Our Vets
At BVECCS Emergency Vet in Brisbane, our people make all the difference.
Our staff are chosen not only for their impressive skills and knowledge but also their level of commitment and caring. Find us here.
As pet owners ourselves, we appreciate the distress felt when pets are ill or injured. Understanding this can be a difficult situation for you, we strive to deliver both exceptional client and patient care.
BVECCS Emergency Vet, 24 Hour Vet Hospital
We complement the services of your usual veterinarian and all of your pet’s records, lab results and X-rays are emailed to them. This ensures continuity of care the following day and ensures your vet will always have a complete medical history.
At BVECCS Emergency Vet, 24 Hour Vet Hospital, in addition to having the latest technology and equipment, we are also proud to have a team of dedicated and experienced vets and nurses who have the expertise to handle all your pet’s needs.
We also share premises with the Brisbane Veterinary Specialist Centre, so our patients always have fast access to specialist skills if required.
Dr Lisa Ashe BVSc MANZCVS (E&CC)
Lisa graduated from Sydney University in 1995 with a career goal to work in the field of veterinary emergency medicine. After completing a Post-Grad course in Emergency Medicine in 1998 Lisa continued her studies and gained Membership to the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists in the field of Emergency Medicine & Critical Care in 2003.
Lisa continues to be passionate about Emergency Medicine & Critical Care with a particular interest in trauma & shock, fluid therapy, & tick paralysis.
With experience gained by managing a busy specialist emergency hospital in Sydney for 7 years, Lisa moved to Brisbane in 2006 and along with Dr Lyndal Holloway, owns and manages the BVECCS Emergency Vet, 24 Hour Vet Hospital and team.
Dr Ainslay Huitema BVSc (hons)
While completing her studies Ainslay worked at BVECCS as a veterinary nurse, gathering valuable experience until graduating as a Veterinarian in 2010 from the University of Queensland.
Expanding her veterinary skills, and missing the fun and excitement of emergency work, Ainslay started back at BVECCS Emergency Vet, 24 Hour Vet Hospital part-time in 2012 and is now a valued full-time member of our emergency team. Ainslay’s special interests include soft tissue surgery and anaesthesia.
Dr Ann-Marie McIver BVSc (hons) MANZCVS (E&CC)
Ann-Marie graduated from the University of Queensland in 2004, and immediately included emergency work into her veterinary employment.
Completing a post-graduate distance education course in Emergency and Critical Care Ann-Marie also obtained Membership to the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists in Emergency Medicine and Critical Care in 2010.
Before joining BVECCS Emergency Vet, 24 Hour Vet Hospital in 2010 Ann-Marie developed her skills working in busy small animal emergency & critical care hospital in Melbourne and has special interests in toxicology, and all aspects of the diagnosis and management of intensive critical cases.
Dr Bridget Macleod BVSc
Bridget graduated from University of Queensland in 2001 and spent the first 2.5 years of her career in England, in semi-rural mixed practice in North Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, where she saw everything from the usual cattle/sheep/dogs/cats to seals, squirrels, pot-bellied pigs and badgers. Bridget then returned to Brisbane and small animal practice only. Bridget worked in the one practice for 10 years where she was predominately sole charge and had the privilege of mentoring 3 new graduates. Bridget started emergency work with BVECCS in October of 2015. She really enjoys the variability and excitement of emergency work. More recently, Bridget is venturing down the road of a Masters of Veterinary Medicine (companion animal studies).
Dr Cheryl MacPherson BVSc MANZCVS (E&CC)
Cheryl graduated from the University of Melbourne in 1995 and commenced work in small animal practice. She was drawn to her first emergency position in Sydney in 2001 and passed her membership examinations in veterinary emergency medicine and critical care in 2003.
Combining her love of travel and conservation Cheryl worked with wildlife in Thailand and South-East Asia in 2005. Expanding her skills again Cheryl was employed to teach veterinary students in anaesthetic practice at the University of Sydney.
Bringing her extensive skills to the BVECCS veterinarian team in 2009, Cheryl also utilises her knowledge and experience by writing a blog about veterinary emergency medicine for pet owners and others in the profession at ausemergencyvet.wordpress.com
Dr Christabel Hannon BVSc (Hons)
Christabel graduated from UQ in 2013, and immediately jumped into general small animal practice in both Australia and the UK. After four years in GP, Christabel embarked on PhD studies in wildlife disease, specifically sea turtle health. During this time she discovered her love of emergency and critical care medicine whilst working at the UQ Small Animal Hospital with the ECC team there. Since then, Christabel has been working in ECC hospitals in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, as well as locuming at emergency clinics interstate.
Christabel loves the variety of ECC medicine, and is proud to be part of the huge, multi-team, collaborative efforts that go into caring for complex cases in order to get our patients home safely. Christabel’s clinical interest are evidence-based medicine (EBM), fluid therapy, critical care nutrition and acute pain management.
Dr Dan Green BMedSono Grad Dip Med Sono BVSc (Hons)
Dan graduated from UQ in 2006 with first class honours. Dan worked in general practice on the northside of Brisbane for 2 1/2 years before locuming across Brisbane and the Gold Coast. He started in emergency practice in 2009 and has worked on both the Gold Coast and Brisbane. He commenced work at BVECCS in 2011. Dan’s interests within veterinary science include ventilator medicine and surgery.
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Dr Deeanna Ho BVSc MANZCVS (E&CC)
Deeanna graduated from the University of Queensland in 2013 and started her first 4 years as a small animal general practitioner in NSW.
Her love for emergency was discovered in 2017 when she moved back to Queensland, and she completed her memberships in Emergency and Critical Care in 2019. She has a special interest in surgery and feline medicine.
Dr Emma Andrew BVSc (Hons)
Emma graduated from University of Queensland in 2017. She has a special interest in soft tissue surgery and has experience in emergency and critical care, general practice, community vet clinics and shelters. In her spare time she loves spending time with her animals, hiking, gardening, reading and travelling.
Dr Fiammetta Baccetti DVM BVSc
Fiammetta graduated at the University of Pisa (Italy) in 2015. She first spent a few years combining her love for traveling and veterinary medicine working as a small animal vet in different countries around Europe, then moved to Australia and gained registration to work in Qld in 2022.
In the same year, she joined BVECCS full-time and loves the excitement and variability of emergency work. Her special interests include soft tissue surgery and trauma management.
Dr Giles Helbig BVSc (hons)
Giles graduated in 1997 from the University of Sydney with 1st class honours in veterinary science.
She was first employed in a mixed general practice before moving to Small Animal practice after 2 years. Travel beckoned and Giles lived and worked in the UK for 3 years, further adding to her veterinary experience.
Venturing into the emergency side of veterinary practice 10 years ago, Giles discovered she enjoyed emergency work and has continued in this field along with having a family. Giles also enjoys surgery and joined BVECCS Emergency Vet, 24 Hour Vet Hospital in 2013.
Dr Jenni Keys BVSc (Hons 1) Grad Cert SAECC MANZCVS (E&CC)
Jenni graduated from the University of Queensland in 2015 with first class honours. After a year in rural mixed general practice, Jenni completed an internal medicine internship in a specialist small animal hospital, before moving into their emergency and critical care department. After 3 years in a senior ECC role, she joined the BVECCS team in 2020.
She has since completed a Graduate Certificate in Small Animal Emergency Medicine from the University of Melbourne in 2020 and obtained her Membership to the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in Emergency and Critical Care in 2021.
Jenni’s special interests include diagnosis and treatment of medical and intensive critical care cases.
Dr Karen McCormick BVSc (Hons), Grad Cert ECC
Karen graduated from the University of Queensland with honours in 2006 and spent 14 years in general practice before taking the plunge into Emergency Medicine. She has completed a Graduate Certificate in Emergency and Critical Care and is currently studying a course in transfusion medicine to expand her knowledge base. She is especially interested in polytrauma and pain management in the emergency setting and also has a love for insects!
Dr Katherine Beaton BVSc (Hons) Grad Dip Vet Acup
Katherine graduated from the University of Queensland in 2005 and started work in mixed rural practice, including at a university teaching clinic. At these clinics she was on call for emergencies and loved the challenge this presented. Katherine has also worked in general small animal practice, shelter medicine and practices acupuncture. She enjoys soft tissue surgery and ensuring families understand and are involved in their pets health and treatment.
Katherine joined the BVECCS team in 2021 and loves the collegiality of the team and being able to support people at their pets through difficult times.
Dr Katrina Moon BVSc
Kat graduated in 2010 with a BVSc from JCU in Townsville. She went on to complete 2 years of general practice at a small animal clinic in Townsville. Kat then moved to Brisbane and started working at an emergency centre on the gold coast and stayed there for a little over 18months before joining the team at BVECCS. Kat has a special interest in medicine cases.
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Dr Kylie Forster BVSc
Kylie graduated from the University of Melbourne in 2003. She worked in general practice for 18 years, before joining the BVECCS team in 2021. She has since discovered a true passion for Emergency Veterinary work. Kylie loves the fast pace and challenge of emergency work and the difference that she can make to animals who need urgent care. She is a great all-rounder being both a talented surgeon as well as liking the challenge of complex medical cases and dealing with toxicities. She has been volunteering for the AVA PET-PEP program for over 10 years. When not at work, she enjoys spending time with her family and pets.
Dr Natalie Okawa BVSc (hons) BPharm
Natalie began her working life as a pharmacist, graduating in 2009. She worked for a number of years before returning to the University of Queensland to study a Bachelor of Veterinary Science. She graduated with first class honours in 2020. After gaining experience as a general practice vet, she went on to complete an Emergency Critical Care Internship in Melbourne.
Natalie has an interest in a wide array of cases from complex medical cases such as diabetic ketoacidosis to ones that require surgical intervention such as foreign body obstructions and emergency c-sections.
Dr Nikki Williams BVSc (hons)
Nikki graduated from University of Queensland in 2002 with class 1 honours. Her first position was in mixed practice in western Queensland, where she gained valuable experience in surgery and emergency care, before returning to small animal practice in SE Queensland. Continuing her education Nikki, completed a post-graduate course in dermatology in 2008 and is currently studying for her memberships in Emergency and Critical Care. Nikki joined BVECCS in 2012 and has a keen interest in surgery and trauma cases.
Dr Philomena Kwong BVSc (Hons) MVS (Small Animal Practice) MANZCVS (E&CC)
Philomena graduated from the University of Queensland in 2008. Her passion in emergency and critical care began during her undergraduate years, where she fell in love with the fast-paced and demanding environment of veterinary emergency whilst she was working as a veterinary nurse at the university clinic’s emergency centre. Upon her graduation in 2008 she went on to complete a rotating small animal internship at Pet ER/Queensland Veterinary Services with the focus on emergency and critical care medicine.
She has been working in emergency practices at Gold Coast, Brisbane and Sunshine Coast ever since. To further her knowledge, Dr. Kwong completed a Master of Veterinary Studies in Small Animal Practice in 2017, and in 2021, she was recognized for her specialty knowledge by gaining membership with the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Science in the Emergency and Critical Care Medicine chapter. Philomena’s special interest is in neurology, medicine and critical care medicine.
Dr Samantha Day BVSc (hons) MANZCVS (ECC)
Sam graduated with a BVSc from Sydney University and went on to work in general practice in Sydney for the following 3 years. This drove her passion for the more complex cases, leading her to undertake a rotating internship at the University Veterinary Teaching Hospital Sydney, before moving on to complete a specialised internship in Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care the year following. During this time, she gained membership to the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists in ECC. She remained working and teaching as an ECC Veterinarian at UVTHS until attaining a position in 2021 in a Doctor of Veterinary Clinical Science and American residency in Emergency and Critical Care through the University of Queensland and Animal Referral Hospital. She plans to complete this Doctorate and sit her American college specialist exams in 2024.
Sam has authored multiple journal articles and presented this research and lectures at multiple international conferences. Her clinical interests and research focuses on coagulopathies, snake envenomation, mechanical ventilation, fluid therapy and sepsis. She looks forward to continuing to grow the specialty of critical care, and to providing care to patients in their greatest times of need.
Dr Sophie Curtis BVSc (hons)
Sophie graduated from UQ in 2009 and spent the following year at a mixed practice.
A talented graduate, Sophie resumed working and managing a busy one-vet practice gaining invaluable experience in emergency medicine, which has provided her the expertise she needs to assist in offering emergency pet service in North Brisbane.
Sophie joined BVECCS in 2011 and has undertaken post-graduate study in veterinary small animal emergency medicine.
Dr Stephanie Mouatt BVSc (Hons) Dip HS
Steph graduated from the University of Queensland in 2004 and went on to complete a challenging mixed small animal internship at the Brisbane Veterinary Specialist Centre. This internship covered a broad selection of specialties including the areas of medicine, surgery, cardiology, ophthalmology and critical care.
Steph is currently in the process of completing her memberships in Small Animal Internal Medicine with the long-term goal of becoming a Small Animal Medicine specialist.
Steph joined the BVECCS veterinary team in 2012 bringing with her a passionate interest in critical care medicine and valuable skills reflecting her knowledge and experience.
Dr Stephen Platt BVSc BSc (Zool)
Stephen studied undergraduate and postgraduate Marine Biology & Zoology at UQ in the 1970s, before switching to Vet Science in 1980, and graduating in 1986.
He initially worked in research at the Department of Physiology at the University of Queensland, then commenced work in general veterinary practice in 1988. Stephen first started working at BVECCS Emergency Vet, 24 Hour Vet Hospital in 2006 and continues to provide a wealth of experience to our emergency team.
Dr. Timothy Biffin BVSc MANZCVS MVPHMgt
Tim graduated with a Bachelor’s of Veterinary Science in 2011. Following his academic interests, in the years after graduation, he completed a Masters in Veterinary Public Health and earned membership to the Australia New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists.
Previously, Tim has worked in busy rural practice as well as intensive referral centers, gaining exposure to a broad range of species, from cassowaries to crocodiles. After relocating to Brisbane several years ago, Tim was thrilled to join the BVECCS team.
Tim particularly enjoys the dynamic nature of emergency medicine, and finds personal fulfillment in supporting patients and their human companions throughout their healthcare journey. Outside of the workplace Tim treasures quality time with family, almost any sport, and the boundless energy of his two canine companions.
When you need it, BVECCS Emergency Vet, 24 Hour Vet Hospital is here for you, and your pet.
