Animal Industries Resource Centre

Personalised and Professional Education and Training (RTO Code 31424)

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Meet the Team at Animal Industries Resource Centre

We know the value of an exceptional team. We know that we deliver industry training and consulting services second to none and that our team is the secret. Our promise is to take you to where you want to be, to help you identify the best way to get there and simply, to practice what we preach.

The Animal Industries Resource Centre is proud to have on board Veterinarians and Veterinary Nurses who have excelled in the veterinary profession and are committed to passing on their wealth of experience and knowledge. Many of the team fulfil the roles of assessors, tutors, workshop co-ordinators, career advisors, job counsellors and professional colleagues. We have a team that excel in a range of areas, that will help you in your quest to further your skills and knowledge.

Mark Hardwick

General Manager | CCG Consultant

Mark has spent the last 15 years in the veterinary industry as a trainer and consultant. A founding Director of AIRC/CCG, his passion is to work with practice owners to build business. Mark specialises in veterinary practice auditing and coaching, in particular, operational efficiencies, strategic planning and financial management. Mark’s no-nonsense approach to creating practice profitability sees him in demand as a coach and mentor. Mark is also the General Manager of AIRC/CCG.

Susan Crampton

Business Manager | Lead CCG Consultant

Sue is an acknowledged as an engaging and practical facilitator, trainer and consultant across Australasia in areas of Human resources, business development, change management, strategic visioning and planning, communication excellence, staff /team development and management and innovative learning and development initiatives.

Sue invests time working as the Business Manager for Provet/Crampton Consulting Group and Animal Industries Resource Centre and last year received the 2019 Inaugural VBG Business Professional of the Year award for her contribution to the veterinary profession over the last 2 decades. Sue was the co-founder of the VNCA and works closely with the AVA and many of the SIG’s on many levels. Sue has worked in a variety of roles including animal welfare, general practice, emergency and university settings in the USA and Hong Kong. She has formed international connections and networks across the world and frequently works in countries such as UAE, NZ, Malaysia, Singapore, HK.

Sue holds degree qualifications in Change Management, Human Resources, Marketing and Neuro Linguistic Programming along with a Diploma in Company Directorship and applies her knowledge and skills practically to a diverse range of clientele including universities, associations, pharmaceutical companies, veterinary practices of all disciplines and sizes. Sue was also honoured to receive the Inaugural AVA/VBG Veterinary Business Professional of the year Award for 2019.

Most importantly Sue stays connected with a practice in her home village in Queensland where she maintains a governance position in a quality mixed practice which she has been associated with for over 20 years. Sue has a passion for facilitating people to be the best they can be and experiencing the value people of all walks of life offer to the veterinary profession across the globe.

Mik O'Leary

Technical Online Development

Mik graduated from University of Queensland in 1980 and spent 25 years in small animal veterinary practice. Most of this was spent at a major small animal hospital in Hobart though he has practiced in most states of Australia as well as a year working in the UK. He has a keen interest in surgery and particularly enjoys the challenges of orthopaedics.

After many years in full-time practice and part-time mentor to veterinary nurses, Mik crossed over to work as a full-time veterinary nurse trainer and part-time veterinarian. Mik now designs and delivers all AIRC/CCG online programs including ProSkills, website management and educational webinars and videos. Mik loves to travel at any opportunity and is an avid photographer.

Tracy Woodland

RTO Operations and Training Supervisor

Tracy has been working for the AIRC for almost 20 years, having come from a strong training and education background in the UK. As the RTO Operations and Training Supervisor, Tracy manages a team of administration coordinators and personal training consultants to deliver exceptional veterinary nursing and management qualifications across Australasia.

In her private life Tracy has a Cavoodle called Alfie who comes to work once a week.

Jodie Stuart

Student Services & Support Team Leader

Jodie Stuart joined the AIRC team in 2011 as a Regional Training Coordinator, bringing with her over 17 years of experience in the companion animal industry. She has an extensive background in pet store management, animal fostering, adoption programs, and animal behaviour and enrichment initiatives. In 2010, Jodie earned her Certificate IV in Companion Animal Services through AIRC, followed by a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, which led her to become a Trainer and Assessor at AIRC.

Throughout her tenure at AIRC, Jodie has transitioned into a leadership role, overseeing Operations, Systems, and Compliance, while still actively engaging in training and assessing. She has also completed a Certificate IV in Frontline Management and a Diploma of Leadership and Management, serving as the Lead Coach for the Diploma of Leadership and Management.

In her personal life, Jodie cares for two delightful cats, Lexi and Mia, and a charming Corgi named Bentley, who accompanies her to work every day. She has a keen interest in wildlife, horses, animal photography, and home renovations. Additionally, Jodie enjoys engaging Bentley in various enrichment activities to challenge his active mind.

Esther Boon

Student Support Team Leader

Esther joined the AIRC team in March 2012, after working as a Veterinary Nurse for 10 years. Esther spent 9 years working in Brisbane as a Veterinary Nurse, but started out her nursing career in a Bird and Cat Hospital in Oregon, USA. Esther is a past student of the AIRC, graduating with her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing in 2007. Esther has since completed her Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. Esther would love to see all Veterinary Nurses meeting their absolute full potential and aims to instil a passion for developing their nursing skills and upholding the highest of standards of care.

Esther is the resident ‘bird lady’ and owns two Alexandrine Parrots – Chai and Leo. She enjoys baking, motorsport, painting and dancing.

Helen Power

Senior Personal Training Consultant - NSW, NT and WA

AVN, RVN, DipGP, CIVVN, TAE

Helen is an Accredited Veterinary Nurse and a Registered Veterinary Nurse and currently works in a small animal practice on the NSW mid-north coast. She holds her Diploma Veterinary Nurse [General Practice] and Training & Assessment qualification.

Helen has worked for AIRC and Crampton Consulting Group since 2000. Her main roles are as a Workplace Trainer & Assessor with responsibility for approximately 100 Veterinary Nurse students throughout Australia.

Helen is actively involved with industry groups being a current member of the National Industry Advisory Group for Veterinary Nursing and co-chair of the International Veterinary Nurses & Technicians Association. Her main focus is in promoting the value of qualified Veterinary Nurses.

Her interests include red wine, good food and baking and can often be found in the veggie garden tending to her tomatoes, beans and chillies

Jasmine Feeney

Personal Training Consultant - ACT and Southern NSW

Jasmine began working as a Junior Veterinary Nurse in a mixed practice on the mid north coast of NSW which resulted in a passion for veterinary nursing. In January 2000 she moved to Sydney to begin studying for her Certificate in veterinary nursing and worked in a cat only practice for 1 year. She then had the opportunity to join the referral medicine team at the Sydney University Teaching Hospital at the end of 2000, completing her Certificate IV in veterinary nursing in 2002 and an advanced certificate IV in critical care and emergency nursing in 2003. Jasmine was the head of nursing at Sydney University Teaching Hospital for 5 years and has recently moved to Canberra where she is the nursing manager in a small animal practice.

Jasmine is a personal training consultant for the Animal Industries Resource Centre for students in the ACT and Southern NSW areas. She obtained accreditation through the VNCA in January 2006, a Diploma in Critical Care and Emergency Nursing in 2007 and has a special interest in intensive care nursing and oncology.

Carole Harvey-Stevenson

Technical Advisor and Special Projects

Carole has worked with the AIRC since 2001 as the resident technical advisor. Carole’s role involves developing on-line course materials, presenting workshops, webinars and in-practice training. Carole also lectures on a variety of in-depth topics throughout Australia and overseas. Carole has her UK nursing qualification as well as an Australian Diploma in Emergency and Critical Care. Her greatest achievement was obtaining the Veterinary Technician Specialist qualification in Emergency and Critical Care from the United States (the first person in Australia).

Carole still remains hands-on in the industry working at the Brisbane Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Centre. Any spare time is taken up by her two cats; Kitt-the-Kat and Filbert the Hoon!

Jo Hatcher

Jo Hatcher

Personal Training Consultant - SA and Tasmania

Jo Hatcher Dip VN, Cert IV VN, Cert IV TAE, RVN, AVN

Jo is a Registered and Accredited Veterinary Nurse who has been working in the profession for over 20 years and is the trainer and assessor for Animal Industries and a training consultant for Crampton Consulting Group. She also works as a ECC nurse in a specialty hospital. Jo enjoys both the challenges of working in practice especially in emergency, medical and surgical nursing and is also very passionate about the training of veterinary nurses in the knowledge and skills required to ensure the highest levels of veterinary care is provided in practice. With a great passion for the profession and raising the status of veterinary nurses in Australia, Jo is active member of the Veterinary Nurses Council of Australia (VNCA) having previously sat on the board of directors as a Past President and currently is a member of the CPD committee, editorial committee reviewing the Australian Veterinary Nurses Journal (AVNJ) and the Australian Veterinary Nurses and Technicians Registration Scheme (AVNAT) Regulatory Council chair. Jo has lectured both within Australia and internationally and has a beautiful golden retriever called Eddy and a cheeky Domestic Shorthair cat called Blueberry at home along with her human family

Karen Holman

Personal Training Consultant

Karen started at the AIRC in February 2013 and has 15 years experience as a Veterinary Nurse in general practice. She is a Certificate IV Veterinary Nurse and has the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. Her main interests are small animal medicine and surgical nursing. Karen works casually on weekends in a busy clinic, to keep her nursing skills up to date.

In her spare time, Karen is currently renovating her house with her husband and keeping busy with her 3 year old son. She also enjoys movies, rock climbing, wine and travelling.

Andrew Thompson

Personal Training Consultant

Andrew started his Veterinary Nursing career in early 2003, spending time in GP, ECC, Bird and Exotics and even a Pet Funeral Company before joining the AIRC/CCG Team in early 2015. He also filled a number of positions at the VNCA on a divisional and national level between 2006 and 2012.

As well as a Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing and Certificate IV in Training and Assessment he holds a Diploma of Counselling and is currently working through a Bachelor of Counselling. Andrew completed Mental Health First Aid Instructor Accreditation in December of 2020 after first becoming an Accredited Mental Health First Aider in August 2016. He is a member of the Australian Counselling Association and volunteers and works on a national telephone and chat hotline which he has done since 2013. Alongside his Student Support role he regularly writes articles and presents on self-care, mindfulness, goal setting and other similar wellness topics for the veterinary industry.

Andrew shares his home with his partner, geriatric chihuahua Deja, geriatric cat Marshall, Belladonna the cat, bearded dragon Charlie and a bird called Turtle. Andrew’s top self-care activities are roller skating and yoga, but obviously not at the same time.

Cherry Lui

Personal Training Consultant - Hong Kong

Cherry has worked in the veterinary industry for over 10 years and has experience in many different roles including; veterinary nurse, hospital supervisor and practice manager. As a result of having worked in both small animal and exotics clinics throughout Hong Kong, Cherry developed an interest in exotics. Cherry joined the AIRC in 2012 and particularly enjoys being able to organise and attend the annual event for the graduating Hong Kong students. In addition to her role with AIRC, she still works in practice 1-2 days per week to keep her nursing skills current.

Jane Roberts

Student Support Coordinator

Jane has worked for the AIRC for 8 years as a work place trainer, assessor and student coordinator. Jane hopes to pass on her knowledge and experience to up and coming nurses whilst following another path in her veterinary nursing career. Jane qualified as a veterinary nurse in the UK and came to Australia in September 1999 to further her career. Since arriving in Australia she has completed her Diploma in Surgical Nursing and has extensive experience in Emergency and Critical Care nursing.

Jane also keeps her finger on the pulse and still has shifts in one of Brisbane’s busy Emergency and Critical Care Clinics. Needless to say working in clinic Jane has acquired an extensive family as all veterinary nurses have a tendency to do! Pimple, Squamous and Mole are stray cat’s rescued from work and she also has 4 crazy chickens. Jane likes to spend time with her husband and 2 gorgeous little boys enjoying the outdoors and experiencing all that life has to offer.

Nichola Spooner

Student Support - Assessment Coordinator

Nic graduated with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science (first class honours) from the University of Queensland in 2001. She completed a small animal rotating internship at Queensland Veterinary Specialists in 2004 and obtained her membership of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in Small Animal Emergency Medicine and Critical Care in 2005. Nic is now a holistic vet who practices integrative medicine and is completing her Graduate Diplomas in Western Veterinary Herbal Medicine and Veterinary Acupuncture and has a special interest in holistic nutrition. Nic has mentored Veterinary Nurses for many years and now enjoys training and assessing and is passionate about veterinary education. She obtained her Certificate IV TAE in 2014 and finds continuous development course work very rewarding. Having grown up on a cattle property in Central Queensland, Nic now lives on the beautiful Capricorn Coast with her three children, kelpie, cat and two pampered sussex hens.

Andrea Suesskow

Student Support - Coordinator

Andrea Suesskow joined the AIRC team in 2020, after working in the industry for 9 years. Andrea started off her career in 2011 in a mixed practice clinic in Lismore NSW as a school-based student studying her Certificate II. After obtaining her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing in 2013, she continued her nursing career in Brisbane QLD from 2016, working in general practice. She obtained her Certificate IV in Training and Assessment in 2019, and spent a short time marking for AIRC before joining the team on a full-time basis as a Trainer and Assessor.

In her spare time, Andrea is kept busy with home renovations with her husband, and loves the outdoors and travel.