Meet our team

Dr 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.
 

Dr 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.

Dr 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.

Dr Simon Kelly MBChB, FRANZCOG
Graduated from 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, East Auckland and the North Shore.

Dr 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.

Dr Sunil Pillay MRCOG, FRANZCOG
Completed his specialist training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at National Women's Hospital and has more than 15 years experience in fertility and IVF. He is a leading laparoscopic Gynaecologist at Auckland City Hospital. He has a keen interest in gynaecological surgery with advanced training in endometriosis and fibroid surgery.  Sunil conducts fertility clinics in Auckland, on the North Shore and at Henderson Medical Centre in West Auckland.  He combines this with his private gynaecology practice.


Dr 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.

Dr 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.

Dr 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.

Dr 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.

Dr Katherine Sowden MBChB, FRANZcOG
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.

Dr 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.

Dr 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.


Dr 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.



Dr 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.


Dr Lakshmi Ravikanti  MBBS, FRANZCOG

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.

Sue Saunders
Counsellor Team Leader, Fertility Associates Group Counsellor Advisor

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.

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.

Dr Greg  Phillipson MBChB, FRANZCOG, CREI
Medical Director of Fertility Associates Christchurch.

Greg is our Christchurch Clinic Medical Director. He graduated from Otago University in 1984 and trained as an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist  in Wellington, Adelaide and Christchurch.  His Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility training was completed in Adelaide with special  interests in IVF,  male fertility, reversal of vasectomy and genetics. In 1997 he returned to work at  Christchurch Women's Hospital until 2007. His private specialist practice is based at Fertility Associates in Christchurch, Nelson and Queenstown where he sees gynaecology and infertility patients, and operates at St Georges Hospital.

Dr Sarah Wakeman MBChB, FRANZCOG, CREI, Dip Obs, Dip Paed.
Sarah completed her medical degree at The University of Otago and then undertook her Obstetrics and Gynaecology training in both Hawkes Bay and Christchurch. She was first involved with the Christchurch clinic  whilst still a registrar at Christchurch Women’s Hospital and then became more involved when she commenced her subspeciality training in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility in 2003. She spent 2 years working in Melbourne at the Royal Womens’ Hospital and Melbourne IVF and completed her subspeciality training during this time. Sarah is interested in all areas of both male and female fertility, but has particular interests in fertility preservation, genetics, recurrent miscarriage and polycystic ovarian syndrome. She is consulting at Fertility Associates Christchurch and in Nelson, and performs private surgery at St Georges Hospital in Christchurch.

Dr. Michelle Bailey MBChB, Dip Obst, FRANZCOG
Michelle graduated from the Otago Medical School in 1997, and undertook Obstetrics and Gynaecology training  in Christchurch, Dunedin, The Hawkes Bay, and Australia, beginning in 2000.  Michelle began working in Fertility Medicine, as a Senior Registrar, at the Christchurch clinic, where she then commenced formal subspecialty training in 2008; towards the RANZCOG Certificate of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (CREI) and completed the written exam for this in 2010.  Michelle consults from  the Fertility Associates Christchurch Office and performs private surgery at the adjacent St Georges Hospital.  She is involved in all aspects of infertility care, with special interests in the areas of female fertility,  particularly the effects of lifestyle factors on fertility, recurrent miscarriage,  early pregnancy care and complications,  fertility preservation, egg donation/surrogacy and ovarian reserve - including markers of this,  and is currently undertaking research on the effect of treatment of ovarian endometriosis on ovarian function,  as measured by the AMH marker  of ovarian reserve.

Dr Catherine Conway MBChB, FRACP
Graduated from the University of Otago and completed postgraduate training in Endocrinology in Christchurch and Adelaide.  She commenced work at the Christchurch Clinic in 2005 and combines her interest in reproductive endocrinology with work in diabetes and general endocrinology at Christchurch Hospital.  She has a special interest in polycystic ovarian syndrome and premature ovarian insufficiency.


Anoma Gooneratne PhD BVSc
Laboratory Team Leader & Group Scientific Advisor
Anoma graduated as a Veterinarian and then completed her PhD in Reproductive Biology at University of Western Australia, followed by postdoctoral research at University of Saskatchewan, Canada and Lincoln University, NZ.  Anoma has been working in the field of Embryology since 1990. As a founding staff member, Anoma established the Embryology Laboratory of the Christchurch IVF Clinic in 1990 and in 1993 was appointed Scientific Director. She continued as the Scientific Director of the NZ Centre of Reproductive Medicine (from 1996) and Repromed, Christchurch (from 2007). Anoma has been involved in overseeing staff training and compliance, operational performance and quality aspects including compliance with NZ regulatory requirements.  Anoma joined Fertility Associates in November 2011.


Elaine Baxter
Nursing team leader
Elaine graduated in 1982 with an advanced Diploma of Nursing and Midwifery Registration.  Following this she has had a long and varied career in women’s health working as a nursing tutor, midwife and gynae nurse.  Elaine joined the fertility field in 1997 where she was remained.  At FSA 2005 she won the ‘Best paper by a nurse’ on her work on lifestyles issues and fertility. As well as leading the nursing team at Fertility Associates Christchurch she helps coordinate the donor egg programme.

Anne Ott
Counsellor

Janine Clarke Dip Practice Mgt (Health), NZ Dip Bus, Dip Acctg, Dip Mgt
Clinic Manager
Janine has worked in the reproductive medicine sector for many years.   She has previously held positions at the Christchurch School of Medicine and specialist private practice.  During this time Janine has developed her interest in both business and management by doing further study in these areas with a particular focus on the Health sector.  Janine is available to help with any questions you may have and welcomes your feedback.  Please call her directly on (03) 341 2747.

Alex Price
Chief Executive
As Chief Executive, Alex is responsible for the overall operations and continued development of Fertility Associates. Alex joined Fertility Associates in 2007, 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 chemistry and development. He holds a chemical engineering degree and an MBA from IMD in Switzerland. He is currently completing a graduate certificate in Reproductive Medicine through the University of New South Wales.

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.

Kevin Coetzee  PhD (Medical Sciences), MBA (Hons), BSc (Biochemistry)
Laboratory Team Leader & Group Scientific Advisor

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.

Anoma Gooneratne

Michael de Reuck

Hilary Bush

Gavin Fong

Dzung Nguyen

Sue Saunders