About Us
VetXtend was created to help veterinary practices thrive in a competitive, fast-changing industry.
Our Story
We know your world because we’ve lived it – our founder and executive team have spent decades in the industry and have run over 110 practices and supportied 650+ practices – nearly a third of the veterinary industry in Australia and New Zealand. That experience gives us a deep, practical understanding of what it takes to thrive.
Over the years, we’ve seen the same challenges repeating themselves for vet practices – retail moving online, data scattered across multiple systems, rising costs, and limited time for marketing.
We realised there was a gap in the market: veterinary practices needed technology that not only worked, but helped them make better decisions and grow their business.
That’s why we built VetXtend – a solution that brings everything together.
Experience meets innovation
We understand the day-to-day realities of running a practice – and we design technology and solutions to match.
We don’t just offer systems – we transform your data into strategies that help your practice grow, and your clients receive the care they deserve.
- Combining expertise in technology, marketing, finance, business and operations
- AI-driven platforms that are secure, intelligent, and future-ready
- Solutions built specifically for veterinary practices
From dashboards that make sense of your numbers, to digital marketing that brings clients back, to online retail and pharmacy solutions – everything we do is designed to save you time, improve you practice’s profitability, and support confident decision-making.
Our dashboards are recognised as the best in the business because we know how to identify opportunities, spot trends, and help you take action with confidence.
Trust, integrity, and commitment
We’re committed to the veterinary industry and to practices like yours. Everything we do is designed to help you care for more pets, connect with more clients, and build a practice that thrives.
At VetXtend, your trust is everything. Your data is yours – always. We never sell, share, or merge your information, and you stay in full control.
Our smart dashboards, clear insights, and secure AI-driven systems give you the tools to save time, reduce costs, and make confident decisions.
With VetXtend, your data works for you – transparently, securely, and with your success as our priority.
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.
Dr H Louise Lehmann BVM&S
Practice Performance & Support Manager
With decades of hands-on experience as both a veterinarian and business owner, Louise understands the real-world challenges faced by veterinary practice owners and managers.
She is now supporting practices to better understand their key performance indicators and build sustainable, well-run businesses where teams and leaders can thrive.
Outside of work, Louise is a devoted wife and mother of three. She enjoys running, water skiing, spending time socialising with family and friends and most importantly her Jack Russell & running partner Ollie.
Kathryn Leckie
Senior Marketing Communications & eCommerce Manager
Kathryn has decades of experience in marketing and communications across the veterinary, online beauty, accounting and real estate industries. Kathryn specialises in email marketing, marketing and communications strategies, customer loyalty and copywriting, and is the person leading the strategic and purpose-driven communication journeys for our vet practice partners. Kathryn prides herself in her ability to balance a client-first approach with business results.
A devoted animal lover and advocate, Kathryn is involved with the not-for-profit animal welfare sector and is also slowly filling her home with rescue and foster pets.
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 Specialist
With a background in professional writing, Ella’s experience spans across the not-for-profit and education sectors.
Ella specalises in email marketing and campaign management, taking pride in delivering meaningful, purposeful content.
Ella loves engaging with and supporting our veterinary practice partners, working closely with them to create communications suited to each practice’s needs.
In her spare time, Ella enjoys travelling (27 countries and counting!), reading, and watching too many cat videos.
Freddy Le Grice
Category and Merchandising Manager
Freddy has over four years’ experience in the pet industry, working across New Zealand and Australia in the food and treats category. She focuses on supplier management, category planning, product selection, pricing, and promotions.
In her current role, Freddy combines customer service with supplier collaboration and category support, always keeping pets and their owners front of mind.
A devoted pet parent to her cat, Freddy is passionate about the pet industry and brings a friendly, approachable perspective to everything she does.
Hannah Day
eCommerce Marketing 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 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.
Adrienne Tovey
Customer Account Manager, Paws App
Adrienne brings extensive experience in the veterinary industry, including more than seven years working with one of Australia’s leading veterinary practice information management systems.
Adrienne has played a key role in helping practices adopt the Paws App platform and maximise its value. She is dedicated to working with practices to build lasting customer relationships, drive engagement, and strengthen loyalty.
Elissa Flynn
Customer Account Manager, Paws App
With more than 20 years in the veterinary industry, Elissa understands practice life inside and out. From her background as a vet nurse and practice manager, to working with a leading practice information management system, she brings a practical, hands-on approach to helping practices get the most from Paws App – from onboarding through to ongoing support.
Her friendly nature and deep industry insight make her a trusted partner to the practices she supports.
Eden Kalaitzis
Customer Account Manager, Paws App
Eden has worked in the veterinary industry for six years as a receptionist, which has given her a firsthand understanding of how important it is for a practice day to run smoothly and efficiently. Eden prides herself in attention to detail and enjoys supporting veterinary teams to ensure a seamless experience for both staff and clients.
As a lifelong animal lover, Eden enjoys being part of a team that helps strengthen the bond between pets, their owners, and their veterinary care providers.