Meet the Team
Amanda Williams
Clinical Director
MRCVSAmanda graduated from the University of Bristol in 2008 and joined our team in 2014. She became a director in 2018 and enjoys working flexibly alongside her leadership responsibilities and helping her team achieve their career aspirations. Her hobbies include cooking, running and skiing.
Maegan Potter,
Clinical Director
MRCVS PgCertSAMMeg graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2012 and joined us in 2018. She loves all aspects of her role and has a postgraduate certificate in small animal medicine. In her free time, she enjoys chasing her energetic spaniels, horse riding, dancing, singing and playing the guitar.
Siobhan Conaghan
Practice Manager
RVNSiobhan graduated in 2017 and joined our team the following year. She began her career as an equine vet nurse and has enjoyed transferring her skills to a small animal context. She became our practice manager in 2019 and enjoys supporting our team and delivering great care. Outside of work, she can often be found hiking and trail running with her spaniel Ted.
Nikki Morrison
Practice Manager
Nikki is originally from Glasgow and joined our team in 2022. She studied graphic design at university and now uses her skills to create marketing and social media content. She has a keen interest in business and customer service, and is currently studying for a master’s degree. She also enjoys cooking, visiting the coast and volunteering at her local arts centre.
Jean Flynn
Finance Manager
Jean worked in financial and administrative roles before joining our team in 2005, and enjoys the variety of her work and the job satisfaction she gets from her role. In her spare time, she likes to relax and spend time with her family. She loves cats and has two of her own called Pippa and Poppy – they keep her company in the evening after a hard day at work!
Chris Walker
Clinical Lead Veterinary Surgeon
MRCVSChris graduated from the University of Bristol in 2009 and worked at a mixed practice before joining our team in 2011. He enjoys all aspects of general practice work, and prides himself on keeping up-to-date with the veterinary industry and providing high standards of care. Outside of work, Chris and his family enjoy being part of the Monmouth Baptist Church.
Gary Champken
Clinical Lead Veterinary Surgeon
MRCVS PgCertSASGary graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2010 and joined our team in 2011. He enjoys all aspects of general practice work and has a post-graduate certificate in small animal surgery. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his two young children and walking in the mountains with his springer spaniels.
Cate Wood
Veterinary Surgeon
MRCVSCate joined our team in 2016 and has a range of small animal experience. She has worked in large RSPCA hospitals, universities and zoos, and has a wild animal health master’s degree from London Zoo, where she worked with species such as spitting cobras and lions! She enjoys spending time outdoors and has three cats, a terrier cross and a gerbil at home.
Eileen Pfeffel
Veterinary Surgeon
MRCVSEileen joined us as a graduate in 2021 and has a particular interest in exotics and soft tissue surgery. In her spare time, she enjoys doing craft activities such as crochet, painting and pottery – particularly around her favourite holiday, Halloween! She has two dogs called Buddy and Buster at home, both of which are adopted strays.
Nick Hooton
Veterinary Surgeon
MRCVSNick graduated from the University of Cambridge in 1987. He spent five years working in East Africa on international development projects, and now combines his veterinary role with work on human health systems in conflict. He lives with his family and his dog Paddy, and enjoys competitive rowing, growing chillies and volunteering as a mountain rescuer.
Catarina Gaspar
Veterinary Surgeon
MRCVSCatarina has started with us in October 2022 and has been qualified for 4 years. She has a particular interest in animal behavior and even has an additional qualification in dog training. Her previous jobs have allowed her some varied experience which includes TB Testing. At home she has a black Labrador called Merlin who she loves taking for long walks and jogs in the Welsh countryside. She also enjoys yoga and some nerdy Dungeons and Dragons sessions! Catarina is originally from Portugal but has lived in the UK since graduation.
Lluís Amengual Cabanellas
Veterinary Surgeon
MRCVSLLuís has been at Abbey Vets since 2022 after having been qualified for seven years. He has lots of experience including working in an aquarium in Spain, and small animal practices in Spain and South Wales. He has a keen interest in exotics and surgery, and also enjoys inpatient care. At home he has a Daschund X called Dujal and a Schnottie called Dottie. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, exercise, gaming, reading sci-fy! He classes himself as a crossbreed, as his parents are a combination of Spanish and French - Portuguese!
Rhiannon Davies
Veterinary Surgeon
MRCVSRebecca Williams
Veterinary Surgeon
MRCVSEmma Partridge
Veterinary Surgeon
MRCVSPamela Harding
Veterinary Surgeon
MRCVSPamela joined the team in July 2023 after working with large animals since graduating in 2021. She is originally from Tipperary in Ireland but loves living in Wales! She has a Golden Retriever cross English Pointer called Belle and two cats called Felix and Houdini. In her spare time, she loves walks, reading and playing musical instruments. She also loves baking!
Emma Pritchard
Veterinary Surgeon
MRCVSChloe Barrett
Registered Veterinary Nurse
RVNChloe joined our team in 2018 as a student nurse and qualified in 2020. Her favourite part of her job is treating inpatients and watching them improve under her care. She loves cats, dogs and birds, but has a soft spot for large, fluffy dogs like German Shepherds! Her pet budgie Kiwi was originally brought to us as a stray.
Annabel Jones
Registered Veterinary Nurse
RVNAnnabel joined us as a student veterinary nurse and qualified in 2021. She loves taking her chihuahuas Pixie and Dizzy for walks on her days off, and also has a tortoise and three ferrets at home. She loves nothing more than binge watching Netflix in her pyjamas, and can often be found asking her colleagues what they are having for tea!
Courtney Edwards
Registered Veterinary Nurse
RVNCourtney joined us in 2019 and previously spent time studying rhino conservation in South Africa. She is a clinical coach and has a keen interest in surgery and anaesthesia. She has a cat and a whippet at home, and enjoys CrossFit workouts, going out in her campervan and skiing.
Fari Keene
Registered Veterinary Nurse
RVNFari was born and raised in Zimbabwe, so grew up surrounded by antelope, monkeys, snakes and spiders! She qualified in 2018 and joined us in 2021, and has a specific interest in behaviour and bereavement counselling in practice. She has two cats called Jasper and Lexie at home, and loves spending time outdoors and pet sitting for friends.
Kate Taylor
Registered Veterinary Nurse
RVNKate joined us in 2016 and is now a clinical coach and OSCE examiner. She has a particular interest in ultrasonography and would like to expand her skills in the area. She has three chihuahuas and a Yorkshire terrier cross at home, and loves nothing more than taking her dogs to the beach. She also has a degree in fine art!
Katie Powell
Registered Veterinary Nurse
RVNKatie joined our team in 2021 and has a keen interest in theatre nursing and inpatient care. In her spare time, she enjoys horse riding, running, spending time with friends and family and going for long walks with her Labrador retriever, Milo.
Laura North
Registered Veterinary Nurse
RVNLaura qualified in 2011 and is passionate about all aspects of veterinary nursing. She has a particular interest in anaesthesia and likes to treat every patient like one of her own. She loves the great outdoors and can often be found walking, cycling and spending time with her horse. She also enjoys cooking!
Sian Hughes
Registered Veterinary Nurse
RVNSian graduated in 2019 and has been with us since her placement year. She loves the challenges of her role and has a passion for inpatient care, laboratory work and radiography. When she’s not wearing scrubs, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, taking photos of the countryside and walking her dogs, Henry and Vinnie.
Zoe Hamer-Thomas
Registered Veterinary Nurse
RVNZoe studied at Hartpury College and joined our team in 2015. She is a huge foodie and loves talking about food – particularly when she is finding out what her colleagues are having for tea! She also enjoys cooking, going out to restaurants and spending time with her family and cats, Albie and Budley.
Laela Holder
Registered Veterinary Nurse
RVNLaela joined us during her placement year in 2022 and has a keen interest in ultrasound and emergency and critical care. She has two German shepherds called Brooke and Keisha and a sprocker spaniel called Pepper. In her spare time, she loves travelling, baking and heading out into the countryside with her dogs.
Amelia Whitehead
Student Veterinary Nurse
Amelia studied animal care at college before joining our team in 2021, and she hopes to qualify as a veterinary nurse in the future. She previously worked on a dairy farm, and has experience of milking cows and lambing. She has a keen interest in muscle cars, and enjoys seeing friends and family and spending time with her springer spaniel Maya.
Katie Pepler
Student Veterinary Nurse
Meg Lord
Student Veterinary Nurse
Nicola Kear
Veterinary Nurse Assistant
Nicky joined our Monmouth team in 2015 and is a qualified veterinary nursing assistant. In her spare time, she enjoys running and spending time with her two small children. She is also the proud owner of a black Labrador.
Maria Bissex
Pet Insurance Administrator
Maria qualified in 1991 and joined our team as Head Nurse in 1994. After taking a break to start a family, Maria rejoined us in 2008 and now works as a Pet Insurance Administrator. In her spare time, she enjoys walking her Labrador Riley and cycling with her family.
Ann Price
Veterinary Receptionist
Ann joined us in 1990 and has held a variety of roles within our team. She has an array of sheep at home and loves making welsh cakes for her colleagues. She is also fluent in Welsh! R'wyf yn siarad cymraeg.
Laura Kembrey
Veterinary Receptionist
Laura joined us in 2021 and is based at our Tredegar branch. She has a background in retail management and loves interacting with our clients and pets. When she’s not at work, she loves doing craft activities and playing outdoors with her two children.
Lindsay Thomas
Veterinary Receptionist
Lindsay joined our team in 2014 after time spent working in a busy mixed practice. She has a keen interest in pet medicine and takes pride in her knowledge of our preferred food brand, Royal Canin. She has a horse and two rescue cats, and enjoys walking, reading and beekeeping.
Sarah Prothero
Veterinary Receptionist
Sarah worked as a post office manager and a registry clerk at the Ministry of Defence before joining our team in 2013. She is married with three children and lives on a farm with cows, sheep and chickens. She also has a pet terrier called Pip. Her claim to fame is that she once baked Welsh cakes for the Welsh tourist board at Disneyland Paris!
Stacey Evans
Veterinary Receptionist
Stacey joined our team in 2021 and can usually be found at our Tredegar branch. Outside of work, she attends college and works as a makeup artist. She also enjoys spending time with her toddler and her French bulldog Dougie.
Tracy Baker
Veterinary Receptionist
Tracy worked at a dog rehoming centre and at the Horse and Pony Protection Association before joining our team, and has over a decade of experience as a veterinary receptionist. She is a busy mum of two and loves exploring the Forest of Dean with her dog Bruno. She also enjoys running, reading thriller novels and spending time with family and friends.
Cheryl Hillier
Veterinary Receptionist
Cheryl has been with the team since July 2022 after always wanting to work with animals. At home she has a Labrador called Archie and loves spending time with him and her family! In her spare time, she loves reading and has been to college to study flower arranging which she loves to use to for designing her own gifts for friends and family!
Amber McCormack
Veterinary Receptionist
Amber joined the team in 2022 after completing her physics degree and deciding to try something different. She has previous experience working as a receptionist at the Queens Student Union in Belfast but wanted to work with animals as she wants to ensure we can provide the best experience for pets under our care. Amber has a F1 golden doodle called Zoe who she loves to spend her spare time with alongside reading, swimming and watching formula 1. She recently started cold water swimming in the local area which she loves and intends on getting more of our colleagues involved!
Heather Vaughan
Veterinary Receptionist
Heather joined our team in 2022 as a receptionist in our Monmouth branch. In her spare time, she loves spending time with her family and animals, as well as reading her never ending stash of books. Heather also loves meeting her friends for coffee, being in nature with trees and water and just taking the time to observe, listen, meditate and just be still.
Sharon Guest-Axford
Veterinary Receptionist
Sharon joined the team in March 2023. She started her career as a veterinary nurse in the Midlands which is where she is originally from. In 2006 Sharon and her husband moved to South Wales and started a mountain biking business where Sharon focused on the customer service side of the business for 16 years. Sharon enjoys good food, eating out is one of her favourite pass times along with hiking in the Black Mountains, reading physiological thrillers, crime fiction and going camping with her husband. She has had many pets over the years including cats, tortoises, rats, terrapins, tropical fish, a hamster and the love of her life Ruby a tiny Papillon who she sadly lost in 2022.
