Continuing Veterinary Education Events

CONFERENCE SPEAKERS

 

Plenary Speakers

Kim Hughes

Former cricketer Kim Hughes is the only West Australian to have captained the Australian test cricket team on a full-time basis. He was captain for several years in the early/mid eighties. Regarded as the most dashing batsman of his generation, Kim drew vast crowds to cricket with his audacious and breath-taking stroke play. He led Australia in 28 test matches and played in 70 tests (scoring around 4,500 runs at an average of 37.41, with nine test centuries) and 97 ODIs between 1977 and 1985. Kim was considered one of the most attractive middle order stroke masters to wear the baggy green cap. As well as being outstanding in the field, he was one of the first generation who had to combine the tasks of playing one day and test cricket. Kim is very high profile in Perth through his role as a cricket commentator for Channel Nine and a sporting broadcaster on Radio 6PR (Perth’s equivalent of 2UE). He is also managing director of a company in the building industry and was a state selector for the WA Cricket Association. Kim Hughes now entertains audiences as a passionate, inspirational and much sought-after speaker on cricketing and corporate matters. Kim’s presentations are entertaining, informative and motivational and include many humorous anecdotes.

Dr Rick Fenny

Rick Fenny is not your average veterinarian. For most, running a clinic, maybe conducting some research on the side, is more than enough to keep them busy. Dr Fenny would consider that a pre-breakfast project. “I just like to keep myself motivated, alert, on the ball—and happy. And not bogged down,” he says, in the understatement of the decade. The man admits he’s probably employed more vets than anyone —“certainly in WA, if not Australia”— with 400 full-time vets in a 40-year period, at last count, and about 1000 other non-vets. He has owned 15 separate practices, ran a locum service sending Australian vets to Britain and even had his own internal drug company. “It’s been quite an interesting journey,” he says. Trust is a big part of Dr Fenny’s DNA—both what he has for people and, of course, what the animals have for him: most famously, the Pilbara mining community’s kelpie mascot, Red Dog, the lone canine made famous in Louis de Bernières’s 2002 novel, and again in the eponymous film nine years later. Excerpt from “Red Dog’s vet” By Natasha Paulini, Vet Practice Magazine. Downloaded from rickfennygroup.com.

Scientific Stream Speakers

Dr Rebecca Nilsen BSc BVMS (Hons) MANZCVS (Small Animal Dentistry and Oral Surgery) President Australian Veterinary Dental Society

Dr Rebecca Nilsen owns and operates The Smiling Pet Veterinary Dental Services and WAVES Dentistry. Rebecca graduated from Murdoch University in 2012, working in general practice and emergency medicine. It was during this time that Rebecca noted a need for improvement in veterinary dental care and in 2018 completed her memberships in Small Animal Dentistry and Oral Surgery with the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists. Since 2018 Rebecca has worked exclusively in dentistry as a referral vet for more than 160 clinics in Perth and regional areas. Rebecca practices with the ethos that every animal deserves a pain free mouth. When not at work Rebecca enjoys spending time at the beach with her loveable rescue dog Libby, and catching up with family and friends.

Dr Bryony Senic BSc BVMS

Dr Bryony Senic graduated in 2007 from Murdoch University in Perth. She worked as a veterinarian in small animal practice treating primarily dogs and cats for almost 7 years before moving to an industry role with Hill’s Pet Nutrition in 2015.

Bryony works as a Professional Consulting Veterinarian for South Australia and Western Australia and is passionate about nutrition in pets.

Dr Meng Siak BVMS MANZCVS (Canine Medicine) FANZCVS (Veterinary Dermatology)

Dr Meng Siak graduated from Murdoch University in 2006. He spent a year in private practice before returning to Perth to complete an internship and then residency in Veterinary Dermatology. In 2014, he passed the examinations to become a Specialist Veterinary Dermatologist with the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (ANZCVS). In 2018, Meng established WAVES dermatology, reconnecting with former colleagues and friends. WAVES Dermatology has since grown to a very busy clinic equipped with the latest equipment including carbon dioxide laser, video-otoscopy and photo biomodulation.

Meng has special interests in resistant bacteria, having published the first paper on MRSP affecting dogs in Australia back in 2012. He continues to update himself on the latest on MRSP and will be doing a follow up research paper on MRSP affecting pets in WA in 2025/2026.

He enjoys sharing his love for all things related veterinary dermatology and has lectured locally, nationally and internationally.

Outside work, he enjoys spending time with his young family and waiting for Spurs or Dockers to win a trophy.

Dr Jonathan Wood BVSc GP Cert (Ophthal) MRCVS MANZCVS (Small Animal Medicine)

Dr Jonathan Wood graduated from Sydney University in 2006 and travelled to the United Kingdom shortly after graduation. Jonathan worked as a small animal vet in the UK in a busy mixed practice on the Isle of Wight. Since referral practices were on the mainland, he set about learning as much about ophthalmology as he could. In 2011, he passed a post-graduate examination in Veterinary Ophthalmology.

In 2012, Jonathan returned to Australia, settled in Western Australia, and has been involved in ophthalmology since then.

Jonathan joined Perth Animal Eye Hospital in 2021, completing a residency in Veterinary Ophthalmology. In 2023, he was admitted as a member of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists after passing the Small Animal Medicine examination. He has a keen interest in retinal diseases and the management of glaucoma.

Jonathan currently works at Perth Animal Eye Hospital as an Ophthalmology Registrar

Dr Ellie Drynan BVSc MANZCVS DACVAA

Dr Ellie Drynan graduated from the University of Sydney in 2002. Following graduation she worked in both mixed and small animal practice in Melbourne, London and then back here in Perth. In 2007 she commenced an anaesthesia residency at Murdoch University and in 2013 obtained her Diplomate of Anaesthesia and Analgesia. In 2017 she joined the WAVES family providing an anaesthesia service for all animals but particularly for the critically-ill patients.

Dr Katrin Swindells BVSc MANZCVS DACVECC

Katrin is a 1994 Sydney University graduate who spent three years in small animal practice before finding that emergency work was her vocation. In 2001, she started a residency at Murdoch University, became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care in 2006 and then spent five years in academia at Murdoch.

Katrin is a director of WAVES and has worked there as a criticalist since opening in 2013. She remains fascinated by all aspects of ECC and is passionate about helping the veterinarians, interns and residents who work with her, develop their emergency and critical care skills in a supportive environment. She is also committed to providing advice and support to the profession on their difficult cases.

Katrin has three children (two of whom are adults) and a very supportive husband who was essential to making everything possible.

Dr Luke Bradley BSc DVM MANZCVS (Avian Medicine and Surgery, Unusual Pets)

Dr Luke is a special interest Exotic Veterinarian with memberships in both Avian Medicine and Surgery and Unusual Pets, who graduated from the University of Melbourne in 2018. Since graduating Dr Luke has been working for the Unusual Pet Vets in Perth where he is now the Vet Manager at the Murdoch clinic.

Dr Luke grew up with a menagerie of Birds and Reptiles and going down the exotic’s pathway was always going to be the only way. If he is not working, then you are most likely to find him working away on his hobby farm amongst the variety of animals and fruit trees in his orchard.

Dr Nicole Lobry de Bruyn BSc BVMS MANZCVS (Feline medicine and Animal Behaviour) 

With over 30 years’ experience as a vet in private practice Dr Nicole is one of the most highly qualified Animal Behaviour Veterinarians in Western Australia. She is one of only a handful of veterinarians in Perth with the highly respected membership in Veterinary Behaviour MANZCVS obtained through examination.

Nicole helps pass on this passion through the teaching of Animal Behaviour (all species) to undergraduate vet students at Murdoch University.

Nicole is a member of the Australian Veterinary Association and the special interest group in Animal Behaviour. She is also a certified Fear Free Professional.

Dr Nicole can assist clients with any behavioural problem they may be experiencing with their companion animal – canine or feline. She follows the latest scientific approach, relies on a positive communication style with her patients and clients and will work to find the best outcome.

Dr William Gow BSc BVMS DVSc DipACVP (Clin Path) 

Dr William Gow graduated from Murdoch University with a Bachelor of Science, and a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery in 2009. After this, he went on to work in a small animal general practice in Perth, WA, for two years.

William commenced his residency in Veterinary Clinical Pathology in 2012 at the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph in Canada. He also completed a research project and written thesis investigating circulating microRNA profiles in dogs with multicentric lymphoma and was awarded a Doctor of Veterinary Science (DVSc) degree. In 2015, William joined IDEXX as a Clinical Pathologist after completing his residency. In 2018, William achieved his board certification for Clinical Pathology with the American College of Veterinary Pathologists (ACVP).

William’s areas of professional interest include cytopathology, haematopathology and bone marrow pathology, including haematopoietic neoplasms. He also enjoys helping clients with complicated cases.

Dr Zoe Devine BSc BVMS MANZCVS (Veterinary Behaviour)

Dr Zoe developed her passion for behavioural medicine early in her career, as she believes the mental well-being of an animal is just as important as the physical. Since graduating from Murdoch University in 2017, she has worked in several clinics, including interstate, to refine her skills in treating both physical and mental diseases in all species.

Dr Zoe holds her membership to the ANZCVS in Veterinary Behaviour, which she obtained in 2022. She was awarded the Robert Jones Award for the highest mark achieved in that year. She is also a Fear Free Certified Professional. Continuing education is important to Zoe, and she has presented on the topic of fear-free handling and other behavioural topics to a number of student and industry groups.

Zoe enjoys the complexities and nuances of behavioural medicine. The human-animal bond is a focus for Zoe and is front of mind within her tailored treatment plans. A holistic approach is implemented, engaging the family unit plus other industry professionals such as vets, vet nurses, trainers, other specialty centres or pet physiotherapists to assist with the behavioural problem

Dr Timothy Foo BSc BVMS MANZCVS (Radiology) MVetStud DipECVDI

Born and raised in Sarawak, Malaysia, Tim made the move to Perth in 2005 before earning his veterinary degree from Murdoch University in 2010. After four years in general practice, his passion for diagnostic imaging led him to the University of Sydney Veterinary Teaching Hospital, where he completed a 4-year residency and achieved board certification in diagnostic imaging in 2019. Sydney wasn’t just a career milestone – it was also where Tim met his wonderful wife, the greatest highlight of his time there.

Swapping Sydney’s humidity for Perth’s sun-drenched coastline was an easy decision, and Tim joined WAVES in 2019. Tim is focused on expanding WAVES’ services and fostering a strong and compassionate imaging team – one that values empathy, patient care and collaboration to ensure the best possible outcomes for every pet.

Amanda Clews RVN Cert. VNES, TAE

Amanda graduated from Applied Vocational Training in 2006 – She started in small animal practice to build her skills and knowledge whilst also working casually in an Emergency & Critical Care clinic. She joined The Amanda graduated from Applied Vocational Training in 2006 and started her career in small animal practice, gaining valuable experience in Emergency & Critical Care.

In 2016, she joined The Unusual Pet Vets and earned the City & Guilds Nursing of Exotic Species certification in 2017. Since 2018, Amanda has been managing the Murdoch team, she most enjoys managing patients in with emergency & critical care presentations and medical management & treatment for exotic species.

At home, Amanda is surrounded by a diverse range of pets, including a cockatiel, a rainbow lorikeet, two bobtail lizards, two jumping spiders, two badumna spiders and a border collie.

Claire Deamer RVN APVN (AHMW) DipVNZS 

Claire is a dedicated registered veterinary nurse in Perth, Western Australia, who began her veterinary career in 2003 while still at school, working in small animal general practice. Over the years, she has gained experience in various settings, including a university teaching hospital, a pet crematorium, and an emergency center.

She joined The Unusual Pet Vets in 2017 and soon earned her Diploma in Exotic Animal Nursing. Recently, she has embraced her new role as Perth Nursing Trainer for UPV.

Outside of work, Claire enjoys life in the Perth Hills with her husband, three kids, three dogs, one cat, two cockatiels, seven chickens, three emus, a woma python, a tarantula, and a horse.

Kara Airey Cert IV RVN CCRVN HCert Bus.,Fear Free (TM) Certified

Kara spent the first 15 years of her career as a specialist surgical vet nurse in Perth and in Dublin, Ireland.  Through these roles her passion for caring for patients during their post operative recovery led her to further studies in veterinary rehabilitation.  She returned to Perth in 2022, and finalised her training to become a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Veterinary Nurse in 2024 through the Canine Rehabilitation Institute.

Kara’s special interests are in post-surgical and neurologic rehabilitation.  She is a self-proclaimed ‘cat lady’ with two cats who travelled both to and from Ireland with her.

Dr Candice Yeo BSc BVMS MANZCVS (SAIM) Resident in Internal Medicine

Candice graduated from Murdoch University in 2015. After this she worked in general practice in Singapore for five years. Candice then moved back to Australia, completing an ECC internship at North Shore Veterinary Hospital followed by an internal medicine internship at QVS in Brisbane.

She then started her residency. Candice successfully attained membership of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (ANZCVS) in
Small Animal Medicine 2023, followed by membership of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (ANZCVS) in feline medicine
in 2024. Candice commenced a residency program approved by the European College of Veterinary internal medicine at WAVES in March of last year.

Candice is passionate about all things feline; she loves the management of chronic feline medical conditions at WAVES and continues this feline
obsession at home with her feline friend Butternut.

Dr Heidi Lehmann BVSc (Hons) BVMS, PGCert, MVSc, MPhil, MANZCVS, DACVAA Registered Specialist in Veterinary Anaesthesia

After completing veterinary school at Murdoch University, Heidi worked for a few years in small animal general practice south of Perth before she undertook a three-year specialty training programme in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia back at Murdoch, becoming a board-certified specialist of the American College of Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia.

Moving to New Zealand to gain research experience in animal welfare, Heidi worked clinically in the Massey University Veterinary Teaching Hospital teaching and mentoring both undergraduate and postgraduate students. In 2021 Heidi returned to home shores working as a Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Anaesthesia at Charles Sturt University in NSW, followed with a private practice stint in Melbourne, and finally last year, returning home to WA.

Heidi maintains an interest in mentoring young vets in anaesthesia and analgesia and has a particular interest in anaesthesia for critically ill patients, both large and small.

Chantelle Alexander RVN

Chantelle Alexander, also known as Channy, began her veterinary journey in 2005 as a kennel hand at Kenwick Vet. Transitioning from general practice to Murdoch University in 2010, she found her true calling in Emergency and Critical Care nursing. With over a decade at WAVES, Channy continues to embrace her love for ECC alongside her WAVES family. Outside of work, she finds joy in her family, friends, and faithful Labrador companion Tyson.

Dr Eben Martin BVSc MANZCVS (ECC) FANZCVS (SAS) Registered Specialist in Small Animal Surgery

Following graduation from the University of Melbourne in 2010 with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science, Eben continued to work in his home town of Melbourne in small animal general and emergency practice. In 2015 he lived in the UK and worked in small animal practice, whilst playing semi-professional cricket. Upon returning later that year, he became partner in a large practice in the northern suburbs of Melbourne and in 2016 obtained membership to the Emergency and Critical Care Chapter of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists by examination. Although Eben had worked primarily in emergency practice, his passion always lay with surgery and in 2018 Eben moved to the sunny Perth to begin a 12 month internship at WAVES. During this same year he obtained membership into the Surgical Chapter of the College by examination, and in 2019 Eben began a three year surgical residency training program at WAVES. Upon completion of his residency training program, Eben obtained his Fellowship within the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in 2023, granting him the qualifications necessary to be registered as a specialist in small animal surgery. Although a long way from family and friends, Eben and his partner love living in Perth, and consider it their home away from home. Although Eben enjoys all facets of surgery, he has particular interests in orthopaedic surgery, neurosurgery and trauma surgery.

Dr Ally Davis BSc BVMS GradDipEd MVetClinStud

Ally completed her Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery at Murdoch University in 2016. After graduating she spent three years as a General Practitioner in the South West Region of Western Australia. In 2020, Ally relocated to Melbourne to pursue further training in Small Animal Surgery, completing a one-year surgical internship in a referral centre in central Melbourne. In 2021, Ally returned to Perth to continue her surgical training, completing a one-year specialty training program and three-year residency in Small Animal Surgery at The Animal Hospital, Murdoch University. During this time she completed a Diploma in Higher Education and a Masters in Veterinary Clinical Studies, and is currently completing a Research Masters. Her areas of research have included canine soft tissue sarcomas, surgical management of anal sac disease, and the feline microbiome. Ally enjoys all aspects of surgery and working within a team to provide a high standard of care to pets and their owners.

 

Professional Growth Stream Speakers

Christie Boucher

With 25 years of experience in education, Christie commenced her career as a secondary school health and physical education teacher. Over the past 20 years, her professional focus has centred on creating and implementing risk management education resources and programs tailored for diverse professional audiences. Christie possesses a keen interest in the role that education plays in risk management by contributing to heightened awareness and behavioural change. Christie is the Risk Services Manager at Guild Insurance.

Dr Paul Davey OAM BSc BVMS

Dr Paul Davey graduated from Murdoch University Vet School in 1992, and has spent over 30 years in small animal practice. He has been a partner in 5 small animal veterinary clinics, and is currently a Clinical Director and Chair of the Clinical Advisory Committee for CVS Vets Australia. He remains connected to Murdoch as a Banksia Association Member, and Senior Adjunct Lecturer in Professional Practice. He was President of the WA Division of the AVA in 2011 and 2013 and prior to that was heavily involved in Graduate Support Programs and Mental Health Initiatives for which he received an Order of Australia Medal. In December 2021 he was elected to the Veterinary Surgeon’s Board, and in July 2022 was selected as the first official member of the new Veterinary Practice Board of WA. Paul is passionate about supporting veterinarians throughout their careers, and is very excited to be part of this terrific program.

Dr Katie Kreutz BSc BVMS

Katie has held the position of President of the WA Division of the AVA since 2023 and has been an active participant in the AVA since her university days at Murdoch. Graduating in 2016 Katie set to work straight away in mixed practice and is an associate veterinarian at Swans Veterinary Service in the stunning coastal town of Esperance. Prior to migrating to WA from the United States in 2012 Katie’s undergraduate studies in psychology at the University of Delaware have greatly shaped the way she practices and her outlook on the needs of veterinarians and pet owners alike. Her goals during her presidency with the AVA are to improve rural community access to veterinary care, support the whole of the profession through legislative advocacy and continue to supporting veterinarians through mental health and emotional intelligence initiatives such as Graduate Mentoring and THRIVE. Her passion for the profession had led her to working closely with Murdoch University students, taking up multiple opportunities for teaching on practical placements, spey trips, VPL camps and mentoring. It’s very rare that she is partaking in anything not related to veterinary medicine these days but she greatly enjoys road trips, camping and any kind of outdoor adventure when she gets the chance.

Dr Liv Oginska DVM MRCVS PGCert SAS MAPP

Dr Liv Oginska is a veterinarian, keynote speaker, positive psychology coach, a certified workplace conflict mediator and an emotional intelligence specialist who’ ‘speaks Human’. For the last 4 years, Liv devoted her veterinary career to supporting both individuals and teams (especially leaders) in becoming more human-savvy. The human-savvy work focuses on helping veterinary and medical professionals create psychologically safe organisations, as well as
sustainable and thriving careers. Liv graduated as a veterinarian from the University of Poland in 2010, worked as a veterinarian in multiple countries in Europe, Australia and North America, and she gained experience and credentials in positive psychology, emotional intelligence and conflict mediation in Cambridge, UK.

Currently, she teaches emotional intelligence at Murdoch University Vet School in Perth, Australia, and she pursues PhD in the topic of emotional competencies among veterinary teams and leaders.