The People behind SVC
Guided by the values of integrity, courage, compassion and empowerment, the Sustainable Veterinary Careers initiative has been developed through collaboration and commitment from all corners of the veterinary industry and beyond.
Our core SVC development team consists of nine respected veterinarians with experience and roles spanning national and state regulatory bodies (AVBC, VPRBV), our peak professional association (AVA), post graduate veterinary accreditation body (ANZCVS), corporate, university and private practice, government and veterinary research.
Oliver has been a veterinarian for 28 years and is founder (in 2002) and principle veterinarian of Grafton’s Equine Veterinary Dental Services.
He’s authored several scientific papers on equine dentistry, developed widely used veterinary dental instruments and regularly presents nationally on dentistry, horse welfare, and veterinary mental health.
Kate’s passion for empowering individuals and teams led to a deep interest in the psychology of HR management, leadership, strategic organisational change, communications and consumer behaviour.
She has a Master’s degree in Business Administration, over 20 years experience as a GP vet in regional Australia and the UK and Membership of the ANZCVS in Small Animal Medicine.
In addition to leading development of the Sustainable Veterinary Careers initiative, Kate currently serves in regulatory, consulting and advocacy roles including on the Victorian Vet Board, AVBC’s Sustainable Practice Committee, as an AVA graduate mentor and as the Policy Council Advisor for the AVA’s Veterinary Business Group.
David graduated from the University of Queensland in 1989 and has worked in mixed and small animal practice in the Newcastle region for the past 32 years.
David founded the Newcastle Animal Emergency Centre in 2004, growing to a team of 85 staff offering 24/7 ER service, and adding referral services in Surgery, Dermatology, and Rehabilitation. David has completed MANZCVS in Small Animal Medicine, and Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care. David currently serves as the Treasurer of the Council of the College (ANZCVS).
A longstanding member of the local branch of the Australian Veterinary Association, David is a current member of the AVA NSW Executive Committee and volunteers as an admin for the Australian Veterinary Network Facebook page. In addition to mentoring through the AVA New Graduate Mentor Program for the past 6 years, David was recognised as the 2017 Australian Small Animal Practitioner of the Year by the Australian Small Animal Veterinarians SIG of the AVA.
David has completed certificate courses in Performance Measurement, and Management of Cashflow, Profit & Value. David is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has recently completed a Masters of Business Psychology with the University of Newcastle.
Haidee worked in clinical practice for 20 years and is now undertaking research in the area of veterinary career longevity and satisfaction as it relates to workplace culture, along with volunteering in advocacy roles.
Haidee explains her valued contribution to the SVC team, “When I started looking at what was out there in terms of veterinary support and advocacy I was surprised how many have been working on this behind-the-scenes, and for how long. However it appears that there hasn’t been widespread translation of those efforts. Kate’s approach with SVC is the most collaborative to date, and I strongly believe that to drive positive change across the profession there needs to be transparency and cohesion. SVC gives me hope that we can shape a profession that the next generations of vets can enjoy for life.”
Hubert is a veterinarian, former practice owner and podcaster with the Vet Vault. Currently based in Queensland, his veterinary career has spanned 2 decades and three continents, and he is on a mission to find ways to help those on the front lines of the veterinary profession thrive both professionally and personally.
Before becoming a veterinarian Kellie worked in media and communications in Australia and Norway. She graduated from CSU in 2016 and has worked in small animal practice including completing a rotating internship at Sydney University Veterinary Teaching Hospital. She co-founded a final year vet student mentor program at CSU, is a member of the AVA Workforce Challenges Working Group, and co-founder of the AMR Vet Collective.
Cathy is a veterinarian who has segued into positive psychology and coaching. She operates Make Headway, a business focused on veterinary well-being. She serves in multiple voluntary roles in human and veterinary health care, including on the AVA Workforce Challenges Committee. Cathy led SVC’s survey development team, because “all I want is a veterinary world that people enjoy being a part of”.
Max is a specialist surgeon with an interest in nuclear medicine who has worked principally at the Gladesville Veterinary Hospital in Sydney from 1971 till the present. His current research interests are in the use of nuclear medicine in the diagnosis and treatment of disease in dogs and cats, developing techniques to improve clinical teaching for veterinarians and helping develop strategies to assist in maintaining the mental health of veterinarians.
His veterinary positions have included Head of Surgery at the University of Sydney 2000-2002, where he still is involved part time in teaching surgery and is highly committed to development of the Clinical Skills hubs, CEO of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital 2015-2017, Visiting Fellow at the University of Florida, President of the ANZCVS, President of AAVDI, and Member of VSAAC from 1990-2017, involved in accreditation of veterinary schools nationally and internationally.
Max has received the ASAV Practitioner of the Year (twice), the Seddon award from the NSW division of the AVA, and the University of Sydney award for the reduction of use of animals in research and teaching.
In June 2021 Max was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia for his contribution of veterinary science, his colleagues and to veterinary education.
From a background of over 20 years’ working in veterinary and agricultural industries, Helen’s experience includes whole farm consultancy, research and development, project management and the development and facilitation of education and extension programs.
In addition to being a clinical and agricultural advisory veterinarian, she’s served in government veterinary officer roles, as a university lecturer and as a Senior Consultant in the MacKinnon Project, gaining her PhD in 2006.
As an educator, Helen developed a passion for leadership, coaching, communication skills and facilitation training and remain committed to creating structured and sustainable opportunities for personal and professional development to young and experienced professionals alike.
220+ Years of Diverse Experience
Graduating as vets between 5-50 years ago, our team’s qualifications and experience also span psychology, business leadership and management, media production, communications, NFP development, governance, veterinary education, counselling and doctoral research. All have worked pro bono on SVC development.
We are extremely grateful for the support, perspectives, ideas, and practical and seed funding assistance we continue to receive from very many vets, nurses, psychologists, social science academics, and from corporate and wholesale organisations.
“Sustainable Veterinary Careers is undoubtedly the most exciting and promising solution to the troubled waters that the veterinary profession has been going through over the past decade or two! Through transparency, great leadership, and bringing together some of the best and brightest minds and stakeholders in the veterinary industry, this organisation will seek to spend 5% of its time defining the problems and 95% on developing solutions. No doubt it will have profound beneficial impact on the veterinary profession and industry as a whole.”
– Dr Oliver Liyou
