Alice Veterinary Centre - Our Veterinarians

Dr Alex Burleigh

Position: Veterinary Director & Owner
Qualifications: BVSc (1st class honours), BSc(Vet) (1st class honours & Carne medal) (NSW)
Experience: Alex visits our clinic in Alice Springs on a regular basis from NT Vet Services in Katherine. Alex has over 20 years experience as a veterinarian in both Australia and the UK, but has spent the majority of his time in the NT. Alex's interests lies in both medicine and surgery, particularly tropical diseases and he also enjoys orthopaedic work. Alex has presented at conferences throughout Australia on remote community animal health and management.
Pets: With his wife, Alex has two dogs, one cat, nine chickens and three horses.
Hobbies & Interests: Scuba diving, camping, hiking, and indoor volleyball.
Special Interests Professional: Small Animal medicine & surgery, Small Animal Dentistry, Equine medicine & surgery, Canine Reproduction, Animal Behaviour, Aboriginal Community dog programs, Animal Welfare.
Other Information: Alex has previously been the president of Australian Veterinarians for Animal Welfare and Ethics, and the Northern Territory Division of the Australian Veterinary Association. In the late 1990's, Alex also spent a year researching fur seals at Jervis Bay, NSW.
Awards: HR Carne Prize and Medal for Excellence in the Bachelor of Science (Veterinary) Degree (1999 recipient)
Publications: Community Dog Program Handbook, Presented at various national conferences on Indigenous Community Animal Work.

Dr Lara Viney

Position: Senior Veterinarian
Qualifications: BVSc
Experience: Lara has over 10 years experience.working with dogs, cats and horses. Lara has a keen interest in pocket pets and wildlife.  
Hobbies & Interests: Photography, travelling and camping
Special Interests Professional: Small animal medicine and surgery, Emergency medicine and exotics​

Dr Clemence King

Position: Associate Veterinarian
Qualifications: BSc DVM
Experience:  Clémence graduated from the University of Sydney in 2021, and after spending twelve months travelling and volunteering in vet clinics overseas she joined the Alice team in January 2023. Having spent a lot time travelling the NT as a child, moving to Alice was a no brainer!
Special Interests Professional: ​Clemence loves all creatures great and small but has a particular interest in large animals as well as exotics and wildlife. She also enjoys small animal surgeries, and has done further training in equine dentistry and wildlife medicine.
Hobbies & Interests: When not at work, Clemence enjoys painting and drawing and loves travelling and exploring Alice and its surroundings. She can also be found spending time with her various rescued pets.

Dr Peter Ricci

Position: Senior Veterinarian
Qualifications: BSc BVMS 
Experience: Dr Peter Ricci is an experienced veterinarian with a strong background in emergency medicine, wildlife care, and zoo animal management. Having worked across diverse clinical environments — including Murdoch University’s emergency hospital and Perth Zoo — he brings a broad skill set in treating companion animals, native wildlife, and exotic species. His clinical interests include acute care, complex medical cases, and supporting animals in challenging or remote conditions.Dr Ricci is recognised for his calm, practical approach and his ability to guide owners through complex medical decisions with clarity and compassion. He is committed to delivering high-quality, evidence-based veterinary care, and his diverse experience makes him a valuable and versatile member of the veterinary team.
Special Interests Professional:  Dr Peter Ricci’s special interests include internal medicine, dermatology, and the diagnosis and management of chronic health conditions in pets, as well as the care of wildlife and exotic species.
Hobbies & Interests: Outside of work, Dr Peter Ricci enjoys spending time outdoors, exploring nature, and bird watching. He has a strong interest in wildlife and conservation. He also enjoys keeping active, travelling, and making the most of the Territory lifestyle.

Dr Jenna Buxton

Position: Senior Veterinarian
Qualifications: BVSc 
Experience: Originally from the UK, Dr Jenna Buxton is an experienced small-animal vet who enjoys supporting pets through all stages of their health. She has a strong background in both medicine and surgery, performing everything from routine desexing to more advanced soft-tissue and eye procedures. Jenna has worked in busy clinical settings and is confident managing both everyday concerns and urgent cases. She’s known for her warm, gentle manner, clear communication, and genuine commitment to making every pet feel safe and cared for during their visit.
In 2025 she and her husband made the move to Australia from the UK.
Special Interests Professional: Dr Jenna has particular interests in small-animal surgery, internal medicine, and emergency care. She enjoys working through complex medical cases, supporting pets with long-term health conditions, and using diagnostic tools like ultrasound to help guide treatment. Jenna is also passionate about preventative healthcare and helping families keep their pets healthy and comfortable at every life stage.
Hobbies & Interests: Luca’s main hobbies are photography, hiking, horse riding, and sewing scrub caps for the rest of the staff!

Dr Subi Somaratna

Position: Associate Vet
Qualifications: BSc DVM
Experience: Dr Subhani Somaratna is a James Cook University graduate who brings a strong foundation in general practice, emergency, and exotic animal care. Before becoming a veterinarian, she spent nearly a decade working as a veterinary nurse across general practice, emergency hospitals, and exotic animal settings, giving her significantly more hands-on clinical experience than most early-career vets. Her background includes emergency and exotics nursing at Animal Referral Hospital (Sydney), extensive GP nursing, and international surgical experience through desexing and stray-animal programs. Since joining our team at the start of the year, Dr Subi has continued to build her skills in small-animal medicine, surgery, and patient care, known for her calm communication and dedication to animal welfare. 
Special Interests Professional: Dr Subi has a strong interest in small-animal medicine, anaesthesia, and emergency care, supported by years of prior clinical nursing experience. She also enjoys working with exotic and wildlife species, having completed specialist training in wildlife treatment and care, as well as participating in international rescue and rehabilitation programs.
Hobbies & Interests: Outside of work, Dr Subi enjoys exploring new places, staying active, and spending time in the outdoors. She has a genuine passion for wildlife and conservation and loves being part of the Territory’s unique lifestyle and community.​

​Dr Junyi Wang

Position: Associate Vet
Qualifications: DVM
Experience:  Dr Junyi Wang is a Murdoch University graduate with strong mixed-practice experience spanning small animals and equine medicine. She has worked as both an equine intern and an ambulatory veterinarian, providing first-opinion care, emergency field treatment, neonatal support, diagnostic imaging, anaesthesia, and management of hospitalised patients. Her background includes time in busy small-animal general practice as well as hands-on roles in university equine hospitals and wildlife rescue settings, giving her a broad, practical skill set and a calm, capable approach across a wide range of species.
Special Interests Professional: Dr Junyi Wang has a strong interest in equine medicine, including emergency care, neonatal management, and sports medicine. She enjoys diagnostic workups, anaesthesia, and developing long-term health plans for both equine and small-animal patients. Her background in wildlife care also fuels an ongoing interest in the treatment and rehabilitation of native species.​
Hobbies & Interests: Outside of work, Dr Junyi enjoys exploring new places, keeping active, and making the most of life in the Territory. She has a long-standing passion for horses and wildlife, and loves spending her downtime learning new skills and connecting with the local community.​

​Dr Erin McGilvray

Position: Associate Vet
Qualifications: BSc(VetBio) DVM
Experience:  Dr Erin McGilvray is a dedicated small-animal and equine veterinarian who joins us with strong experience from one of Australia’s busiest equine hospitals. After graduating from the University of Adelaide, she completed a rotating internship at Scone Equine Hospital, where she gained extensive hands-on skills in medicine, surgery, anaesthesia, lameness assessment, diagnostics, and emergency care. Erin has also worked across a wide range of species through both clinical placements and fieldwork, including cattle, wildlife, and exotic animals. She is known for her calm communication, practical problem-solving, and her genuine commitment to animal welfare and community care.
Special Interests Professional: Dr Erin has particular interests in equine medicine, small-animal general practice, and wildlife and conservation work. She enjoys medical case management, diagnostic imaging, and supporting both horses and pets through injuries, illness, and long-term health conditions. 
Hobbies & Interests: Outside veterinary work, Erin is an avid outdoors enthusiast who loves multi-day hiking, paddling, surfing, skiing, and spending time in remote natural areas. Her background in outdoor guiding means she brings a calm, capable approach to challenging situations—both on the trail and in the clinic.

Past Notable Members of Alice Vet Centre

Dr Sam McMahon

Co-Founder of Alice Veterinary Centre
Dr Sam McMahon & Dr Alex Burleigh started Alice Veterinary Centre in Alice Springs in 2014. In 2019, Dr Sam McMahon was elected into federal parliament as the NT representative of CLP for the Senate. After leaving parliament, in 2024, Sam became the Senior Manager of Government Relations for the Australian Veterinary Association. 
Qualifications: BVSc (QLD), FAICD, APAV accreditation for 3rd party preparation of livestock.
Experience: Sam used to visit our clinic on a regular basis from NT Vet Services in Katherine. She has over 20 years as veterinarian, including 19 years in Katherine, 18 months in practice in the UK and 3 months working on Foot and Mouth Outbreak in the UK.
Pets: Horses, dogs and cats. Sam's dog used to regularly join her at work.
Hobbies & Interests: Showing and competing with horses in shows throughout the NT, snow and waterskiing.
Special Interests Professional: Equine medicine & surgery, Equine reproduction, Small animal medicine & surgery, Live export cattle, Cattle production, Aquaculture, Emergency Animal Disease Preparedness and biosecurity.
Other Information: Past President of the NT division of the Australian Veterinary Association, Australian Cattle Veterinarians National President, past board member of the Australian Veterinary Association, past Vice President Katherine Show Society.
Awards: Meritorious Service Award (2014) of the Australian Veterinary Association, 2001 Winner of the Private Sector category of the Northern Territory Telstra Business Women’s Awards and winner of the Chief Ministers Award for Innovation, Recipient of 2003 AFFA Corporate Governance Scholarship for young people in rural industries initiative. 2003 Recipient of the Centenary Medal.
Publications & Presentations: Community Dog Program Handbook, Presented at various national and international veterinary conferences on Indigenous Community Animal Work
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