K9MD - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- Creative Designer & Trustee
With a formal background of cartoon creativity, design and illustration Alan has been responsible for the creation of K9MD's logo and all artwork required over the years for K9 Medical Detection NZ Charitable Trust.
Dr. Vanessa Cave is an applied statistician interested in the application of statistics to the biosciences, in particular agriculture, animal science and ecology, and is a developer of the Genstat statistical software package. She has over 15 years of experience collaborating with scientists, using statistics to solve real-world problems. Vanessa provides expertise on experiment and survey design, data collection and management, statistical analysis, and the interpretation of statistical findings. Her interests include statistical consultancy, mixed models, multivariate methods, statistical ecology, statistical graphics and data visualisation.
Vanessa is a past President of both the Australasian Region of the International Biometric Society and the New Zealand Statistical Association, on the Editorial Board of The New Zealand Veterinary Journal and an honorary academic at the University of Auckland. She has a PhD in statistics from the University of St Andrew.
Job Titles:
- Registered Nurse
- Trustee
- Administration, Accounting & Trustee
Elisabeth is a registered nurse who specialises in ear health. When not working, Elisabeth loves getting out and exploring the countryside with her gorgeous border collie Molly.
Elisabeth is a K9MD Trustee and is essential with her oversight for accounting, administration and finance.
Job Titles:
- Specialist Colorectal Nurse
Gabrielle (Gabby) works as a Practice Nurse at Wakefield Gastroenterology Centre in Wellington. She has a Masters in Nursing and specialises in Colorectal and General Surgery.
Karren has over 30 years experience in research as a science technician. Karren has also worked with dogs for many years and brings not only her vast laboratory experience to K9MD but also her passion for both science and dogs.
Job Titles:
- Creating Community Partnerships & Funding Administrator
Kay Mercer joins our administration team focusing on funding and fundraising. Kay has a broad career background in financial services, information services, event management and digital archives.
Kay is kept company by her two Italian Greyhounds
Kim is in her 15 th year of working as a Registered Nurse and 7 th year as Colorectal Nurse Specialist at Southland Hospital. Kim is passionate about surgical and colorectal nursing.
She believes that education and professional development is essential to her role of nursing.
Kim was honoured by being awarded the Southern DHB Care and Compassion Award in 2020.
Krystle Hall is a senior veterinary nurse who gained certification in canine rehabilitation through the University of Tennessee. Krystle also holds a certificate in canine strengthening and conditioning as well as canine hydrotherapy.
Job Titles:
- Medical & Quality Management Specialist
Lisa Cambridge has had the opportunity to spend her career working amongst the life sciences, starting out as a technician in horticultural and agricultural research, then as a research associate in animal genetics, medical diagnostics and cancer research in New Zealand and the UK. She is a certified quality manager and for the past 13 years has been responsible for developing, implementing and maintaining quality management systems for laboratories and medical diagnostic operations to meet international regulatory compliance requirements.
"I believe that excellence is neither a talent or a gift, but built on knowledge, practice, experience, aspiration and dedication in whatever path taken."
Lisa has a Bachelor of Applied Management, majoring in business excellence and is passionate about implementing practical quality principles and management tools to successfully plan, develop and advance projects.
A self-described bibliophile and passionate Editor for the New Zealand Journal of Medical Laboratory Science, Lisa enjoys the craft of writing and editing as well as mentoring and supporting aspiring authors within this profession to attain perhaps their very first publication.
Lisa lives with two spirited Blue Heelers and loves spending time at the beach and the great outdoors.
Job Titles:
- Puppy Development and Canine Environment Trainer
Lynette has owned and trained dogs for over 30 years and has a particular love of Border Collies and Siberian Huskies. She has Edge, a Border Collie/Siberian Husky, who is an obedience champion and is now training Reef, a younger dog, to follow in Edge's footsteps for competition obedience.
Lynette has competed in various dog sports and taught dog obedience at dog clubs. Teaching puppies is her passion. Lynette has a certificate from Massey University in canine behaviour.
Job Titles:
- Registered Endoscopy Nurse
Job Titles:
- Ambassador
- Ambassador and Spokesperson
Melanie Kerr was the effervescent host of the Good Morning Show for eight years. Beaming into thousands of New Zealand homes every weekday morning, Melanie is a trusted and well known face throughout the country.
Her warm personality and sincerity combined with a cheeky sense of humour makes Melanie approachable and well-liked by people from all walks of life. She gives freely of herself and in turn brings out the very best in those around her.
Melanie is a professional broadcaster, experienced in all aspects of the craft. From radio to television presenting, modelling and voice work, to live emceeing Melanie brings warmth and a touch of glamour to whatever she turns her hand to.
Outside of broadcasting, Melanie is a Marriage Celebrant, chosen by New Zealand Weddings Magazine to be the celebrant of choice for their Win Your Dream Wedding Competition since 2011. Melanie conducts over 50 weddings each year and she is also a well-respected funeral celebrant.
Her love of people and her commitment to the community is evident in the many hours she donates to K9MD. Melanie is passionate about K9MD and believes strongly that canine medical detection can make a positive difference to people's lives.
Associate Professor Michelle McConnell is K9MD's Research Project Manager.
Michelle has a PhD in Microbiology and held dual roles at the University of Otago, as a Research Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology and also as the Biological Compliance Officer for the University. In this second role she managed the university's containment and transitional facility at the Dunedin campus and maintained oversight of the facilities at the Wellington and Christchurch campuses.
Michelle brings invaluable knowledge and experience to our work and we know her input and guidance will be a vital part of the science behind our canine scent detection.
Job Titles:
- General Surgeon and Gastroenterologist
John trained in general surgery in New Zealand. He then undertook post-fellowship training in gastroenterological surgery for 5 years in the UK. The upper GI surgery was at hospitals in Bristol and Cambridge. The colorectal surgery was at St Mark's Hospital, London.
John has developed minimally invasive gastrointestinal surgery over his 15 years in specialist practice, including extensive experience in laparoscopic hernia repair and laparoscopic bowel surgery. John is also consultant surgeon at Hutt Hospital.
Mr. Stotzer graduated from the University of Illinois College of Medicine in 1998 and completed his Urology residency training at Wayne State University School of Medicine in 2004. He was a private Urology Consultant from 2004-2015 in South Carolina prior to moving to New Zealand in 2015 to join the Urology Department at the Southern DHB. He has special interests in prostate cancer and laparoscopy and provides minimally invasive cancer surgery. He also has extensive experience treating kidney stones and male voiding dysfunction related to BPH. He is a member of Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand (USANZ) and the American Urological Association (AUA).
Michael is an Australasian Fellowship trained Urologist, (FRACS),based in Invercargill.
Michael studied medicine at the University of Manchester (UK) and moved to New Zealand in 2005. As part of the urology training program he worked in numerous hospitals around New Zealand and completed his Urological Fellowship training in 2016. After finishing a uro-oncology fellowship at Liverpool Hospital Sydney further training was undertaken in Endourology and complex Kidney Stones at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh, Scotland.
In 2017 he returned to Invercargill and has settled with his wife, 4 children, 2 dogs, 2 birds and an Axolotl. When he gets some free time he enjoys cleaning mud off his mountain bike, skiing and climbing.
Job Titles:
- Veterinary Scientist & Trustee
Nita is a New Zealand trained veterinarian who has worked in clinical practice and the livestock production industries in this country.
She has special interests in animal welfare, biosecurity, and the interaction between animal health and human health. Her current work involves working with farmers, veterinarians, industry personnel, researchers and government representatives to enhance the health and welfare of both animals and people in New Zealand.
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Founder
- Founder, Chief Executive & Chair of K9MD 's Board of Trustees
Pauline has owned and trained dogs for over 40 years. She taught advanced dog obedience for 20 years and was awarded life membership for her work. She is a strong dog safety advocate and has published 3 children's dog safety books. Pauline has a special interest in canine genetics and behaviour. She has trained in canine scent work and has been involved in canine therapy in rest homes, hospitals and hospice.
Pauline is the winner of the prestigious Otago Hall of Fame Innovation award. She was also the winner in the Entrepreneurial Category of the Inspirational Women for Otago and Queenstown Lakes District.
Pauline's understanding of the incredible sensory abilities of canines, and knowing that New Zealand has one of the highest rates of cancer in the world led to her creating K9 Medical Detection New Zealand Charitable Trust. Her mission is to create a simple diagnostic urine test as a value added tool in the fight against cancer. Pauline has brought together a full specialist clinical support team.
Job Titles:
- Associate Maori Health Strategy and Improvement Officer
- Māori Health Advisor
Peter Ellison is the Associate Maori Health Strategy and Improvement Officer with WellSouth who is part of the Southern Health System Maori Health Team and will be providing advice to the K9MD team regarding Maori participation in their research.
Peter is an executive member of Kati Huirapa Runaka ki Puketeraki and member of Te Runanga o Otakou. He has also been a member of Te komiti Roopu Rakahau o Ngai Tahu (The Ngai Tahu Research Consultation Committee) working alongside the University of Otago.
Job Titles:
- Team Leader & Head Trainer
Peter has 27 years experience as a Police dog handler actively involved in specialist work and deployment with the Armed Offenders Squad and Search and Rescue.
More recently Peter has established a strong background leading a team within local Government.
As Team Leader Peter will provide great support, direction and guidance to the K9MD Team in all of our exciting new developments.
Samantha (Sam) has successfully trained dogs for over 25 years and competed at top-level competitive obedience events achieving multiple Obedience Champions and Grand Champions titles, which is the highest level achievable in New Zealand. Sam has also successfully represented the Southern region in New Zealand National canine events and just recently won the National title of Top Novice dog with her young dog named Cadet.
Job Titles:
- International Canine Scent Detection Specialist
In his 43rd year of a canine-centered law enforcement career, Steve White is the only person to have served as a handler, trainer, training sergeant, and supervisor for the Seattle Police Canine Unit. He specialises in the use of video and technology to support analytical and training processes.
He is Accredited as a Master Trainer by the Washington State Police Canine Association, has served as Vice President of the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, and is a consultant and instructor for the K9 Academy for Law Enforcement. He has instructed at seminars round the world.
He specialises in teaching behaviour modification, tracking and scent work through positive reinforcement-based operant conditioning. He has been recognised as an expert witness in dog behaviour matters.
Vicky graduated from the University of Liverpool in the UK with a BSc in Bio veterinary science and a BVSc in Veterinary science. She moved to NZ in 2010 with her husband and now calls Dunedin home. She has two children and one elderly Labrador.
Vicky has worked at the Green Island Veterinary Clinic for 13 years and during her time there has also completed a Masters in Veterinary medicine through Massey University.
Vicky has recently become a trustee of K9MD Charitable Trust and believes there is so much to be learnt from the canine olfactory system.