Meet Our Team

Providing Vet care for Ellerslie, Mt Wellington, Penrose, Onehunga, Stonefields, Remuera, One Tree Hill, Epsom, Greenlane, Mt Eden, Meadowbank, Newmarket and Parnell.

Ellerslie Veterinary Clinic & Cattery
199 Main Highway, Ellerslie 1051, Auckland

kathrin

Dr. Kathrin Brinker

PhD, FTA Kleintiere

Kathrin graduated from the University of Veterinary Medicine in Hannover (Germany) in 1998 with the German equivalent of First Degree Honours and completed her PhD on Congenital Sensorineural Deafness in Dalmatians in 2000, also with First Degree Honours.

In 2000, she decided to acquire the German National Board Certified Specialist for Small Animals (this title is not recognized in New Zealand). During this five-year postgraduate specialist training, she worked alongside some of Germany’s top veterinary specialists in a number of hospitals and clinics, receiving referrals from over 60 veterinary clinics and covering all aspects of Small Animal Medical care, including Emergency Care.

During her 13 year education as a vet and ever since she also trained Veterinarians, for example in Ultrasound or cytology and she received referrals for diagnostic work ups and treatment overseas as well as in New Zealand.

She fell in love with New Zealand in the 1990s when she spent six months doing work experience in a Vet Club in Northland and she feels blessed that her family and she were able to move to New Zealand in 2010. Kathrin enjoys all this beautiful country has to offer and the ‘kiwi way of life’.

When not busy at the clinic she can usually be found spending time with her two adorable daughters, Hannah and Helena, and her equally adorable husband, Sascha – preferably playing sport, joining in outdoor activities or hanging out with their two gorgeous ponies, Tonto and Diego, Summer the dog and their three guinea pigs Elliot, Silver and Ginger.

Andrea Wong

Dr Andrea Wong

BVSc

Andrea is a true Auckland city girl: Born and bred here, she qualified as a vet from Massey University in Palmerston North in 1995. After a short stint as Small Animal Vet in Wellington, she moved back to Auckland for a while, then took off for her OE in the UK and worked there in numerous busy Small Animal Clinics and Hospitals.
New Zealand is too beautiful to be away too long, so Andrea settled back into her hometown and stayed here ever since.
She has worked in the role of a Senior Veterinarian, supervising and training younger colleagues for numerous years. In fact, she has more work experience than Kathrin, founder of the Ellerslie Veterinary Clinic!
Outside of work she is equally a mulit-talent, juggling her animals as well as carpentry, baking, doing sports, doing work on the house and so on and so on …

Dr Kat Orr

BVSc

Born and raised in Auckland, Kat’s roots go back to Europe with her parents being from North-Ireland.

After finishing her honours degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering in Auckland she pursued a change of career – she finished her Bachelor of Veterinary Science at Palmerston North in speed time and since has been working in the Small Animal Field.

Kat lives with her partner and cat ‘Tiny Tim’ in central Auckland. She is also proud owner of rabbit ‘Pikachu’ who prefers staying in her parent’s garden. In her free time Kat enjoys spending time in the outdoors or alternatively hanging out with her cat.

She has a special interest in pocket pets an in ultrasound diagnostics, but also enjoys all other aspects of Veterinary Medicine.

Jess Dr Beer

OLY BVSC MANZCVS Veterinary Behaviour

Born and raised in One Tree Hill, Auckland, Jess is a real local, but known New Zealand wide for her achievements and engagement in animal behaviour.

She qualified 2002 with a BVSc at Massey University. She moved to the UK to gain experience there for 10 years before returning back to NZ and working in companion animal clinics since. She has also regularly worked as a veterinary volunteer throughout the world, in places like India, Thailand, Gibraltar, Mexico, Panama, Romania, Portugal to name only a few and she has continued to work with local Auckland pet charities over the years.

In 2014, Jess gained her Membership of ANZCVS in Veterinary Behaviour, and runs the highly regarded Kiwi Vet Behaviour private consulting business. Jess is regularly invited to speak at tertiary training institutions and private veterinary clinics, teaching animal behaviour and low stress handling techniques. She has also been a regular veterinary behavioural expert on NZ radio and television.

In her spare time, she runs around after her two small boys and enjoys her family life. If any chance, she’ll be back to the piste with a sword and a mask, reliving her time as a representative of New Zealand Olympic fencing.

You will always find her with some foster animal attached to her, too!

Dr Emma Ruck

MANZCVS Veterinary Behavior

Emma was born and raised in Ellerslie, just up the road from Ellerslie Veterinary Clinic! She knew from a young age that she wanted to be a vet and graduated from Massey University with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science with distinction. She spent numerous years working in small animal practices in Adelaide, South Australia and has recently made the move back home to Auckland, bringing her partner and dog with her.

Emma enjoys all aspects of veterinary work but is most passionate about helping animals (and their owners) with behaviour problems and creating a low stress environment in the veterinary clinic – you will always find her with lots of treats to help facilitate this! In 2023 she passed her exam for her Membership in Animal Behaviour Medicine.

In her spare time Emma and her partner enjoy teaching and competing in Ceroc (also known as Modern Jive) dancing. She also enjoys baking, training and walking her dog, Echo, finding local food spots, and spending time with friends and family.

Dr Michelle Johnston

BSc (Hons) BVMS

Michelle hails from the UK. She graduated from the University of Glasgow with a commendation in Veterinary Medicine and an honours degree in Molecular Biology.

She moved to NZ in 2007 and worked in companion animal clinics in Auckland and also worked as a locum vet. She started a Masters of Veterinary Medicine while working, completing several papers and is currently working to complete this.

Michelle has returned to veterinary practice after having a break with her small children. During this time she and her family went back to the UK for 3 1/2 years but they have returned back to NZ to stay for good.

Michelle has completed the NZVA companion animal refresher scheme and is very excited to be back in the veterinary field.

In her spare time, she is very busy with her three small children and husband. They all love the outdoor life NZ provides and are always keen to be active! So they spend lots of time swimming, running or cycling, and exploring the beautiful country of NZ.

Jasmin Clarke

Senior Veterinary Nurse

Jasmin has always known she wanted to work with animals. She has worked with animals for close to 10 years now. She started out as a volunteer at the SPCAs veterinary hospital, which turned into full time work as an animal attendant (largely in the cat flu ward). She loved working with all the strays in need of a bit of kindness and seeing them heal, come out of their shells and find their forever homes. Not long after, she graduated form Unitec with a diploma in veterinary nursing in 2018 and continued to work at the SPCA. With the experience earned she decided on a new endeavor at Ellerslie and has been loving learning more everyday here.

In her spare time she is usually in her garden with her pets, all of whom were her fosters which she bonded with and couldn’t give back! Lando, the crazy Fox Terrier cross, kitties Rue and Toph who are both blind, and Kingsley, who is just dandy and was the first member of the family, helping Jasmin raise her foster kittens.

della

Della Kidd

Senior Veterinary Nurse

Della started working with small animals at Epsom Veterinary Centre and has been there for almost 12 wonderful years. She is a Unitec qualified Vet Nurse and enjoys all aspects of veterinary nursing.

Della is a familiar face to the Epsom Veterinary Centre clients who appreciate her as a cheerful and warm-hearted Veterinary Nurse.

When Epsom Vets amalgamated with Ellerslie Veterinary Clinic Della did not hesitate to join Kathrin and her team as she loved working with her when Kathrin was locuming for Andrew a few years ago.

Outside of work Della shares her home with her cat Chrissy Hissy Pants who was found on a road in Newmarket. She has a passion for food and flavours, particularly the Asian cuisine – which suits us well as we are a bunch of always hungry people.☺

hannah laustsen

Hannah Laustsen

Veterinary Nurse

Hannah was born and raised in New Zealand. From a young age Hannah always had a passion for animals, starting by growing up in an animal filled household ranging from, cats and dogs, small mammals all the way to horses.

Hannah started studying a diploma in Veterinary Nursing in 2020. This is when she met the team at Ellerslie Veterinary Clinic. She stayed on and is constantly learning new things and continues to grow her clinical knowledge and her nursing skills.

She is particularly interested in imaging and enjoys performing state-of-the-art radiographs and assisting with ultrasonography.

When she’s not working in the clinic, she can be found out and about riding her horses, enjoying time with friends and family, cooking or simply spending time outside.

sascha

Sascha Brinker

Practice Manager

Other than being married to a vet, Sascha’s background is not linked to veterinary medicine at all! He graduated in 1997/98 from the University of Applied Sciences in Munich with a degree in Business Administration. After working as a Human Resource Consultant and making his way from a Junior Consultant to a Director, he started his own Human Resource Consulting Service in Munich in 2003.

You will find some of Sascha’s ideas of a modern veterinary clinic in the layout, interior and design of Ellerslie Veterinary Clinic. Starting with the Tranquillity Room and a Cat only Consult Room, to the interior design.

Sascha is looking forward to working together with the team of Ellerslie Veterinary Clinic & Cattery to constantly exceed our own high expectations.

lynn

Lynn Klapproth

Veterinary Nurse

Lynn was born in South Africa and came to NZ in 1998. She have always been passionate about animals and grew up with dogs, a cat and a pet rat. Wildlife and the African bush are very dear to her heart and she spent many weekends and holidays in the bush, learning about indigenous wildlife. To this day it is what she miss most about Africa.

Lynn worked as a radiographer after leaving school and then studied to become a teacher. She taught for many years in South Africa and continued to do so when she came to New Zealand. After 11 years in NZ classrooms, she joined the Life Education Trust and took Harold, the giraffe, and health promoting programmes in a mobile classroom to schools in the central Auckland area for 8 years.

But her heart yearned to be with animals and she volunteered at the Ellerslie Veterinary Clinic in 2015. This was a blessing as Kathrin and Sascha inspired her to follow her dream and, by doing relief teaching and studying part-time Lynn became a vet nurse in 2019.
Lynn is married with two step-sons who are both grown-up. She and her partner adopted rescue kitten ‘Piper’ who keeps them (and the entire neighborhood) well entertained.

Lynn enjoys paddle boarding, running, reading and cooking.

danielle

Danielle Woolley

Head Veterinary Nurse

Danielle has been working years as a veterinary nurse and is bringing a wealth of experience from her previous position as a senior veterinary nurse. Danielle is a real Auckland girl, growing up and still living in Remuera with her partner Tom and rescue cat William.

She completed a Bachelor of Science before finding her passion in animal health and care and completed her Certificate in Veterinary Nursing from Vet Nurse Plus in 2013, gaining the ‘top academic student award.’

Danielle’s kind and caring manner, and her attention to every last detail of your pet’s needs, will ensure your pet’s time in our clinic will be as comfortable as possible.
She is known for not sitting still for a moment during her busy work days – and if you ever think of a task that needs to be done next, Danielle would already have done it.
Danielle is on maternity leave from end 2021.

Nina Rabic

Veterinary Nurse

In 2016, Nina completed a Bachelor degree in Biology in Slovenia and soon after, in 2020, she qualified as a Diploma Vet Nurse in New Zealand.

At a very young age Nina loved caring for animals at home and she couldn’t ever stop since! She started off with maintaining a quite technical aquarium with different colourful fish, then went on to caring for small pets like her guinea pig (Bajsi), her rat (Gusti) and her rabbit (Uhec). Nina then complimented her menagerie with cat Lady and dog Mik.

Nina developed an awareness of animal welfare, further enhanced through her studies of Biology and through vet nursing, she discovered a way to act on this.

When not at work, Nina likes baking Slovenian desserts (very much to the delight of the rest of the team!), exploring different places and all the outdoor activities, New Zealand has to offer. Whenever possible, she goes travelling and so far, she has been to 26 different countries and made very unique memorie during her travels.

As the daughter of a dentist, Nina is very interested in dentistry and enjoys performing anything involved in dental procedures for your pets.

Libby Elwood

Veterinary Nurse

Libby has carried a strong love for animals since a very young age. Growing up riding horses and caring for family pets, she followed this passion graduating with a Diploma in Veterinary Nursing in 2020. She has a soft loving nature towards animals and is always happy to assist in any way she can.

Libby is fond of her work, growing and learning new skills alongside the team daily. She enjoys assisting in surgeries as well as hospital care, ensuring your pet is well looked after throughout their vet visit. Previously working at a dog day-care whilst studying, she is particularly interested in canine handling and behavior.

Outside of work she enjoys scenic walks, being out on the water and spending time with family and friends.

Rentia Sutherland

Vet Nursing Student

Born and grown up in Randfontein, South Africa, she moved to New Zealand with her family in 2015.

After arriving in New Zealand, she has been working for the SPCA and the Blind Low Vision NZ Guide Dogs Foundation. She absolved a few courses in fear free dog handling, as well as completed a certificate in Companion Animal Care.

Rentia enjoys utilizing her vast knowledge that she accumulated over years in dog handling and behavior. She also feels very passionate about animal welfare and can use these skills for her recent studies in Veterinary Nursing. She started her career at Ellerslie Veterinary Clinic in 2022.

She lives in rural South Auckland with her partner and dog Lyra, who equally enjoy going on walks with Rentia in the beautiful Drury countryside.

Always staying busy, Rentia also loves designing and baking birthday cakes for dogs!

Ellerslie Vet Clinic

+ ER

(09) 281 3 481

In the event of an emergency during clinic hours, please call on above contact and proceed directly to Ellerslie Veterinary Clinic & Cattery.

(09) 281 3 481

For after hour emergencies, please call the VS A&E Emergency Veterinary Care on