2025 AVA Award winners

 

Congratulations to our 2025 AVA Award winners!

The AVA Awards are a celebration of veterinary excellence and dedication to the profession, and this year’s recipients are worthy winners. Presented at the AVA Gala Dinner on Thursday 15 May, this memorable occasion honoured their remarkable achievements and invaluable contributions.

Kesteven Medal

The Kesteven Medal is awarded to an Australian veterinarian in recognition of a distinguished contribution to international veterinary science by providing technical and scientific assistance to developing countries. This year, the Kesteven Medal was presented to Professor Jenny-Ann Toribio for her significant, broad-reaching impacts on veterinary science in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region. Her commitment to excellence in veterinary education and curriculum development and ongoing, committed mentorship has ensured many veterinarians have developed skills based on an understanding of disease epidemiology and guided by robust data collection and analysis.

 Jenny-Ann said, "I am extremely honoured to be awarded this prestigious medal inaugurated by Dr Kesteven, an extraordinary Australian veterinarian who worked at the global level to achieve what we call the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals by facilitating rinderpest eradication and FMD control. It is humbling to follow in the footsteps of professional heroes and mentors – previous medal winners such as Robyn Alders, Peter Windsor and John Edwards. Following my God-given passion to assist colleagues throughout Asia and the Pacific requires a lot of understanding from your family and employer. I’m fortunate to have the enduring support from my family and the Sydney School of Veterinary Science.This award really reflects the commitment of the people who enter our profession, all kudos to the many talented and dedicated veterinarians that have taken every opportunity to learn and to use the new knowledge and skills to serve their community. It is a delight to assist & learn from such colleagues!"

President’s Award

The President's Award recognises an outstanding practical contribution, particularly within the preceding 5 years in the profession. This year the President’s Award was presented to Dr Alex Harrison.

Alex Harrison is Australia’s first profoundly deaf veterinarian and a trailblazer for inclusion, with over 20 years of clinical and advocacy experience. A passionate mentor and changemaker, Alex has supported countless veterinary  professionals living with disability, neurodivergence, or chronic illness, fostering a culture of psychological safety and healthy disclosure. Alex’s leadership has shifted national conversations from individual resilience to systemic accountability, with landmark advocacy leading to closed captioning at major veterinary events and reforms to regulatory language around impairment.

Through roles with The Veterinary Kaleidoscope and DEI councils, Alex continues to embed diversity, equity and inclusion into the heart of veterinary wellbeing.

Alex’s work has changed the profession - making it more accessible and inclusive for all.

Alex received a standing ovation following his acceptance speech, which is shared here in full. “Thank you. I accept this honour with deep humility — and with a full awareness that I do so standing on the shoulders of many others. This is a profession that I care for deeply. It is also a profession that has, for too long, asked many of its people to shrink themselves in order to belong. We are changing that. And we must continue to change it — with urgency, clarity, and courage. When I graduated as a profoundly deaf veterinarian, I knew the road ahead would not be easy. I also knew that I was not walking it alone. I carried with me the hopes of many who had been told, quietly or directly, that there wasn’t space for them in this profession. We now know that 38% of veterinarians in Australia identify as having a disability, chronic illness, or neurodivergence.  Let that land.  That is not a statistic we can afford to ignore. That’s not a fringe issue. Nor is it a special interest group.  That number is transformative — if we choose to act on what it tells us.  That’s a structural reality. And it demands a response.  Not in sentiment, but a structural one.   

Inclusion is not a gesture. It is a responsibility. It means rethinking how we train, how we hire, how we lead. It means dismantling barriers we didn’t build, but have a duty to remove.

We cannot afford to treat equity as a side project. It is central to the strength of our profession. Because when people are free to bring their full selves to this work — without fear, without shame — we all benefit.  This is not about making space at the edges. This is about rebuilding the centre. This award means a great deal to me. But what matters more is what we do tomorrow.  Awards are given in moments. Justice is built over lifetimes.  Systems must shift. Assumptions must fall. And the work must be carried by more than a few and I believe, truly, that we are capable of that kind of change — not because it is easy, but because it is right.” 

 

Fellow Award

AVA members contribute in many capacities to the Association, including service to our Board, Group committees and working groups, and representing the AVA in external working groups and the local community. A Fellow is deserved recognition for the dedication and service given by these members to their peers and not awarded often. This year, the Fellow was awarded to Dr Julia Crawford and Dr Stephen Page.

Julia joined the AVA Board in 2014 as the Australian Small Animal Veterinarians nominee. She has served as President of the NSW Division, chaired the National Industry Advisory Group for Veterinary Nurses and Policy Council, and participated in the Nomination, Remuneration, Risk, and Audit committees. Julia is also Deputy Chair of the Animal Care and Management Industry Reference Committee and was elected AVA President in 2019.

Julia said “It was wonderful to receive this remarkable honour in my hometown of Sydney along with my friend and classmate from the University of Sydney, Stephen Page. It’s a bit bittersweet as the Sydney conference was originally planned for 2020, when I was AVA President to celebrate the AVA Centenary of the AVA and we ended up in lockdown. I am proud of the accomplishments of the time including the achievement of ensuring vets were essential services during the pandemic. When I first joined the NSW Division more than 18 years ago, I never dreamt it would lead to such incredible journey as a city small animal GP into understanding and connecting with our veterinary community where I’ve made so many wonderful friends across the country and the world. I am presently in my third AVA presidency (NSW, National and now ASAV) and am as passionate about this profession as ever. 

Dr Stephen Page, an AVA member since 1984, has led major initiatives in veterinary pharmacology, antibiotic guidelines, and pharmacovigilance. He has served on multiple AVA committees, represented AVA internationally, and regularly lectures on antimicrobial stewardship, contributing significantly to veterinary medicine and professional advocacy both in Australia and abroad.

Stephen said “As I am certain is the case with many of my colleagues, what we do is not about recognition, it is all about enhancing the veterinary profession, whether it is identifying and working on unmet needs, providing insights as part of a team, helping solve clinical problems shared by clinicians, just making a positive difference.  I often do a mental calculation of the cumulative number of years of veterinary experience in a meeting and then decide that there is probably no problem or issue that could not be solved – often it is all about asking the right question.  It is part of the experience of a vet, much of which is working out what is wrong and then defining the solution.  There is great satisfaction when clinical cases respond to treatment, but my clinical years are distant memories, and my major focus now is on antimicrobial stewardship and drug discovery. Observing changes in prescribing behaviour emerge or watching a new discovery overcome another development hurdle brings great motivation to maintain or accelerate the momentum of continuing improvement.”

 

Meritorious Service Award

The Meritorious Service Award, a testament to special or long-term service to the AVA, its Divisions, Branches, and Special Interest Groups, was bestowed upon 3 exceptional members this year, Dr Alexander Rosenwax , Dr Michael Kidd and Dr Bronwyn Orr.

Dr Alex Rosenwax, an AVA member since 1994, has led avian and exotic practice in Australia, serving as AAVMA President and UPAV committee member. He was pivotal in importing the rabbit Filavac RHDV2 vaccine, contributed to policy, mentored widely, and is internationally recognised for advancing avian and exotic veterinary medicine.

Alex said "I feel honoured to be recognised by my colleagues who I have so much respect for. I found it very rewarding to help and give to my profession, especially the AVA. It was always enjoyable and gave me a feeling of worth to help others in the profession and help others help animals".

Dr Michael Kidd  pioneered holistic treatments like animal acupuncture in veterinary care. His clinical work has helped countless animals, and his teaching has strengthened the profession. Michael has served as NSW AVA President and Vice President of the NSW Canine Research Foundation. His lifelong contributions to surgery, education, and welfare have left a lasting legacy.

Michael said “It felt special to get the award as it made me stop and reflect on how my role in life has helped a huge number of animals and people. This is equally true for all of the dedicated vets and vet nurses who strive every day to do their best. I feel my time as President and committee member of the NSW AVA has given me an understanding of the challenges our profession faces but also the skills and dedication to meet these challenges. This applies to all sections of our profession- Government, Academic, Industry, Research, Specialist and General Practitioners. We all enrich our society immensely.”

Dr Bronwyn Orr, AVA’s youngest-ever President (2022–2023), is a veterinary leader with a PhD and a Churchill Fellowship. She pioneered Australia’s first urgent care vet clinic, led national workforce and welfare initiatives, and is a prominent advocate for animal welfare and public education, shaping the future of veterinary services.

Bronwyn said “It's a great honour to have received an AVA award. While recognition is never the goal of service, it's humbling that others took the time to nominate me for one of the awards. It's been the highlight of my career to have served the AVA in a variety of ways including as President. As the peak body for veterinarians in Australia, no one is doing more for advancing the profession in our country than the AVA and it's wonderful to have contributed to that effort.”

 

Emerging Leader

Presented by BOQ Specialist, the Emerging Leader Award recognises a high achieving individual within 8 years of completion of University.    In its inaugural year, the award was presented to Dr Jack Egan.

 

^{Photo: Dr Jack Egan and Josh Morfoot, Relationship Executive, BOQ Specialist}

Dr Jack Egan, a 2017 Charles Sturt University graduate, is a dynamic leader in Equine Veterinarians Australia (EVA). He has revitalised young member engagement, led educational initiatives, and represented EVA internationally. Now a director at Baldivis Veterinary Hospital, he mentors peers and advances equine veterinary practice, earning multiple accolades.

Jack said “I feel overwhelmingly grateful to my leaders, this award reflects the influence of those who lead not just with expert skills and knowledge, but also with positive energy, empathy, and integrity — the kind of leadership that quietly inspires and leaves a lasting impact. I love being a veterinarian, it is the most diverse, challenging and fulfilling career. I hope to demonstrate that to those around me and help to rebuild the veterinary culture to one of optimism, pride and where excellent health outcomes aren't just reserved for our patients but where our veterinary teams thrive physically, mentally and socially. I aim to have continued involvement with the AVA and EVA to support the advancement of the veterinary industry and continue to build upon our profession's legacy.”

 

Don Kerr

Judged on their academic achievement and commitment to cattle medicine, Australian veterinary schools are invited to nominate one final year student for this celebrated award. A talented and conscientious thinker, who achieved the highest cumulative marks in beef cattle medicine at James Cook University, this year’s Don Kerr Student Award went to Dr Arran Hersburgh.

Arran is a James Cook University veterinary student and 2023–24 AgriFutures Horizon Scholar, is dedicated to Australia’s cattle industry. Despite a city upbringing, he excelled in beef cattle medicine, gained diverse rural experience, and is recognised for academic excellence, leadership, and commitment to advancing cattle veterinary science and sustainable agriculture.

Arran said "It’s an honour to the receive the Don Kerr Award, and I’m incredibly grateful to the many mentors who’ve guided me along the way. As a student you spend years building your skills, so it’s very rewarding to bring them into real world practice - to be acknowledged for that commitment to cattle medicine makes it even more meaningful. I’m looking forward to contributing to bringing innovation to our rural farming communities that are the backbone of our country."