Dr Andrea Shepperson
Dr Andrea Shepperson graduated from the University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand in 1984. She has more than 30 years of experience as a general dentist with a special interest in cosmetic and advanced restorative dentistry, implants in the smile zone and dental erosion. She treats patients from around New Zealand.
Dr Shepperson was Chairman of the NZ Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry from 2005-2009 and is an Honorary Life Member of the NZACD. Her clinical interest is in the functional rehabilitation of the worn dentition and she lectures globally on aesthetic and functional reconstruction.
Dr Shepperson is a Graduate and Mentor at the Kois Center in Seattle. She has been working with Christian Coachman and Digital Smile Design since 2012 and is a Master Clinician for Digital Smile Design. Her lectures are built around the DSD concept, blending a functional awareness with smile design.
She has authored numerous articles and contributed to a text book on aesthetic dentistry. She lectures regularly in Australia and NZ, running mini-residencies and hands-on programmes throughout Australasia.
Dr Tom Giblin
Dr. Giblin graduated with Honours from Sydney University in 2004 and completed a 3-year Advanced Prosthodontics Residency at the University of Texas Health Science Centre, gaining expertise in implants, fixed and removable prosthodontics, sleep dentistry, occlusion, and TMD.
He now practises in Mona Vale and Bathurst, focusing on dental implants, including complex bone and soft tissue grafting.
As a Prosthodontist, he specialises in restorative and reconstructive dentistry, rehabilitating smiles with crowns, bridges, onlays, and veneers.
Dr. Giblin takes a comprehensive, patient-centred approach, considering both current and future oral health, working closely with referring dentists. He accepts referrals and direct patient consultations or second opinions.
Dr Greg Peake
Dr Greg Peake trained at the University of Sydney and University of Melbourne, earning fellowships from the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons and the Royal Colleges of Surgeons in England and Edinburgh, receiving the K.G. Sutherland Medallion for clinical excellence.
Since 1993, he has specialised exclusively in surgical dental implant placement, performing over 18,000 procedures.
Dr Peake lectures nationally and internationally, maintaining ongoing professional development, with a philosophy of excellence in all treatments.
He is a member of the American and Australian Academies of Periodontology, the European and American Associations of Osseointegration, the Australian Osseointegration Society, and a Fellow of the International Team of Implantology.
Dr Vicki Rozos
ADA NSW Peer Advisor
Dr Vicki Rozos is the Head of the Advisory Services team with a background of 30 years as a general dentist in private practice. Vicki joined the Advisory team in 2012 as a Peer Advisor assisting members with the full scope of matters.
Dr Roger Dennett
ADA NSW Peer Advisor
Dr Roger Dennett is an experienced general dental practitioner and has been assisting members of the profession with answers to clinical questions, providing medico-legal advice and mentoring of colleagues for more than 20 years. He has been, at different times, an Advisor for both ADA NSW Advisory Services and a Dento-Legal Consultant for Dental Protection. He has presented to the profession on various subjects and written a number of articles published in The NSW Dentist. He has served as President of the ADA NSW Branch, and is an Honorary Life Member of ADA NSW.
Dr Sarah Jones
ADA NSW Peer Advisor
Dr Sarah Jones joined the Advisory Services in 2015. Sarah is a general dentist who has experience in both public and private practice, in metropolitan, rural, and regional areas, tertiary referral centres, and hospital multi-disciplinary teams.
Dr Sarah Amr
Annie Praed Orator
BComm (USyd), BDSc (CSU, 2022), MPhil (2028)
Sarah completed her studies at Charles Sturt University in 2022, graduating with a bachelor of Dental Science and achieving several academic awards including the Royal Australian College of Dental Surgeons prize. Sarah is the current chair of the ADA NSW Recent Graduates Committee and was inspired to study dentistry as she found healthcare to be a direct and impactful way to help people. Currently, she splits her time working between public and private clinics, and is completing her masters in research on assessing the risk of noise-induced hearing loss amongst dental practitioners.
William Rikard-Bell
Winemaker and motivational speaker
Rikard Wines is a story of recovery and remarkable resilience. In 2008, winemaker William Rikard-Bell was caught in an explosion in the winery he worked at in the Hunter Valley, suffering third-degree burns to over 70% of his body.
Recovery from these life-threatening injuries sharpened Will’s focus, prompting a move to the cooler climate of Orange and the founding of his own winemaking business.
The RIKARD label offers a classically styled range of wines from cool-climate varieties – pinot noir, chardonnay, riesling – alongside sparkling wines, shiraz, and cabernet franc blends. With the rare air and elevation of Mount Canobolas as his muse and ally, Will’s wines are helping to define what this emerging region can offer.
Dr Rebecca Ellis
Adjunct Senior Lecturer Charles Sturt University
Dr Rebecca Ellis graduated top of her class with BDS (Distinction) from the University of Otago, New Zealand 2011.
In 2015 Rebecca moved to Melbourne, Australia to complete a three-year doctoral degree in Periodontology at the University of Melbourne. During her training she was awarded an ITI research grant for preclinical research in implant dentistry. Her research interests include preclinical and clinical research in immediate implant placement and also guided bone regeneration.
She is a fellow of the ITI, and current Australasian Section Chair. Rebecca enjoys teaching and presenting both locally and internationally. She holds the position of Adjunct Senior Lecturer at Charles Sturt University, NSW.
Rebecca has worked as a specialist Periodontist in full-time private practice in New Zealand for the last 5 years. She has recently relocated to Sydney and is excited to be a part of the team at Sydney Periodontics and Implant Centre.
Dr Desmond Ong
BDSc(Hons), MDSc(Ortho), MOrthRCS(Ed), MRACDS(Ortho)
Desmond Ong is currently a Clinical Academic in the Discipline of Orthodontics at the University of Queensland School of Dentistry, where he is involved in both the Undergraduate and Postgraduate Orthodontic Curriculum.
https://researchers.uq.edu.au/researcher/13551
Many of Desmond’s peer-reviewed publications have focused on the various treatment options for compromised teeth and the benefits of interdisciplinary management for patients with advanced dental needs.
Desmond is also in full-time specialist orthodontic private practice in Townsville and a visiting specialist for Queensland Health in Brisbane.
Desmond is a past recipient of the Raj Prasad Award from the Australian Society of Orthodontists (SA) and the Emerging Lecturer Award from the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons.
Dr Rohan Krishnan
Dr Rohan Krishnan is a general dentist in private practice in Sydney. He completed is Bachelors in Medical Science and Dentistry (Hons) from University of Sydney and subsequently a Masters of Science in Medicine (Orofacial Pain Management).
Rohan has lectured at The University of Sydney and The University of Newcastle and is a Board Member of ADA NSW. He is a Board Member with the Australian Dental Council. He is also a Member of the Australian and New Zealand Academy of Orofacial Pain.
He runs a private practice in Northern Sydney and works in a real world multi-disciplinary team with Ellie and Catherine in TMD.
Dr Andrew Thorpe
Dr Andrew graduated from Griffith University with a Bachelor of Oral Health and Graduate Diploma of Dentistry, earning Academic Excellence awards for both.
He practised in North Queensland for a decade before completing a Graduate Diploma of Dental Implantology.
After moving to Sydney, he completed a Graduate Diploma of Clinical Dentistry in Surgical Dentistry and a Doctor of Clinical Dentistry in Oral Surgery, becoming a specialist Oral Surgeon.
He received the inaugural Award for Academic and Clinical Excellence from the Australian and New Zealand Association of Oral Surgeons.
Dr Andrew is a Member of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons, a Diplomate of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, and a Clinical Lecturer at the University of Sydney.
Dr Ben Lee
Ben completed his MDSc in Prosthodontics at the University of Sydney, receiving the Young Prosthodontist Award.
He is past President of the Australian Prosthodontic Society (NSW) and the Australian Asian Association of Dentists. Ben mentors implant diploma courses at the University of Sydney and Charles Sturt University, is a visiting honorary Clinical Lecturer, and frequently presents nationally on dental implants and fixed prosthodontics.
He works full-time as a prosthodontist in his specialist referral centre in Chatswood, Sydney, with a focus on the surgical and restorative aspects of dental implant treatment.
Dr Tim Manzie
Tim is an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon with degrees in medicine (University of Wollongong) and dentistry (Griffith University) and subspecialty training in head and neck surgery.
He performs full-scope oral and maxillofacial procedures, including impacted tooth removal, dental implants, facial trauma, and head and neck pathology removal and reconstruction.
Awarded the Robert M Cook for highest fellowship exam mark, Tim is active in registrar training and EMST/CCrISP instruction. He coordinates online education for Australia and New Zealand, serves on college committees, and represents Oceania on the International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons’ Next Generation committee.
He is clinical lead at Chris O’Brien Lifehouse Hospital for the Dentofacial Clinic and Integrative Prosthetics and Reconstruction teams.
Dr Venkatesh Bhardwaj
Venkatesh completed postgraduate dental training in 2005 and practised in Sydney, Wagga Wagga, and Canberra.
After nine years in general dentistry, he pursued his interest in Paediatric Dentistry, completing specialist training in 2017.
He now works as a specialist paediatric dentist in private practice in South West Sydney and as a visiting specialist at Campbelltown Hospital. Venkatesh is passionate about mentoring and sharing his expertise in managing child patients.
He is an active member of several professional associations and previously served as treasurer of the Australasian Academy of Paediatric Dentistry.
Dr Avanti Karve
Dr Avanti Karve is a dedicated advocate for patients with special health care needs, focusing on improving overall health through oral care.
She completed her BDS at the University of Adelaide in 2003 and returned to Sydney to become the first graduate of the Doctor of Clinical Dentistry (Special Needs Dentistry) at the University of Sydney in 2010, alongside a Master of Health Science in Developmental Disability.
Avanti leads her private practice, Mind Body Teeth in Wahroonga, and is a Staff Specialist at Westmead Hospital. She is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons and an Honorary Clinical Lecturer at the University of Sydney.
Dr Andrew Watkins (OMFS)
Dr Andrew “Wal” Watkins is an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon at OMS Specialists, Supervisor of Training at John Hunter Hospital and Secretary for the NSW/ACT Regional Surgical Committee for OMS Training.
Originally from Orange in the central west of NSW, Dr Wal completed degrees in Oral Health Therapy, Dentistry, and Medicine/Surgery at the University of Sydney.
He completed his junior medical training in Sydney at St George/Sutherland Hospitals, followed by specialist Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery training at the John Hunter Hospital, Westmead Hospital, Prince of Wales Hospital and The Canberra Hospital.
After completing his surgical training, Dr Watkins pursued subspecialty training in temporomandibular joint surgery and orthognathic (corrective jaw) surgery in Sydney.
Dr Helen McHugh
Helen completed her Bachelor of Dental Science at Charles Sturt University in Orange, New South Wales. She worked in private practice locally in Bathurst as a general dentist before commencing specialist training in Endodontics.
She completed her Doctor of Clinical Dentistry in Endodontics at the University of Queensland in 2024, where she conducted a prospective clinical study investigating diagnostic factors influencing the outcome of vital pulp therapy.
Helen is a member of the Australian Society of Endodontology and the Australian and New Zealand Academy of Endodontists.
She is passionate about regional dental care and improving the quality of endodontic care in rural and regional Australia.
Rebecca Brown
Rebecca is a senior physiotherapist with over six years of dedicated experience at The Facial Physio, a specialist practice established by Dr Ellie Seckold. She has developed expertise in facial, temporomandibular joint (TMJ), and vestibular physiotherapy, with clinical work spanning the assessment and management of facial conditions, vestibular dysfunctions, and complex TMJ disorders across multidisciplinary settings.
Rebecca currently holds a physiotherapist role at the Newcastle OMS Multidisciplinary TMJ Clinic, working alongside Dr Rohan Krishnan (orofacial pain dentist) and Dr Andrew Watkins (oral maxillofacial surgeon) to deliver comprehensive, patient-centred care for complex TMJ presentations.
Prior to this, Rebecca worked exclusively as a vestibular physiotherapist, gaining broad experience across BPPV, Meniere’s disease, unilateral and bilateral vestibular dysfunction, PPPD, mal de débarquement, cervicogenic dizziness, and vestibular migraines.
Rebecca holds a Master of Physiotherapy from the University of Sydney (2013) and a Bachelor of Human Movement from the University of Technology Sydney. Her postgraduate training includes Mulligan’s Oral Facial TMJ Course, Dean Watson’s Headache Courses, and Herdman Basic and Advanced Vestibular Courses, with ongoing CPD in facial conditions, chronic pain, TMJ dysfunction, and dizziness/vertigo.
She will be presenting alongside Dr Rohan Krishnan and Dr Andrew Watkins discussing; The Role of Occlusal Splints in the management of TMD- a dental, physiotherapist and OMFS perspective.
Jennifer Chantler
Dr Jennifer Chantler is a Specialist Prosthodontist in private practice in Perth, Western Australia. She completed her Doctor of Clinical Dentistry (Prosthodontics) at the University of Melbourne and subsequently worked as a Research Assistant at the University of Zurich, contributing to research in digital dentistry, implant prosthodontics, and aesthetic rehabilitation.
Jennifer has a special interest in multidisciplinary treatment planning, minimally invasive prosthodontics, implant rehabilitation, and managing complex aesthetic cases. She is an active educator, regularly presenting nationally and internationally on prosthodontics, digital workflows, implant dentistry, and patient-centred care. Jennifer also serves as the Young ITI Delegate for the Australasian Section and is passionate about translating evidence into practical strategies that improve everyday clinical practice.
Coming soon
