Continuing Veterinary Education Events

CONFERENCE 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 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 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.

 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.