The supportive and professional team behind your pet’s care.

PRACTICE OWNER, VETERINARIAN

Ashleigh has been in small animal practice for over 30 years after she made her dream come true and completed her veterinary degree at Murdoch University in 1991. She travelled to the UK as a new graduate and spent many years working in various busy practices, gaining invaluable medical and surgical experience. She has worked in country and city practices, emergency centres and charity hospitals, expanding her medical and surgical skills.

When it was established in 2015, her vision for Challenger Veterinary Hospital was to focus on quality care for your pets with a friendly, family feel. She believes every pet deserves the best and has engaged staff and facilities to ensure that this is always the level of care your pet will receive.

Ashleigh's fur family consists of a little scruffy rescue pound puppy called Morri, a rescue Greyhound called Romy and three Challenger Vet rescue kittens, Kip, Cosmo and Buzz.

VETERINARIAN

Denver graduated from the University of Pretoria in South Africa in 2000. He has worked in private day practice for many years and headed up a busy 24-hour emergency hospital in Johannesburg. Denver also worked as a small animal technical and product manager for MSD Animal Health before returning to private practice. Before joining Challenger Vet, he ran his own practice, Manorswood Veterinary Clinic, in Johannesburg.

Denver has a special soft spot for geriatric patients and believes they deserve that extra love and attention added to their consults. He also has a passion for soft tissue and orthopaedic surgery.

Denver spends his off time with his wife Liz and their 3 cats, Moses (the Maine Coon), Holly and Macey and a small scruffy dog called Crumb. He enjoys mountain biking and travelling to pass the time, too. Luckily for us, he has emigrated to Australia to be closer to his family here.

VETERINARIAN

Dr Hendrik graduated from Murdoch University in 2012 and worked in mixed animal practice in Esperance, treating everything from rats and birds to horses and cattle. In 2016, he travelled to Zimbabwe to complete a course in wildlife immobilisation. He has worked extensively in small animal general and emergency practice, gaining valuable surgical experience. Before joining Challenger Vet, he completed his Master's degree in Tropical Animal Health through the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium and the University of Pretoria, South Africa. Hendrik has a special interest in small animal orthopaedic and soft tissue surgery.

Hendrik and his fiancé, Nikki, have a small zoo at home with their two dogs, two cats and a rabbit. In his downtime, he enjoys outdoor activities and watching rugby.

VETERINARIAN

Dr Nicci graduated in 2013 from the University of Pretoria in South Africa. Nicci has spent the last nine years working in small animal practice. She has a keen interest in medicine and animal welfare and knows her way around a surgery theatre!

Nicci and her husband have recently relocated to Perth from South Africa and are enjoying settling into Australian life. She has two adorable cats, Ash and Tina, who will join her shortly.

Nicci has a passion for hiking, travelling and cappuccinos outside of work.

VETERINARIAN

Dr Ryan graduated from Murdoch University in 2020. Since then, he has gained experience in Small Animal Medicine, Surgery, and Clinical Pathology while working in the northern parts of Perth.

Driven by his love for the sunnier side of Perth, Dr. Ryan has eagerly joined our amazing team at Challenger Vet/ He can't wait to meet all the adorable furry patients and tackle those exciting, challenging cases, especially in endocrinology.

At home, Dr. Ryan is the proud parent of two beautiful dogs, Dennis and Tysen, and a lovely cat named Nekoko.

When he's not busy caring for animals, you'll find Dr. Ryan embracing the great outdoors! He loves hiking, wakeboarding, and soaking up some much-needed Vitamin D. If that's not enough, he also enjoys training in Muay Thai kickboxing.

VETERINARIAN

Rita grew up in Perth and fulfilled her dream of becoming a vet, graduating from Murdoch in 1996.

After a few years in urban small animal practice, she moved to the UK. She spent several years as a locum across England before returning home and continuing to work as a locum vet in Australia.

Rita returned to the UK with her young family in 2013 and continued to work in small animal GP hospitals and emergency centres. She is now permanently based in Perth and enjoys both the hairy and human side of veterinary medicine. She loves making a connection with the families of her furry patients.

Rita enjoys spending quality time with her children and dog, Alvin, baking and biking in her spare time.

VETERINARIAN

Nyssa graduated from Murdoch University in 2008. She grew up moving all around Australia as part of a military family but fell in love with the laid-back city of Perth during her degree.

After graduation, she settled into small animal practice in the Perth hills, gaining various medical and surgical skills. Nyssa takes great joy from being a GP. Nyssa enjoys internal medicine and has a particular interest in dermatology and endocrinology.

In her off time, Nyssa likes to relax with her young family and snuggle her rescue cat, Theodore.

VETERINARIAN

Dr James graduated from Murdoch University in 2010 and, since graduation, has worked in Southern NSW and Cumbria in the UK. Before joining us at Challenger Veterinary Hospital James was employed at Margaret River Veterinary Hospital as a senior veterinarian.

With a wide range of skills and experience we are very lucky to him on our team. Dr James loves to have a chat and get to know the owners and their pets. He strives to ensure the best care for all of his patients.

James loves spending time outdoors camping and going for long walks with his dog Andy

VETERINARIAN

Dr Udi Licht was born in Israel and has been living in Perth for the last 15 years. He’s multilingual and well travelled, having lived in Israel, Singapore, USA, and Australia. He graduated from Veterinary Science at Murdoch University in 2011 and has worked in many clinics in Perth before joining Challenger Veterinary Hospital, where he felt at home very quickly.

He’s dedicated to providing excellent veterinary care and is passionate about animals' health and welfare. He has a special interest in small animal dermatology and medicine.

He lives in Success with his wife (also a vet!) and a full house. They have 2 human kids, a 9yo diabetic staffy and 3 cats ranging from 8 months old to 16 years old!

When not ‘vetting’ he’s busy kayaking, gardening, playing soccer, rock-climbing or unicycling/juggling!

PRACTICE MANAGER, VETERINARY NURSE

Tiffany has been with Challenger Vet Hospital since its start and is our senior nurse and practice manager. Having a keen interest in surgery and wanting to ensure that all pets are given the best possible treatment options, Tiffany completed her Diploma in Surgery and courses in anaesthetics, pain management and emergency care.

When she isn’t at work, Tiffany enjoys hanging out with her friends, playing the drums, motorbike riding and caring for her pets, which include 4 cats, her dog Indie and 3 guinea pigs.

CLINICAL MANAGER, VETERINARY NURSE

Jess grew up in New Zealand and always loved animals from a young age. In 2018, she graduated with a Diploma in Veterinary Nursing and moved to Australia with her partner and their dog, Rocky the Rottweiler.

She has worked in multiple practices across WA, from general practice to emergency work. Jess is keenly interested in surgical nursing and is passionate about providing patients and their families with the best experience possible when entering the clinic.

In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her dog, going to the beach, and enjoying all that WA has to offer.

VETERINARY NURSE

Roxy became a veterinary nurse in 2018 and received a merit certificate for her studies. She has always had a passion for caring for animals whether they are scaley or furry. She enjoys all side of nursing but particularly enjoys surgical nursing and hospital nursing, where she can closely watch over the patients in her care. Roxy has volunteered in the Philippines at a dog rescue shelter and would love to do it again in the future.

Roxy has a senior cat “Twister”, a frilled neck lizard “Elvis” and two pythons called “Nagini & Monty”.

PUPPY PRESCHOOL COORDINATOR

Liz qualified in 2012 with a Diploma in Animal Behaviour & Training in South Africa and has worked as a Certified Behaviour Consultant since then.

Relocating from South Africa in 2019, Liz joined Challenger Vet at the end of 2022 as a veterinary nurse. With a passion for animal behaviour, she works closely with our veterinarians to assist our clients in overcoming training and behaviour challenges. Liz is also our puppy class coordinator and loves working with new puppy parents while they embark on this journey with their pets.

Liz shares her house with her husband 3 cats and a scruffy dog named Crumb.

VETERINARY NURSE

Zoie is originally from the UK, and after a year of travelling around Asia, she landed in Perth in January 2023 to set up a new life with her partner.

After 4 years at university, Zoie completed a bachelor's degree in Veterinary Nursing in 2017 and has since gained a certificate in Animal Behaviour.

Zoie loves meeting and getting to know owners when they come into the Practice and always treats their pets like they are her own, with love and care.

In Zoie's free time, she enjoys exploring new places around WA and especially enjoys the hot weather because, in her words, "the UK doesn't see much sun!"

VETERINARY NURSE

Kaitlyn started nursing in 2015 and worked at a busy hospital in Tasmania before moving to WA in 2018 and continuing her vet nursing journey.

Veterinary nursing is her passion, and she loves all aspects. Her favourite part is the relationships she builds with the patients, their people, and her colleagues.

Hospital nursing (assisting with the provision of care for our sick patients), surgical nursing, and post-operative care/rehabilitation are her favourite roles as a nurse, and she really enjoys how every day is different from the last.

In her spare time she enjoys going on adventures with her dogs, Maple & Didget and being bossed around by my cat Bean.

VETERINARY NURSE

Jess graduated from AVT in 2010 and has worked in several practices in the Perth area and regional clinics in Kununurra and Tom Price. She took a few year’s break from the veterinary industry in 2013 but soon realised where her passion lay and returned to nursing in 2017. Since then, she has undertaken several volunteer projects in Asia, working with wildlife and street animals.

Jess became part of our team in March 2023 when she returned to Perth after 5 years of living in Europe. Whilst overseas, she worked as a nurse in both Ireland and Switzerland, where she gained a lot of valuable experience.

Whilst in the clinic, Jess loves anything surgery-related and nursing hospital inpatients. She enjoys spending time with family and friends in her spare time, scuba-diving in the summer and hiking in the Perth hills where she grew up.

VETERINARY NURSE

Emma got her first taste for the veterinary industry when she was 16 and did a clinical placement in rural NSW. Since then, she has made sure she has been involved in anything animal-related, from racing thoroughbreds to helping manage an Angora goat farm.

After graduating in 2020 with her Certificate IV in vet nursing, she has loved every challenge that vet nursing has thrown at her and is always looking for ways to expand her knowledge. Emma joined the Challenger team in early 2023 and loves all our patients, whether with fur, feathers or scales.

Emma has her fur child, Zoey, the ragdoll cat, and enjoys her free time either gaming with friends or checking out the local markets on the weekends.

VETERINARY NURSE

Donna grew up on the east coast of Australia. She studied vet nursing at Yallah College and then worked in a range of settings, from rural clinics to emergency hospitals.

In 2023, Donna joined the Challenger Vet Team after moving to Perth with her partner.

Donna is passionate about reception work, as it allows her to interact face-to-face with our clients and their furry friends and build relationships.

In her spare time, Donna loves camping, hiking and spending time with her cheeky, 1-year-old Golden retriever “Sash”.

VETERINARY NURSE

Chelsea grew up in WA and has had a passion for animals from a young age. She studied vet nursing through AVT in 2021 and has since worked in several different clinics. Throughout her career, she has also found a huge passion for working in rescues.

Chelsea loves all aspects of vet nursing, especially caring for hospitalised patients. She loves how each day varies, watching shy patients come out of their shells and helping to get your pets back on the road to recovery.

Chelsea spends most of her time camping, hiking, or at the beach with her 13-year-old Kelpie cross Harley and 8-month-old Golden Retriever Maple.