Meet the team
Backed by decades of combined veterinary industry experience and ready to support your practice every step of the way.
Tomas Steenackers
CEO & Managing Director
Tomas was the founding CEO and Managing Director of National Veterinary Care, where he commenced in August 2015 with 34 veterinary businesses.
When the group was acquired by VetPartners in April 2020, he had grown the business to more than 100 veterinary businesses, 3 veterinary training centres and a management services group (originally UVG) of over 450 practices, where rebate payments from suppliers grew over 300% in three years.
Tomas has extensive senior management experience in the veterinary, health pharmaceutical, pathology, optical and digital start up sectors.
Paula Sadler
Chief Marketing Officer
Paula is a senior marketing and management professional with over 25 years’ experience working across animal health, optical, sport, entertainment, retail, and a large full-service marketing agency.
Paula was an original member of the National Veterinary Care management team leading the marketing function and working closely with Tomas on the Management Services group.
Paula has a strong background in business and marketing strategies (B2C and B2B), customer relationship marketing, and digitally-led and integrated marketing communications working across multiple brands concurrently.
Janita Robba
CFO & Company Secretary
Janita has extensive financial, governance and commercial experience working in both publicly listed and private companies in a range of industries, including animal health, optical, property, funds management, aviation, travel and professional services.
Janita was on the management team of National Veterinary Care and understands well the financial metrics around veterinary practices.
Janita’s areas of expertise include acquisitions and mergers, business integration, business strategy, company secretarial, financial and treasury management.
Derek Radue
Chief Technology Officer
Derek has over 35 years of IT and consulting experience, with more than 25 spent building and running data warehouses for animal and human health organisations, pharmaceutical companies and food manufacturing.
Most recently Derek built and ran the data warehouses for National Veterinary Care, National Optical Care and PetPA with numerous API and other integrations with PMS systems, online shopping platforms, Google, CRM, and HR and finance systems.
Derek leads the team of software engineers who have developed and deliver the practice performance reporting for all our vet practice partners.
Kathryn Leckie
Marketing Communications Manager
With more than 7 years’ experience in marketing and communications, Kathryn has utilised her skillset across the veterinary, online beauty, accounting and real estate industries, in addition to freelance copywriting.
Kathryn specialises in email marketing, marketing and communications strategies, customer loyalty and copywriting.
A devoted animal lover and advocate, Kathryn has involved herself with the not-for-profit animal welfare sector and is also slowly filling her home with rescue and foster pets.
Kathryn is the person crafting and delivering all the communications for our vet practice partners.
Jill Hagen
Marketing Communications Manager – B2B
Jill is a seasoned professional in marketing, communications, content, and publishing. She has worked in roles in various industries, including accounting, finance, the public sector and healthcare – proving adept at tailoring messages for diverse audiences.
Jill is known for combining strategic thinking with hands-on execution: whether developing content, driving engagement, or managing communications campaigns, she brings clarity, creativity and purpose to every project.
Outside work, Jill’s happiest when she’s outdoors, spending time with family and friends.
Ella Paine
Marketing Communications Coordinator
Ella is a dedicated communications and marketing professional with experience in Australia’s not-for-profit, education, and real estate sectors.
With specialisations in copywriting, social media and email marketing, she has a passion for driving positive change and fostering meaningful connections.
In her spare time, Ella enjoys travelling, reading and watching too many cat videos. Ella is excited to join the team and looks forward to supporting our vet practice partners in creating and delivering engaging communications.
Hannah Day
Marketing Communications Coordinator
Hannah brings more than five years of experience in social media marketing, communications, and copywriting. She has applied her skills across retail, journalism, and the broader pet care sector, helping brands communicate with clarity, consistency, and personality.
A lifelong animal lover, Hannah has cared for a wide range of pets – from dogs and parrots to backyard chickens. Her hands-on experience gives her a genuine understanding of the bond between pets and their owners, and it continues to inspire her work every day.
Hannah helps shape our digital presence and customer communications, ensuring veterinary practices and pet owners stay informed, engaged, and supported.
Kate Frost
ACCOUNT COORDINATOR
Kate is a qualified veterinary nurse with 18 years of in-clinic experience. Complementing her in-clinic background, she also spent several years delving into the world of digital marketing.
Kate’s unique blend of skills enable her to bring a wide understanding of many different aspects of the animal health sector.
Her passion for the veterinary and animal health industries drives her commitment to providing the best possible solutions for practices, clients, and their beloved pets. Kate is likely the person you will speak to when you have a sticky question. If she can’t answer it, she will be sure to send it in the right direction.
Dr Kate Strong
PetPA Pharmacist
Kate began her pharmacy career on the Sunshine Coast before moving into leadership roles with the Terry White Group, helping open and grow pharmacies across multiple states. She later owned and operated her own Gold Coast pharmacy for 18 years while raising her three children and two beloved border collies.
After selling her pharmacy in 2021, Kate looked for a new way to make a difference – and found it in veterinary pharmacy.
She now brings her experience and passion for accessible care to the veterinary industry, supporting practices with a trusted online pharmacy option and helping pet owners access more affordable prescription medications.
Dr Fiona Hyde Page
BVSc MVM (Companion Animal)
Fiona graduated from the University of Sydney in 2004 and has been working in small animal practice ever since. She has a Master of Veterinary Medicine degree from Massey University, New Zealand where she studied Emergency Medicine, Diagnostic Imaging, Canine and Feline Oncology and Avian Medicine.
In her spare time, she enjoys bushwalking and bird-watching