Chair
Dr Hayley Hunt (BVSc, MVSc, PhD, Diplomate, ACVP, FHEA)
Hayley graduated from Massey University in 2010 and worked in companion animal practice in Whangarei for 2 years. Despite vowing never to return to study or Palmerston North, she ended up doing both these things to undertake a pathology residency, boards, and subsequently a PhD, and she is now a Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Pathology at Massey. Hayley’s research interests include eye diseases, muscle diseases, and working dog health. In the past, her research has benefitted from a HPNZ grant so she is looking forward to being involved as a trustee. Hayley lives on a lifestyle block with her 2 children, husband, and an assortment of spoilt animals (cats, chickens, and sheep), and outside of work she enjoys baking, reading and exploring new places.
Dr Cath Watson (BVSc Dist)
Cath has been a companion animal clinical veterinarian since 2000. She has worked in a range of practices, both in New Zealand and in the United Kingdom. Currently based in Central Otago and travelling the country as a locum contractor. She has spent 12 years as a part-owner of a mixed animal practice in Invercargill, and has also served on the Board of the New Zealand Veterinary Association, was President of its Companion Animal Branch for three years, and a Southland regional representative for 10 years. Cath has also worked for the Veterinary Council of NZ as a Continuing Professional Development auditor, and has been a trustee of Companion Animals NZ Trust. Cath has a passion for anything in the outdoors, and loves exploring New Zealand's back-country haunts by foot, bike or skis. She shares her central Otago home with her husband, who is also an experienced companion animal veterinarian.
Dr Robyn Jarrett (BSc, BVSc, MVM, MANZCVS)
Robyn graduated in 1986 from Massey University, initially working in large animal practice in South Auckland. She has also worked in the United Kingdom in companion animal medicine before returning to New Zealand working part time in Tauranga while raising a family. Since 2009 she has been based in Auckland working full time as a companion animal veterinarian.
Robyn completed a Masters in Companion Animal Medicine in 2011 and became a member of the Australia and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in Small Animal Medicine in 2012.
Dr Sally Aitken (BVSc, MANZCVS)
Sally Aitken is the Lead Companion Animal Veterinarian at VetEnt Turangi. “Community veterinary work is my passion; caring for animals through their life-stages. I grew up in Greymouth, worked 26 years in Taupo in mixed and CA practice and am now based in Turangi providing companion animal community veterinary care with VetEnt. Continuing education, ANZCVS, Massey MVM, avian medicine, dermatology and internal medicine are my other veterinary interests, along with mountain-biking, tramping and raising two fantastic teenagers and a Border Collie with my husband here in Taupo."
Wendy Jarnet (BVN, VTS(SAIM), Dip.FN(ISFM), Cert. RAT, GradCertBus)
Wendy has been working in the veterinary industry for over 16 years as a Registered Vet Nurse, and more recently as a Registered Veterinary Nurse Specialist. Over her 16-year career, Wendy has worked in numerous roles from small animal veterinary nursing, large animal tech work, veterinary management positions and as a specialist internal medicine veterinary nurse. Wendy's current role is working for Otago Polytech as a lecturer and programme coordinator in the School of Animal Health. Wendy is passionate about giving back to the industry and in 2021 joined the executive committee for the New Zealand Veterinary Nurse Association. In 2023, Wendy successfully passed the examination to become a Veterinary Technician Specialist in Small Animal Internal Medicine, only the second vet nurse in New Zealand to do so. In her spare time, Wendy enjoys training and teaching martial arts, spending time with her family and friends, and exploring New Zealand.
Dr Monica Commons (BVSc)
Monica graduated from Massey University in 2014 and worked in companion animal practice throughout NZ and the UK for 8 years. Monica is now a Technical Services Veterinarian working at Elanco NZ, a role in which she is lucky enough to spend her weeks in contact with vets from all over New Zealand and abroad. She also continues to enjoy locum work in companion animal practices across Auckland on her weekends. Monica is also a new member of the NZVA's Companion Animal Veterinarians Branch executive committee and she is excited to continue to support the close relationship between Healthy Pets NZ and CAV. Monica lives with her partner and her two neurologically challenged pets; a senior pooch who is thriving after suffering a Traumatic Disc Extrusion and a very vocal Oriental cat with postural deficits from a previous head trauma. Outside of work, Monica enjoys spending time with friends and family and escaping Auckland to the beach or bush whenever possible!