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Meet our team

At Fertility Associates you will find our close-knit team of doctors, nurses, counsellors and scientists are dedicated to providing optimum care and giving you the best possible chance of having a baby. Committed to excellence and integrity, we offer both private and publicly funded consultation and treatment and our staff provides full patient support throughout.

Fertility Associates have three main clinics located in Auckland, Hamilton and Wellington which feature modern, comfortable facilities and state of the art equipment and technology. We also have a number of satellite clinics located around the country including Auckland’s North Shore, Whangarei, Tauranga, Rotorua, Hawke's Bay, Gisborne, New Plymouth, Palmerston North and Nelson.

Below you will find a list of doctors and key staff who work within each our clinics.

[+] Auckland

Mary Birdsall BHB, MBChB, FRANZCOG, MSc(Oxon)

Medical Director of Fertility Associates Auckland

Graduated from Auckland Medical School followed by post-graduate training at National Womens' Hospital. She was awarded a Nuffield Scholarship and completed a Masters Degree in Human Reproduction at Oxford University from 1993 to 1996. Mary returned to New Zealand in 1996 and joined Fertility Associates. She is a director of Fertility Associates and combines this with a private gynaecology practice. Mary is also the editor of Fertility Associates book 'Making Babies'. Mary conducts clinics in Auckland and on the North Shore.

Freddie Graham CNZM, FRCS (Ed), FRCOG, FRNZCOG, CREI

He started his training in surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology in London, and then came to New Zealand in 1975 to a university post at National Women's Hospital. His interest in surgery for female infertility lead to him starting New Zealand's first IVF programme in 1983 to treat those women whom surgery could not help. He co-founded Fertility Associates in 1987, and has increasingly developed expertise in male infertility - especially microsurgery and recovering sperm from the testis in men with severe male infertility. Freddie conducts clinics in Auckland, on the North Shore and in Whangarei. In December 2009, Freddie was recognised in the New Year Honours as a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to medicine.

Richard Fisher CNZM, FRCOG, FRNZCOG, CREI

Graduated from Otago, followed by postgraduate training in New Zealand, London, Poole and Oxford in Britain. He returned to New Zealand as a specialist obstetrician and gynaecologist at National Women's Hospital where he joined Freddie Graham practicing IVF. Since co-founding Fertility Associates, Richard has become the foremost spokesperson on infertility issues in the country, and is the first New Zealander to be President of the Fertility Society of Australia (FSA). Richard conducts clinics in Auckland and on the North Shore. In December 2009, Richard was recognised in the New Year Honours as a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to medicine.

Simon Kelly MBChB, FRANZCOG

Graduated form the University of Otago and then completed postgraduate training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology both in Auckland and the United Kingdom. He subsequently undertook two fellowships in reproductive medicine firstly as a lecturer to Professor Stuart Campbell at St George's Hospital Medical School in London, UK and then most recently with Professor S L Tan at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. His main areas of interest are the application of advanced ultrasound technology to infertility management, in vitro maturation of immature oocytes collected from unstimulated ovaries and aspects of fertility preservation. Apart from his fertility interests, Simon also has a private obstetric and gynaecology practice based at Fertility Associates. He conducts clinics in Auckland and on the North Shore.

Sunil Pillay MRCOG, FRANZCOG

Completed his specialist training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at National Women's Hospital and has more than 10 years experience in fertility and IVF. He consults in our rooms at Ascot and the Apollo Centre, is a leading laparoscopic gynaecologist at Auckland City Hospital and consults at Westcare. He has a keen interest in endometriosis and fibroid surgery. Sunil conducts clinics in Auckland and on the North Shore.

Stella Milsom FRACP

Graduated from Otago University in 1978, completed Endocrine training in Christchurch and Auckland followed by doctoral studies with Professor Peter Gluckman at the University of Auckland. Her post-fellowship training was undertaken in the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA and subsequently at Middlesex Hospital, London. She returned to New Zealand in 1993 to take up position as a specialist in Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine with Fertility Associates and the Department of Reproductive Medicine, National Women’s Hospital. She is a clinical senior lecturer in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Auckland, a member of the Royal College of Physicians Examinations Committee and Endocrine Sub-editor for the Australian and New Zealand Medical Journal and New Ethicals. She is a member of National Health Committee formulating current HRT guidelines. Her clinical and research interests include ovulatory disorders, especially the polycystic ovary syndrome, lactation physiology and the menopause.

Susannah O'Sullivan MBChB, FRACP

Graduated from University of Auckland and completed specialist endocrine training in Auckland, followed by doctoral studies with Professor Jillian Cornish and Associate Professor Andrew Grey at The university of Auckland. She continues to undertake clinical and scientific research at the University of Auckland, with a particular focus on osteoporosis. She joined Fertility Associates in 2008 to work in areas of general and reproductive endocrinology with particular interests in polycystic ovarian syndrome, menopause, and osteoporosis.

Megan Ogilvie MBChB, FRACP

Graduated from University of Auckland and completed specialist endocrine training in Auckland. She undertook postgraduate training in general and reproductive endocrinology at St Bartholomew’s Hospital and subsequently at Middlesex Hospital in London. Megan returned to New Zealand in 2004 to join Fertility Associates to work in the areas of both general and reproductive endocrinology with particular interests in polycystic ovarian syndrome, amenorrhoea, menopause and gonadal dysgenesis.

Neil Buddicom MRCOG, FRNZCOG

Joined Fertility Associates after being Medical Director of the Infertility Unit at National Women's Hospital. Neil shares an interest in infertility with a busy obstetric and gynaecological practice.

Katherine Sowden MBChB

Graduated from Otago University and went on to complete her specialist training in 1998. Katherine is married with 3 small children. Katherine has a special interest in colopscopy, laparoscopy, hysteroscopy and general gynaecology, including endometriosis and menstrual disorders. Katherine is also a part time specialist at Middlemore Hospital.

Phill McChesney BHB, MBChB, (PGDipObstMedGyn), MRANZCOG

Graduated from Auckland Medical School followed by post-graduate training in Hamilton, Auckland and Tauranga. Phill has a keen interest in laparoscopic surgery and is undertaking subspecialist training towards the RANZCOG Certificate in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility here at Fertility Associates. His time is currently split between our Auckland and Hamilton clinics. Phill is also Chair of the RANZCOG Trainees' Committee and has a significant involvement in both undergraduate and postgraduate training.

Bert Stewart PhD

Group Scientific Director

Joined Fertility Associates’ in 1999 and is the group’s Scientific Director. He previously held the equivalent post in one of the UK’s largest IVF units. In the UK he was also appointed as an inspector by the government regulatory body, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. Bert started work in fertility treatment in 1988 following a research post in cattle IVF.

Pauline Bigelow

Laboratory Team Leader & Joint Clinic Manager

Pauline joined the team at Fertility Associates in 1990 and is the embryology team leader in the Auckland Clinic. She came to Fertility Associates from a background in immunology research. Pauline enjoys the regular contact with patients her job offers and the fact that her role makes a difference to many couples lives and helps them to have the family they long for. During her time working in the field of embryology, she has seen remarkable improvements in our embryo culture systems and pregnancy rates.

Lisa Boyles RGN

Group Nurse Advisor, Auckland Nursing Team Leader & Joint Clinic Manager

Lisa joined Fertility Associates in 2005 and has been involved in Women's Health since 1999 after gaining a distinction in Women's Health Diploma in the UK. Lisa was active in setting up the women's health clinics and Cervical Smear training across the UK. As well as supporting and leading the nursing teams at Fertility Associates, Lisa's special interest is in the coordination of our Donor Egg and Surrogacy programmes.

Joi Ellis

Counsellor Team Leader

Joi initially trained as a teacher and then became a social worker at National Women's Hospital in the 1980s where she provided a counselling service for people experiencing infertility. She joined Fertility Associates in 1987 as a founding staff member. She is a registered member of the Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers, a founding member and current chairperson of the Australian and New Zealand Infertility Counsellors Association and a founding member of the Infertility Society now referred to as Fertility New Zealand. Joi is a memebr of the Fertility Society of Australia, Reproductive Technology Accreditation Committee and is a Victoria, Australia approved counsellor.

[+] Hamilton

Ved Prakesh (VP) Singh MBBS, FRANZCOG, MD, FCPS
Medical Director of Fertility Associates Hamilton

VP is a graduate of University of Bombay and completed his medical degree at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Seth G S Medical College in India in 1988. He was part of the pioneering team credited with the first IVF baby in India. After completing his postgraduate training, he worked as a Research Officer at the Human Reproduction Research Centre at K E M Hospital, Bombay. VP moved to New Zealand in 1996 where he took up the position of Senior House Officer and Senior Registrar at National Women’s Hospital, Auckland. He was then appointed a Senior Registrar at Waikato Hospital, Hamilton, and in 2001 became a consultant in Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine at Waikato Hospital and Fertility Associates Hamilton. VP also has an interest in endometriosis surgery, operative laparoscopy and pelvic floor surgery. VP conducts the clinics in Rotorua and Tauranga.

Stewart Hastie MBChB, MRCOG, FRNZCOG

Combines his interest in fertility at Fertility Associates Hamilton with private obstetrics and gynaecology, and a part-time consultant's job at Waikato Hospital. Stewart is the doctor who introduced IVF locally in Hamilton. He has served on the Waikato branch of the NZ Medical Association and is currently President of the Waikato Obstetrics and Gynaecology Society. Stewart is the local RNZCOG-appointed registrar trainee supervisor and has for many years been involved with SHO training for the Diploma of Obstetrics.

Helen Wemyss MBChB, FRANZCOG

Graduated from Otago University in 1990 with post-graduate specialist training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology carried out in Hamilton and Auckland, NZ and Canberra, Australia. She has a sub-specialist interest in infertility, and joined Fertility Associates Hamilton ISIS Clinic in July 2001. She also works part-time as a specialist in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Waikato Hospital and is involved in post-graduate teaching.

Kirsty Gendall MBChB, Dip Obs, FRNZCGP

Studied medicine at Otago University and went on to obtain a Diploma in Obstetrics and Gynaecology from the University of Auckland. She has worked in Family Planning and at the Teenage Pregnancy Clinic at Middlemore Hospital. She continued to be involved in women's health and obstetrics in Auckland both in her own general practice and at the Menopause Clinic in the Well Women’s Nursing Service. Kirsty trained at Fertility Associates in Auckland before joining Fertility Associates Hamilton as a fertility clinician.

Lakshmi Ravikanti

Lakshmi completed her medical degree in India and immigrated to New Zealand in 1996. She completed her Fellowship of the Royal College in December 07. While training she worked at Waikato Hospital, National Women's Hospital and Tauranga Hospital. Her special interest is in Reproductive Medicine and Endometriosis and she joined Fertility Associates in January 2007 to further her interest in these areas.

Carla Wetzels, MSc
Laboratory Team Leader.

Carla completed her degree in Animal Reproduction and Human Physiology at the Wageningen University in the Netherlands in 1991. She worked in animal reproductive research before pursuing her special interest and becoming an embryologist. Carla moved to New Zealand in 2002 and joined Fertility Associates in 2003.

Vicki Wild
Nurse Team Leader

Vicki joined Fertility Associates in 2001, as the clinic was established under the Ministry’s provision of services to the Midland Region. Vicki has extensive nursing experience in Intensive Therapy Care and Recovery. Vicki leads a dynamic team of registered nurses to be truly responsive to patient needs and acted as the chair of the Fertility Nurses Association in New Zealand.

Sue Saunders
Fertility Associates Group Counsellor Advisor and Fertility Associates Hamilton Counsellor Team Leader

Counsellor at the Hamilton clinic. Sue has been a counsellor for 30 years, she has worked as a counsellor for FA since 2001. In 1998 Sue’s book Infertility, a Guide for New Zealanders was published, Sue has been involved in research on egg donation.

Batami Pundak
Clinic Manager

Batami joined Fertility Associates in 2002 and is also the education, counsellor and HR portfolio holder for the company. After completing her MBA degree she went on to gain experience as a business consultant working in both public and private sector settings. Batami then focused her interests on the management of health services.

Jodie McLuskie
Administration Team Leader

Jodie Joined Fertility Associates Hamilton in 2004. Her responsibilities include management of the Ministry of Health Reports, Accounts, and General administration duties. She completed a 3 year Management Diploma in 2002 along with many NZQA qualifications on Customer Service.

[+] Wellington

Andrew Murray FRANZCOG, CREI
Medical Director of Fertility Associates Wellington
Andrew is our Wellington clinic Medical Director and a Fellow of the Royal Australia and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, having originally trained in New Zealand. He went on to complete a two-year fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Monash IVF, Melbourne, Australia. During this time he developed a strong interest in advanced operative laparoscopy and hysteroscopy. Andrew has also trained in tubal microsurgery and performs reversal of sterilizations and vasectomies. Andrew is a Senior Lecturer at Wellington School of Medicine, University of Otago and is one of the Consultant Obstetricians and Gynaecologists at Capital and Coast Health, Wellington Hospital. He also is on the New Zealand Committee for the Royal Australia and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Andrew’s private practice is based at Fertility Associates rooms at Wellington where he sees gynaecology and infertility patients.

John Hutton PhD, FRCOG, FRNZCOG, CREI

John is a specialist in reproductive medicine. He was the Medical Director of the Wellington clinic until 2008. His interest in Reproductive Medicine began in 1970 when he was at National Women's Hospital in Auckland. He subsequently studied in London, and in 1979 was awarded a PhD and also the Blair-Bell Prize Lectureship of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. In 1982 he was appointed the Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Wellington School of Medicine and Wellington Hospital. In 1992, on realising that a tertiary fertility service was needed in Wellington, he initiated the establishment of Fertility Associates Wellington. His particular clinical interests include the causes of infertility (and their prevention), new reproductive technologies and the treatment of women with abnormal production of female hormones. He is also the Professor of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the Wellington School of Medicine, and the clinical director of a major research study on the role of proteins made by the follicle prior to ovulation. He is the specialist appointee on the National Ethics Committee on Assisted Reproductive Technology (ECART), and the Hormone and Contraceptive Subcommittee of Pharmac.

Mark Stegmann FCOG (SA), FRANZCOG

Mark completed his initial medical training in South Africa and his specialist obstetrics and gynaecology training in Cape Town. Mark undertook additional specialist training in Reproductive Medicine at Bristol in the United Kingdom including two years at the University of Bristol Centre for Reproductive Medicine. Mark's areas of special interest include the investigation and treatment of male factor infertility and the techniques of testicular sperm retrieval. Mark is at Fertility Associates in Wellington two days a week and conducts satellite clinics in Hastings and Wanganui. He also practices as a specialist obstetrician/gynaecologist in Wanganui.

John Tait FRCOG, FRNZCOG

John began an interest in infertility with training in tubal microsurgery at Oxford, and this has since been extended to more advanced laparoscopic surgery, with a particular emphasis on the surgical management of endometriosis. John was co-founder of Fertility Associates in Wellington and still practices here. As well as his private obstetric and gynaecology practice he is a specialist at Wellington Hospital, and the Clinical Director of their Women’s Health Service.

Valerie Schenk BSc MBBCh FRANZCOG

Val completed her undergraduate training and 5 years experience as a General Practitioner in South Africa before moving to New Zealand and specialising in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. She is now working part time at our Wellington Clinic as well as Wellington Women’s Hospital, Wellington Specialist Obstetric Services group practice and she has a private gynaecology practice.

Jill Shepherd MB ChB FRNCGP PGDipOMG BSc

Jill has worked in Women’s health care for more than 20 years primarily in General Practice, and she has been with us at Fertility Associates for 4 years.

Linley Joplin Dip Medical Laboratory Technology, NZ Dip Business
Clinic Manager

Linley worked for many years in Medical Laboratory Technology and quality in the health sector before moving to a management focus. She is available to answer any of your questions particularly if you have any concerns, and can be contacted on 04 3816360.

Kevin Coetzee PhD (Medical Sciences), MBA (Hons), BSc (Biochemistry)
Laboratory Team Leader

Kevin completed his BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry at the University of Cape Town and after graduation in 1986 he worked at the Tygerberg Infertility Clinic, as a scientist in human assisted reproductive technology. The Tygerberg Infertility Clinic is most famous for the development of the strict criteria classification method for the evaluation of sperm morphology. During this time, he completed his MSc, PhD, MBA, and published several papers on semenology and embryology. In 2001 he moved to Sydney and worked at IVF NSW as the Laboratory Manager, and in 2003 he shifted to Fertility Associates Wellington. Kevin leads a team of 5 scientists and continues his research and particular interest in semenology.

Jennifer Bruce RN
Nurse Team Leader

Jennifer has been the Team Leader of the Nurses in Wellington for two years. She has 16 years experience working in sexual and reproductive health.

Margaret Stanley-Hunt ANZICA, member of NZ Association of Counsellors, BSC (Hons) Clinical Psychology
Counsellor

Margaret has worked as an infertility counsellor with Fertility Associates in Wellington since 1996. She has a background in clinical psychology and also works as a childbirth educator. She is a member of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors and the Australian and New Zealand Infertility Counsellors Association. Margaret is Privacy Officer for the Fertility Associates clinics.

Winnie Duggan ANZICA, member of NZ Association of Counsellors, Masters in Guidance and Counselling
Counsellor

Winnie joined Fertility Associates in Wellington as an infertility counsellor in 1995 and was trained at Massey University as a Counsellor. She enjoys facilitating the IVF education workshops and helps facilitate some of the special interest groups for Fertility NZ in Wellington. Winnie is a member of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors and the Australian and New Zealand Infertility Counsellors Association.

Liz Wignall

Administration Team Leader

Liz Wignall has led the administration team at FA Wellington since 1993. She is happy to take enquiries particularly regarding invoices and payments and can be contacted on 04 381 6367.

[+] Palmerston North

Digby Ngan Kee MRCOG, FRANZCOG

Graduated from University of Auckland and completed post-graduate training in Hamilton, Wellington and the United Kingdom. He returned to New Zealand in 1990 and has worked in Palmerston North since that time. Digby combines his work for Fertility Associates with his private gynaecology practice, and an appointment as a part-time consultant at Midcentral Health. Digby has trained in laparoscopic and hysteroscopic surgery and has particular interests in the surgical treatment of infertility, laparoscopic tubal microsurgery, and the treatment of endometriosis.

[+] Group

Alex Price
Chief Executive

Alex joined Fertility Associates after working in Europe and Japan with the management consulting firms A.T. Kearney and Boston Consulting Group covering pharmaceuticals and healthcare. His early career was spent in the NZ dairy industry working in protein development. He holds a chemical engineering degree and an MBA from IMD in Switzerland.

John Peek PhD
Group Operations Manager

John is the Group Operations Manager for the Fertility Associates clinics, and also oversees science, research and development. After gaining his degrees in aspects of medical research, John worked in one of the pioneering IVF units in the early 1980s in Adelaide, Australia, before heading the Infertility Laboratory at National Women's Hospital in 1984, and then science at Fertility Associates in 1987.

Bert Stewart PhD
Group Scientific Director

Joined Fertility Associates’ in 1999 and is the group’s Scientific Director. He previously held the equivalent post in one of the UK’s largest IVF units. In the UK he was also appointed as an inspector by the government regulatory body, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. Bert started work in fertility treatment in 1988 following a research post in cattle IVF.

Michael de Reuck
Finance Manager

Michael qualified as a Chartered Accountant (CA(SA)) in 2000 after completing his articles at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Cape Town, South Africa. He then ventured to the UK on his OE working for JPMorganChase as a Legal Entity Analyst on a 12 month contract. In Oct 2002 he immigrated to New Zealand where he was first employed by Fertility Associates as the Group Accountant. In 2005 he moved into the Finance Manager role.

Heidi Rosser
Marketing Manager

Heidi comes from a background in marketing and human resources. Heidi graduated from Auckland University with a BA in languages and a BCom in marketing. She completed further study in business at Harvard University. Heidi worked internationally for The Gillette Company before becoming part-owner of a consumer product business, followed by two years at New Zealand Trade and Enterprise. Heidi joined Fertility Associates in September 2009 covering the Marketing Manager role for Hilary Bush who is on maternity leave.

Dzung Nguyen
Quality & Customer Service Champion

Dzung graduated from the University of Saigon with a BSc in Biochemistry. She worked in research and manufacturing laboratories in Ho Chi Minh City. After further studies in Quality Assurance and Quality and Environmental Systems auditing in New Zealand. Before joining Fertility Associates in January 2007, Dzung was involved in setting up and maintaining the Quality and Environmental Management Systems in a chemistry laboratory and a manufacturing company over a period of 20 years.

Lisa Boyles RGN
Fertility Associates Group Nurse Advisor and Fertility Associates Auckland Nursing Team Leader

Lisa joined Fertility Associates in 2005 and has been involved in Women's Health since 1999 after gaining a distinction in Women's Health Diploma in the UK. Lisa was active in setting up the women's health clinics and Cervical Smear training across the UK. As well as supporting and leading the nursing teams at Fertility Associates, Lisa's special interest is in the coordination of our Donor Egg and Surrogacy programmes.

Sue Saunders
Fertility Associates Group Counsellor Advisor and Fertility Associates Hamilton Counsellor Team Leader

Counsellor at the Hamilton clinic. Sue has been a counsellor for 30 years, she has worked as a counsellor for FA since 2001. In 1998 Sue’s book Infertility, a Guide for New Zealanders was published, Sue has been involved in research on egg donation.