Meet Our Team
The quality of care that you and your pets receive is directly linked to the expertise of our vets, nurses and groomers. Our friendly dedicated team consists of highly skilled veterinarians all with their own particular interest areas, along with fully qualified nursing and administration staff. We enjoy sharing our knowledge with our clients to ensure pet ownership is a pleasurable and rewarding experience.
Our vets have been carefully chosen for their experience and high ethical standards, all with a focus on striving to ensure each patient receives the best treatment available. We of course understand how important it is that you receive continuity of care, and so are more than happy to book you in with a specific vet on request.
DR JUDY HARBISON, BVSc, MBA
Senior Veterinarian / Clinic Owner
Dr Judy is the principal of the practice and has owned Bulimba Veterinary Surgery since September 1994. She has grown the practice from a small one-person clinic down on Oxford Street in Bulimba, to the multi-vet, purpose-designed clinic that you see today.
Judy graduated from the University of Queensland in 1990, following in her father’s footsteps to become a vet. After graduation Judy spent 2 years doing locum vet work in the UK before returning home to start Bulimba Vet. Now that Judy is busy with a family of three children, her clinical hours are only part-time, but she aims still to maintain regular contact with her clients and their pets. Her particular veterinary interest is surgery. She shares her home with an energetic Burmese cat named Flower and a boisterous Standard Poodle named Badger.
Dr Judy also acts as a Director of a not-for-profit organisation called CVLC, which operates a de-sexing and micro-chipping clinic at the Logan Pound. This allows some contact with shelter medicine, and the re-homing of rescue animals. Dr Judy is passionate about continuing education, and completed an MBA in 2013 with the aim of further understanding the practice and optimising the services we are able to offer for pets, their owners, and our teams.
DR HEIDI DALTON, BVSc (Hons)
Senior Veterinarian
Graduating from the University of Queensland in 2009 with honours, Dr Heidi started her career in mixed practice in the Lockyer Valley, giving her a diverse experience base across all disciplines and confirming her passion for small animal surgery.
Dr Heidi started at Bulimba Vet Surgery in 2013. She pursued her interests and undertook further training in small animal surgery, gaining her memberships to the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in the Small Animal Surgery Chapter in 2016. Heidi and her husband then moved to London for 2 years, where she acquired new surgical skills and built a keen interest in dentistry in between their Overseas adventures. Dr Heidi returned to the Bulimba Vet team and her well missed furkids – Spike and Jackie in 2019.
Outside of work Heidi loves traveling and the outdoors, be it at the beach or in the mountains; cycling, hiking, or surfing. She also enjoys dancing and has recently dipped back into the art space with painting.
DR ERIN BAKER, BVSc (Hons)
Veterinarian
Dr Erin is one of our newest Veterinarians after joining our team at the beginning of 2023. Before starting with us, Dr Erin graduated with her Bachelor of Veterinary Science from the University of Queensland in 2022. Dr Erin has a keen interest in animal dentistry and loves helping your pets be their healthiest self.
When not at work, Erin enjoys both playing and watching AFL, travelling to new places and just generally spending time outdoors. Erin takes care of her family pet, Sudi, a liver nose Rhodesian Ridgeback, who she describes as a crazy boy that she absolutely adores.
DR PIYA COUGHLAN DVM BSc (Vet Biosc)
Veterinarian
Dr. Piya joined the Bulimba team in early 2024, graduating the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program at the University of Adelaide. She also has a Bachelors of Education and taught for three years on the remote Tiwi Islands.
Her passion for companion animal health, ornamental fish and public health has given her opportunities to work in all parts of the country and even conducted research on wildlife in Botswana.
On days off Dr. Piya enjoys spending time with her dogs, Basil the catahoula and Luna the kelpie, working in the garden or renovating the home.
DR LAURA FAYAD BVSc
Veterinarian
Dr Laura is one of our part time Veterinarians who joined the Bulimba Vet team in February 2024 after graduating from the University of Queensland in 2023 with a Bachelor in Veterinary Science. Laura moved all the way from Canada to Australia to pursue her dream of being a Veterinarian.
Dr Laura has always had a strong passion for helping animals. She has a keen interest in surgery and has a special place in her heart for our feline friends.
When not at work she loves to be active outdoors, enjoys going camping and spending quality time with her friends and of course, her feline companion, Taz.
EM
Veterinary Nurse
Em is one of our Veterinary Nurses and has been with us since 2021. Before joining our team, Em completed her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing with AIRC in early 2021. Outside of work, Em has a keen interest in gardening and arts & crafts; you may have seen some of her amazing designs on our sign at the front of our clinic!
At home Em has, Zephyr, a cattle dog mix, Mallory, the cockatiel and Sunny, the budgie.
ANGIE
Veterinary Nurse
Most of you will already know Angie, as she is the lovely face you see when entering our clinic. Angie has been working with Judy and the Bulimba Vet Surgery for over 20 years. She started with us as a work experience student whilst completing her associate Diploma of Applied Science at university, back when the practice was located on Oxford Street, and has been a valuable member of the practice ever since. Her years of hands-on experience, knowledge of clients and fantastic clinic organisational skills are second-to-none. Angie’s menagerie includes 3 domestic short-haired cats that were abandoned as babies and then rescued through the clinic, Rosie the red Staffy and a spotted python snake!
JAYDA
Veterinary Nurse
Jayda joined us in 2014 as a work experience student, and has been working full time with us ever since completing her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing. Through working with us and teaching our Puppy Pre-School Classes, Jayda discovered a true passion for animal behaviour & training and is currently studying with the Delta Institute to become a qualified dog trainer. Jayda is our go-to nurse for all things behaviour and loves sharing her tips & tricks with our clients. Outside of work, Jayda enjoys testing her new skills out by teaching new tricks to her two beautiful German Shepherds, Quinlan and Tucker.
MADDIE
Veterinary Nurse
Maddie is one of our newest Veterinary Nurses, joining the team in 2022. Before coming to us, she completed her Certificate II in Animal studies in 2019 and worked for a couple of years before completing her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing at Tafe in 2022.
Maddie has always had a keen interest in working with animals, but before her veterinary nursing adventure, she was a Registered Nurse for humans. She made the decision to change to veterinary nursing while she was living in Canada and working at a Doggy Daycare.
Outside of work, you will find her spending time with all of her rescue animals or heading away to the beach with her dogs.
Maddie has an abundance of pets at home including Tawny and Sandi the Bearded Dragons, Storm a Blue Tongue lizard, Aspen a Cattle Dog x Great Dane and Cooper a Cattle Dog x Staffie x Bulldog.
MARIA
Veterinary Nurse
Maria grew up on a farm in Sweden and from a very young age has loved animals and has had many different kinds of pets. Her family at the moment consists of her husband, two children and her lovely mini Schnauzers. For ten years she has moved around the world working as an animal carer, laboratory technician and vet nurse, living and working in places like Canada, Sweden and America. In 2014 Maria became part of our family at Bulimba Vet and now she enjoys being a part of our surgery team, running our in-house lab work and taking care of our hospital patients.
In her spare time, Maria can be found being active outdoors and spending quality time with her beautiful family and mini Schnauzers.
KATE
Junior Veterinary Nurse
Kate started her Veterinary Nurse studies in 2021, where she began with us as a student, from there she was employed as a junior Veterinary Nurse in February 2022. Kate has been studying her Cert IV in Vet Nursing through Australian College of Veterinary Nursing (ACVN) and will be graduating in October 2023.
Outside of work, Kate enjoys socializing with her friends, going to the beach and cuddling with her Cavoodle puppy, Winnie, while watching a good movie.
JACK
Junior Veterinary Nurse
Jack is a familiar face at Bulimba Vet! He has been working with us since 2011 along side his mum, Tracie, one of our brilliant nurses. Jack is always eager to help out around the clinic and is a valued member of the team.
On his days off, Jack enjoys going to the movies and watching anything manga. At home he takes care of his beloved dogs Sparkles, a mini Fox Terrier X Chihuahua, Sven, a Maltese X Terrier, Freddy, the Cavoodle and Mavis, a mini Poodle X.
HOLLIE
Junior Veterinary Nurse
Hollie is one of our Junior Veterinary Nurses and has been with us since May 2022 while she was still a student completing her Certificate III in Animal studies. She has since been employed as a Junior Veterinary Nurse and is currently completing her Bachelor of Science at QUT, which she will be graduating from in 2024.
Hollie has a keen interest in insects – entomology. Doesn’t that sound interesting?!
Hollie has her own pets as well, Banjo, a Jack Russell x Kelpie and Bambino, the tortoiseshell x tabby kitty cat.