Fiona Hollinshead BVSc (Hons), PhD, Diplomate ACT.Registered Specialist in Small Animal Reproduction
Fiona Hollinshead graduated from the University of Sydney, Australia in 1996 with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours). After 2 years in small animal referral practice in Sydney she undertook a PhD. Fiona's PhD thesis was entitled, "Production of offspring of a pre-determined sex using in vitro and in vivo fertilisation". During her PhD Fiona was involved in the development of sexing and freezing of sperm from a number of different species including sheep, cattle, horses and some exotic zoo animals. She has extensive experience in the freezing and chilled preparation of ejaculated and epididymal semen from rams, bulls, stallions, boars and dogs.
At the completion of her PhD in 2003, Fiona worked as an anaesthetic registrar and tutor at the University of Sydney's Teaching Hospital for 6 months prior to starting a residency programme in large and small animal Theriogenology at Cornell University, New York, USA. Fiona became a Diplomate of the American College of Theriogenologists at the end of her residency program in 2006 and is also a Registered Specialist in Small Animal Veterinary Reproduction in Australasia.
Fiona has lectured and provided clinical tuition to veterinary students at the University of Sydney during her PhD tenure and at Cornell University while working as a theriogenology resident. She has published a number of peer-reviewed scientific papers and has presented her research internationally. Fiona was runner-up in the Junior Scientist Competition at the International Embryo Transfer conference in 2003 for her work on sexing frozen thawed spermatoza, re-freezing, in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and embryo transfer (ET). This work was later patented by XY Inc.
During Fiona's time as a resident at Cornell University she had the opportunity to work on a canine artificial reproductive technology project funded by the Morris Animal Foundation at the Baker Institute for Animal Health, NY. During this time she developed embryo recovery, freezing and transfer protocols in the bitch. Fiona was also awarded a "Resident's Research Grant" by the company Nestle Purina. This grant funded her research project entitled "Determination of calcium and parathyroid hormone levels during parturition in the bitch". This project involved working closely with The Guide Dog Society based in NY, USA. Work in this very exciting project is still ongoing.
Her special interests include embryo collection and transfer (ET) in dogs, canine embryo freezing, oestrous synchronisation in bitches, frozen canine ejaculated and epididymal spermatoza and the role of prostatic fluid, transcervical insemination (TCI) and investigation of canine male and female infertility cases.
Nigel graduated from Massey University, New Zealand in 1980 with every intention of developing an interest in rural veterinary practice and returning to the family farm in Hawkes Bay. However his first employment was in Kaitaia where he developed an interest in small animal medicine and surgery.
Nigel since then worked extensively overseas especially in developing countries.
He supervised the transportation of yearling cattle into Java, Indonesia and he was the Resident Veterinary Surgeon in a dairy development project in Jamacia, W.I. During this time he lectured at the Jamacian College of Agriculture.
This work in less developed countries has continued with Nigel contributing to the development of animal welfare programs in Bali, Indonesia and he was a key member of a Rabies Control Program in dogs on the ravaged east coast of Sri Lanka following the Boxing Day 2004 Tsunami.
After joining Matamata Veterinary Services (MVS) as an associate in 1988, Nigel became a Director in 1991. He has developed what was a part-time small animal position into a team of three veterinarians. Nigel's clinical workload focuses primarily on small animal medicine and reproduction.
In 2004, Nigel headed the MVS team who took over Glenbred Advanced Canine Reproduction. Nigel has developed considerable skill and experience in endoscopic transcervical insemination, having now completed in excess of 250 successful inseminations. He has provided reproductive consultation to the guide dog breeding program, police dog program and MAF detector dog program.
Nigel's current clinical interests are in the fields of small animal reproduction and medicine. Nigel also contributes in a variety of management areas for MVS.
Victoria Weston BSc, MSc (Hons)
Victoria completed a Masters degree in 2005 which focused on the freezing of ejaculated and epididymal (post castration) canine semen. She works closely with MAF and handles the mountains of paperwork to make sure the exportation and importation of all our clients' frozen semen goes smoothly.
Lynne Gillies graduated from Waikato Polytechnic in 2007 with a Veterinary Nursing Certificate (including the Shoof Award for Outstanding Achievement in her year), she also gained her Veterinary Nursing Diploma in 2009.
Lynne is the very proud owner of two leonbergers (large fluffy, friendly dogs). She is a familiar figure on the dog show circuit and is well known to many breeders.
Her special interest in dog breeding means she is ideally suited to provide support to GlenBred's Reproduction Services and manages semen imports and exports. Lynne assists Fiona with all Artificial Inseminations and Semen collections.
Kristie Gulbransen graduated from Waikato University with a Bachelor of Social Science in 1997 and a Veterinary Nursing Certificate from Waikato Polytechnic in 2002. In 2007 she was the winner of the Merial Ancare Outstanding Vet Nurse in Customer Relations award.
Kristie is the first point of contact for all enquiries and she provides administration support to Fiona.