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 Luca Evers

Position: Senior Veterinarian
Qualifications: BSc(Vet Med) MSc (Eq Health) 
Experience: Luca graduated with distinction as a veterinary surgeon from Utrecht University in the Netherlands in 2018. She has since worked as an equine vet in both ambulatory and referral settings in Scotland and the Netherlands and takes a special interest in equine internal medicine, reproduction and dentistry.
In 2022 she and her husband made the move to Australia and they both joined Alice Vet Centre.
Special Interests Professional: When not out on a horse call she enjoys the large variety and complexity of small animal cases found in Alice Springs and is especially interested in diagnostic imaging and surgery.
Hobbies & Interests: Luca’s main hobbies are photography, hiking, horse riding, and sewing scrub caps for the rest of the staff!

Dr Massimo Colombaroli

Position: Senior Veterinarian
Qualifications: BSc(Vet Med) MSc(Comp An Medicine) 
Experience: Massimo grew up in Italy and graduated from Utrecht University in the Netherlands in 2018. After graduation he worked as a general practitioner in a busy small animal clinic in the Scottish Highlands, followed by a year in the Netherlands focused on small animal dentistry. In August 2022 he joined the team in Alice Springs.
Special Interests Professional: Massimo enjoys the variety of work involved as a vet with a special interest in dentistry and is developing his skills in orthopaedics. 
Hobbies & Interests: Outside of work he enjoys playing squash, travelling, hiking and playing fetch with his two cats Artimus and Judge Fudge.

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.
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 Jessica Stone

Position: Associate Veterinarian
Qualifications: BSc DVM
Experience:  Originally from the USA, Jessica joined the team at Alice Vet Centre in 2022 after completing her studies in veterinary medicine at Murdoch University in WA. Having worked more than 10 years in the veterinary industry (initially as a vet nurse in the States) she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience into every consult.
Special Interests Professional: ​After moving to Alice she developed a keen interest in community work and anything that let's her take the work ute out on a 4x4 track. She is particularly passionate about providing Fear Free (certified) care and medicine and is always happy to work around a patient's needs to make their vet visit as smooth and calm as possible.
Hobbies & Interests: Jessica's main hobbies include hiking and camping with her dogs and partner and baking birthday cakes for the team when celebrations arise.
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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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