Kenmore

Elle Heffernan

Client Service Team

Elle is a philomath and can be found on her days off, nose-first in any study book related to animals or child neurology. Elle’s current ambition is to continue her studies and pursue a career as a vet nurse.

She has had the pleasure of working within rescue, with her fondest memories being of her time as a rehoming coordinator.

Elle’s biggest blessings in life are her fur babies – Princeton, Scooter, Tinkerbell, and Elf.

Nicole Ronan

Veterinary Associate

Growing up on a sugarcane and cattle farm in northern NSW, Nicole has always had a love for animals. After moving to Brisbane, she completed a Bachelor of Environmental Management prior to studying a Bachelor of Veterinary Science, which she graduated with honors from the University of Queensland. She went on to complete a rotating internship at Animal Referral Hospital and has since made the move into general practice, joining the team at Greencross Kenmore. Nicole has a special interest geriatric care and improving quality of life. In her spare time, Nicole spends time with her horse and Jack Russel Terrier, both of whom are in their twilight years.

Dr Olivia Lemmon

Dr Olivia has been passionate about being a vet since she was a child. Growing up around animals, having a parent as a vet meant weekends and holidays were spent at the family vet practice.

Since graduating Olivia has worked in mixed animal practice with a high small animal emergency workload. She spent two years travelling and working throughout the United Kingdom, where she worked in various clinics including working alongside medical and surgical specialists. She enjoys the variety of the veterinary profession and is interested in all aspects of small animal medicine and soft tissue surgery. Olivia has been a part of Greencross Vets team since her return to Australia in early 2020 and has joined the Greencross Vets Kenmore team as our Veterinary Director. She understands the importance of having a great bond with your local family vet and is wanting to build this friendship with the local community and their fur babies.

In her spare time Olivia enjoys getting out and about especially with her dogs or heading off for weekend getaways when she can.

Dr. Kaarthegeswaran Sukumaran

Kaartheg brings with him wealth of knowledge and over a decade of experience nationally and internationally. Graduating from the University of Sydney, he then spent two years in general practice in Singapore before returning to Australia in 2016. Since his return, he has indulged his special interest in small animal surgery through multiple internships at various specialist practices in Sydney, Perth and Brisbane.

He remains constantly motivated to better himself as a surgeon, counting himself lucky to be part of a wonderful profession and apart of the Greencross Vets community. In his free time, he enjoys wildlife spotting while exploring new trails, camping, cooking and playing the guitar.

Dr Kerri Finlay

Associate Veterinarian
Dr Kerri graduated with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science from the University of Queensland in 1999 and has an extensive career in the industry working for a number of different small animal practices around Brisbane. She is passionate about education and is regularly involved in the AVA PetPEP programs at local schools and kindergartens to teach children about responsible pet ownership. This led to Kerri initiating the Junior Vet Club, which encourages and inspires children who dream to have a career in the veterinary industry. Partnership with pet owners is also very important to Kerri, to ensure that your pets best needs are met. Kerri’s main interests include small animal medicine and soft tissue surgery and before becoming a Vet she had graduated with honours in a Bachelor of Science, majoring in medical and veterinary parasitology.

Originally from Cairns, Kerri and her husband Mick have two daughters, Maddi and Emma and a menagerie of pets including horses, dogs, cats, birds, fish and a cheeky sheep called Ivy Dumpling.

Dr. Jiana Sumner

Dr. Jiana graduated from the University of Queensland in 2006, since then she worked in mixed practice in Jimboomba and in the United Kingdom as a locum. She then returned to work for Greencross Vets as a locum across the whole of Brisbane before settling down at Greencross Vets Kessels Road.

Jiana then moved to Melbourne and while raising a small human and working part-time for Greencross Vets Caulfield South, she completed a Masters of Veterinary Studies in Small Animal Practice through Murdoch University in 2017. Following this, she moved back to Brisbane and proudly joined the team at Greencross Vets Inala, before moving to Greencross Vets Kenmore & Forest Lake.

Outside of work Jiana enjoys indoor plants and succulents, hiking, camping, exercising, reading books and getting out with her two small children. She has three pets: Lilo, a 15 year old Chihuahua X rescued from the RSPCA; Stitch, a 12 year old Chihuahua; and Kendrick, a four year old curly coated Devon Rex cat, rehomed from the vet clinic.

Dr Owen Steinhardt

Veterinarian

Dr Owen has been a part of the Greencross Vets Team for 19 years, working at a range of clinics to build his expertise. Dr Owen is highly knowledgeable and consistently goes above and beyond to ensure his clients and patients receive the highest standard of care and understanding.

In his spare time, Dr Owen enjoys gourmet chocolate making and eating, collecting fine wine, and relentlessly supporting his favourite AFL team, the Brisbane Lions.

Teagan Lawrence

Teagan joins Greencross Vets as a full time veterinary nurse with experience in animal emergency and graduated both a certificate III in Animal Science and Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing. She loves all animals but adores all kittens and cats even the feisty ones. She has her own rescue ginger kitten that she rescued at 2 days old.

Rebekah Ayres

Veterinary Nurse
Rebekah has a Certificate III in Animal Science and a Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing. She has been a nurse for 8 months and is a lover of all animals but especially cats. She has two cats of her own named Lemon and Leeloo.

Josie John

Practice Manager & Veterinary Nurse

Josie has been a veterinary nurse for 15 years, 12 of those with Greencross and she is a Cert 4 Veterinary nurse and also holds a Cert 4 in Training and Assessment.

She is a self professed crazy cat lady and has 4 cats at home, all of whom were rescued from various clinics. She also has 3 children and when she is not at work she is usually running around taking them to sporting activities and she also plays Softball herself.

Kirsty Ksiazek

Veterinary Nurse

Kirsty is a wildlife carer with extensive training in Australian native wildlife, specialising in flying foxes.She is a certificate 3 veterinary nurse, currently completing her certificate 4 in veterinary nursing.

She has lots of non-human family members consisting of 2 pooches, 3 kitties, 6 sheep, 1 miniature horse and 6 chickens. In her spare time she rescues wildlife, takes her pups on adventures, paints in watercolour and reads.

Kaye Arundell

Kaye completed a Bachelor in Applied Science majoring in Wildlife Science in 2010, before heading off to live and work overseas in the United Kingdom. She returned in 2015 and completed a Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing. She gained fulltime employment with Greencross after finishing her student work placement with the clinic. Kaye is a proud owner of two Great Dane crosses (Karma and Duke) and a rescue cat named Marley.

Lauren Garaty

Veterinary Nurse

Lauren started her vet nursing journey as a school-based trainee with Greencross Vets in 2016. Since then she has gone complete her Certificate II in Animal Studies and Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing.

It goes without saying she is a huge lover of all animals, especially her 2 fur babies, Peppa and Poppy.