Meet Our Team
Our compassionate, highly qualified team is dedicated to providing exceptional care for every pet we meet.
Compassionate Veterinarians & Staff in Cairns, QLD
With decades of combined experience, advanced training, and a shared passion for animal well-being, our veterinarians and nurses work together to deliver comprehensive, trustworthy care to pets across Cairns, Gordonvale, Manoora, Manunda, Mount Sheridan, Edmonton, and Smithfield.
Whether you’re visiting for a health check, advanced surgery, or emergency care, our team’s goal is always the same — to treat every pet as if they were our own.
Our Veterinarians
Dr Richard Thomas BVSc BVMS MVM
Richard graduated from Murdoch University in 2006. After managing a large practice in the Pilbara region and working in an emergency clinic in Perth, he became a partner of Cairns Veterinary Clinic in July 2014. He obtained his Master’s of Veterinary Medicine in 2023 and has been published as lead author in the Australian Veterinary Journal. Richard prides himself on being a bit of an animal nut (he is notorious for giving too many treats) and enjoys scuba diving, bird photography, gym, coffee, and taking in the natural wonders of Cairns. He lives with thirteen (!) birds and a diabetic kitty.
Dr. Helen Reakes BVSc GP Cert SAM
Helen qualified from Liverpool University (UK) in 2004. After working in small animal and emergency practice in the UK and obtaining a postgraduate certificate in small animal medicine, she emigrated to Australia in 2013. After some travelling, she joined Cairns Veterinary Clinic in early 2014 and became a partner in November 2015. Outside of work, Helen is continuing to renovate her home, enjoys CrossFit and has two rescue cats, Smokey and Marmie.
Dr. Yari Mansia BVSc
Raised in Cairns, Yari has spent most of his life in Far North Queensland and completed all his schooling locally. After pursuing his passion for animal health, he returned home to provide quality veterinary care to the community that shaped him. Yari became a partner of Cairns Veterinary Clinic in 2026 and enjoys all aspects of veterinary medicine but has a particular interest in surgery, especially soft tissue and orthopaedic procedures. His calm and practical approach helps ensure the best outcomes for both pets and their owners. Outside of work, Yari enjoys spending time with his wife and two children, as well as their dogs, Delilah and Albert. He’s an active member of the Cairns community and can often be found on the soccer field or out running in his spare time.
Dr. Liam Sweeney BVSc
Born and raised in Cairns, Liam has been working in FNQ since graduating from Townsville’s James Cook University in 2018 and joined our Team in May 2023. Having two dogs and two cats, Liam prides himself on being able to relate to clients on both the joys as well as the occasional difficulties of pet ownership. When not hanging out with his fur babies at home, Liam loves to make the most of FNQ’s great fishing, hiking, and camping.
Dr. Alyssa Neil BVSc
Alyssa graduated from James Cook University in Townsville in 2024. After travelling all over Australia and even to South Africa during her veterinary degree, she returned to her hometown in Cairns as a new graduate vet. Alyssa has a passion for preventative health, dermatology, soft tissue surgery, and wildlife and exotic pet medicine. Outside of work, she loves spending time with her crazy staffy Nala and adding to her collection of many (many) fish. She volunteers in sea turtle conservation and rehabilitation, and also enjoys jet-skiing, 4WDing, collecting animal art, playing board games, and attending Pilates classes.
Dr. Angela Lindsey BVSc
Angela graduated from the University of Queensland in 2005, and as an Innisfail local, she has spent most of her career caring for animals across Far North Queensland. She has also enjoyed periods of locum work, travelling as far as South Australia and Tasmania before starting her family. Angela loves working closely with clients to achieve the best outcomes for their pets. She has a special interest in providing thoughtful, tailored care for senior pets with complex health needs. Outside of work, Angela is kept on her toes by her energetic young boys. When she finds a quiet moment, you’ll likely find her lost in a great thriller novel or baking up a storm in the kitchen.
Dr. Erin Britton BVSc
Originally from Cairns, Erin graduated from James Cook University in 2022 and spent two years working with small animals in Melbourne before returning home to the sunshine. She enjoys the variety of general practice, from diagnosing complex medical cases to hands-on surgery, and values building trust with pets and their people. Her approach is calm and compassionate, grounded in evidence-based medicine and genuine care. Outside of work, she can be found exploring FNQ with her border collie, Arlo, or recharging with beach days, live music, and strong coffee.
Dr. Jemima Wehrman BVSc (hons)
Dr Jemima is one of our newest veterinarians and brings a high level of care, enthusiasm and dedication to her role. She graduated with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science from James Cook University in 2025, after beginning her veterinary career as a veterinary nurse in 2016.
Many clients may recognise Jemima from her time working with us as a veterinary nurse before completing her veterinary degree. She has a strong interest in surgery and emergency medicine and worked as an emergency and critical care veterinary nurse throughout her studies.
Outside of work, Jemima enjoys exploring the outdoors with her dog, Flick, and spending time at the beach. She looks forward to meeting you and caring for your pets.
Our Management and Reception Team
Jane Quinn VN – Practice Manager
Jane qualified as a Veterinary Nurse in 1999 while working at a referral orthopedic practice in North West England. She first came to Australia in 2000 on a working holiday and met her husband while mango picking in the Northern Territory —a true Aussie love story! After a short return to the UK, Jane made the move back to Cairns for good in 2002. She joined the Cairns Veterinary Clinic team that same year and worked as a senior nurse for several years before taking some time out to raise her kids and help run the family’s construction business. Jane returned to the clinic in 2011, this time as Practice Manager, and has loved being part of the team ever since. When she’s not at work, Jane enjoys camping, crafting, unwinding with a good book, and spending time with her family and friends.
Kristy Jaunzems VN –Veterinary Receptionist
Kristy is a Cairns local and has been part of the Cairns Veterinary Clinic family since 1997. After completing her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing in 2005, she worked as a dedicated member of the nursing team before discovering her true passion —connecting with clients and providing exceptional customer care. Kristy believes that great veterinary care begins with strong relationships, clear communication, and empathy. She takes pride in ensuring every client feels heard, understood, and confident in the care their pets receive. Whether she’s helping a nervous pet owner through their first visit or guiding families through complex treatment decisions, Kristy’s calm, caring nature and deep knowledge of animal health make her a trusted and reassuring presence within the clinic. With a keen interest in animal behaviour, Kristy also runs our popular puppy preschool classes, helping new pet owners set their pups up for success. Outside of the clinic, Kristy loves cake decorating, dog agility, and the thrill of motor racing.
Cathy Graham – Veterinary Receptionist
Cathy was born in PNG and moved to Yungaburra on the beautiful Atherton Tablelands at age nine, where her family bought a property for cattle breeding. Life was never dull -the property soon became home to a lively mix of farm animals, including dogs, goats, chooks, ducks and a couple of peacocks. After finishing school on the Tablelands, Cathy explored a variety of careers across retail, hospitality, education, and the medical field before finding her way back to her passion -working with animals. Along the way, she raised three children and built another busy household full of birds, cats, and dogs. Cathy enjoys meeting people from all walks of life and assisting them in their journey of pet care. When she’s not working, Cathy loves getting outdoors to go camping or 4WD adventuring and unwinding with some art and craft projects.
Clare Zagata VN – Veterinary Receptionist
Clare began her veterinary career over 30 years ago in the UK, working across equine, small, and large animal practices before setting off on a working holiday to Australia & New Zealand in 1996. After Locuming along the East Coast and gaining experience in both small animal and avian clinics, she found her home in beautiful Cairns -managing a clinic, earning sponsorship, and proudly becoming an Australian citizen. Over the years, Clare’s role has evolved from hands-on nursing to a strong focus on client care and communication. She’s passionate about creating meaningful connections with clients, ensuring they feel supported, understood, and confident in the care their pets receive. Her goal is always to exceed expectations and provide a positive, compassionate experience from start to finish. Outside of work, Clare enjoys life on a few acres, with her husband, three daughters, two dogs (Luna & Roy), one cat (Roady), six chooks, and four horses (Nikki, Pilgrim, Koda & Victor). You’ll often find her outdoors training for endurance rides, camping, swimming, or relaxing with a good book.
Buzz – Chief Treat Tester
Meet Buzz, our resident feline and official Chief Treat Tester! With a keen nose for quality snacks and a knack for supervising the clinic, he ensures every treat meets the highest standards. When he’s not taste-testing, Buzz can be found napping in sunbeams, demanding pats from the nurses, trying to sneak snacks from patients’ cages, and offering moral support to our team (and sometimes the pets!).
Our Veterinary Nursing Team
Shereece Kaden RVN AVN DipGP – Head Veterinary Nurse
Growing up with a wide variety of animals cemented Shereece’s love of animals and nature. Shereece holds a certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing, Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (GP)and is a registered and accredited veterinary nurse. As our Head Nurse, Shereece is responsible for mentoring our nursing team and enjoys helping them reach their full potential. She also has a keen interest in anaesthetics and patient care. Outside of work, Shereece loves exploring new places, photography, socializing with close friends and chilling at home with her cat Skitz.
Kristy-Anne Davis VN – Veterinary Nurse
Kristy-Anne has been part of the Cairns Veterinary Clinic team since 2006. She originally joined as a full-time Head Nurse and now works part-time at our Gordonvale branch. A qualified Veterinary Nurse since 2002, with a Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing, Kristy-Anne brings years of hands-on experience and genuine care to every patient she meets. With an exceptional knack for remembering clients and their pets, she loves getting to know the special bonds between animals and their families. Kristy-Anne’s calm and compassionate nature helps both pets and owners feel at ease during their visits. At home, Kristy-Anne’s own pets sound like a dessert menu — Cinnamon, the gentle-natured Golden Retriever X, who adores kids and people, and Muffin, the cat, who knows she runs the household. When she’s not at the clinic, Kristy-Anne enjoys spending time with her husband, two children, and, of course, her sweet fur kids.
Lucy Dimmick RVN AVN – Veterinary Nurse
After graduating with a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Zoology at the University of Queensland in 2015, Lucy moved to Cairns to work as a wildlife keeper, studying her Certificate III in Captive Animals. After four years at the wildlife park, she decided to change fields into Veterinary Nursing and completed her Certificate IV in 2021. She has been a part of the Cairns Vet Clinic team since 2020 and she loves all animals, including the feathery and scaly ones, and has a Bull Arab X called Caelan and a pet Woma Python named Pretzel! Lucy is passionate about wildlife and in her spare time she loves exploring the outdoors.
Miff Di Valentine VN – Veterinary Nurse
Originally from Melbourne, Miff graduated from the University of Melbourne and has been a practicing vet nurse for over six years. She takes great pride in providing exceptional patient care and comfort with a special passion for wildlife care. Since moving to Cairns with her cat Jonesy, Miff has loved exploring the region’s beautiful natural environment and spends her free time spotlighting, chilling out in the botanical gardens or pursuing a range of creative hobbies.
Mikaela Fields VN – Veterinary Nurse
With more than 10 years of Veterinary Nursing experience, Mikki brings the perfect mix of skill, enthusiasm, and a playful sense of humour to the team. She has a special interest in training and radiography and loves supporting both her colleagues and the pets in her care so they can shine their brightest. When Mikki isn’t in her scrubs, you’ll find her off on an outdoor adventure with her husband and their two furry sidekicks, Binx and Koda. And when she’s not exploring, she’s likely busy creating something beautiful as a candle artisan.
Tayla Burgess VN – Veterinary Nurse
Tayla is a dedicated veterinary nurse with a strong passion for animal health and well-being. She takes particular pride in providing exceptional patient care and has a keen interest in working with exotic animals and native wildlife. Outside of the clinic, Tayla loves spending time outdoors and making the most of North Queensland’s natural beauty. She’s an avid angler who enjoys exploring the Great Barrier Reef in her boat, horse riding, and hiking. Her love for animals and the outdoors shines through in everything she does, both in her professional care and her personal adventures.
Becky Allison RVN CertVNECC – Veterinary Nurse
Becky grew up in North East England and has been working in veterinary clinics since leaving school at 16. She moved to a first opinion and referral hospital in Essex in 2004, where she qualified and registered (RVN) and then became deputy head nurse. Being a traveller at heart, she has also worked in Bermuda from 2012 and then in Australia in 2017, where she now calls home. In 2024, she obtained her certificate in small Animal Emergency and Critical Care and is now talking herself in/out of the anaesthesia degree. She takes pride in patient comfort and never shies away from complex anaesthesia cases. When not at work, she enjoys spending time with her big baby, Eddie the Rottweiler, by hiking, camping and exploring the amazing scenery around Far North Queensland. When not out in the bush, she’ll be at the beach or the reef exploring the underwater world. She also volunteers for the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre rehabilitating sick and injured marine turtles before they are tagged and released back into the wild.
Breannan Harris-Corcoran – Student Veterinary Nurse
Breannan joined our team as a kennel hand in February 2023 after impressing us during her school work experience. She is now studying to be a Veterinary Nurse and takes great pride in caring for every pet that comes through our doors. Outside of work, Breannan enjoys camping and spending quality time with her family.
Ashley Budd – Student Veterinary Nurse
Ashley grew up in Cairns and joined our team as a Kennel Hand in June 2023. In early 2025, she stepped into a Veterinary Nurse role and is now studying to complete her qualifications. Outside of work, Ashley enjoys pet sitting and caring for her own furry and scaly companions — two Cavoodles, some fish, and a pet snake. She also loves getting outdoors, especially going snorkelling and fishing.

