OUR TEAM
Dr Rob Heath BVSc(Hons) MRCVS GPCert SAM.
Rob was born and raised in Africa, where he graduated top of his year and had the opportunity to operate on animals as diverse as lion, elephant and leopard cubs. He worked in the UK for 12 years where he gained wide-ranging experience in a variety of small animal practices. He has a special interest in feline and canine internal medicine, in which he has gained further postgraduate qualifications, as well as ophthalmology.
Having a young family of his own, Rob deeply understands the important role our pets play in enriching our daily lives and continually strives to create an approachable, empathetic and friendly environment where our clients and their pets can relax and truly feel at home.
Rob and his family arrived in Australia in January 2007 and are now proud to be Australian citizens. They have a much loved Cavoodle called “Roxy” and two cats, “Mocha” and “Chino.”
Dr Jenny Eades BVSc(Hons).
Jenny was raised in McDowall and attended McDowall Primary School and Clayfield Girls College. She graduated from the University of Queensland in 1999 with honours. She worked in Mackay before returning to McDowall to set up and run the practice in 2002. She has provided exceptional care to our clients throughout the intervening years and is well loved and respected by all.
Jenny has a special interest in preventative healthcare and is a skilled surgeon, as well as being one of the nicest people you will ever meet! At home she is owned by her gentle greyhound “Nina” and “Aeneus” her elderly diabetic kitty.
Dr Joshua Dearness BVSC(Hons).
Originally from a hobby farm in Mackay. Josh grew up locally in Everton Park and graduated from The University of Queensland St Lucia 2009 with honours. Josh was awarded the most valuable surgery student and was top of his graduating class for small animal medicine. After spending 5 years in a busy referral hospital in Adelaide Josh is very happy to be permanently back home in Brisbane. Josh is very capable in surgery and medicine and has undertaken further studies in these disciplines. He enjoys spending his free time on the water fishing, camping and relaxing with friends and family. Currently Josh is owned by a spoilt cat named Tookey. Josh is an exceptionally kind hearted and empathetic vet, and we are thrilled to have him join our team.
Dr Victoria Beveridge BVSc(Hons) MRCVS.
Victoria was born and brought up in the hustle and bustle of expatriate Hong Kong before moving to Australia with her family. She studied Veterinary Science at the University of Queensland, graduating in 2008 with honours. After working in various clinics in Brisbane for four years gaining experience, she spread her wings and went travelling, working for several years in London where she developed a passion for pocket pets, small animal internal medicine and travel! The lure of the Queensland sun eventually enticed her and her husband back to Brisbane, where they are now happily settled.
Victoria is a warm, kind, compassionate person who will always go the extra mile to help solve her patient’s medical problems and put them at ease. Her vast experience and knowledge and gentle nature are a really great addition to our team.
Outside of work she can be found actively exploring Brisbane, determined to eat or drink in every bar, restaurant or café – especially those off the beaten track!
Dr Nicole Baker BVSc Cert SAS MRCVS.
Dr Nicole is a vastly experienced Veterinarian who graduated from the University of Queensland in 1999. She has worked in a number of practices both in Australia and overseas and has recently returned home after working for 14 years in the UK, where she was the lead surgeon in a large Veterinary Practice in Yorkshire. She is incredibly caring, empathetic and thorough and her passion for the best care for her patients is self-evident on meeting her. Nicole has achieved significant post graduate training and qualifications in surgery, and is adept in many complicated surgical procedures that would normally be carried out in specialist referral hospitals, allowing us to further compliment the excellent capabilities of our surgical team.
Outside of work Nicole is a keen cyclist and likes to keep fit hiking and exploring the beautiful spaces SE Queensland has to offer.
Dr Gemma Antoni BVSc MRCVS.
Dr Gemma was raised in Leicestershire, UK where she grew up with a number of family pets. After graduating from the prestigious Bristol University Veterinary School she worked both in general practice and industry throughout the UK for several years, gaining extensive experience. Gemma particularly likes solving complicated dog and cat internal medicine cases and has advanced skills in ultrasonography and radiography. Her gentle nature, empathy and kindness is evident as soon as you meet her and her thorough approach to cases means that her patients always receive exceptional care.
Gemma particularly likes cats and has been adopted by her one eyed cat master “Blinky”! Away from work she enjoys hiking and camping and is looking forward to exploring what Brisbane and SEQ has to offer.
Dr Maria Pastore BVSc(Hons)
Maria grew up locally and knew from an early age that she wanted to be a veterinarian. She started at McDowall Veterinary Practice many years ago as a work experience student, going on to study Veterinary science at UQ, graduating in 2021. During her studies, she joined the team in a nursing capacity and quickly displayed her high levels of skill, compassion and empathy, endearing herself to our team and clients alike.
Her energy and bright personality make her very popular amongst our patients and clients. Maria has a strong interest in surgery and loves being able to help improve the lives of all of her patients.
At home, Maria is owned by her dog, Luna. When she’s not at work you can find her at Messina enjoying a gelato, at the beach, spending time with her big Italian family, or going out for brunch.
Dr Rilie Baker. BVSC
Rilie grew up in Rockhamptom, fostering her love of animals surrounded by a zoo’s worth of pets between her home and her family’s hobby farm. After leaving school, she decided to follow her life-long dream of being a vet and helping those that can’t speak for themselves. Rilie moved to Townsville to complete a Bachelor of Veterinary Science through James Cook University. Since her graduation, she has developed a love for medicine and all things exotic pets.
Rilie’s enthusiasm, empathy and excellent communication skills shine through, meaning that your pets are always in the best of hands when dealing with her. Nothing is too much trouble for her, so if you need anything … just ask!
Rilie has now amassed a small zoo of her own, living with Kuzco the crazy border collie, her cats Grimm, Bastion and Leo, her parrots Bleu, Soup and Custard, as well as marine and freshwater fish tanks. When she isn’t running after her pets, she can be found writing novels, making digital art of framing butterflies.
Emma White. Head Receptionist. RVN.
Emma qualified as a veterinary nurse in 1993 with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in the UK. She and her family immigrated to Australia in 1998 and she has been working at McDowall Veterinary Practice since its inception in 2002.
Emma is a highly skilled veterinary nurse with a warm, outgoing personality which has ensured that she has become close friends with many of our clients over the past eighteen years. She can recognise most of our patients by sight as they walk the neighbourhood streets and what she doesn’t know about McDowall and its pet population isn’t worth knowing! Her warm, friendly personality and love for our clients and team alike are legendary! Emma has three lovely fur babies of her own, Billy, Maggie and Jeffrey.
Leigh-Anne Stephan. Senior Receptionist. Certificate IV VN.
Leigh-Anne has had a long association with McDowall Vets. We first met her as a client in 2004 and have cared for several generations of her pets. After many years in retail, Leigh –Anne decided to follow her passion and retrained as a veterinary nurse (no mean feat at the age of 50!) achieving her Certificate in 2012. Her love, empathy and bond with pets and their owners is evident immediately on meeting her and we are thrilled to have her join our team. She is happiest when helping others, so if you need anything – just ask!
She is the proud mum of three little munchkins, Birdee, Olive and Winniefred!
Sheelagh Lowry. Receptionist. Certificate IV in Frontline Management.
Sheelagh grew up in Victoria and moved to Queensland in 1996 for the awesome weather and has never left! She has over 16 years’ experience in the veterinary Industry having helped develop and run a practice on the south side of Brisbane since 2003. She is incredibly caring, thoughtful and efficient and is happiest when helping others.
Sheelagh has raised four children and now gets to enjoy spending time with her grandchildren! She has had numerous pets including cats, dogs, fish, a snake and mice. When not at work or with family, she enjoys camping, cooking and gardening.
Megan Sharpe. Receptionist.
Megan grew up on a small farm in country Chinchilla where her love of animals developed. With a warm and friendly personality, she trained as a teacher, taught primary and preschool kids for a decade before starting and running her own successful tourism and hospitality business. Her love of engaging with people and her passion for animals resulted in her joining us to fulfil her “dream role”.
Her kind, helpful personality and genuine desire to help our clients and their “fur babies” is evident upon meeting her. She is always ready for a chat, so if you need anything – just ask!
Away from work she enjoys spending time in the garden; reading thriller and crime novels; operating her own Airbnb; and having new adventures with her family and friends. She is also a mother of two young adults and a loving Burmese cat, “Jimmy”.
Lily Cassano. Receptionist. Certificate III (Animal Studies). Bachelor of Biomedical Science.
Lily grew up in Newcastle, NSW before moving to Brisbane with her partner and their Toy Cavoodle, Eva. Straight out of school she studied a Bachelor of Biomedical Science at the University of Newcastle. She has always had a keen interest in Science but realised that due to her love of animals and passion to care for them, that a career in Veterinary Science was where she would be happiest. After volunteering in a vet clinic and the AWLQ she completed her Cert III in Animal studies and came to join us as a receptionist at McDowall Veterinary Practice.
Lily’s happy and caring nature, efficiency and attention to detail make her a joy to deal with. She is always looking for the best outcomes for our patients and their parents, so you know your pet is in the best of hands when dealing with her.
On the weekends she likes spending time outdoors with her partner and Eva exploring new places.
Louise Page. Head Nurse. Certificate IV VN.
Louise grew up in South Australia where her parents’ fondness for animals meant she grew up with a variety of pets over the years. These included mice, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, cats, dogs, goats, a pony and a donkey, the last being why she left suburbia for the country! She always loved animals and from an early age knew she would be working in the industry. Louise started her Certificate 2 in animal care while completing high school, and then went on to complete her Certificate 4 in Veterinary Nursing. During this time she found her first true love and best friend, a Border collie x Kelpie x Heeler called Cypress. She worked happily for 3 years in an animal hospital in Adelaide, before being tempted up to sunny Queensland with Cypress and Goblin King (her cat). Louise is big hearted, gentle and kind and prides herself in always making sure that the patients under her care receive nothing but the best. It is wonderful to have her as part of the team here at McDowall Veterinary Practice.
Emmy-Lou Albany. Certificate II in Animal Studies.
Emmy has been involved with and loved animals for as long as she can remember! She grew up in a small town on the scenic rim called Kalbar on a cattle and Lucerne farm where her love of nature and animals was fostered. It is no surprise that she followed this passion into veterinary nursing and we were very excited to have her join our team in 2019. Emmy’s warm and caring personality is evident as soon as you meet her as well as her desire to see each patient thrive under her care. She is particularly passionate about cats, cat grooming, wildlife and bird care and advanced surgical nursing. At home she is kept busy loving her seven fur babies (five rescue cats and two Rainbow Lorikeets) as well as baking, roller skating arts and crafts and gardening.
Ashlee Dunlop BAppSci – Wildlife. Certificate IV VN.
Ash grew up in Canberra and moved to Brisbane when she was 12. She has always been animal crazy and graduated from UQ in 2013 with a bachelor of applied science majoring in wildlife science. Ash is our resident wildlife expert and is often nursing injured birds and wildlife back to health and release. Deciding that nursing was her true passion, Ash sat and passed her certificate IV in vet nursing in 2014. She is an integral member of our team, having gained a wealth of experience in surgical nursing and emergency care. She is often responsible for nursing during our more complicated surgical procedures, but is equally adept at helping out at reception. Ash always has the best interests of our patients at heart and her caring, generous personality means that they always get the very best of care. At home, Ash is kept busy with Luna, her RSPCA rescue kitty, and her Golden Retriever George.
Jemma Bond Certificate IV VN Diploma in Surgical Nursing.
Jemma always knew she wanted to help animals in some way, and after trying a few other careers found the pull to be a vet nurse was too strong, so she entered the profession and hasn’t looked back!
She started her career in Melbourne, completing a Cert IV in Veterinary Nursing and after discovering a keen interest in surgery, completed a Diploma of Surgical Nursing.
After 7 years in Melbourne, she moved with her two dogs (Cassie and Chloe) up to Townsville to be with her husband Andrew. They lived there for 4 years and added another dog (Buddy) to their family, before moving to Wagga Wagga NSW.
In 2020, they moved permanently to Brisbane and we were very pleased when Jemma joined us here at McDowall Vets. Her friendly nature and advanced skill set are a huge asset to the team and help us to provide incredibly high standards of care to our patients.
In her spare time Jemma loves spending the day at the beach with her young family.
Meg Kelman. Bachelor of Veterinary Technology. Cert IV VN.
Meg’s passion for animals started young with her family surrounded by dogs, chooks, guinea pigs, fish and birds.
This love led her to study at UQ Gatton where she completed both a Bachelor of Veterinary Technology & a Cert IV in Veterinary Nursing.
With a cavoodle of her own, Meg particularly has a soft spot for small dogs but wholeheartedly nurses any animal that needs care. Her gentle, humble nature combined with her amazing attention to detail and immense nursing skills and knowledge makes her an invaluable team member.
As a Brushtail Possum carer, Meg spends much of her spare time caring for little orphans or injured possums until ready for release. This also involves collecting native foliage daily and scouting local habitats for best release sites. Outside of the clinic Meg plays soccer for the Brighton Bulldogs, practices karate and loves to relax reading with her senior cockatiel, Charlie, napping on her shoulder. When she can, Meg enjoys hiking and camping with her dog, Maisie.
Maddie Davies. Cert IV VN.
Maddie was raised in the Hunter Valley surrounded by all the benefits of rural life! After achieving her Cert IV in Veterinary Nursing she moved to Sydney and worked in a busy Veterinary hospital for 5 years before relocating to Brisbane and joining McDowall Veterinary Practice. Her friendly nature, approachability and strong nursing skills have meant that she has settled into the team exceptionally well.
Being the high achiever that she is, Maddie is also concurrently studying a bachelor’s degree in psychology (she loves people as well as animals!).
When not at work she enjoys spending time with her partner, exploring, going to the beach, and eating at cafes/restaurants. She is also the parent of a cat called Keira and Bailey (a Kelpie cross).
Zoe Warner. Cert IV VN.
Zoe always knew she wanted to be in a job role where she could help. Her love for animals stirred her towards veterinary nursing. She grew up in Western Australia, Dunsborough. A beautiful coastal town full of wildlife and nature. This is where she started her career in nursing, working as a kennel hand in the local town. Learning how to care for all animals big and small, that came through the doors. Caring for joeys, rabbits, possums, Guinea pigs, reptiles and much more. She then move to the Gold Coast to study her Certificate III in Wildlife, closely followed by a Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing in 2022-2023.
Zoe’s calm and gentle nature makes all her patients relax immediately and it is wonderful to have such a skilled and empathetic professional as part of our team. In her spare time she enjoys yoga, hiking and camping with her partner and dog Montie.
Ashleigh Gill Cert IV VN.
Ashleigh grew up in small town called Masterton, in New Zealand and has always enjoyed the outdoors, being heavily involved with hiking, exploring and trail running. After starting off her working life in the fitness industry, she realised that her empathy, desire for purpose and variety in her daily role and love of animals meant that a career in vet nursing was ideal for her.
She was lucky enough to start work in a busy mixed practice in New Zealand where she trained and completed her nursing qualification. Luckily for us she then decided to relocate to Brisbane and is loving the opportunities here including the weather, beaches, sport and the ability to grow within her career.
Ashleigh’s smile, bright nature and energy make her a fantastic addition to the team and her amazing skills mean that patients in her care are always thriving and happy.
In her spare time, she enjoys painting portraits, trail running, and competitive soccer.
Pictured is her family pet hedgehog “Thorne”, who she rescued when he was very young having found him abandoned in bad shape out on one of her hikes. He is still thriving back in NZ!