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: AdDipAg, MBA (Bond University), 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.
Fergus Macarthur
General Manager
Academic Qualifications: BSc in Finance in International Business, Certificate 3 in Agriculture
Fergus’s career with Veterinary Immunogenics began with our sister company, Plasvacc, in 2019. His passion for animals, and the company, ultimately led him to begin managing our VIL branch in 2022. Before taking this role, Fergus worked in breeding development with his family’s cattle & horse herd. He has also traveled through North and South America to network and develop industry contacts while introducing our products to new markets. Fergus is passionate about the great potential within this business and, therefore, this industry, and he loves managing a team that is just as enthusiastic about it as he is.
Fergus oversees and manages all operations at Veterinary Immunogenics and always seeks ways to enhance our current processes. Proactive and action-oriented, Fergus’s dedication to his role aids in getting our plasma into the hands of our valued customers. Outside of work, Fergus enjoys horse-back riding and connecting with friends over good food (including BBQ) on weekends.
Russell Williams
Scientific and Research Manager
Academic Qualifications: BSc Hons Microbiology, PhD Microbiology, Fellow of the Institute of Biomedical Science (FIBMS)
Russell originally joined Veterinary Immunogenics back in 2017 as a Quality and Testing Consultant for our lab. With his extensive lab work and research background, Russell’s methodical capabilities and insights have afforded him his role as our Scientific and Research Manager. An enthusiastic problem solver, Russell enjoys tackling new challenges and guiding his team to develop and refine new skills.
Russell contributes to the research and development of new products at Veterinary Immunogenics. His role helps to broaden and advance our scientific knowledge surrounding plasma therapy and ensures that we deliver the best possible product to your patients. When he’s not at work, you’ll likely find Russell traveling or learning more about geology, wildlife, and industrial heritage.
Bernadette Willetts
Laboratory Manager
Academic Qualifications: BSc Hons Degree in Sport and Exercise Therapy
Bernadette joined us back in 2016 as a Horse Health attendant. Her interest in learning the intricacies of our procedures led her to progress quickly into our Pheresing and Quality Assurance department and, more recently, step into her Lab Management role. Her background in customer service has aided her in being an adaptive, patient learner as well as intentional yet efficient despite working in a busy environment.
Bernadette’s role means that she upholds our collection standards as well as makes sure that our donors are catered to and that our plasma is clean and safe. She enjoys tackling the daily challenges that arise from the nature of this work and is invigorated by partaking in a job where prioritizing equine welfare leads to bettering the health of a greater equine population. When she’s not at work, Bernadette enjoys competing on her local rugby team, competing with her horse, Jacob, spending quality time with her dog, and connecting with friends and family.
Hayley L Graham
Production Manager
Academic Qualifications: BSc Hons Equine Science, FD in Equine Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation
Hayley began working for Veterinary Immunogenics in 2010 as a part-time employee overseeing Horse Health and Management. She later trained to become a Phereses Technician and became our Production Manager in 2016.
Hayley manages all aspects of our plasma production, including scheduling, shipping operations, inventory, document management, and quality assurance. Her meticulousness and diligence in her work are pivotal to ensuring that our plasma is safe from collection to delivery. Outside of work, Hayley loves to get outdoors with her animals. A perfect day for her would be riding her horse on the fell, getting a long walk in with her dogs, and connecting with friends.
Lucy Boulton
Office Manager
Academic Qualifications: GCE Childcare and Education, BSc Nutrition; Boston College
Lucy joined us in 2022 after spending 16 years overseas working as a career nanny and personal assistant. Her executive and organisational skills gleaned from her previous work have made her an ideal fit for her current role as Office Manager.
Lucy is responsible for managing logistics involving bookings, payments, suppliers, and client interaction. Her adaptability and eagerness to learn have allowed her to carry this role with ease despite being in a new industry. When she’s not in the office, Lucy enjoys fell walking, exploring new restaurants, getting creative with interior design projects, and acting at her local theatre.
Pheresing Technicians
Ruth Smith
Head Technician
Academic Qualifications: Studies in Equine Anatomy and Nutrition; Warwickshire College
After an extensive career in the equestrian industry, Ruth joined our pheresis team in 1992 and worked her way up to become our Head Technician. Passionate about horses and motivated by equine welfare, Ruth enjoys that her role involves the utilisation of lab technology to heal and nurture sick foals.
As our Head Technician, Ruth oversees our plasma collection process, not only ensuring that the collection procedure runs smoothly but also making sure that each donor is attended to and healthy. Outside the lab, Ruth enjoys fell walking, reading, preparing and enjoying delicious food, and spending time in her garden.
Emma Birkett
Horse Health Management and Pheresis Technician
Academic Qualifications: ND Equine Science and Horse Management, BHS Stage 1 and 2, Personal License Holder at VIL
Emma began working with Veterinary Immunogenics in 2018 as a part-time member of our Horse Health Team. Her love for this work and her enthusiastic desire to learn led her to become a Pheresis Technician in 2020 and ultimately earn her personal license in 2022. Emma’s career in the Equine Industry started in 2002, where she worked as a yard manager for a trekking center. With so many horses to tend to, Emma’s astute ability to manage a wide range of responsibilities with ease is one of her many strong suits in this position.
Emma aids in our plasma collection process and, most importantly, ensures our donors are happy, healthy, and thriving. Though our procedure is the same each time we collect plasma, our interaction with our horses is uniquely tailored to the donor and their needs. Emma’s love for animals and dedication to the Veterinary Immunogenics mission makes her all the more extraordinary when interacting with our donor herd. Emma loves spending time with her family, playing rugby, and exploring with her three dogs.
Amy Wright
Horse Health Management and Pheresis Technician
Academic Qualifications: ND British Horse Society Stages 1 and 2, Northern Racing College L2 Race Riding Certificate, Personal License Holder at VIL
Amy originally joined us in 2014 as a part-time Horse Health team member. Eager to refine her skills in this industry, she began taking on extra work and ultimately became a Pheresis Technician in 2022. Amy enjoys the variability of her work and loves spending time with horses that are saving the lives of foals. With fierce ambitions to never stop learning, Amy has demonstrated a natural drive and ability to gracefully adapt in new, often unfamiliar roles.
Amy aids in our collection process and the care of our donor herd. Though it’s no easy task, Amy takes pride in attending to the health and well-being of our horses, as she is passionately invested in the care of our animals. Outside of work, she enjoys playing rugby for her local team, spending time with her kids, especially supporting their hobbies and interests, and enjoying live music.
Veterinary Technical Information & Product Support
Dr Siobhan McAuliffe
Veterinary Technical Information & Product Support
Academic Qualifications: MBV, DACVIM, University College Dublin Ireland; Veterinary Residency, Hagyard Equine Medical Institute.
Dr McAuliffe joined Veterinary Immunogenics in 2023 after working across four continents pursuing her distinguished veterinary career. Her appetite for travel, knowledge, and hands-on learning has earned her admirable roles, such as Head of Medicine at the Stables of King Abdullah in Saudi Arabia, and Head of Neonatology at the Kawell Equine Hospital in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She returned to Ireland in 2017 to establish a new medicine and neonatology unit at Fethard Equine Hospital.
Dr McAuliffe provides customers with comprehensive technical and product support while drawing on her impressive experience in this field. She looks forward to further educating veterinarians on the preventative capabilities of Veterinary Immunogenics products.
Dr McAuliffe currently resides in County Tipperary, Ireland in the heart of the Irish horse-breeding district, where she offers a consultancy service in internal medicine and lives with her large family—both human and animal.
