Anita has been a veterinary nurse for over 30 years. Working in a general practice for the first 10 years and joining Veterinary Specialist Services (VSS) in 2001. In 2017, VSS opened their 3rd practice to which Anita managed before moving into her current role of Employment Engagement Officer of all 4 for VSS’s sites. Anita has kept her Australian qualifications current including her Certificate IV in Vet Nursing, Diploma in Surgery and ECC, and is an Accredited Vet Nurse and a Registered Vet Nurse through the Veterinary Nurses Council of Australia (VNCA). Anita’s overseas qualifications include obtaining a Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner (CVPP) in 2012 through the IVAPM (International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management) and Veterinary Technician Specialty in Anaesthesia and Analgesia in 2009 recertified 2015 and 2019 through the Academy of Veterinary Technicians in Anesthesia and Analgesia (AVTAA). She is also the proud recipient of the Steve Haskin’s scholarship award in 2018, and the Vet Nurse of the Year through the VNCA 2022 and the Earl Rippie scholarship award in 2024. Currently Anita is the President of the AVTAA, is on the VNCA’s board of directors and is also on the VSS conference committee, CPD committee (VNCA), conference committee (VNCA), exam committee (AVTAA) and the is the Chair of the National Industry Advisory Group (NIAG). In Anita’s spare time, she likes to relax on the couch with her fur babies.

Trish Farry is a registered veterinary nurse with specialist qualifications in emergency/critical care and anaesthesia/analgesia. She is a lecturer and clinical instructor in anaesthesia at The University of Queensland. Her areas of teaching include emergency medicine, anaesthesia, analgesia and clinical practices for undergraduate veterinary and veterinary technology students. Professional positions held include: Past-President of the Academy of Emergency and Critical Care Technicians and Nurses (AVECCTN) and past Board member of the Academy of Veterinary Technician Anesthetists (AVTAA), the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management (IVAPM) and VNCA. In 2018 she was honoured to receive the VNCA Veterinary Nurse of the Year and the AVECCT Speciality Technician of the Year awards. Trish is a passionate advocate of lifelong learning and is active in the development of CPD opportunities for nurses and technicians both nationally and internationally. Her belief is that fundamental to the future of veterinary nursing is having a strong national association that is active in recognising the challenges faced by our profession and is proactive in discussions and collaboration with the membership and other stakeholders.