Nick surounded by Turkish vets during a recent education tour

Dr Nick graduated in Veterinary Science at the University of Sydney in 1983 and undertook an internship at the university’s Rural Veterinary Centre in 1984. The next four years were spent at Massey University in New Zealand as a Junior Lecturer/Lecturer undertaking a PhD in laryngeal hemiplegia and receiving post graduate training in Equine Surgery. He was admitted as a member of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists by examination in Equine Surgery in 1988.
Nick took up the position of Registrar in Equine Medicine and Surgery at Sydney University in 1990 and was Senior Registrar from 1992-1995. Nick Obtained Fellowship of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists in Equine Surgery in 1990 and was granted Specialist registration in Equine Surgery by the NSW Veterinary Surgeons Board in 1991, by the ACT Vet Surgeons Board in 1997 and by Queensland in 2001. He was a member of the Executive of the Australian Equine Veterinary Association (AEVA) from 1990-2001 (President 1994), was on the AVA Board of Directors from 1996-2001 and was a former Chairman of the AVA Insurance Advisory Committee.

Nick was made a Fellow of the Australian Veterinary Association in 2021. This is a very prestigious award as there is a limit of 70 active fellows at any one time amongst all veterinarians dealing with all species across Australia. You must be nominated for this award and it is awarded to Members who have given truly outstanding service to the Association, through their service on the AVA Board, Division or Special Interest Groups and the AVA in the local community through animal welfare groups, local council and community promotion.
He has published approximately 25 scientific papers with special interests in respiratory tract and orthopaedic surgery, particularly arthroscopy as well as being a former editor and current contributor to the Australian Equine Veterinarians (EVA) book Ä Guide to the Examination of Horses".

Since 1996, Nick has been a Consultant Equine Surgeon in Private practice, providing surgical services and second opinions on cases and radiographs for veterinarians in equine clinics throughout NSW, Tasmania, Queensland and other parts of Australia and internationally. 

Nick and Hadley working on a cervical fusion surgery (wobbler surgery).

Dr Hadley Willsallen graduated from Sydney University in 2003, and started her veterinary career as an intern at Agnes Banks Equine Clinic.  With a keen interest in surgery she then worked as an associate at Canberra Equine Hospital (2005), Goulburn Valley Equine Hospital (2007-2009)  and went on an around-the-world equine hospital tour (2006) deciding on where to specialise as an equine surgeon.

In 2009 Hadley became a member of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in Surgery of Horses.  Later in 2009 she started a four-year residency in Equine Surgery at the newly built, state-of-the-art Veterinary Clinical Centre, Charles Sturt Univerity, Wagga Wagga. The program involved long hours of study, research, clinical work, undergraduate teaching, externships and conferences in the USA and Australia,  followed by a grueling examination process.  During this training Hadley completed research into laryngoplasty (tie-back/roaring surgery), laparoscopic and vaginal removal of large ovarian tumours and the pararectal approach to the bladder in standing geldings.  In 2014 she was recognised by the NSW Veterinary Surgeons Board as a Registered Specialist in Equine Surgery. 

Hadley started working for Dr Nick Kannegieter part-time during her study period and full-time after the American College of Veterinary Surgeons Examinations in February 2014.  Hadley is thrilled to be working with on of the nations most highly regarded surgeons who also has one of the largest surgical case loads in Australia.  Hadley hopes to offers additional areas of expertise in laparoscopic surgery, standing pararectal cystotomy, opthalmic surgery/medicine and diagnostic ultrasonography.  

As member of the AVA Hadley has been actively involved with Equine Veterinarians Australia including roles as NSW State Representative, Treasurer and more recently President.  Hadley also works as an FEI veterinarian for eventing and as at the Sydney Royal Show each year.