Meet Our Team

Leigh Johnson

Practice Owner/Manager/RVN

Leigh is our practice manager and part owner of the practice. Leigh has been working within the veterinary industry for longer than most of us.

Leigh completed her vet nursing training in 2002 and has seen the veterinary industry change and grow to support our pets and wildlife. For the last 15 years she has been managing small animal veterinary practices and is well known within the industry.

Leigh’s old Labrador Marley who sadly passed recently at nearly 16, was known be was one of the best trained dogs around – notebly for balancing a glass of wine on his head,

Leigh is a total wine and food critique and has wine and spirit certifications perfect for our region. She has a menagerie of creatures and is often chasing after her young children, chickens or the kangaroo.

Dr Amy Forsythe

Veterinarian & Practice Owner

Dr Amy has been working in our beautiful south west most of her veterinary career. She graduated from Murdoch University in 2013 and is one of our senior vets and part owner of the practice.

Dr Amy has completed a graduated certificate in Emergency and Critical Care and enjoys treating the wide variety of medical, surgical and emergency cases that rural practice offers. Treating snake bitten patients and performing abdominal surgery are amongst her favourite cases.

Dr Amy has no spare time between work, two very young children and her demanding menagerie of animals – but she dreams of getting back out bush to nerd-it-out identifying orchids, camp amongst the stars, surf with the groms and walk her naughty escapee pug dog ‘Stanley’ at the beach. Pictured is Amy and her wife’s orphaned Joey “Sponge”.

Dr Francesca May

Veterinarian

Dr Francesca joined us after moving from the East coast of Australia where she graduated from the University of Sydney in 2019 and spent her first years in practice.

Francesca is enjoying the new scenery that Margaret River has to offer. When not at work, she can be found spending time with her Jack Russell x (Fergus), surfing, free diving or participating in a range of team sports.

Fran says she loves being a part of such a collaborative and caring team, and being able to provide best care for her patients and clients.

Dr Mia Norton

Veterinary Surgeon

Dr Mia graduated from Murdoch university in 2022 and she made the move to the beautiful south west to get stuck into her vet career.

Mia loves that no two days are the same in rural practice and she is keen to keep improving her medical knowledge and surgical skills.

Mia’s spare time is mostly taken up by keeping her kelpie X Lab pup Mabel out of trouble! But otherwise she enjoys going for bush rides on her horse Junior or getting to the beach.

Dr Georgia Vaughan

Veterinarian

Georgia is a 2022 Murdoch graduate and is excited to start her journey as a vet in the beautiful Margaret river region.

Georgia is excited to learn more about medicine and surgery and loves the variety seen in a rural practice. 

In her spare time you’ll find Georgia riding her horse, at the beach or hanging out with her cat Ellie. 

Mel Giles

Registered Veterinary Nurse

Mel grew up in South Africa and from an early age she knew she wanted to work with animal.Mel is our head nurse extraordinaire  After completing her schooling in Australia, she began studying Vet Nursing as soon as she could. 

Mel has been nursing for 13 years and still loves every aspect of what she does.

Over the years Mel has completed further studies in areas of Anaesthesia, business, management, training and assessment. Mel’s passion is for teaching and training future Vet nurses, where she finds great joy in seeing new nurses succeed and thrive in their careers. 

Lauren Ellis

Registered Veterinary Nurse

Lauren has been with the team at Margaret River Vets since relocating to the lovely south west in 2018. 
Lauren has always loved animals and is grateful that she gets to work with with them every day.
She has been working in the vet industry since completing her high school work experience placements, and weekend jobs during university, while completing her Bachelors Degree in Veterinary Biology.
Lauren loves all aspects of nursing but has a passion for surgical nursing and is always interested in the diverse cases seen in Margaret River.
When not at work, you’ll find Lauren bushwalking, gardening, baking or spending time with her family along side her trusty sidekick Jack Russell Terrier Jessie.

Misty Joy

Registered Veterinary Nurse

After 16 years in banking Misty decided to follow her passion to take care of animals, completing her certificate as a Registered Vet Nurse in November 2021. 

Misty had recently moved to the South West to experience regional vet nursing and to join family in Augusta from Perth. 

Misty is very passionate about protecting and treating the amazing wildlife we have here in the South West and loves working her regular Thursdays  in our Augusta clinic, Pop in and say hello!

On her days off Misty enjoys exploring the beaches and wineries with her fur baby Khaleesi.  

Kellie Wholagan

Registered Veterinary Nurse


Kellie is a long term Margaret River local living in this beautiful area for over 30 years. Kelly started her nursing career over 25 years ago and has enjoyed watching the industy evolve and develop.
Kellie still loves working with all animals & the continuous learning that goes with it .
In her spare time , Kellie enjoys taking her little old Chihuahua, Peanut, on bush walks & spending quality time with her family & friends .