Senior Lecturer in Theriogenology

Jen is a Theriogenologist based at Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga Australia.  Jen has extensive industry experience in both the Thoroughbred industry and the use of artificial reproductive technologies.  Jen has had the privilege of working alongside some of the best equine reproductive veterinarians in the world spending time at Goulburn Valley Equine Hospital, Hagyard Equine Medical, Equibreed NZ, Colorado State University and spent the last 7 years working at Scone Equine Hospital prior to moving to Wagga Wagga to teach a new generation of Equine Veterinarians.  Jen’s passion is using the artificial reproductive toolbox to solve problems in the broodmare and the stallion. 

Goulburn Valley Equine Hospital, Victoria, Australia

Dr Burden graduated from Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2011. She subsequently completed an internship at Oklahoma City Equine Clinic followed by a residency and master’s degree at the Colorado State University Equine Reproduction laboratory. Dr. Burden became board-certified with the American College of Theriogenologists in 2015.

Dr Burden transitioned to Australia (Goulburn Valley Equine Hospital) following her residency. She continued transitioning between the southern and northern hemisphere breeding seasons working at Claiborne Farm in Kentucky, Haras Al Boraq in Morocco, and the University of Florida before settling in Australia in 2017. Dr Burden’s interests focus on the problem broodmare and assisted reproductive technology in the mare.

Australian Registered Specialist in Equine Medicine

Joan graduated from the University of Queensland’s Veterinary School in 1981, and was awarded a post graduate honours degree in Equine Medicine in 1984, for investigating the role of stress on the absorption of colostrum by newborn foals.  Joan spent 12 years working and studying in North American where she completed a residency in Large Animal Medicine and a Master of Veterinary Science at the WCVM, University Saskatchewan, Canada, for investigating the safe use of flunxin meglumine in newborn foals. In 1993 Dr. Carrick and was awarded a PhD by the University of Georgia, for investigating the effects of fish oils on the response of animals to endotoxin and then did a fellowship in critical care at the University of Tennessee Medical School and became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. Joan gained experience in gross and histopathology of neonatal foals, clinical pathology of endotoxic and septic shock horses as well as in clinical internal medicine of all large animals.

While in North America, Joan frequently lectured about inflammation, shock, intensive care and omega-3 fatty acids to veterinarians, human intensive care specialists and biomedical researchers in the USA, Canada and Europe.  In 1997, she returned to Australia to work in equine practice including at Oakey Veterinary Hospital and the University of Melbourne. Joan joined the Scone Equine Hospital in 2005 as the veterinary advisor for the SEH laboratory and to complete RIRDC funded research into placentitis. This research resulted in a very successful clinical program to identify and treat mares with high risk pregnancies. Joan is currently a specialist consultant who manages high risk pregnant mares. This involves investigating the causes of a pregnancy loss or delivery of a critically ill neonate, then monitoring and treating mares in subsequent pregnancies so that healthy foals are born.

Scenic Rim Veterinary Services

Dr Dave Ahern graduated with first class honours from University of Queensland in 1998. Prof Trevor Heath described Dave as the most organised and motivated vet student he had ever known. Upon graduating, Dave worked in mixed practices for several years before starting his own practice from a bare piece of land on the outskirts of Beaudesert, Qld in 2002.

For the next 20 years he developed one of the most successful equine veterinary referral hospitals in the country - renowned for its high standards, great work environment, volume of cases, world class in-house standards of CPD. This, along with Dave’s leadership when it came to supporting his staff, creating loyal and raving fans, tackling complex, difficult and rare cases made his practice an esteemed place to work.

The reward for these outstanding levels of achievement whilst raising a family with his incredible wife Heather, taking on 2 business partners, plus beating cancer, came in 2021, when Scenic Rim Equine Hospital was sold for a record high price for an equine practice in Queensland.

Dave is considered an enigmatic genius by his peers with no postgraduate qualifications other than “a PhD in Results” having achieved levels of life fulfilment, contentment, and standards of excellence that the vast majority of us will only ever dream of.

His down to earth, “no BS approach” to teaching, plus his generous willingness to share his pearls of wisdom, many of which will not be found in textbooks, will make his tutoring and bonus evening talks at this event something you’ll never forget!