Executive Board
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Dr Ellen van Nierop
President
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Dr Ellen van Nierop
Location: Ecuavet Servicios Veterinarios Avenida General Enriquez 3383 e Isla Rabida San Rafael, Valle de los Chillos Quito, Ecuador
Biography
Dr Ellen van Nierop is a Dutch veterinarian. She qualified from Ghent University in Belgium and now lives and works in Ecuador where she runs a small animal clinic in partnership with her husband who is also a veterinarian. In addition to her veterinary qualifications, Dr van Nierop has studied accounting and auditing and, in 2016, achieve a degree as an Engineer in Accounting and Auditing from the Ecuadorian Universidad Particular de Loja.
Dr van Nierop has been the Ecuadorian representative of the WSAVA for AMVEPE since 2009 and joined the WSAVA Executive Board, initially as Seventh Board Member and later as Treasurer.
Board Member Status: President
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Dr Jim Berry
Vice President
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Dr Jim Berry
Location: New Brunswick, Canada
I graduated from the University of Guelph with a MSc in Wildlife Parasitology before pursuing a veterinary degree at the Ontario Veterinary College, Ontario, Canada in 1990. I worked in a mixed animal practice for one year before moving to a companion animal practice in the Ottawa valley. Over the next 5 years, I developed an interest in orthopaedic medicine and exotics.
My wife, daughter and I moved to the East coast of Canada in 1996. Over the following 11 years, I have expanded my interest in orthopedics and performance evaluations by branching out into acupuncture, massage and rehabilitation medicine.
Currently, I am the past president of the New Brunswick Veterinary Medical Association, and the president-elect of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Associaton. I have also been a board member of the local SPCA and a marathon trainer for the Arthritis Society’s Joints in Motion program.
Board Member Status: Vice President
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Dr Felisbina Queiroga
Board Member
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Dr Felisbina Queiroga
Location: Department of Veterinary Sciences University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro Quinta de Prados 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal
Biography
Bio PDF: Click to view PDF
Board Member Status: Board Member
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Dr Jerzy Gawor
Board Member
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Dr Jerzy Gawor
Location: Poland
Biography
Dr Jerzy Paweł Gawor (1966) graduated in April 1992. He received his PhD in 1996. Since January 2009 Fellow Academy of Veterinary Dentistry. In 2015 successfully completed re-quirements and became Diplomate of the American Veterinary Dental College (AVDC) and European Veterinary Dental College (EVDC). At present Dr Gawor provides dental teaching services in European School of Advanced Veterinary Studies in Europe and Asia.
His main field of professional activity is dentistry, head and neck surgery and oncology. Several hundred advanced dentistry procedures a year have resulted in a wealth of skill and practical knowledge. Published and presented over 120 publications in veterinary dentistry.
Dr. de Jong is a past president of the Massachusetts and New England Veterinary Medical Associations, as well as the American Association of Housecall Veterinarians. He is on the board of trustees at Tufts University and serves on the board of advisors for the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University.
Dr. de Jong writes a weekly column in the Boston Herald called “Ask the Vet” and appeared on local talk radio for many years.
His many recognitions and honors include the Massachusetts Veterinary Medical Association’s Distinguished Service Award, Boston’s Best Veterinarian designations by both Boston Magazine and the Improper Bostonian, the Outstanding Alumnus Award from the Tufts University Veterinary Alumni Association and recognition as one of Boston’s Outstanding Young Leaders.
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Dr Oscar Umaña
Honorary Treasurer
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Dr. Oscar Umaña
Biography
Dr. Oscar Umaña is a Honduran/ Nicaraguan citizen, he graduated as a Veterinarian from the School of Veterinary Medicine of Universidad Nacional in Costa Rica in the year 2000, he began his professional career with a series of business ventures, with the conviction of maximizing the value offered to the community he serves.
In 2002 he was co-founder of Veterinarios Asociados in Managua, Nicaragua, a company dedicated to veterinary services in equine practice and companion animals. In 2007 services were extended to Costa Rica where he founded Hospital Veterinarios Asociados in San José, where he currently lives and works.
In 2010 he co-founded Consulab (Grupo Albeitar), a company dedicated to services in Veterinary Clinical Pathology and Microbiology in Costa Rica.
In 2013 he completed an Executive MBA from INCAE Business School. Since then he participated in the creation of MEVEPES (Veterinary Companion Animal Association of Costa Rica) and has been a board Member since then, and consequently started his involvement in WSAVA.
He has special interest for topics such as Leadership, Organizational Culture, Strategy and Pricing.
He recently received his ICF Coaching Certification from Ignite Global and is currently working as a consultant for Private Practice owners throughout some countries in Latin America.
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Dr Siraya Chunekamrai
Past President
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Dr Siraya Chunekamrai
Location: Animal Farm Veterinary Hospital 709/52-53 Sukhumvit 77 Bangkok 10250 Thailand
Biography
Dr. Chunekamrai fulfilled her childhood dream of becoming an animal doctor as she was accepted into the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart university and upon graduation received a scholarship to further her studies at Cornell University. Her research and interests were in equine medicine and surgery, the field in which she based her practice on once she returned to Thailand in 1989.
Apart from her 2 practices, The Animal Farm Veterinary Hospital and the Horsepital Equine Surgery the first equine hospital in Thailand, she has founded the Thai Pony Foundation (formerly Lampang Pony Welfare Foundation) and Cambodia Pony Welfare Organization in 2003 and 2008.
She was elected President of the Veterinary Pracitioners Association of Thailand (VPAT) for 2 terms from 2006-2010, established the Thailand Animal Hospital Standards and Accreditation and now serves on its advisory board.
Dr. Chunekamrai was elected onto the executive board of The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) since 2011. She is currently the first female President of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association.
Board Member Status: Past President
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Dr Nalinika Obeyesekere
Board Member
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Dr Nalinika Obeyesekere
Location: Colombo, Sri Lanka
My association with WSAVA over the years enabled me to gain enriching technical knowledge, understanding of global issues, and opportunities to forge rewarding friendships with international colleagues. These rich experiences are a fundamental motivator to give back. To ensure others around the world can enjoy such impactful opportunities. I have dedicated my career to the WSAVA’s goals. I believe I can contribute to the further advancement of these goals, particularly in Asia.
Board Member Status: Board Member
Secretariat
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Richard Casey
Executive Director
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Richard Casey
Prior to joining the veterinary world in 2011 Richard’s career was focussed in human resources for a variety of household names. Today, he is the Executive Director of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association, and, Senior Vice President of VMG, the UK’s leading veterinary leadership and management association. He holds an Executive MBA, Post Graduate Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership, and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Management and an Associate of the CIPD. He is currently researching his Doctorate in Business Administration with a focus on strategic thinking. He believes anyone can achieve success in their careers regardless of their background, and that the key to this is having courage and kindness.
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Rebecca George
PR Consultant
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Rebecca George
Rebecca George is a highly experienced communications professional. She began her career working for leading PR consultancies in London, UK. During her time here, she designed and delivered communications campaigns for many of the world’s leading brands including Microsoft, Xerox and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Relocating out of London, she set up her own business, George PR, and now specialises in working in the animal health sector and for not-for-profit organizations. Her current clients include Virbac Animal Health and The Goddard Veterinary Group, one of the UK’s largest practice groups. She is also a volunteer for Cats Protection and keeps ex-battery chickens. Rebecca is a graduate of the University of Birmingham.
Committees
PR and Communications Committee(PRC): Member
Translation Committee(TC): Member
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Liat Geller
Global Operations Manager
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Liat Geller
Liat Geller has vast experience in the travel industry, with a focus on meetings and events marketing, and more recently procurement of hotels and venues for large and small congresses globally. Additionally, she has created a portfolio of on hands project management in a variety of fields.
In her somewhat limited spare time, Liat is a coach of a women’s rugby team and claims to enjoy long distance running.
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Joyce Dao
Finance Officer
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Joyce Anne Dao
Joyce Anne Dao holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting graduated in 2008. Joyce is a finance professional with broad experience of forecasting, financial reporting, budget development, analysis and system implementation in the private, public and not for profit organization.
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Jacinta Johnson
Communication Consultant
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Jacinta Johnson
Jacinta is a marketing professional with extensive digital experience, having spent 14 years working in a number of creative and marketing capacities — with a strong focus in animal protection and non-profit/ non-governmental organisations.
Currently, she runs her own design and digital marketing business — providing design solutions and managing online presence for a diverse portfolio of clients in Malaysia, Hong Kong, Dubai, London and Papua New Guinea.
Jacinta is based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.