Meet the team
Since 1995 the doctors and staff at GEOvet Veterinary Hospital have been providing veterinary care for large animals and companion pets in the Busselton, Capel, Nannup and neighboring communities.
Today, GEOvet Veterinary Hospital has grown into a multi-doctor, multi-clinic practice with nine veterinarians and a large team of skilled support staff. Our team provides on-the-road veterinary care for cattle, horses, alpacas and llamas, goats, sheep, and pigs. Cats, dogs, rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, reptiles, birds and native wildlife receive medical treatment at one of our clinics, which are all fully equipped to meet all their health needs, including surgery, medical treatment, routine vaccinations, and preventative treatments. The doctors and staff at GEOvet Veterinary Hospital utilise state of the art sophisticated medical equipment in order to provide a high level of medical care.
Dr Kate Hunt
I have been at GEOvet for over fourteen years and enjoy all aspects of small animal medicine and surgery. So much so I have just completed my Masters in Small Animal Medicine. Juggling work, my two children, two dogs and a new passion for sailing, life has never been busier. In this beautiful location, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Dr Paul Repton
My family have been farming in the central wheat-belt town of Tammin for as long as I can remember. I was brought up with way too many sheep, a couple of jersey house cows, chooks, pigs, dogs and a cat called Frisky. I have always had an interest in animals including as a kid collecting bones & skeletons. Times were tough on the farm & the only career option that seemed logical at the time was to go to Northam High School and have a go at entering the Veterinary course at Murdoch University. Getting in was not easy, but once in – I loved it.
The only job I applied for after graduation was a job working in Zimbabwe. At the time the country was short of Veterinarians and I saw it as a wonderful opportunity to see Africa and its wildlife up close. For the next 6 years I worked with Cattle, wildlife and travelled up to places like Victoria Falls & Hwange mixing my passion for photography with running small animal clinics, at the same time keeping clear of Rabies and other horrible diseases, which there were lots of!
Back to Australia I came where I have now spent nearly 25 years working in the South West of our state. For the past 18 years I have owned GEOvet, a business that I am very proud to be involved with. My main passion as the owner is centered on offering an exceptional client experience. I have a fantastic team of Veterinarians, Nurses and Receptionists who help me to provide the best service possible.
My main focus is dealing with all aspects of Large Animal practice. Over the years I have gained advanced skills in Equine reproduction and dentistry and have had my arm in well over a million cattle bottoms!!!
Outside of being with my clients and their animals I can be seen in Lycra burning rubber on the roads around Busselton, or at home with the horses, 4 dogs, the chooks, cat ……and spending time with the people I care about.
Dr Brett Edwards
I grew up on a beef property in Gidgegannup. I started vet school at Mudoch University in 1994 but didn’t graduate until 2002 due to taking a few years off to jackeroo on stations in the north of WA.
For the first 10 years of my career I worked in mixed practice in WA and SA. Prior to starting at Geovet in 2012, I spent a year working for a pharmaceutical company making rattle snake and pit viper antivenom.
My main professional interest is surgery – as a typical male, I really enjoy the technical challenge of taking things apart and putting them back together again.
Outside of work, I spend a lot of time swimming, running and reading. I enjoy carpentry and metalwork as well as all of the farm duties required of living on a small property. I live with my partner, Paisley, and we are the proud possessions of a poodle called Percy.
Dr Diane Bogaers
I graduated from Melbourne University in 2004. After meeting my husband, Matt, we moved back to the South West in 2008 and have raised our own family here. As well as our human offspring, we live with our three cavoodles, Bobby, Lacey and Sooty who keep us entertained with their antics, snuggles and gorgeous fluffy offspring.
I have completed post graduate courses in small animal surgery, small animal medicine and have a special interest in dog reproduction. When not at work you can find me hiking with the dogs, tending to the edible garden, taking the kids to trampolining/circus training/hockey/basketball, playing cards, playing pickleball or indulging in wine and cheese with friends.
Dr Will Powell
G’day I am Will,
I grew up in Coastal Queensland, where I spent a lot of time in my Dad’s veterinary clinic. After moving to Western Australia after highschool I was accepted into Murdoch’s Veterinary Medicine and Surgery degrees.
After graduating I went into mixed practice in Manjimup, and have since worked in clinics and on farms all around the Southwest, as well as some time in the Pilbara.
My passions are production animal medicine and surgery, dog behaviour, and equine dentistry.
I am now a happy resident of a small property in Capel, focusing on helping the GEOvet team provide a high quality service to the farm animals of the Southwest.
Dr Samantha Sexton
I grew up on a sheep farm in the south-west of Western Australia. Veterinary Science was an easy choice for me and I have always enjoyed living and working in rural areas. I graduated from Murdoch University in 2002 and after a number of years in Mt Barker I joined the GEOvet team in 2011 as a Small Animal Veterinarian.
My special interests include acupuncture, pocket pets, birds and wildlife. In my spare time I enjoy cooking magnificent and elaborate feasts, bush-walking, driving and spending time with my family.
Dr Michel Doney
I have been a veterinarian for over 18 years and still absolutely love my job and the people and animals I have the privilege of helping.
Pathology tests and emergency medicine are special interests of mine, having spent many years doing emergency call outs in the south west!
When I’m not at work I love taking my big boxer/bullmastiff happy-go-lucky boy Jatzy to the beach for a run and a swim.
I have been with GEOvet for over a year and feel lucky that I get to work with a compassionate friendly team.
Dr Ken Wilson
I am originally from Scotland where I trained to be a vet at the University of Edinburgh, graduating in 2005.
I spent the first 18 years of my career working in a large mixed practice in the Highlands of Scotland, treating domestic animals and farm animals. I was an owner and director of the business I worked with in Scotland have additional interests in veterinary business development and veterinary pathology.
I enjoy the challenge and variety of mixed general practice and providing a high-quality veterinary service to the animals in our community.
I moved to Australia with my family and started work at GEOvet in spring 2023. Outside work, I have recently taken up Pickleball; enjoy the weekly Man Walk at Busselton jetty and love spending time with my family and our Border collie Kate.
Emma Gorman
I grew up in Busselton and have always had a keen interest in animals, after working with horses for a few years I decided to pursue my childhood dream and move to Perth to study Veterinary Nursing. After completing my studies and prac in 2020 at an ophthalmologist clinic I moved back to the beautiful southwest where I started work at GEOvet. I have a love for surgical nursing and I take great joy in watching patients progress in recovery after their procedure. I also have an interest in fear free handling of our patients, the clinic can be a scary place for a nervous dog or cat, making your fur baby feel relaxed and safe in a busy environment is my top priority. In my spare time you can find me horse riding, visiting local breweries and spending time on the family farm. Along with my husband our fur children consist of a horse, a lovebird and a border collie!
Katie Merritt
I grew up in the small town of Boyanup on the family farm and have been a qualified vet nurse at GEOvet for 8 years. Growing up on the farm, my love for animals has been ingrained in me, from petting the dairy cows, bottle feeding lambs and looking after the family pets it was inevitable I was going to be working with animals as a career. I absolutely love it and try my best to help your pets get the best outcome for them and their health. I have a keen interest in inpatient care, getting your pet through their worst times back to their bright bouncy self, while I’m not at GEOvet looking after your pet I’m working on the family farm and riding motorbikes. I have 3 dogs pippy, Ellie and Maverick who also help with the sheep work and 3 cats Oscar, Millie and Charleston who are the Kings and Queen of being lazy.
Beck Ottaviano
My interest in wildlife care began as a volunteer for Native Animal Rescue (formerly FRF) at 12 years old. I followed my passion and qualified as a vet nurse in 2006, later leaving the industry to have a family and run my own online business. In 2022 I re-qualified my skills at Bentley TAFE and in January 2023, joined the GEOvet Busselton team. Since joining the team I have continued my special interest in wildlife, caring for dozens of our South West local, critically endangered, Western Ringtail possums through the clinic and volunteering with FAWNA. I love working with exotic pets like rats, guinea pigs, rabbits and birds.
My husband and I have 2 sons, 1 dog, 1 cat, 3 ducks, 3 chickens, 4 ponds/aquariums and 5 guinea pigs.
Tamara Jakovich
I have been vet nursing for over 20 years at a variety of practices including large and small animals. I have always wanted to work with animals and I love my job, every day is different and I get to work with some amazing people. I love living in the South West with my husband and 2 children. I have 2 horses, Dusty and Dreamer who myself and my daughter compete regularly with. The 2 loves of my life are my French Bulldogs Pebbles and Nacho. If I am not working I am usually horse riding, running kids to various sporting activities, swimming or surfing at the beach.
Monica Baker
I moved to the Southwest in 1997 after meeting my now husband Tim. I began my Vet nursing career in 2005 by completing a traineeship at Dardanup Vet Centre through Swan Tafe. After working in Dardanup for 12 years, I stopped nursing for a few years, we bought our house in Capel and I concentrated on raising our 2 kids.
It was hard to get back into a vet nursing job as I had been out of the field for around 5 years. I am so grateful to Geovet for giving me the opportunity to become requalified again since I started working here in January 2022. I am lucky to work out of both the Capel and Busselton clinics. My passions are surgical nursing, emergency care and I generally just love dealing with all kinds of animals.
We have 3 boxer dogs Boss, Heidi and Luna, a cat Nitro and a bunny Benjamin. Most of my spare time is spent with my family or out in our garden.
Alicia Quaife
After many years working within the mining industry, I felt it was finally time to do what really brought happiness into my life, so at the age of 39 I started my University degree – Veterinary Technology through CSU in NSW.
I was lucky enough to be able to secure work placement for my degree with GEOvet in July 2023 and have continued to work on a part time basis as a trainee Vet Nurse, where I have been truly fortunate to work within an extremely knowledgeable and supportive team of professionals.
I currently live on a farm in Manjimup with my husband and 2 little boys where we have multiple animals including cattle, sheep, chickens, cats and Dogs. My real passion however, is breeding Horses and Dogs and have been breeding Walers for over 7 years which has grown into running 3 stallion and multiple mares and young stock. We have also developed a love of the Miniature Bull Terriers and also breed these little clowns of the dog world, who keep us very entertained and well loved.
Jess Piekarek
I have grown up around animals my whole life, riding horses and helping dad on the farm. I am a qualified pet groomer of 4 years now, and have really enjoyed working with animals, I couldn’t see myself doing anything else! I’m super excited to begin my nursing career here at GEOvet, I am very grateful for the opportunity to complete my studies with such a knowledgeable and friendly team. I live with my partner, three doggo’s, Maisie, Winston and Wilma and three ponies, Bindi, Whiskey and Brandi. When I’m not spending time with family, grooming or helping at the clinic, I’m out on the motorbikes, camping and wakeboarding.
Helen Moss
I started working in the veterinary industry in 1995 and completed my veterinary nursing qualifications in 1996. I later went on to complete my Diploma in Veterinary Nursing in 2004. I have a particular interest in animal behaviour. My family and I moved from Perth to Busselton in January 2021, I love the relaxed lifestyle here. Outside of work I enjoy yoga, dog agility training with my whippets, and beach walks.
Sue Luce
I am originally from Canada, where I started my career as a veterinary nurse. I moved to New Zealand in 2000 and spent 7 years there before moving to Australia.
I started working as a vet nurse in a small country clinic in Angaston SA and after 4 years, I bought the clinic. 2 years later, I opened a pet supplies store and 10 years after that, I started a grooming business. Although I love being a vet nurse, being involved in the running of the business is my passion.
After selling the veterinary clinic and grooming business, I moved to WA and started with Geovet in the spring of 2023.
When I’m not at work, I love to go fishing, doing a bit of woodworking and spending time with my partner and 3 dogs.
Carol Waugh
I come from a local farming family, growing up on a dairy farm in Yoongarillup, just outside of Busselton. I worked in various administration roles before deciding I needed a change. I began working in hospitality in our beautiful wine region, where I met my husband who was a chef. After we had our first son I returned to work in a reception role at GEOvet in 2012. We since had a second son in 2013. I took on the additional role of accounts receivable in 2022 and the unofficial role of social organiser of GEOvet functions. Our family also consists of a golden retriever called Zoe and we recently adopted a cat called Mia who was abandoned with her four kittens.
Nycole Brown
I am originally from Harvey WA, my interests in the vet industry are in large and small animal medicine but I also really enjoy working with wildlife .
I have worked in this field for roughly 17 years and I have worked with GEOvet coming up 3 years. I have 2 dogs 1 cat 2 birds, outside of work I am a horse judge and spend many weekends judging shows all over the state.
Louise Carver
I am originally from London England and have worked at GEOvet for 2 years. When I’m not at work I enjoy gardening and writing short fictional stories. I have 2 Whippets named Bandy and Boots, 12 sheep and 10 chooks.