Meet our team of animal health professionals
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Elisa NishimotoVeterinarian - Director Elisa was born and raised on the island of Hawai’i and attended the University of Hawai’i at Hilo where she completed a Bachelor of Arts in Cellular & Molecular Biology in 2004, and a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture/Animal Science in 2007. She then moved to Los Angeles to attend the College of Veterinary Medicine at Western University of Health Sciences. She joined Kangaroo Island Veterinary Clinic in 2011 to move closer to her partner Brady Peters, and their dog Ziki. In 2019 they had a daughter named Kalani. Elisa has an interest in surgery and wellness care, and enjoys mentoring and managing the clinic team. Being an island girl at heart, Elisa enjoys fishing, surfing and camping with her family in her personal time. |
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Jodi Maher
Veterinarian - Director
As the daughter of two vets and growing up next door to my parents successful vet practice in the Southern Highlands, NSW, I was ultimately destined to follow in their footsteps. I grew up surrounded by animals with horses taking up most of my spare time. Starting off in pony club and then finding my love of eventing. I graduated from Murdoch University, WA in 2013 and shorty after started working at Kangaroo Island Vet. I was attracted to the job as I had spent holidays on the island and I had fond memories of its raw beauty and the friendly community. Since then I spent 2 years back in Perth working sole charge at a busy practice which allowed me to improve my skills in many areas of small animal medicine and surgery. However, Kangaroo Island had won my heart and I was fortunately able to return and put down roots here. In 2021 I was excited to have ventured into part ownership of the vet clinic and I look forward to pursuing my passion in this very special and unique part of the world. I enjoy every minute of my spare time with our growing family of humans and animals, including my beautiful boy Oskar. |
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Lauryn StewartVeterinarian - Director
After graduating high school in rural Victoria, Lauryn spent a year working cattle in the Queensland outback on stations. It was a fantastic experience that made her want to learn more about agriculture - mostly from the back of a horse - so she spent the next year working in Canada on a family owned ranch and feedlot. She still had a misfit Canadian accent when she did her interviews for the vet school at CSU Wagga Wagga, having flown into Australia only days before. During the time she was doing her vet degree, she worked in shearing sheds, beef and sheep farms, a feedlot, dairies (including a goat rotary dairy) and chicken rearing farm. Her practical experience has proven invaluable when dealing with often unpredictable situations as a large animal vet. Working at Kangaroo Island Veterinary Clinic since 2015, Lauryn has become a skilled mixed animal vet with OB accreditation and a strong interest in all things reproduction. She loves a challenge and learning something new and enjoys helping students and travelling around the Island for on farm visits. Outside of work, Lauryn is having fun with her three young children and wool enterprise with her partner, Will, plus caring for their menagerie of animals and cow horses. |
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Jacqui Wheeler-RoffVeterinarian
Born in Brisbane, I spent my early years on the waters of Moreton Bay before moving to Currumbin Valley. Here I spent all my time as a free range kid with the wallabies, birds and my dog Jingo. After school I studied Wildlife Science for a year at UQ Gatton before transferring to Veterinary Science. At the end of my degree I wanted to get a taste of everything as a true mixed practice vet and still maintain my keen interest in wildlife. After graduating I relocated, making the 2300km road trip from QLD down to KI with my budgie Toohey; later joined by my horse Finn. I like to spend my spare time gardening, trail riding and photographing wildlife and exploring everything on the Island! |
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Charlie MintzVeterinarian
After graduating high school in rural inner-city Adelaide, Charlie spent a year working cattle in North Queensland on stations. The experience was the catalyst for change, filling him with a passion for Agriculture and a desire to become a Livestock Veterinarian. Out went the boat shoes and Ralph Lauren polos, and in came the RM Williams boots and RB Sellars half button work shirts. Since joining the clinic in 2023 Charlie has slotted into the team as a mixed animal practitioner, dividing his time between treating small and large animals. Outside of work Charlie enjoys watching the Crom, spending time with his partner Evie and chopping firewood. |
