veterinary Medicine and Science. She is published widely and regularly speaks at key international veterinary congresses and events.

Fiona has been a leadership trainer with Dale Carnegie for nearly 20 years during which time she had been recognised in the top 1% of trainers worldwide. Fiona has also been working in the vet industry for over 15 years, helping practises achieve greater business results through the development of their people and the implementation of processes that drive performance. Having contracted to Masterpet for the last 15 years in the HR and L&D space, she has been instrumental in creating a culture within the business that has seen them recognised as finalists three years running in the Kenexa Best Workplaces of New Zealand. As leaders in their field she has collaborated with Masterpet having delivered a series of 12-month bespoke Leadership programs training well over 500 people from the vet industry, with incredible results. Her passion for people continues with her involvement in Year 5 and Year 1 vet students at Massey University and she has volunteered for over 10 years teaching communication skills and sales skills which are now vital in today’s environment. Her insights, experience and personality result in high energy, humorous and yet deeply thought-provoking workshops. An NLP practitioner, Dale Carnegie trainer and above all a Pet Passionate, Fiona is a well sought-after speaker and trainer in our industry.

Francesca is a veterinarian who graduated from Massey University in the class of 1998. Since graduating and gaining experience in clinical practice she moved to education and then leadership in Allied Veterinary professional education, at both Otago Polytechnic, as the Head of the School of Veterinary Nursing and nationally as the Chair of the Educational Standards committee for Allied Veterinary Professionals. Over her career she has seen first-hand and through her network of colleagues in the industry (both vets and Allied veterinary professionals) the significant challenges faced to personnel. Back in 2015 on completing a Graduate Diploma in Sustainable Practice which she entered focussed wanted to fix the environmental issues in veterinary practice it became clear that until we can meet people’s needs in veterinary practice trying to engage individuals and the industry as a whole in environmentally sound practice is going to be an uphill battle. This led to her enrolling in a Master’s in Professional Practice with a research focus on socially sustainable practice and asking the question – can we be socially sustainable in veterinary practice in New Zealand while still meeting the financial bottom line.

Paul is the founding director of the Lincoln Institute and is a highly sought-after executive coach, facilitator and keynote presenter with a focus on stimulating organisational team and individual leadership potential. Paul is a graduate of the Australian Defence Force Academy, University of New South Wales, the Royal Military College Duntroon and was awarded the prestigious Sasakawa Leadership Scholarship by the Australian Graduate School of Management’s Executive MBA program. As a former infantry officer Paul has seen international service in five foreign countries, culminating in leading an international military observer unit in one of the words harshest environments. Paul has safely lead teams out of crossfire, negotiated the release of hostages, reopened international borders that had been closed due to hostile acts and provided humanitarian relief to communities suffering oppression. Paul has served as the CEO and Board Chairman of Australia’s fastest growing company (BRW # 1 in their Fast 100) after an approach by the board to ‘lead a substantial change’. Paul’s capacity to lead this change in a highly competitive and complex market (electricity sector) is testimony to his ability to ‘walk the leadership talk’. Paul has over 30 years of leadership experience across all socio-economic and geopolitical boundaries making him highly sought after as an instructor and facilitator to all levels of business.

DeeAnn grew up in rural western Wyoming and knew from a very young age that working with animals was to be her life calling. She attended Idaho State University where she earned a Bachelors degree in biology. She moved to Denver and attended Bel-Rea Institute of Veterinary Technology and in 2000 became a Credential Veterinary Technician (CVT). After completing an internship at an equine practice she joined the staff of Littleton Large Animal Clinic (now Littleton Equine Medical Center) as the lead ICU technician from 2000 until 2005. During that time, in 2002, DeeAnn was part of a small group of technicians who created an equine specific veterinary technician society, which eventually became the American Association of Equine Veterinary Technicians (AAEVT). AAEVT has over 1000 members worldwide and in 2008 created the veterinary technician specialty (VTS) group in equine veterinary nursing (EVN). In 2005, she took a position in the Internal Medicine Department at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital to focus on a neonatal caseload. In 2007, she joined Oregon State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital in their anesthesia department. Missing the Colorado sunshine she took an offer to come back to Littleton Equine Medical Center as the lead technician. In 2013 she decided to follow her dream of working with exotic hoofstock and is currently the hospital manager at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs, CO.

Phil is an independent farm consultant based in the Wellington / Wairarapa region and he has worked in many regions throughout NZ and overseas. He has extensive agribusiness experience and specialises in helping farmers co-design and implement strategy. A key focus is on strategy that enables the growth of profitable and sustainable farming businesses. Currently contracted to Deer Industry New Zealand as Environment Project Manager, Phil has been building on existing successful programmes at Deer Industry NZ to bring together groups of deer farmers, and by facilitating positive conversations, use peer to peer learning and support to enhance existing systems.

Paul is the Professor of Sheep Husbandry at Massey University, New Zealand. He also has research interest in beef cattle. Specific sheep-based research programs include: maximizing ewe lamb breeding performance, twin- and triplet-lamb survival and growth to weaning, effects of body size and body condition on efficiency of production, alternative feed types to improve performance, maximizing lamb growth post weaning. These research projects cover the range from basic biological science to the applied level and where appropriate include systems modelling. He has a number of research linkages and programmes nationally and internationally, including Australia, and works with farmers, industry and veterinarians throughout New Zealand.

David is a Senior Scientist in the Farming systems team at AgResearch Ltd, New Zealand’s pastoral agriculture research institute. He specialises in the discovery and application of animal nutrition and pasture management information in dairy, red deer and sheep farming systems. This includes researching the interaction between seasonality and animal genetics on voluntary feed intake and its effect in determining deer performance, and the systems impacts of management practices, nutrition and forages in the sheep, deer and dairy industries. He is currently part of a team investigating the variations in the seasonal growth genetics of red deer. They are testing the potential mechanisms for these differences and associated sexual dimorphism variations that have been observed.

Preet is a senior lecturer in School of Veterinary Science, Massey University. His research interests are pharmacology and pain mitigation in farm animals. His current work focuses on strategies for pain relief for significant surgical procedures in goats, sheep, pig, cattle and deer. Some of these strategies include research on drug discovery and innovative drug delivery techniques.

Neil is Professor of Farm Animal Practice at the University of Edinburgh, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies. He qualified with BA and VetMB degrees from Cambridge University in 1984 and has subsequently gained considerable practical experience of farm animal veterinary practice, working with beef cattle and sheep. He has interests in planned livestock production, health and welfare; and his list of about 220 scientific publications in refereed journals and similar number of grey-literature articles mostly refers of the diagnosis and management of production-limiting diseases of ruminant livestock. Neil became a Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons while working at Massey University, and holds the RCVS specialist Diploma in Sheep Health and Production. He has written a reference textbook ‘Sheep flock health – a planned approach’, outlining a practical and rational approach to the diagnosis and management of sheep diseases, and has also edited, co-authored and contributed chapters to several other small ruminant, cattle and veterinary parasitology textbooks.

Neil’s principal research interest and primary undergraduate teaching responsibilities encompass veterinary parasitology, small ruminant production and veterinary education; reflecting the importance of these topics in global food production, animal welfare and public health. He was awarded a PhD by the University of Edinburgh in 2009. Neil’s current parasitology research includes studies of population genetics of helminth parasites; Haemonchus genomics; anthelmintic resistance in gastrointestinal nematodes; roundworm control in farm animals; management of fluke parasites; antiprotozoal drug resistance; and control of small ruminant ectoparasites. Additional small ruminant research includes studies of sheep production in harsh environments; neonatal lamb survival; goat health and production; lamb losses on Scottish hill farms; small ruminant and wildlife interactions; and management of infectious abortion in sheep. His education research and outreach are focused on the development of veterinary, paraveterinary and livestock keeper education methods in developing agricultural economies, with current programmes in rural India and Malawi. Neil is the current President of the European College of Small Ruminant Health Management and a former president of the Sheep Veterinary Society. He was the Scientific Organiser for the highly successful 9th International Sheep Veterinary Congress, held in the UK in 2017 with the theme of ‘sustainable global food security through efficient small ruminant production’.

Andrew works at Lincoln University in Christchurch, New Zealand. Growing up on a sheep farm in New Zealand Andrew has maintained an interest in animal production and animal health and welfare. Upon completing his undergraduate and post-graduate studies at Lincoln University Andrew then spent two years in a post-doctoral position at Moredun Research Institute, Scotland before returning to Lincoln in 2008 where he is currently a Senior Lecturer in Animal Science. Andrews’s research interest primarily focus on gastro-intestinal nematode parasitism in sheep and cattle and mitigating the impact of disease on animal performance. Recent investigations range from manipulating the immune response to parasites in sheep, targeted nutritional strategies, parasite epidemiology, selection for resistance and resistance to parasites, targeting parasites outside the host to provide an epidemiological benefit and targeted selective treatments (TSTs) in both sheep and cattle.

Sue is acknowledged as a leadership trainer and consultant across Australasia in the areas of practice and organisational development, strategic planning, communication excellence and staff development and management. Sue has a Bachelor of Business, majoring in Human Resources and Marketing, as well as her Diploma in Company Directorship (GAICD) and a Masters in NLP. Sue invests time working as Business Manager and consultant for AIRC/CCG whilst maintaining a role in a quality veterinary practice in Brisbane. Sue has a practical hands-on approach and brings with her a wealth of both corporate and small business skills, having been the founder of the much respected AIRC and CCG. Sue commenced her career in the UK as a veterinary nurse in 1982 and has gained invaluable global veterinary knowledge having worked in a variety of roles including animal welfare, general practice, emergency and university settings in the USA and Hong Kong. Sue frequently visits countries such as NZ, UAE & Malaysia to lecture, coach and consult.

Ben is a sheep and beef veterinarian with North Canterbury Veterinary Clinics, in the Hawarden/Waikari region. Prior to this he was a technical veterinarian for PGG Wrightson in the South Island where he was involved with several projects looking into the role of phosphorus, vitamin D, dietary protein levels and animal management, on growth rates in young cattle on fodder beet crops, osteomalacia lesions in dairy cattle fed fodder beet, and the incidence of metabolic disease in dairy cows transitioned off fodder beet wintering systems. Research for these projects led Ben to a published observation of a potential role for Vitamin D deficiency in the susceptibility of women to pelvic floor disorders and this work set him on the road to setting up a clinical investigation exploring the relationship between injectable Vitamin A, D and E and vaginal prolapse in North Canterbury sheep.

Bridey is the Technical Officer in Oiled Wildlife Response at Wildbase, Massey University. In 2005 Bridey took a position at Wildbase, providing husbandry and nursing care to native New Zealand wildlife. In 2014 she joined Wildbase, Oil Response Team to support oiled wildlife response activities. After responding to the CV Rena oil spill of 2011 Bridey developed an interest in building resilience in animal care professionals through management of compassion fatigue, burnout and other associated issues.

Josh Slater graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 1985 and spent four years in equine practice before moving to a residency in equine medicine at the University of Cambridge. He completed a PhD in equine infectious diseases in 1994 and was a lecturer, then senior lecturer in equine medicine at Cambridge during which he held a Wellcome Trust research fellowship. He moved to the Royal Veterinary College, London in 2005 where was is professor of equine clinical studies and clinical director of the equine referral hospital. His research is in equine infectious diseases, in particular strangles and equine herpesviruses and he has a wide range of interests in equine medicine. He is currently Professor of Veterinary Medicine and the University of Melbourne where is Head of Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences. He is a past president of the British Equine Veterinary Association, the European College of Equine Internal Medicine and the Federation of European Equine Veterinary Associations, and served as the secretary to the European Board of Veterinary Specialisation. He was biosecurity advisor for the 2008 Equestrian Olympic Games, the London 2012 Equestrian Olympic Games and the World Equestrian Games in 2014 and 2018. He is a co-director of the British Animal Rescue Trauma Association, is chairman of the Horse Trust in the UK.

Laura is a UK veterinary surgeon who qualified from the Royal Veterinary College in 2005. She spent seven years in mixed and sports horse practice before joining Brooke – Action for Working Horses and Donkeys in 2012 as a veterinary training advisor. Laura now works in the Global Animal Health team with international colleagues, improving animal welfare through better veterinary education and strengthening animal healthcare systems. She contributed to the OIE Curricula Guidelines for Veterinary Paraprofessionals as part of an expert ad-hoc group. Laura has further qualifications in equine internal medicine and veterinary education.

Cristy is an Associate Professor of Equine Medicine at Murdoch University in Western Australia. Having graduated from Murdoch University and after spending time in private equine practice in Victoria, Australia Cristy commenced a residency in predominantly equine surgery at Massey University in New Zealand and completed a masters degree investigating third carpal bone disease in horses. She returned to Murdoch University where she decided that equine medicine was more to her liking and undertook a second residency in equine medicine. Cristy is a member of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists in both equine medicine and surgery, a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and a registered specialist in equine medicine. Cristy’s research interests are centred around non-infectious equine respiratory disease, equine endocrine disease and clinical veterinary education. Cristy enjoys contributing to the profession through provision of continuing education, presentation and publication of research and contribution to professional associations. She is the immediate past president of Equine Veterinarians Australia.

Chris has considerable experience at all levels of equine dentistry. Chris was the first veterinary surgeon to pass the BEVA/BVDA equine dental technicians exam in 1990, has RCVS certificates in internal medicine and soft tissue surgery, and in 2014 passed the first full examination for the European Diploma in Equine Dentistry making him a European Veterinary Specialist as well as being recognized by the RCVS as a specialist. Chris lectures, teaches and examines regularly at courses and conferences around the world. In 2012 Chris set up a 100% equine dental referral practice providing visiting and clinic-based referral services throughout the UK and increasingly in Europe. Chris has a particular interest and wide experience in minimally invasive surgical techniques, as well as endodontic and restorative therapies.

Joe is a graduate of University College Dublin and has been a veterinarian for more than 30 years. He spent the first 20 years as an equine clinician, mainly in private practice but with an equine residency at Cambridge University in the middle. Joe completed two RCVS clinical certificates and thought he knew it all! A PhD in equine welfare, supported by World Horse Welfare, following by a research project and employment with The Donkey Sanctuary opened his eyes to how little true regard he had sometimes given to the sentience and welfare of the equines under his care, and he winces to recall how ignorant he had been when treating donkeys in particular. Joe will illustrate the importance for welfare NGOs to listen to the true needs and experiences of equines and how vital it is to keep these at the heart of what vets do; and how we can use a novel tool to assess donkey welfare and the impact of the work we do. He will encourage and assist colleagues to treat donkeys as the species they are. By highlighting their key differences – behaviour, physiology, nutrition, medication and anatomy he’ll show how approaches must differ from those used with their larger relatives. Pulling from his years of experience in equine clinical practice and welfare organisations in Europe, Asia, Africa and Central America, Joe will add insights as to how vets should better assess quality-of-life and make end-of-life decisions that are both principled and pragmatic.

Alana graduated from the University of Glasgow with a BSc Zoology in 2006 and for the next five years worked with the RSPCA as an Inspector investigating welfare concerns. She joined World Horse Welfare in 2011 and spent two years as a Field Officer before joining the International Department project managing the charity’s Central American (and Mexican) projects. She completed her Masters degree in International Animal Health at the University of Edinburgh in 2017, and in the same year moved to World Horse Welfare’s Public Affairs team where she works primarily on the charity’s Research and Education initiatives.

Martin works for New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing in the role of General Manager – Racing & Equine Welfare. Through his work in the racing industry he has also a representative member of the NZ Equine Health Association, and is the Chairman of the NZ Horse Ambulance Trust.

John is the Principal Veterinary Research Bioscientist at the National Dairy Research Centre in Ireland. His research interests include biosecurity and infectious diseases, cow fertility, youngstock health and rearing and animal welfare. He carries out research in dairy and beef cattle and in sheep. John is a National and European board-accredited registered veterinary specialist. He has 35 years’ experience in private and public (government) veterinary practice and in animal health/welfare and theriogenology research in Ireland, New Zealand and in Australia. John currently collaborates on research projects in Belgium, Hungary, Poland, Scotland and Switzerland. He has delivered award-winning lectures / workshops / wet labs by invite in over 25 countries worldwide, including numerous plenary lectures at world veterinary congresses. John is a lecturer on nine under/postgraduate veterinary / agriculture / farmer courses in Ireland and the UK. John is an Editorial Board member of five journals including Animal Reproduction Science, Reproduction in Domestic Animals and is Deputy Editor of the Irish Veterinary Journal. He has been invited to referee for over 60 international bioscience journals. John is also Co-Editor of the books Farm Health and Productivity Management of Dairy Young Stock and Bovine Perinatology. His research has been published in over 100 peer-review papers and also in numerous textbook chapters.

Scott is a veterinary graduate from Sydney University with postgraduate training in production medicine, and with a PhD from Massey University, New Zealand in cattle fertility. He is a registered specialist in bovine reproduction and holds an adjunct Professorship at Massey Veterinary School. Scott leads the research group at Cognosco, Anexa FVC which undertakes applied research and extension work. His technical fields of expertise include mastitis and fertility. He also has an interest in preventative medicine, antibiotic usage and antibiotic resistance in dairy cows. He has a long-term interest in implementation of change on-farm and has been involved in national extension programs such as SmartSAMM and InCalf.

John graduated from Murdoch University in Western Australia. Initially worked in mixed practice in Gippsland Victoria prior to moving to California to complete specialty training a residency in large animal medicine at the University of California Davis. Following the residency went on to complete a PhD, working on the prevention and control of Salmonella on large dairies. Returned to Australia in 2002 to join the University of Sydney to head up the livestock clinical training program. Research activities have had an applied clinical focus predominantly directed at the diagnosis, management and prevention of infectious diseases including pink eye in cattle, salmonella in sheep and cattle, and mycoplasma in dairy cattle.

Emma is a Vet turned researcher and developed and runs VetEnt Research (a division of Veterinary Enterprises Group Ltd). She is interested in all research on all species and loves a good logistical challenge. She has a particular interest in research that improves welfare. Emma’s research career is balanced by her four children (the newest being only a few months old) who remind her that no trial is harder or more logistically challenging than getting four small people out the door on a daily basis.

Neil has been a veterinarian in dairy practice in New Zealand for over 40 years. His interest is understanding lameness in pasture-based systems. Neil began by recording and describing his routine treatments of lame feet in what he called his “New Zealand Laboratory – the farms where he worked. The following eleven years of detailed treatment data provided a picture of the problem in the field. Early in his career he completed a ground-breaking case-control study, using herds in his own and neighbouring veterinary practices with the aim of identifying the predominant risk factors for claw injury lameness in pasture-based systems. With his understanding of cow behaviour and lameness risk factors, he continues to investigate herd lameness problems and trains veterinarians and farmers in the understanding, treatment and prevention of what is possibly still one of the dairy industry’s most serious animal welfare problems.

Greg finished Vet School at the end of 2001 and immediately packed everything he owned into his car and moved to the South Island. He spent 10 years in mixed practice in the South Island and overseas, with the last 5 years predominantly focused in dairy work due to the huge growth in the South Island. He joined Zoetis as a field vet in 2011 and relocated himself back to the North Island in 2014, along with a wife, two children and enough stuff to fill a medium-sized shipping container. He is currently the Veterinary Operations Manager for Zoetis New Zealand, focusing on dairy medicine, and has just completed a Masters degree in veterinary epidemiology.

Mark graduated in Glasgow in 1988. He worked in the UK in mixed practice, specialising in production animals; and then moved to New Zealand in 1995. He joined Central Southland Vets in 1997, gained a Masters in Epi in 2002 and formed VetSouth in 2006. Today he is Director of Clinical and Business Strategy at VetSouth, which employs 75 vets and a growing research group including four epidemiologists and several research technologists. He is a member of the NZVA Board, Chair of the NZVA AMR Leadership Group, and Director of XLVets.

Dave has been a veterinarian for more than 25 years and a computer programmer for more than 30. After a long period as a mixed animal vet he is now a Senior Lecturer in Cattle at the University of Melbourne, where he undertakes research in dairy cattle medicine, reproduction and animal welfare. He also acts as scientific Officer for the Australian Cattle Veterinarians. He is the author of the Bull Reporter, WelfareCheck and Biocheck software used by ACV members and is currently editor-in-chief of the Australian Veterinary Journal.

Kate graduated as a veterinarian from the University of Queensland in 1996 and spent time in clinical practice. After seven years in the USA (three years as a resident, one-year clinical faculty in small animal medicine at Purdue University, Indiana, two years Assistant professor in small animal medicine University of Tennessee) she joined Massey University in July 2005 as a Senior Lecturer in Small Animal Medicine. Kate is a diplomat of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) and is also a registered veterinary specialist with the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council. Kate is a Director of the Centre for Service and Working dog health and has been involved with the NZVA as an executive member of the Companion Animal Veterinarians from 2007-2014, and currently an NZVA board member. Kate is currently Director of the Masters of Veterinary Medicine at Massey University.

Sophie graduated BG (before Google) and has worked in academic practice and private practice. She was the first resident to complete an ECC residency in the UK and has been an ACVECC diplomate since 2005. Sophie is currently the Clinical Director of Paragon Referrals in West Yorkshire, which is a bit like New Zealand, but has more people and rain. Sophie is passionate about empowering Veterinary nurses in practice, the use of evidence-based practice, post-graduate education and destroying dogma. Clinically her interests include haematology, transfusion medicine and fluid therapy.

Debbie graduated from Massey University in New Zealand in 2008. During her first year in practice she completed the Pfizer (Zoetis) Internship at the Veterinary Specialist Group in Auckland and worked as a veterinarian at the Animal Emergency Centre. In 2009 she moved to Australia to undertake a rotating internship at Veterinary Specialist Services in Brisbane. A residency in Veterinary Dermatology followed at Melbourne Veterinary Specialist Centre and in 2013 she undertook further training at Cornell University in New York State. Debbie started a referral dermatology practice in Melbourne which ran until 2015. In 2014 she passed the Fellowship exams of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists and became a registered specialist in veterinary dermatology. In 2016 Debbie returned to Auckland and opened a specialist dermatology referral clinic called The Skin Vet, which is based in two hospitals. Debbie has contributed to a number of publications (winning the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists medal) and has presented several times at Science Week. She is actively involved with Science Week as a dermatology stream convenor and has acted as head examiner for the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists for the Dermatology Fellowship examinations for the last few years.

Valerie was born in Quebec and graduated from University of Montreal in 1998. She started working at the University of Wisconsin in 1999 where she acquired her Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Oncology) in 2003. From there, she moved to Switzerland and began work at the University of Zurich in 2003 working as a Medical and Radiation Oncologist and acquired Diplomate status of the American College of Veterinary Radiology (Radiation Oncology) in 2006. In 2007 she moved to Australia and joined the team at Brisbane Veterinary Specialist Centre and helped built the first radiation facility for pets in the southern hemisphere. She moved to Guelph in August 2012 and was the radiation oncologist at the Animal Cancer Centre of the University of Guelph. After four beautiful years in New Zealand working at Massey University as a medical oncologist, she went back to the University Guelph in 2019 and is now an associate professor in radiation oncology.

Following graduation from the University of Melbourne in 1988, David spent five years in mixed practice throughout Australia, England, Scotland, and Wales. He then completed small animal and equine internships at Colorado State University, and a research fellowship and comparative ophthalmology residency at the University of Missouri. He joined the faculty at the University of California-Davis in 2000. There he is one of seven ophthalmologists with four ophthalmology residents and an ophthalmic intern in training. He is the author of Slatter’s Fundamentals of Veterinary Ophthalmology, now in its 6th edition, and was honored to be recognised as the 2018 WSAVA speaker of the year. David’s major interests are ocular surface disease and feline herpesvirus.

Julius graduated from the University of Melbourne in Australia in 1992 with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science. He worked in private practice for five years before completing an Internship at the University of Queensland and a Residency in Small Animal Surgery at the University of Sydney. While at the University of Sydney, Julius was awarded a Masters of Veterinary Clinical Studies for his investigation of autogenous grafting of the caudal vena cava in dogs. Julius completed Clinical and Research Fellowships in Surgical Oncology at the Animal Cancer Center at Colorado State University. He was on faculty at the Ontario Veterinary College in Canada prior to moving to his current position as specialist small animal surgeon and surgical oncologist at VCA Canada – Alta Vista Animal Hospital in Ottawa, Canada. Julius is a board-certified specialist in small animal surgery in Australia (Fellow of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists), North America (Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons), and Europe (Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Surgeons). He has published over 100 papers and book chapters on surgical oncology related topics in peer-reviewed veterinary and human journals, and veterinary surgery and oncology textbooks; and presented at numerous local, national, and international conferences. Julius was founding President of the Veterinary Society of Surgical Oncology and was awarded the Stephen J. Withrow Award for Advancing the Art and Science of Surgical Oncology in 2010. He became an ACVS Founding Fellow in Surgical Oncology in 2012. Julius is a co-editor of the 6th edition of Withrow and MacEwen’s Small Animal Clinical Oncology and co-author of the 1st edition of A Color Atlas of Surgical Oncology of Dogs and Cats.

Lynelle received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from The Ohio State University, was in private practice on Long Island for three years, and completed a Masters Degree and residency program at the University of Illinois. She is Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and Professor at the University of California, Davis. She is the respiratory section editor for Current Veterinary Therapy, has manuscripts in various textbooks and journals, and recently completed the second edition of her book entitled, Clinical Canine and Feline Respiratory Medicine.

Richard graduated from Veterinary School at Massey University in Palmerston North with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science in 1988. He spent seven years in general practice in the Waikato. During this time, he worked with both farm animals and pets but developed a special interest in surgery of dogs and cats. In 1995, Richard began a one-year rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Texas A&M University, Texas, USA. This led to him completing a three-year residency program from 1996-99 in small animal surgery also at Texas A&M University. This residency program involved training and experience with all areas of surgery in dogs and cats under the supervision of leading American specialists. In February 2000, Richard sat and passed the Board certification examinations to become a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in Small Animal Surgery. Richard is a Registered Specialist in Small Animal Surgery in New Zealand and has been working at the Veterinary Specialist Group since 2001 and Veterinary Specialists Auckland since 2016. Richard is interested in all aspects of surgery of dogs and cats but has special interests in diseases and surgery of the nervous system and reconstruction of major skin wounds. Richard regularly lectures to veterinarians and has published numerous articles on surgical topics in veterinary journals.

Angela is a Veterinary Radiology specialist that trained as a biochemist at Old Dominion University (USA) followed by a vet school obtaining a DVM from the University of California, Davis graduating in 1999. In 2000 she began a four-year radiology residency at UC Davis obtaining her diplomate status in the American College of Veterinary Radiologists in 2003. She was clinical faculty at UC Davis for eight months prior to emigrating to New Zealand and teaching at Massey University for nine years. She now practices privately via teleradiology and in clinic ultrasound services for her own company Southern Veterinary Imaging. She also works as a clinical radiologist in Auckland at Animal Referral Centre two days per week. She block-teaches diagnostic imaging to veterinary students at the University of Adelaide. She lives outside of Nelson, New Zealand on a small animal rescue farm with her family. Her goal is to benefit as many patients, clients, veterinarians and veterinarians as possible during her career.

Sarah graduated from the University of Melbourne. She is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care. She has also completed a Masters degree in veterinary education at the University of Melbourne. She has published articles on diverse topics, including pain assessment, analgesia, toxicology, transfusion medicine, cardiopulmonary cerebral resuscitation and veterinary education. Sarah is currently working at the Centre for Animal Referral and Emergency in Melbourne.

Bob graduated from the University of Queensland in 1982. After working as an associate veterinarian and locum in southeast Queensland and the UK, he opened the West Toowoomba Veterinary Surgery in October 1988. His interest in avian medicine began soon after graduation and he obtained his Membership of the Avian Health chapter of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in 1991 and his Fellowship in 2003. He sold his practice in 2010 to take up a position with the newly relocated UQ School of Veterinary Science in Gatton. He is now an Associate Professor and head of the Avian and Exotic Pet Service. He has written two avian medicine texts (one of which has been republished as a second edition and has been translated into German, Turkish and Chinese) and co-edited a reptile medicine text. He has also published over 30 papers in peer-reviewed journals and taught avian medicine in Spain, Singapore, China, Turkey and all-around Australia.

David completed his dental residency at the Dallas Dental Animal Hospital in Dallas, Texas, he is both a Diplomate of the American Veterinary Dental College and a Fellow of the American Academy of Veterinary Dentistry. David is registered as a Specialist in Veterinary Dentistry and Small Animal Oral Surgery and runs a referral and general dental practice in Hallam, Victoria, Australia. He is a Member of the Australian/New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (Dentistry), as well as, holding the position of President of the American Veterinary Dental College. David is an Adjunct Associate Lecturer, Massey University in New Zealand and Melbourne University, as well as, a Consultant for all zoos in NSW (Taronga/Western Plains), SA (Adelaide/Monarto) and Victoria (Melbourne / Healesvile / Weribee).

Wendy graduated with a DVM from UC Davis in 1994. She received her PhD at Texas A&M University in 2003 and became board certified in the American College of Veterinary Surgery following her residency at Texas A&M in 2007. She received board certification as a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner by the University of Tennessee in 2012 and became a diplomate in the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation-Canine in 2013. From 2005 to 2016, she was an associate professor of small animal surgery and sports medicine at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Oregon State University. She is currently an Associate Professor of small animal surgery at Massey University School of Veterinary Science in New Zealand. Her research, which includes over 50 publications, has investigated the effects of oxidant stress on agility exercise in dogs, ligament and tendon injury, augmentation of fracture repair with omentum and the management of osteoarthritis in small animals. She resides in Palmerston North, NZ with her husband, son and daughter, dog and cat.

David has 40+ years of experience as a University Professor, in private practice, and working with veterinary organizations and governmental agencies in numerous countries. Currently he is CEO of Aquatic Veterinary Associates International, LLC and oversees veterinarians in several countries who provide services to aquaculture producers and industries throughout the world. David has previously owned and operated multi-veterinarian private practices, has overseen aquatic veterinary issues for the American Veterinary Medical Association, and has consulted with numerous veterinary organizations and governmental agencies in several countries, on veterinary education, and legislative and regulatory animal health issues. David is also the immediate Past-President of the World Aquatic Veterinary Medical Association, an Extraordinary Professor and the Director of the Center of Excellence for Aquatic Veterinary Education, Diagnostics and Biosecurity Training at the University of Pretoria, Faculty of Veterinary Science (Onderstepoort, S. Africa), and serves as the Associate Director of the International Aquatic Veterinary Biosecurity Consortium, with the Secretariat located within the Centre of Excellence for Aquatic Veterinary Education & Biosecurity at Tierärztliche Fakultät, Ludwig Maximillians University (Munich, Germany). Within these positions David assists several international organizations and veterinary schools in North and Central America, Europe, Africa and Asia refine and implement aquatic veterinary academic and continuing education programs to ensure a global well-trained aquatic veterinary global workforce; many of which involve developing and running aquatic veterinary biosecurity training programs to assist governmental agencies, aquaculture producers and industries, and private practitioners prevent, control and eradicate infectious diseases.

Richard has been providing veterinary and pathology services to a wide range of aquatic clients as “The Fish Vet”. He is now joined by a team spread across Australia and in London. He has been admitted to the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists by examinations in the subjects of Pathobiology, and Aquatic Animal Health. Richard is a Certified Aquatic Veterinarian, has been recognised as a Distinguished Fellow of the World Aquatic Veterinary Medical Association, and has been awarded the George Alexander International Fellowship by the International Specialised Skills Institute. He promotes aquatic veterinary medicine by producing educational materials on YouTube (http://tinyurl.com/thefishdoctor). Pertinent posts include the President of the World Aquatic Veterinary Medical Association (WAVMA, 2014), Secretary for the Aquatic Animal Health Chapter of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (ANZCVS, 2015), Senior Adjunct Lecturer at Murdoch University, and WAVMA Webinar co-ordinator/moderator and WAVMA Executive Board Member (2013 to present).

A Massey University graduate of 1994, Jenny worked in predominantly dairy practice in Taranaki for eight years before returning to Massey as a clinical teacher with increasing responsibilities for administration and curriculum management. As Academic Dean, she has led the BVSc programme for the past four years. She has a strong interest in student and graduate welfare and is currently supervising PhD student Natalie King (also a Massey BVSc graduate) who is working with two cohorts of Massey veterinary graduates (10 and 20 years since graduation) to describe their career paths and investigate the factors that affected their career choices.

Natalie gained a first-class Zoology degree from Glasgow University in 1987 and was awarded the Graham Kerr Memorial Prize for Zoology. She was awarded her PhD from Cambridge University’s Veterinary School funded by the British Veterinary Association in 1991. In 1990, she joined Edinburgh University to direct a new and unique Masters programme in Animal Welfare and after 14 years made the life changing move to New Zealand where she was invited to become the Chair of Animal Welfare at Unitec Institute of Technology in Auckland. After six years, as Head of the School of Natural Sciences and Associate Dean (Research) in the Faculty of Social and Health Sciences, in 2011 she returned to Edinburgh University to develop a new International Centre of excellence for Animal Welfare Education. As the inaugural Jeanne Marchig Chair of International Animal Welfare and the International Dean for the Veterinary School, she developed working partnerships with overseas Governments, Universities, Professional bodies and NGOs, to develop and deliver innovative capacity building initiatives within the area of One Welfare. In 2016, Natalie returned to New Zealand to take up the position of Professor of One Welfare and Executive Dean at the Eastern Institute of Technology. Natalie has produced more than 100 research publications and describes herself as an applied scientist by training, and an educationalist at heart. Her research and education interests are in the field of ‘One Welfare’ – exploring the relationship between animal and human health and welfare, an interdisciplinary area combining aspects of; social sciences, health and veterinary sciences with education, ethics and law.

Ben has been the Veterinary Director at The Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad since 2016. He has worked as a private equine surgeon in the United Kingdom in both first opinion and referral practice, as well as a clinician and lecturer at Dublin and Edinburgh Veterinary Universities for five years. Ben’s interests include sports physiology, pathophysiology of disease, and welfare.

Hayley is a national animal welfare emergency management coordinator for the Ministry for Primary Industries in New Zealand. She is a veterinary technologist who has over 20 years experience in the veterinary profession in emergency and critical care as well over a decade in academia. Whilst at Massey University School of Veterinary Science as an Associate Dean Hayley developed and led the veterinary emergency response team to fill a notifiable gap in New Zealand. Hayley has had multiple deployments as a first responder nationally and internationally along with over 25 activations to local and regional events including floods, wildfires, earthquakes and snow events as an animal welfare emergency management coordinator. She is in her final stages of a PhD in Emergency Management focusing on enhancing multiagency collaboration for animal welfare emergency management. Hayley is a practitioner, researcher and educator in emergency management.

James is a Kenyan veterinarian who graduated from the University of Nairobi Veterinary School in 1999. While implementing a community dairy goat improvement project in arid and semi-arid regions of Kenya with FARM Africa James got interested in donkeys due to immense role they played in communities. This interest led James to join Donkey sanctuary as a resident veterinarian before joining Brooke as an animal welfare advisor.

James’ current work involves supporting develop equine welfare partnership projects in East Africa in addition to developing an animal health mentorship programme within all partners and in collaboration with East Africa governments. While implementing equine welfare projects in East Africa, James has experienced unprecedented equine smuggling, slaughter and poor welfare in donkey hide trade and he looks forward to sharing this with the conference participants.

Tēnā koutou katoa. Nau mai haere mai ki a Aotearoa. Ko Eloise Jillings tōku ingoa. Welcome to Aotearoa New Zealand. Eloise is Māori (indigenous people of New Zealand) through her mother and Canadian through her father and has been fortunate to have lived in both countries. Her current roles at Massey University School of Veterinary Science (New Zealand) are Associate Dean – Admission and Students, and senior lecturer in clinical pathology. She is looking forward to sharing her research interests around veterinary education, with particular focus on veterinary student selection, and diversity and indigeneity in the veterinary profession with everyone.

An impulse call to a horse welfare charity got Chris started in overseas training in 2000, seven years with them led to an opportunity to join The Donkey Sanctuary in 2007. Chris has been attached to the Donkey Sanctuary since that time and is currently Lead harness for the Research and Operational Support Team at Donkey Sanctuary. Chris started to construct ‘modules’ on harness making and related topics in 2014, and over the last few years that has taken precedence, with the ultimate goal of being able to offer a package to suit the needs of working donkeys, available for download from The Donkey Sanctuary website.

With internet access so widespread this is seen as the new face of training, it can also be backed up by a visit and hands on training for groups as requested. Other work underway at present is the first scientific trialling of collars specifically for donkeys, based in Spain and Portugal. Chris’s specific interest in these trials is to identify a simple to construct and maintain collar, to replace the usual breast collar used in many countries where full neck collar production is not possible. In addition to the scientific trials being run Chris also makes experimental collars and works with them using the New Zealand Ponui donkeys at a rare breeds farm in Taranaki.