Our Team
A rare team, for a rare breed of veterinary professionals. Our dedicated team has one single focus: to bring you the highest quality plasma products while providing exceptional service and support.
Management
Andrew JW Macarthur
Chief Executive Officer
Academic Qualifications: AA Agriculture, MBA from Bond University, Fellow Australian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD)
Andrew Macarthur and his family are the owners of the Plasvacc group of companies (including Veterinary Immunogenics), with headquarters in the UK, Australia, USA, and Chile. He holds the position of Chief Executive Officer with our UK, Australia, and Chile companies, and is president of Plasvacc USA. Under his leadership, Plasvacc has grown to now have production operations in 3 countries and exports to 15. Mr Macarthur has extensive management and consultancy experience in the area of agribusiness. He owns and oversees several rural properties and is a respected cattle & horse breeder.
Mr Macarthur previously held the position of general manager of pastoral operations at Stanbroke Pastoral Company, Australia’s largest pastoral company, which is recognised as being at the forefront of livestock research.
Mr Macarthur is Chairman of the board of Globe Management Group Pty Ltd, an asset management company, plus a number of private companies across a wide range of industry sectors. Mr Macarthur holds a Masters of Business Administration from Bond University.
Sanjaya Unantenna
Financial Controller
Academic Qualifications: B.Bus (Acc), CPA, ACMA
Sanjaya Unantenna joined Plasvacc in April 2012.
Mr Unantenna joined Plasvacc in April 2012, and as our Financial Controller, fulfills an essential role that impacts both our company and our customers. He has more than 17 years experience in financial and management accounting in medium to large companies both in Australia and overseas, including his previous role with a USA listed health management company. Prior to that role, he worked for more than 10 years in large agriculture related industries in Rockhampton, Toowoomba and Brisbane.
Peta O’Dwyer
Senior Quality Control Officer
Academic Qualifications: Cert IV Veterinary Nursing Student, Cert III Beef Production
Peta first started with Plasvacc in 2016 as our Farm Hand. Her background as a Pharmacy Assistant in the human pharmaceutical industry meant that she bore distinguished organisational skills, along with impressive attention to detail. Interested in broadening her skillset and taking on new responsibilities in the company, she soon began training to become a Quality Control and Pheresis Technician. Her self-advocacy and adaptability have earned her various titles throughout her career with Plasvacc. These roles include Quality Assurance Manager, Production Manager, and most recently, Senior Quality Control Officer, which she was promoted to in 2023.
Peta makes sure that all products undergo our stringent quality control standards. She enjoys and acknowledges the honour of working with a company that has accomplished vitalising growth in the veterinary industry and has saved the lives of veterinary patients across the globe.
In Peta’s free time, she enjoys showing led steers and connecting with family and friends over a delicious meal, preferably with a view!
Katie Shield
Operations & Quality Manager
Katie joined Plasvacc in 2005. During this time, Katie has grown with the company and worked in multiple positions, including an Apheresis Technician, Quality Control Technician and Quality Assurance Manager. In 2019, she left for an opportunity to work for a Biopharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing company in which she expanded her skills and experience.
Katie then returned to Plasvacc in 2020 taking on the role of Operations & Quality Manager. Her responsibilities include overseeing daily operations, compliance, and quality activities.
Tamara Maudsley
Office Manager
Tamara joined Plasvacc in November 2010. During this time her professionalism, hard work and dedication to the organisation led her to receive the award for the annual Rotary Club of Boonah Inc.’s “Pride of Workmanship”.
Tamara is a well-respected member of our team and her primary role is managing the day-to-day operations of our office as well as maintaining and developing office policies, procedures and systems. She has gained extensive skills in all aspects of the company and takes great pride in the delivery of her team’s exceptional service and administrative support to customers, suppliers and all other stakeholders. Tamara is also responsible for the supervision of shipping Plasvacc’s life-saving products within Australia and across the world.
Tamara is an animal lover at heart and resides in the region with her young family and chocolate Labrador.
Callum Macarthur
Lab Manager
Academic Qualifications: BCom in Economics and Finance; Bond University, BAppSc in Immunology; University of Queensland
Callum started working as Plasvacc’s Lab Manager back in 2020. He is currently studying Immunology with the University of Queensland and is excited that his role encourages him to apply his education to an established scientific context. Callum’s focus, curiosity, and unwavering interest in immunology and related topics all contribute to his success in his role.
Callum is responsible for overseeing all laboratory operations. His work involves constant correspondence with our quality control, production, and project development divisions at Plasvacc. A tactical problem-solver with an impressive allegiance to innovative science, Callum’s work helps us to further develop new products and ensure our plasma batches meet our safety criteria. Callum appreciates the collaborative nature of his job and looks forward to seeing the progress he and his team achieve in the future.
When he’s not in the lab, Callum enjoys continuing to learn about various scientific interests and connecting with his friends and family.
Rachel Brook
Production Manager
Academic Qualifications: BAppSc in Wildlife Science; the University of Queensland, Certificate IV in Captive Animal Management
Rachel joined Plasvacc in 2018 as a Kennel Attendant and worked her way up to becoming a Pheresis Technician before being promoted to her current role as Production Manager in 2022. An intrinsic nurturer and passionate steward of animal welfare, Rachel loves that her responsibilities at Plasvacc not only nourish and support our donor animals but goes on to save the lives of veterinary patients worldwide.
Rachel manages and oversees the day-to-day logistics required to provide top-level care for all of our Equine, Canine, and Camelid donors. She also is involved in our production process, ensuring that our collection and quality control standards are upheld while providing individualised care to each one of our donors.
When not at work, Rachel enjoys camping, traveling, and spending quality time with her friends and family, including her pets!
Michael Geiger
Farm Manager
Academic Qualifications: Certificate III in Meat Processing
Michael started working as our Farm Manager back in 2018. His background in farming has outfitted him with refined problem-solving abilities and extraordinary knowledge surrounding land and livestock management. Performing a wide range of responsibilities from growing crops, feeding our donor animals, operating and repairing equipment, managing our water infrastructure systems, and tending to our pastures, Michael has demonstrated undeniable drive, resiliency, and care in his work.
Michael’s role serves to establish a safe, attractive, and functional environment for our donor animals. His efforts uphold Plasvacc’s animal ethics and welfare commitment, which ensures that our animals have the space, care, and resources to thrive.
Michael loves spending time with his family and friends and is always up for an afternoon motorbike ride.
Staff Veterinarian, Technical Information & Product Support
Dr Michelle Hamilton
Staff Veterinarian; Veterinary Technical Information & Product Support – Equine & Canine
Academic Qualifications: BVSc, BAppSc, James Cook University
Dr Michelle Hamilton has been a practicing veterinarian since she graduated from James Cook University in Townsville in 2011. Michelle’s love and passion for animals began when she was just a girl living in outback Queensland around Tambo and Charleville. With a menagerie of animals and her mother a vet nurse, Michelle developed an interest in becoming a vet from a young age.
Michelle’s love and passion for animals really shines through when providing care and treatment for Plasvacc’s donor animals. Michelle also has a keen interest in canine dentistry, and can often be found providing top dental care to our canine donors.
Michelle resides locally on her farm with several pets, including cattle, horses, working dogs, a cat and goldfish. In her spare time, Michelle enjoys working on her old house, fencing, chasing cattle, or driving around Australia on 4wd camping adventures with her family.
Dr Margie Bale
Veterinary Technical Information & Product Support – Camelid
Academic Qualifications: BAppSc Veterinary Science; the University of Queensland, Member of Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, APAV Accredited Veterinarian
Dr Margie Bale began working with Plasvacc in 2018 to further develop and support our Camelid product line. With 30 years of experience as a production animal veterinarian, 8 of which have been spent focused on the camel industry, Dr Bale yields exceptional knowledge and intel to our camelid program. Outside of Plasvacc, Dr Bale owns her own private veterinary practice and consulting business. She also supports veterinary students at the University of Queensland as a guest lecturer for camel medicine and surgery topics.
Having used Plasvacc’s products in her own practice prior to working with us, Dr Bale has seen firsthand the revitalising success of Plasvacc’s plasma products. Dr Bale’s contributions to our camelid program have helped to save more patients’ lives by broadening our resources to access new animal species in new regions of the world. Dr Bale is an avid distance runner and loves spending her days off with long runs through the Australian Bush.
