Our Team Members
Nicki Huskission
Nicky joined us in 2020 as a veterinary receptionist. Nicky has always enjoyed working with animals and has previously worked in kennels and doggy day care. In her spare time Nicki is kept busy with her family, they love travelling and going on long walks with their Labrador teddy and pony buttercup.
Samantha Palmer
RVN
Samantha Palmer joined us in 2020. She is a qualified RVN and works between practice and a Veterinary Nursing University. She has a young lurcher called Hunter, who loves walks in the woods.
Wendy Ridge
Wendy joined us in 2022 and has experience in banking, insurance and customer services. In her spare time she enjoys reading, spending time with her family and travelling.
Sally Baker
Clinical Director
Sally qualified as a veterinary surgeon from the University of Bristol in 2007. Originally from Sheffield, she moved to the North East in 2012 and joined Willows in May 2020. She enjoys all aspects of general practice and has a particular interest in internal medicine and diagnostic imaging. Outside of work, when not spending time with her two cats, Root and Shaw, she can often be found enjoying an outdoor adventure or attending a country or folk music event.
Carole Stobbs
Practice Manager
Brought up around animals, Carole’s mum was in animal rescue and they still work together outside of Willows, assisting animals to find loving homes. Previously Carole worked in a bank for 20 years, before she decided to commit her efforts to animal care. Carole’s pets are her life including two dogs, Mylo and Roxie.
Kamal Javed
Clinical Director
Kamal has been a veterinary surgeon since the early 1990s, working with small animals and their owners to provide outstanding pet healthcare services. For the first 12 years he gained experience with a leading regional veterinary group, following which Kamal opened Willows in January 2004. Outside of practice Kamal enjoys spending time with his family, travel and keeping up to date with global politics and economy.
Ana Ribicic Henderson
Veterinary Surgeon
I qualified in Zagreb, Croatia in 2018. I worked in mixed practice for a few years before Joining Willows in 2020. My biggest passion is surgery, and I am currently working towards my certificate in small animal surgery. In 2022 we started to offer Laparoscopic surgery as a less invasive alternative to a routine spay surgery, I have loved having this option to offer our clients the highest standard of care that we can. I love to spend my free time walking with my husband and our 3 Croatian Sheepdogs, foraging & travelling.
Victoria Riley
Head Nurse
Vicky joined Willows in 2009 as a newly qualified veterinary nurse, before rejoining in 2019 after spells teaching veterinary nursing and working in a referral centre. Her love of animals started in primary school and she has grown up with a huge range of pets. Outside work her time is occupied with two dogs, Lola and Rascal, Alan the cat and Star the horse.
Iain McCowliff
Head Nurse
Iain joined the Boldon team in August 2014, bringing over three decades of experience as a veterinary nurse, including eight years as head nurse at a veterinary hospital in Darlington. Gracie and Mia, two little dogs, take up most of Iain’s time and he enjoys walking with them in the Lake District and keeping fit.
Beth Tindale
Deputy Head Nurse
Beth joined the willows team in 2020 as a registered veterinary nurse. She has always loved animals from a young age and always knew this is the career she wanted. Previously she worked in a veterinary hospital. Beth has recently become deputy head nurse at our South Shields branch. She spends her spare time with her Labrador Callie, enjoying long walks and exploring new places. She also has two horses, scarlet and Bruno, and two rabbits Millie and Willow.
Kate Moss
RVN
Kate is new to the Willows team starting at the end of 2022. She has always loved animals from a young age and has previously worked in a veterinary hospital from being 17 years old and qualified to be an RVN in 2021. Kate loves her two rescue cats Izzy and Ivy. Outside of work she enjoys going to the gym, meeting up with friends and going on holidays.
Iona Phillips
RVN
I grew up with a menagerie of animals, including two rescue dogs, three cats, two rabbits, four rescue guinea pigs and a rescue chinchilla, encouraging me to pursue my career in the veterinary industry. I Qualified as an Auxiliary Nurse in June 2016 and started working for Willows in November 2016. I was then given the opportunity to start training as a veterinary nurse in 2018 and Qualified in May 2022. I love spending my free time either caring for my animals,1 cat, 1 dog & 2 rabbits or out running with my local running club.
Amber Beard
Veterinary Surgeon
I’m originally from Texas but qualified in 2019 from the University of Glasgow. I worked in mixed practice for a few years before joining Willows in 2023. I enjoy all aspects of general practice, but my passion is in surgery and emergency medicine. Outside of work, I like spending time with my pets as well as travelling.
Judy Hope
Student Nurse
Judy joined Willows in 2020 as a veterinary care assistant, and loves her role as she is mad about animals – dogs, cats, spiders, rats, you name it! In her spare time she rescues, rehabilitates and releases wild birds, and also enjoys walking her dog in the woods, playing her hand pan drum, and dressing up as a Viking as a cosplayer.
Lynsey Sykes
Surgical Support
Lynsey has worked with Kamal since she was 16, and was one of the first members of the Willows team. She is an extremely experienced non-qualified nurse, and assists with all aspects of veterinary care. Outside of work Lynsey enjoys doting on daughter Maisy, eating out, going to the cinema and theatre, and spending time with her niece and nephew.
Summa Vent
Veterinary Care Assistant
In 2021 I started as a student and qualified as an ANA with help from the Willows team. I absolutely love it here! I grew up with a lot of pets which gave me the passion I have for animals. I always knew as a child I wanted to work around them. Being able to do my job is a dream come true. In my spare time my favourite thing to do is spend time with my family and adopted cat Bruce.
Caitlin Dunn
Receptionist
Caitlin joined the team in 2019 and is loving every minute of her time here. She has a diploma in animal management and has spent time as a dog groomer. Originally from Richmond in North Yorkshire, she has lived in South Shields since 2014, and enjoys allowing her three children, three dogs and two cats to keep her busy.
Anne Ridley
Receptionist
Anne was manageress of a local wine bar in South Shields before joining Willows in 2006, which along with a range of computing courses, stands her in good stead as a receptionist! Born and bred in South Shields, Anne enjoys travelling, particularly the Middle East, as well as spending time with her family and grandchildren.
