About

THE Wildlife Disease Association

STUDENT CHAPTER AUSTRALASIA

WDA MISSION STATEMENT

“WDA's mission is to acquire, disseminate, and apply knowledge of the health and diseases of wild animals in relation to their biology, conservation, and interactions with humans and domestic animals.”

WHO ARE WE?

The WDAA student chapter represents student members of the Wildlife Disease Association of Australasia. Our objective is to unite all students with an interest or passion for wildlife, disease and conservation; and allow opportunities to connect with each other and established professionals, in order to share and enhance knowledge in the field of wildlife disease.

WANT TO JOIN THE COMMITTEE?

Elections for student chapter committee positions are held annually during the WDA-A conference. Three positions will be up for grabs for a two year period. If you'd like to apply or know more contact us via wdaastudent@gmail.com

MEET OUR COMMITTEE

BERTA BLANCH LÁZARO
COMMITTEE MEMBER 2020 - 2021

I am a veterinarian doing a PhD at Deakin University. My PhD is about beak and feather disease virus infection in wild crimson rosellas. I am interested in all things related to wildlife diseases and conservation. In my spare time I am an amateur photographer, and I love going birdwatching and hiking.

CHRISTINA KARAGIORGIS
STUDENT PRESIDENT 2020-2021

My name is Christina Karagiorgis and I am in my final year of the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Melbourne. I have a great interest in wildlife and conservation. I also enjoy exotic pets and helping to improve their care. One day I’d love to work as a wildlife veterinarian in research.

LAUREN CASPERSZ
COMMITTEE MEMBER 2020-2021

Hi! I'm Lauren, a third year DVM student at Murdoch University. I have a keen interest in wildlife medicine and conservation, and hope to work with wildlife as a veterinarian. I enjoy birding, herping and wildlife photography when I have spare time. I have a soft spot for bats, raptors and platypus!

ALANNAH JENSEN
COMMITTEE MEMBER 2020-2021

My name is Alannah and I am a final year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Student at the University of Melbourne. I am passionate about wildlife, zoo medicine and animal welfare. I hope to one day use my passion to make a positive change for the wildlife of Australia. While not studying I enjoy volunteering as a wildlife rescuer and carer for my local DEWLP wildlife shelter.

VICTORIA WILKINSON
COMMITTEE MEMBER 2021

I’m Vicky, a wildlife vet from the UK currently doing a PhD at UTAS on sarcoptic mange in bare-nosed wombats. I’m passionate about all aspects of wildlife population health and disease ecology, and my research thus far has focussed on wildlife disease surveillance, pathology, immunology, and developing feasible in-situ disease management strategies, across a range of taxa. I’m also a (very rookie!) epi modeller and promoter of women in STEM. In my spare time I love to eat chocolate and go rock climbing in beautiful Tassie.

JESS AGIUS
COMMITTEE MEMBER 2020-2021

My name is Jess and I undertook my honours project in 2016 in collaboration with the University of Sydney and Australian Registry of Wildlife Health, Taronga Zoo to investigate and characterise a novel emerging multi-systemic enterococcus species infection threatening two species of critically endangered and extinct in the wild Christmas Island reptiles. In 2017 I continued this project for my PhD, building on the concepts and foundations already discovered, and expanding my research into the broader health issues of Christmas Island reptiles, with a particular focus on viruses and parasites.

RAIMA CAROL
COMMITTEE MEMBER 2021

My name is Raima Carol and a PhD student at the University of Tasmania. My research is about ‘Managing the risk of infectious diseases among wildlife’. I am interested in all thing relating to infectious diseases, wildlife and conservation. I like hiking, gazing in nature, gardening, photography in my spare time.

DEWMI AYATHMA HERATH MUDIYANSELAGE
COMMITTEE MEMBER 2021

My name is Dewmi Ayathma Herath Mudiyanselage and I am a 3rd year Bachelor of Veterinary Science student at Massey University, New Zealand. My keen interest in wildlife medicine and conservation pushed me to be a part of this committee, even though I have no prior knowledge. Although, I am nervous and excited to be involved in the Student Chapter of WDA-A to see what opportunities arise. Moreover, I aspire to be a travelling wildlife veterinarian so I can help animals but also get to see the world.