Meet Our Team
Behind Charlestown Vet Clinic is a dedicated team of Vets and Nurses who truly care about your pets. We’re passionate about providing calm, compassionate care and building lasting relationships with the families we support.
Meet Our Vets
Dr Kelly Payten
Veterinarian & Owner
Dr Kelly is the heart of Charlestown Vet Clinic. As the clinic’s owner and a veterinarian with over 15 years of experience, she is deeply committed to caring for the pets and families of her hometown. After graduating from Sydney University, Kelly began her career in mixed practice before returning to Charlestown, where her love for community-focused veterinary care truly grew.
Kelly enjoys all aspects of veterinary medicine, with special interests in soft tissue surgery and ultrasonography. What she loves most is getting to know each pet and the unique bond they share with their people.
Outside the clinic, Kelly keeps busy with running, netball, Pilates, and spending time with her family and friends. She hopes every pet owner who walks through the door feels supported, welcomed, and genuinely cared for.
Dr Aleksandra Adamek
Veterinarian
Dr. Aleksandra brings diverse experience from equine and small-animal practice across Poland, New Zealand, and Australia. Since graduating from Poznan University in 2019, she has developed strong interests in dentistry, ophthalmology, and soft tissue surgery.
Originally from Poland, she fell in love with Australia during a student placement and later returned to build her career. She shares her home with Bob, her expressive English Bulldog, and her cat, Putu.
Outside of work, Aleksandra enjoys dancing, photography, skiing, horse riding, DIY projects, travelling, and relaxing with a good book. She hopes every pet owner feels heard, supported, and confident in the care their pets receive.
Meet Our Nurses and Support Staff
Elizabeth McMechan
Business Manager
Elizabeth is our Business Manager, bringing over 10 years of experience in people, finance, and operations management across banking, medical, and veterinary settings. She is passionate about supporting both clients and staff and creating positive experiences within the clinic.
Originally from Sydney but now settled in Newcastle, Elizabeth dotes on her rescued cat, Dougie. She enjoys bushwalking, nature, and plenty of kitty cuddles. She hopes every client feels genuinely cared for and confident in the support they receive.
Crystal Stow
Administration Coordinator
Crystal brings 22 years of veterinary industry experience to her role, supported by a Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing. She excels in customer service and enjoys welcoming pets and their owners to the clinic.
Born in Newcastle and now happily based in Charlestown, Crystal enjoys yoga, Pilates, paddleboarding, reading, and spending time with loved ones. She hopes every visitor feels supported and warmly welcomed by the team.
Laura Smith
Veterinary Nurse
Laura brings over 10 years of experience to her role as Senior Veterinary Nurse. She enjoys patient nursing, anaesthesia monitoring, and providing calm, hands-on care to the animals she looks after.
Raised in Newcastle, she has been with the clinic her entire veterinary career. Outside of work, she loves the beach, caravanning, and spending time with her three kids. Laura wants every pet owner to feel confident their animals are receiving the highest level of care.
Alli
Veterinary Nurse
Currently on Maternity Leave
Alli is a Veterinary Nurse with nine years of experience and a strong background in anaesthetics, surgery, and emergency care. She holds a Cert IV in Veterinary Nursing along with additional animal studies qualifications and advanced training in small animal anaesthesia.
Originally from Taree, Alli moved to the area to gain broader clinical experience, including time working in emergency care. She loves getting to know clients and their pets and finds it incredibly rewarding to see patients recover and return home to relieved, happy owners.
Outside the clinic, Alli enjoys surfing, hiking, and exploring new places. Alli hopes every pet owner feels welcomed, understood, and confident their pets are receiving exceptional care.
Danielle Leatham
Veterinary Nurse
Danielle is a compassionate veterinary nurse with experience dating back to 2017. With a Cert IV in Veterinary Nursing and specialised training in canine behaviour and dog training, she loves helping owners understand their pets and advocating for their wellbeing.
A Newcastle local, Danielle shares her home with Banjo, her much-loved adopted Cattle Dog. Outside the clinic, she enjoys dog training, fostering rescue dogs, and spending quality time with her family. Danielle hopes every client feels complete trust knowing their pets are cared for with dedication and heart.
Jessica Chisholm
Veterinary Nurse
Jess has over 3 years of veterinary nursing experience and a Cert III in Veterinary Nursing. Her interests include anaesthesia, surgical nursing, and emergency and critical care. She loves caring for animals when they’re most vulnerable and forming meaningful connections with local pet owners.
Originally from the Maitland area, Jess joined the clinic after completing work experience with the team. She shares her home with two dogs – Bonnie the Staffy and Snags the young Dachshund. Jess enjoys travelling and spending time with family, and she hopes every pet owner feels completely reassured during their visit.
Holly Cummings
Veterinary Nurse
Holly is a dedicated veterinary nurse working towards her Bachelor of Veterinary Technology after finishing her Cert IV in 2024. She has a special interest in pathology and enjoys how diagnostic work helps shape patient care.
A Newcastle local, Holly is also mum to eight very loved cats, and outside the clinic she enjoys reading, travelling and spending time with her furry family. She aims to make every pet owner feel reassured, knowing their animals are in safe and caring hands.
Kyra Rich
Veterinary Nurse
Kyra is a committed veterinary nurse with qualifications in Animal Care and Cert IV Veterinary Nursing. She has a particular interest in exotic species – including rabbits, guinea pigs, and birds, supported by her pet-store background and passion for species-specific care.
A Lake Macquarie local, Kyra enjoys the warm, close-knit community she works in. She is fur-parent to Willow, her lively dwarf rabbit who rules the home. In her spare time, she loves walking, camping, painting, and spending time with family and friends. Kyra hopes every owner feels safe leaving their pets in the clinic’s care.