Speakers

Marnie Anning

Marnie is a Director in Deloitte’s Human Capital team playing a lead role in Deloitte’s national K-12 practice. Marnie manages the Courageous Principals and Education Series pro-bono programs, works with Education Departments across Australia and mentors school Principals outside of work hours. Marnie has been a consultant for more than 15 years with a focus on Project Management, Strategy and Change Management. Marnie thrives in collaborative, co-design environments. She has a passion for driving excellence leveraging her HR functional background, and strong leadership prowess in delivering impact-based outcomes. When she is not working, she is mothering her three children, surfing, or crafting up a storm.

Jocelyn Birch Baker

Jocelyn has experience in many areas of the vet profession, from the cattle industry to mixed and small animal clinics. She has held positions on national and state boards and committees and has taken time out from her career to raise children.

As the owner of High Street Veterinary Surgery, Jocelyn has hands-on, day-to-day experience in today’s veterinary marketplace. She understands the complexities of running a profitable practise while having an excellent lifestyle for herself and every team member.

 As the founder of Smooth Operating Vets, Jocelyn is putting together the picture of our future veterinarians, where 80% are women and have their unique career structures.

Paul Blanc

Paul Blanc is the Commercial Manager at AVet Health, an Australian owned and operated veterinary pharmaceutical company dedicated to helping veterinarians achieve even greater success in practice with vet-exclusive pharmaceutical solutions. Paul has a Bachelor of Science with honours in Organic Chemistry from the University of Melbourne and an MBA from the University of Manchester. Working with the veterinary profession for over 15 years, Paul’s previous roles have been National Sales Director at Provet in Australia and National Equine Manager at Zoetis in the UK.

Jack Byrnes 

Jack Byrnes is the General Manager of the AVA HR Advisory Service, leading a team of professional HR Advisors. Having been with the Service for over 6 years, Jack has an in-depth knowledge and understanding of veterinary specific workplace issues and was heavily involved in the creation of Employer of Choice. Jack also contributes to the development of veterinary HR learning materials such as Microlearning Sessions and newsletters for the AVA Digest and VBG Magazine. If you’ve phoned the AVA HR Advisory Service – you’ve likely spoken to Jack!

Kate Clarke

Kate loves to see people empowered to thrive. This 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 as a founding Director, Kate currently serves in regulatory, consulting and advocacy roles including on the Victorian Vet Board, AVBC’s Sustainable Practice Committee, as director of boutique consultancy Engaged Solutions P/L, and as an AVA graduate mentor. Based near Ballarat in Victoria with her veterinarian husband and two teenage kids, Kate is leading the development of the AVA's Great Veterinary Workplace Policy and Guidelines, as Veterinary Business Group Committee member and Policy Advisory Councilor.

Sue Crampton

Sue invests time working as a vet nurse in a quality practise in Brisbane. She has a practical hands-on approach and brings with her a wealth of both corporate and small business skills, having been the founder of the much respected AIRC and CCG. Sue commenced her career in the UK as a veterinary nurse in 1982 and has gained invaluable global veterinary knowledge having worked in a variety of roles including animal welfare, general practice, emergency and university settings in the USA and Hong Kong. Sue frequently visits countries such as NA, UAE and Malaysia to lecture, coach and consult.  

Georgia Gurney

Georgia graduated from the UQ school of veterinary science in November 2016 and began practicing at Samford Valley Hospital in January 2017. She has spent the last 4 years as a large animal practitioner with a particular interest in Equine dentistry and ophthalmology.

As well as clinical interests, Georgia is also passionate about the veterinary industry as a whole, practice management, human resources and practice profitability.

She is committed to having life outside of the industry as well as a satisfying career and believes there are so many ways this can be possible for future veterinarians.  

Rod Irwin

Rod Irwin graduated from the University of Melbourne in 1977. Following graduation, he worked in the UK for four years. He returned to Australia in 1982 and settled into mixed practice at Warragul Veterinary Clinic and became sole owner in 2000. In December 2020 he left practice to focus on his new career as a writer, speaker and coach.

A chance gift led to a life-changing breakthrough: he learned how to use neuroscience and positive psychology to “wire his brain for success.” When he applied this science to his business, it totally changed everything: happy clients, a highly motivated team, a 721% jump in profits. He created the business life of his dreams, and it totally transformed his life-to one of calmness, confidence, and a love of living.   

Luke James

Luke is a commercial finance specialist with over 9 years of healthcare banking experience and is dedicated to providing tailored financial solutions to veterinary practitioners. Luke enjoys partnering with his clients to establish, strengthen and grown their practices and has extensive experience in a variety of practice finance arrangements. Luke is passionate about helping veterinary practitioners achieve their professional ambitions at every stage of their career, from opening their first private practice right through to succession planning and retirement.

Mark Matthews

In 1998 Massey NZ graduate, Mark spent the first years of his career in mix diary practice before the bright lights of London and travelling the world called where he fell into 100% small animal work. Returning down-under in 2005, Mark settled in Melbourne before buying a majority stake in a small 1 vet inner city practice in 2009, purchasing the practice outright a few years later.

From humble beginnings the practice has grown into the Kew Vet and Cattery Group and now comprises three inner city Melbourne locations, a large separate cat boarding facility and employs 13 vets with a total of 40.

Mark is passionate about the customer experience, staff wellness and developing career pathways for both vets and support staff to improve engagement, job satisfaction and retention. The Kew Vet and Cattery Group were awarded the AVA VBG Veterinary business of the year 2020.       

David Tabrett

David graduated from the University of Queensland in 1989 and soon after moved south to the Hunter Valley to work 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 a member of the Council of the College.

A longstanding member of the local branch of the Australian Veterinary Association, David is a current member of the AVA NSW Executive Committee.

David has completed Certification courses in Performance Measurement and Management of Cashflow, Profit and Value. David is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is currently enrolled in a Master of Business Psychology with the University of Newcastle.