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Waikato vet, Katrina Roberts
Waikato vet Katrina Roberts came from Australia in 2002 as a veterinary student and never left.
A practical placement with a local Waikato Vet Club - then Animal Health Centre, Morrinsville - under the tutorship of Scott McDougall led to a job offer.
"I was offered a job and have never looked back as I am still working within this organisation, now Anexa Vets," she told Dairy News.
This month, Roberts was one of several rural professionals honoured in the King's Birthday Honours List.
Roberts became a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for her services to the dairy industry and community.
She says she feels extremely humbled and overwhelmed.
During her career as a vet at Anexa, Roberts has been involved with many dairy industry projects.
These include working through DairyNZ programmes like Feedright, Healthy Hoof and the redevelopment of the national herd fertility resource the InCalf programme.
She has worked in both the research (Cognsoco) and veterinary divisions of Anexa.
For the past 15 years, she has also been a farm advisor through both Anexa and Headlands (Intelact Group).
In 2024, Roberts was named the Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year for her service to the farming sector.
Roberts says she grew up on sheep and pig farms in Australia and has always loved working alongside farmers.
"I am passionate about the contribution that vets can have, not just at the cow and herd level but also with the farm team."
Roberts believes it's a great time to bein involved in agriculture in New Zealand.
"Working alongside farmers, I get to see firsthand every day how much they care for the land, their cows and the people that work with them.
"However, that doesn't mean that there isn't always room for improvement, as we are always learning and growing," she adds.
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Waikato vet Katrina Roberts came from Australia in 2002 as a veterinary student and never left.
