Meet Our Team's Friendly Faces
Dr Andrew Hemming - Senior Veterinarian
Dr Andrew Hemming graduated from the University of Queensland in 2005 with honours and immediately embarked on an internship training position with the Queensland Veterinary Specialists and Pet Emergency Room which has put him in good stead for life as a vet.
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Dr Joanna Oreb - Veterinarian
Dr Joanna Oreb graduated from the University of Queensland with honours and is a weath of veterinary knowledge. She has a special talent communicating her passion of veterinary science to clients and their pets and instantly puts you at ease in the consultation room. The animals instantly pick up her love of what she does and you will too.
When she's not at work or playing with her pets, she's off adventuring around the mountains or preparing for hikes in the Himalayas.
Dr Samantha Riemer - Veterinarian
Dr Samantha Riemer graduated from the University of Queensland with honours and is a shining beacon of energy in the consultation room. Sam moved all the way from Canada to study Veterinary Science and fell in love with the beautiful Queensland beaches and endless sunny days. She hasn’t looked back since! She has a profound love for the great outdoors, and enjoys scrambling up mountains and hiking through the surrounding national parks.
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Dr Valerie Martinot - Veterinarian
Dr Valerie graduated from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. She moved to Australia after graduating, finding work in mixed practice in rural Mildura. After transitioning to focus on small animals, she pursued her special interest, and passion, in small animal surgery. Valerie is originally from the Netherlands, but after travelling around Australia working as a locum vet, she has settled in the beautiful sunshine of Brisbane.
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Dr Cordelia Edwards - Locum Veterinarian
Dr Cordelia graduated from the University of Liverpool, England in 2016 and immediately started work at a large 24 hour mixed animal hospital which is now the host of the popular television show “The Yorkshire Vet”.
After 3 years of cow caesareans, wrestling alpacas and on call surgeries during the cold winter nights she decided to embark on a solo adventure of a lifetime to Australia. Here she travelled and worked all over the country from Dubbo to Rockhampton and in between work stints fell in love with Brisbane.
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Dr Robyn Willis - Locum Veterinarian
Watch this space....
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Tanya Kunzel - Practice Manager
Born and raised in South Africa, Tanya joined the veterinary field to complete her certificate IV in veterinary nursing. Initially working as a therapeutic horse-riding instructor for disabled children, she transitioned to her real calling - veterinary nursing.
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Olivia Kretschmer - Veterinary Nursing Operations Manager
Olivia, our Veterinary Nursing Operations Manager, is an exceptional team leader, guiding our veterinary nursing staff with expertise and care. Liv's journey in the veterinary industry began in 2015 when she started as a volunteer veterinary nurse. Her dedication and commitment quickly earned her a permanent paid role within twelve weeks.
Liv's passion for animal care led her to pursue her certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing immediately after high school.
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Erin - Veterinary Nurse
Erin is an esteemed member of our veterinary nursing team. Having successfully completed her studies at TAFE Queensland, she attained her Certificate III in Animal Studies in 2020, followed by her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing in 2021. During her academic journey, Erin underwent practical training at Ripley Vet, where she demonstrated exceptional dedication and skill. Since then, Erin has remained an integral part of our team, showing a particular interest for anaesthetics and dentistry. In addition to her nursing duties, Erin is part of Ripley Vet's Marketing Team, where she runs our social media presence on platforms including Instagram and TikTok. When she isn’t hard at work, Erin enjoys 4WDing, beach camping, and spending time with her beloved feline companions: Bel, Bean, and Bert.
Yasmin - Veterinary Liaison / Nurse
Yasmin is one of our qualified Vet Nurses! She graduated from the University of Queensland with a bachelor’s degree in Equine Science in 2020, prompting her to further pursue a career within the Veterinary Nursing industry. She has a special interest in all things dental! When she’s not hard at work, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, her gorgeous cat “Maya” and her beloved horse “Narpoo”. Growing up on a farm, she has always enjoyed being in the outdoors whenever possible, whether that be going on hikes through the rainforest or camping at the beach.
Rylee - Veterinary Liaison / Nurse
Meet Rylee, a vet nurse with a love for 4x4 driving, her furry companions, and the adrenaline rush of emergencies. At work, Rylee’s passion for orthopedic surgery is matched only by her excitement for handling emergencies, where she thrives under pressure. With her calm demeanor and quick thinking, she’s a reliable support for both her team and her animal patients, ensuring they receive the care they need, even in the most critical moments. To keep her company at home, she’s surrounded by a cheeky little Jack Russell called Archie, and two cats she adopted as strays from work!
Chloe - Veterinary Liaison / Nurse
Chloe is one of our casual nurses who is currently in her third and final year of her degree, Bachelor of Veterinary Technology. She has a particular interest in anaesthetics and feline behaviour. If you don’t find Chloe at University or within the clinic, you will see her reading, going on walks, or watching the latest documentaries on Netflix. At home, Chloe has her two cats Jellybean and Lollipop that love to keep her on her toes.
Megan - Junior Veterinary Nurse
In 2019, Megan participated in a volunteer program in Seychelles, documenting lemon shark migration and Aldabra giant tortoises. This experience ignited a lasting passion for working with animals. In 2022, Megan moved from New Zealand to Australia to pursue her dream of becoming a veterinary nurse. Currently, she is studying for a Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing through the Australian College of Veterinary Nurses.
Born in Zimbabwe, Megan has always been deeply connected to nature and animals. This connection naturally drew her to Australia, renowned for its unique and diverse wildlife.
Outside of work, Megan enjoys traveling, going on camping trips, and exploring new places. An avid rugby fan, she also appreciates quiet afternoons spent with a good book.
Jordan - Veterinary Liaison / Nurse
Born and raised in the French Alps, Jordan moved to Australia in 2021 to study a Bachelor of Veterinary Science at UQ.
Currently in his 4th year of study he is one of our casual nurses/veterinary liaison. When not working at the clinic you can find him at the gym, on the beach or eating sushi.
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Hayley - Veterinary Liaison / Nurse
Hayley grew up on property in the Byron Bay hinterland, always owning a menagerie of rescue animals. She is now enrolled in her 3rd year of Bachelor of Veterinary Science at UQ, and has a keen interest in animal nutrition and all things emergency.
Hayley has just her 2 dogs now that she’s out of Byron, Moby, the dopey chocolate labrador and Ellis, the sensitive little staffy mix, but she always has a foster animal coming in the door to keep her busy!
When not studying or at the clinic, Hayley is running with her dogs then cozying up with a new book.
Lilli - Veterinary Liaison / Nurse
Meet Lilli, a dedicated full-time veterinary student. When she's not hitting the books or attending classes, you'll find her at the gym, buried in a good book, or off on camping adventures. Hailing from the Sunshine Coast, Lilli treasures visits home to spend time with her family and her beloved staffy, Tilly. With a deep passion for animals, Lilli holds a special place in her heart for staffys, drawn to their unique charm and unwavering loyalty.
Ester - Veterinary Liaison / Receptionist
Esther grew up in the bustling city of Hong Kong and made the leap to the quiet, open landscapes of Australia to pursue her passion for veterinary science. Currently in her second year of a Bachelor of Veterinary Science at UQ, she also works as a casual veterinary liaison and receptionist.
With a keen interest in both small animals and marine creatures, Esther is always ready for an adventure. When she's not at the clinic or hitting the books, you might find her scuba diving and marvelling at the underwater wonders or unwinding with a good book. She’s loving the Aussie lifestyle and all the new experiences it brings!
Courtney - Client Liaison
Courtney started her journey within the veterinary industry as a nurse in 2014. She has a Bachelor of Applied Science with a major in Equine Science and her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing. In 2019, she moved into equine care and shortly after, stepped into the role of practice manager at her clinic. Looking for a change, Courtney made the move to Ripley Vet at the start of this year! She is passionate about customer service, quality veterinary care, and a caring, fear-free approach. In her free time, she loves taking her two horses out for rides and enjoying spending time at home with friends, family, and her menagerie of pets.
Samantha - Client Liaison
Sammy moved to Brisbane from New Zealand back in 2007 and she hasn’t looked back since. After exploring city life and working as a childcare educator, she moved to Ripley in 2014 when she met her partner and decided to start a family. Since then, she’s built a home in Ripley and has three beautiful children. Sammy jumped on the opportunity to fulfill her childhood dream of working alongside our furry clients. When Sammy isn’t at the clinic, you can find her on the beach or bushwalks with her children. She likes to think she shares her home with a great guard dog, however, their family rottweiler Odin is just a great goofball!
Mary - Client Liaison
Born and raised in the greater Ipswich region, Mary is a true local. She has been on a journey throughout various components of the human healthcare industry her whole adult life, starting her first job out of high school as a pharmacy assistant all the way to graduating from a Bachelor of Health Science in western herbal medicine. However, Mary’s interests and talents continue beyond science and health. She reads as many books as she is able, is a performing artist, and makes a good cup of tea. Mary is a fur-mum to Lila whom she affectionately calls “Lila-Waffle,” and they are always going on long walks or car drives together. With her consistent smile and chipper attitude, it is Mary’s goal to make you feel like you’re the most important person in the world.
Annika - Kennel Hand
Annika is one of our incredible kennel hands! Annika started with the team at Ripley Veterinary Hospital in 2022 after discovering her passion for working with animals. She has dreams of becoming a veterinary nurse after school and has shown to have the compassion and care to be an amazing nurse one day. During Annika’s spare time, you will find her playing fetch with her dogs and reading.
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Marjorie- Clinic Diva
I started my clinic cat life by charming all the staff into loving me. I even managed to get Meika on my side and then I just had to stay!
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I'm good at keeping patients warm and warming equipment! You may see me hard at work on top of some of the machines around the place. I'll happily take cuddles from anyone who wishes to give them but don't forget that I'm your top priority from then on!
I let Meika think she runs the place but really, I'm the true boss and everyone knows it.​
Meika - Clinic Queen
I love every minute of my life since being introduced to the world of being a hospital cat (Dr. Andrew found me under his tractor as a tiny little stray kitten)!​ I would say I've got an adventurous spirit... although I can be a little clumsy at times. I keep the staff entertained with my antics always finding something new to climb or showing off my amazing tightrope walking. I'm always interested in helping patients finish their food or just happy to say 'hi'. I don't mind a cuddle from time to time - wet food should always be the reward for my loyalty. I'm glad I've got an awesome new job running a clinic. Don't know what they would do without me!​