What motivated you to put your hand up for this leadership position at this point in your career?
I’ve always been passionate about creating workplaces where veterinarians and veterinary nurses can thrive.
Throughout my career, I’ve seen talented people leave the profession because they were burnt out, disengaged, or felt unsupported. Like many veterinarians, I wanted to do something about that. Initially, that meant focusing on my own workplace and becoming involved in practice ownership and leadership.
Over time, though, I realised that if I wanted to help more people, I needed to think beyond my own clinics. That led me to become involved with the AVA and, five years ago, I was elected to the Board.
During that time, I’ve had the privilege of meeting veterinarians from every corner of the profession and gaining a much deeper understanding of both the challenges we face and the opportunities ahead. We need to find better ways to support veterinarians throughout their careers, keep talented people engaged in the profession, and continue raising the standards of veterinary care across Australia.
I also believe the AVA is at an important point in its own journey. We need to continue evolving into an organisation that is more member-focused, more relevant, and easier for members to engage with. I wanted the opportunity to help lead that evolution and ensure the AVA continues to deliver real value to the profession.
Most importantly, I put my hand up because I care deeply about veterinary medicine and the people within it. The profession has given me incredible opportunities, friendships, and experiences, and serving as President is a chance to give something back.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned through leadership, it’s that you don’t need to have all the answers before you get involved. Leadership often starts with simply caring enough to put your hand up. I started by wanting to make a difference in my own workplace, and that journey ultimately led me to the AVA
Presidency. I’d love to see more veterinarians take that step, because the future of our profession will be shaped by the people who choose to contribute.
The profession continues to grapple with workforce shortages, burnout and retention pressures. What role can the AVA play in helping address these challenges?
Workforce pressures, burnout and retention remain persistent challenges that are all too familiar to our members, and they have shaped some of the AVA’s key advocacy and member support priorities.
As AVA President, I’m particularly pleased that our new membership model has been designed with these challenges in mind. It brings together THRIVE, professional development resources and CPD opportunities in a way that makes it easier for members to access support, build skills and invest in their own wellbeing throughout their careers.
For veterinarians earlier in their careers, we know the transition from university into practice can be challenging. That’s where our mentoring program plays an important role. By connecting newer veterinarians with experienced colleagues who have navigated those same challenges, we’re helping provide the practical guidance, support and perspective that can make a real difference during the early years of practice.
One of the initiatives I’m excited to see expanding is THRIVE and our Cultivating Safe Teams program. These evidence-based programs focus on creating healthier and more sustainable veterinary workplaces. Through face-to-face workshops and online delivery, they provide teams with practical tools to identify and manage psychosocial risks, improve communication, build psychological safety and strengthen workplace culture.
They also address some of the difficult realities many veterinary professionals face every day, including managing client aggression, navigating challenging conversations and supporting team members following difficult incidents. These are issues our members consistently tell us matter, and it’s important that the profession has access to practical resources and support.
The reality is that no single initiative will solve workforce shortages overnight, and the AVA will continue to advocate strongly to government and other decision-makers about the urgency of these challenges. However, by supporting the wellbeing, safety and professional growth of our members, we can play an important role in helping make veterinary careers more sustainable and rewarding over the long term.
Ultimately, if we want people to remain in our profession, they need to be able to see a future for themselves within it. Helping create that future is one of the most important roles the AVA can play.
Mental health and wellbeing remain significant concerns across the profession. How do you believe the industry can better support veterinary teams?
Mental health and wellbeing remain significant challenges across our profession, and there is no single initiative that will solve them.
The AVA has invested heavily in this area through THRIVE and our Cultivating Safe Teams program because we know that supporting wellbeing requires more than encouraging individual resilience. It requires
workplaces and leaders to create environments where people feel supported, valued and able to do their best work.
I believe the industry can better support veterinary teams by recognising that wellbeing is a shared responsibility. That means fostering psychologically safe workplaces, encouraging open conversations about mental health, providing strong mentoring and support networks, and creating flexible, sustainable career pathways.
One of the things I love most about our profession is the sense of community that exists within it. When people feel connected, supported and able to ask for help when they need it, they are far more likely to thrive both personally and professionally.
For me, the goal isn’t simply reducing burnout. It’s creating workplaces where people can build long, rewarding and sustainable careers in veterinary medicine.
What are your thoughts on the current state of veterinary business sustainability in Australia, particularly for independent practices?
Independent veterinary practices play a vital role in communities across Australia, but there is no doubt they are operating in an increasingly complex environment.
As the owner of independent veterinary practices myself, I see these challenges firsthand. Workforce shortages remain a significant issue, but they’re only part of the picture. Practices are also navigating rising operating costs, increasing client expectations and the reality that many families are facing their own financial pressures.
One of the greatest challenges for practice owners is balancing all these competing demands while continuing to deliver high-quality care for patients and maintain a sustainable workplace for their teams. Veterinarians enter the profession because they want to help animals, and it can be incredibly difficult when financial limitations affect the care options available to pet owners
These challenges are also a key focus of the AVA’s advocacy efforts. In late June, I’ll be taking these concerns directly to Parliament House as we continue to advocate for greater recognition of the workforce and business pressures facing our profession. The AVA is also contributing to several government consultations and inquiries aimed at addressing the long-term sustainability of veterinary practice.
Despite the challenges, I’m optimistic about the future of independent practice. Independent clinics remain deeply connected to their local communities and are an essential part of Australia’s veterinary landscape. They deserve a future where they can thrive, not simply survive.
Technology is rapidly reshaping practice, from AI to advanced diagnostics and telemedicine. Where do you see the greatest opportunities and potential challenges?
Technology is creating some exciting opportunities for our profession. From advances in diagnostics and imaging through to AI-powered tools and telemedicine, we have access to technologies that can help us work more efficiently, improve patient care and enhance the experience for both veterinary teams and pet owners.
I’m particularly interested in technologies that reduce administrative burden and allow veterinarians to spend more time doing what they do best – caring for patients, solving clinical problems and building relationships with clients. Used well, technology has the potential to improve both efficiency and job satisfaction within our profession.
At the same time, we need to ensure that technology remains a tool that supports veterinary professionals rather than replaces clinical judgement. Whether we’re talking about AI or telemedicine, veterinarians must remain central to diagnostic and treatment decision-making.
The AVA has a strong commitment to maintaining professional standards, including the importance of physical examinations in diagnosing and treating animals. While telemedicine can play a valuable role in areas such as triage, follow-up care and improving access to veterinary advice, it should complement, not replace, the veterinarian-patient relationship.
As with any new technology, the challenge will be finding the right balance. We should embrace innovation and the opportunities it brings, while ensuring it is implemented in a way that is secure, maintains professional standards, supports veterinarians and delivers the best outcomes for our patients.
What message would you most like to share with veterinarians who may feel uncertain or disillusioned about the future of the profession?
I would say that your experience of the profession today is not necessarily your experience of the profession forever.
Veterinary medicine is an incredibly diverse profession. There are so many different career paths, workplaces, areas of interest and opportunities to contribute. If you’re feeling uncertain or disillusioned, it may not be that the profession is wrong for you – it may simply be that you haven’t yet found the right role, team or path within it.
I’ve certainly had moments throughout my career where I’ve felt challenged, frustrated or questioned what’s next. What has kept me engaged is the opportunity to keep learning, keep growing and keep connecting with people who are passionate about making our profession better.
I genuinely believe the future of veterinary medicine is bright. We have an incredible community of people who care deeply about animals, their clients and one another. We are seeing new ideas, new technologies and new approaches to leadership emerge across the profession, and I think that creates enormous opportunity.
Most importantly, don’t try to navigate those challenges alone. Reach out, seek support, find mentors, connect with colleagues and get involved. Some of the most rewarding opportunities in my own career have come from putting my hand up, getting involved and building connections within the profession.
This profession needs good people. If you’re feeling uncertain, my message would be simple: stay curious, stay connected and don’t give up on a profession that still has so much to offer.
What helps you recharge and maintain balance in what can be a demanding profession?
I’m not always very good at it, if I’m honest. Maintaining balance is something I continue to work on, and I think that’s true for many people in our profession.
What I’ve learned is that variety is important for me. I spend a lot of time thinking about my business, the people in it, leadership and the future of our profession, so I need things in my life that take me completely out of that headspace. Travel, exercise and spending time with family and friends all help me recharge.
My pets also play an important role. Spending a few quiet minutes patting one of the cats is probably the closest thing I have to meditation. It’s a simple reminder to slow down and be present.
And then there are my kids, who are very effective at keeping me grounded. They have a remarkable ability to wander through the background of a Zoom meeting when I have a virtual background on and suddenly an arm, a head or a random household object appears floating behind me. It’s a useful reminder not to take myself too seriously.
I’ve come to realise that maintaining balance isn’t about getting it right all the time. It’s about making time for the people, animals and experiences that help you recharge and keep perspective on what really matters.
What’s something your colleagues or AVA members may be surprised to learn about you?
People are often surprised to learn that I have an impressive number of projects underway at any given time – and a somewhat less impressive number that are actually finished.
I’m naturally curious, and if something catches my interest, whether it’s leadership, business, technology, AI or travel, I’m likely to disappear down a rabbit hole learning everything I can about it. I also tend to say “yes” to interesting opportunities before I’ve fully worked out where I’m going to find the time.
My family have become very good at responding to new ideas with a well-practised eye-roll, which is usually a fair indication that I’ve just acquired another project.
The upside is that life is rarely boring. The downside is that curiosity and focus don’t always arrive in equal proportions.
Is there a book, podcast or idea that has influenced your thinking recently?
One idea that has influenced my thinking recently is the concept of Radical Candor by Kim Scott – the idea that you can care personally while also challenge directly.
It’s reinforced something I’ve found myself saying a lot lately – lead with kindness. Sometimes we think being kind means avoiding difficult conversations, but I’ve come to believe the opposite is often true. If we genuinely care about people, we owe them honest feedback and clear expectations.
Whether it’s in leadership, veterinary practice or professional relationships, people can only improve if they know where they stand. Avoiding a difficult conversation might feel easier in the moment, but it rarely helps the other person grow.
That doesn’t mean being harsh or critical. It means approaching conversations with empathy, respect and a genuine desire to help someone succeed.
It’s a simple idea, but one that has shaped the way I think about leadership, mentoring and supporting my team. To me, kindness and honesty aren’t competing values – the most effective leaders lead with both.
If you weren’t a veterinarian, what career path do you think you might have followed?
I’m not sure I have a specific answer to that because I genuinely believe most people can be successful and fulfilled in a wide range of careers.
I’ve always believed that people can find their niche in any industry when they discover where their strengths, interests and values intersect. For me, that happened within veterinary medicine. Over time, I’ve found a place where my skill set works well and where I genuinely enjoy what I do.
What I’ve come to realise is that the parts of my career I enjoy most aren’t necessarily unique to veterinary medicine. I enjoy solving problems, building teams, leading people, creating opportunities and helping organisations improve. I suspect those same interests would have led me to a fulfilling career in several different industries.
So, while I’m incredibly grateful that veterinary medicine is the path I chose, I think the common thread would have been the same – working with good people, solving interesting problems and trying to leave things a little better than I found them.
Coffee or tea?
Coffee. I’m from Melbourne. Is there ever really another option?
What’s your favourite way to spend a weekend?
My ideal weekend involves the gym, kid sport, fresh bread, good coffee, catching up with friends, patting the cats (the dog gets somewhat unfairly ignored) and trying very hard not to open my laptop.
