Lisa Morgans is livestock veterinarian and head of precision livestock at Innovation for Agriculture - a UK charity that helps farmers use and apply research and technology on farm. Lisa has a PhD from Bristol University where she investigated a farmer-led approach to reducing antimicrobial use on farm and now advocates a bottom-up approach to change in farming.

One of our fine English vets, David was educated at the University of Nottingham (2015 BVM BVS Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery).  Whilst most of his time is spent caring for small animals, David enjoys helping out with the large animals, particularly around calving time.  He also enjoys playing golf badly, surfing and hiking.  With VetSouth since 2015, the appeal is in working for a company which really cares for employees well being and makes you feel valued.  

Fleur was raised on a sheep/beef farm in Stanley Brook in the Nelson district. After studying veterinary science at Massey.  She moved south, beginning  her career  with Gore Vets in 1996.

Fleur now works predominantly  from the Tapanui Vetsouth Branch, where her main interests are with sheep, beef, dairy and deer. She has become a well known member of the West Otago Community.

Mark qualified from Glasgow in 1988, and spent the next seven years moving between intensive dairy practice in the North of England and climbing mountains. A stint in New Zealand convinced him that this was the best place to do both, so in 1995 he moved to the Waikato in the North Island.

In 1997 he moved South to head up the dairy side of Central Southland Vets in Winton. He became a director in 2001 by which time the practice had doubled in vet numbers and quadrupled in dairy farm numbers. In 2005 Winton and Gore vets joined to form VetSouth, in an attempt to create a well-resourced clinic environment with top clients that would attract and retain the best vets in the country.

In 2004 Mark gained his Masters in Epidemiology, and whilst still leading the dairy side of VetSouth, he now splits his time with heading the research group within VetSouth. His role is 50% clinical; 50% research; and 50% management…He is also an executive member of the Society of Dairy Cattle Vets in New Zealand; has a share in a 600 cow dairy farm; and at home runs 1800 sheep and 3 kids on 400 acres.

Creating VetSouth was all about elevating rural vet practice; the belief that just because we live a long way away from things farmers shouldn’t receive second rate veterinary services. To that end, VetSouth continues to develop and innovate and attempt to work with some of the best farmers in the country to add value.

He has climbed all over the world, including 4 expeditions to the Himalayas, and first ascents in South America and Antarctica. These trips formed a large part of his early travels and public presentations. Nowadays his travels are more concerned with presenting at conferences rather than climbing mountains.

Brendon was born and raised in Invercargill. He finished vet school in the mid 80’s and briefly worked in mixed practice in Invercargill before travelling overseas. After 3 years in the UK he travelled to the USA and completed a 3 year Equine Surgical Residency. After this he worked in horse practice in South Auckland and gained specialist registration with the Veterinary Council of NZ in Equine Surgery. He returned home to Southland in 1996 to become a partner in Southern Veterinary Centre along with Michael Brown. They built a purpose built horse hospital on the edge of the Invercargill Racecourse. A small animal side was soon added a year later and a substantial extension was completed in 2010. Southern Veterinary Centre became part of the VetSouth group in 2015.

The practice offers all manner of routine and specialist equine and dairy veterinary work and Brendon manages this side of the practice. Both his two daughters have safely flown the nest and his ideas of being able to do more hunting and fishing might come to fruition.

Our Clinical Head (East) is also a shareholder.  More importantly, Bianca is also a true local and is Southland born and bred.  She popped away to the North Island and Massey University to gain a Bachelor of Veterinary Science (2006) before returning to the mainland and joining VetSouth.  It’s here where concentrates on large animals, with a special interest in dairy reproduction and herd health.  At home there is husband, Dan plus daughter, Isla.  Let’s not forget Hudson the cat though.  Outside of all that, it's about relaxing with friends and playing sport. 

Home is with her partner on a dairy farm.  But that wasn’t always the case for Christine.  Her story started in Scotland and includes time spent at the University of Glasgow (2015 BVMS Hons).  Fast forward to today, you’ll find Christine working as a mixed vet in our Gore clinic.  There’s a particular interest in neonatal medicine.  Outside of work, tramping is the main interest, exploring the great outdoors of New Zealand. 

Louise joined VetSouth after graduating from Massey University, leaving her North Island roots behind to seek the best tramping, fishing, skiing and sightseeing spots of Southland. She is doing this with husband Joel and puppy Tika in toe.

She is interested in all aspects of vet work including sheep, beef cattle, dairy, and companion animals.

Hailing from the mighty Tarras in Central Otago. Mandy joined us in 2014, her role as Veterinary Technician Team Leader keeps her busy….and it’s the great team and family feel at VetSouth that makes it all worthwhile.  Downtime is spent in the great outdoors, on the farm, riding horses or playing rugby for Mossburn Hinds.  At home, there’s Anthony and Gus the beagle, plus 6 x working dogs.

From Invercargill, Courtney graduated from the Southern Institute of Technology in 2008 with a diploma in Veterinary Nursing.  At Vetsouth for just over a decade, Courtney is now the Head Vet Nurse and specialises in cat behaviour and low stress handling, along with meeting the needs of critical care patients.  Care for cats sometimes includes adopting rescue cats.  Indeed, 5 rescue cats have made their way home with Courtney to join her Black smoke maine coon (Hades) and Boxer dog (Ollie).  Courtney would love to spend more time travelling with her husband, Karl.  She’s also somewhat of a movie buff (horror and superhero) concert junkie and sometime comic convention attendee. 

After moonlighting as a Tech over Dry Cow/Teatsealing time for a couple of years Donna has taken up a permanent position at VetSouth as the Customer Services Rep at the new Clydevale clinic. She lives on a large block in Owaka and in her spare time enjoys competing on the rodeo circuit barrel racing her horse Maverick.

Heather has been our Customer Service superstar at the Otautau Clinic since 2015.  Orginally from Wairo, Heather has been in the dairy industry for decent amount of time, including both Southland the Waikato. In her spare time Heather enjoys heading away with the caravan and hubby Kev.  She enjoys the varation of her position at VetSouth plus the animals and people she works with.  

John was brought up in the North of England and spent his early life climbing mountains and training to be an outdoor pursuits instructor. After realising that taking groups of delinquent kids into his beloved Lake District wasn’t really his thing, he joined the rest of the masses and moved to London where he developed a love for obscure indie music, and began his career in IT. He has been wrestling with technology in one form or another ever since. He met a kiwi girl and emigrated to New Zealand in 1999. Since then he has worked in, trained in and experienced a variety of IT roles and has developed a firm belief that simple, well applied technologies can benefit us all. He still listens to obscure Indie music but his travels tend to be based around family and fly fishing these days.

Gemma joined VetSouth in 2012 and has worked in various HR related roles since 2005. Born in Christchurch, but having spent her last years of high school at Northern Southland College, she is happy to be back in the area, and considers Southland home. Outside of work interests include camping trips, theatre and waterskiing in the summer holidays!