Veterinary Association of Namibia
About
Committee Members
Committee Members
Dr Alexandra Marko - VAN President
President, NVC Representative, AFSCAN
I grew up in Otjiwarongo, where I used to hang out at the veterinary clinic on Friday afternoons and during school holidays from an early age. I completed high school in Windhoek and then graduated from Onderstepoort in 2012. I worked in rural practice for 5 months until I joined Rhino Park Veterinary Clinic in May 2013. I’ve come to love small animal medicine and surgery and hence am still working there to date.
I have a special interest in emergency, critical care and anaesthesiology and am currently working towards an RCVS certificate in that field.
I enjoy trail running and playing inline hockey.
I have a soft spot for cats and therefore feel honoured that my two cats are sharing their home with me…;)
Dr Cveta Pudar - Vice-President
Vice-President, WVA Representative
Dr Cveta Pudar was born and grew up in Oranjemund. She had a keen interest in veterinary medicine since a young age.
She started volunteering at the local vet rooms in 2001. After finishing high school in 2005, Cveta was employed by Southern Cross Veterinary practice (SCVP) for 2 years, during which time she also studied dog behaviour and owned and ran a grooming parlour.
In 2007 she moved to Serbia, but returned in 2011 to work as a vet assistant in Walvis Bay, again with SCVP. Cveta attended vet school at UNAM in Windhoek, qualifying in 2021, and returned to SCVP in the same year.
She is a cat lady, loves reading, and has a a crush on all things Land Rover.
Dr Vincent Sevenster - Treasurer
Treasurer, UNAM Representative
I was born in Pretoria but I have lived most of my life outside of South Africa. At an early age we moved to Gaborone, Botswana where I stayed for most of my life with a short move to Durban before returning to Botswana.
In Botswana I would frequently visit the Veterinarian either with my own animals or just to see what entailed a day in the life of a Veterinarian.
I had a love for medicine since I was young and from that my passion for Veterinary medicine grew.
I have lived in Windhoek since 2011 when I started the Pre-Vet course before moving over to the BVM course in 2014. I was fortunate enough to graduate in 2019 as part of the first Namibian trained Veterinarians. During my studies Small animal medicine and surgery always peaked my interest.
I have worked at Rhino Park Veterinary Clinic since January 2020, where small animal medicine and surgery are the main focus of the clinic.
I am quite interested in Orthopaedics and Diagnostic imaging. However the complex puzzle of Small animal medicine also interests me thoroughly.
I currently live in Windhoek with my wife Jolanda Sevenster and our 2 dogs and 2 cats.
Dr Andrea Klingelhoeffer - Secretary
Secretary, Editor of the Manga Newsletter, Website
I was born in Windhoek and graduated from the University of Pretoria, Faculty of Veterinary Science in 2016.
I worked as a state veterinarian in Ondangwa in 2017 where I was involved with primary animal healthcare in mainly cattle, goats and chickens as well as rabies control in dogs.
In 2018 I relocated to Windhoek State Veterinary Office, where the work included small animal clinical cases, export certification, import control and inspection of export facilities.
I transferred to Gobabis State Vet in 2019. This was predominantly mixed rural practice with a focus on disease surveillance, maintenance of the disease control fences and import/export control.
I have an interest in fish farming and completed a Certificate in Aquaculture from the University of Stellenbosch in 2020.
I am currently working as a locum while completing my Master`s thesis in infectious diseases of oysters.
Dr Jolandie van der Westhuizen
Industry, Rabies Representative
Jolandie v/d Westhuizen graduated from Onderstepoort, University of Pretoria in 2012. She headed the Pathology Section at Central Veterinary Laboratory, heading rabies, parasitology and clinical pathology for six years. During that time she was part of the OIE Laboratory Twinning project between the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), Isle of Riems,Germany and the Central Veterinary Laboratory (CVL), Windhoek, Namibia.
The project was to strengthen the Namibian Central Veterinary Laboratory in rabies diagnostics and control and she is co-author of 9 peer review articles that was published in that time. She has also opened a private veterinary practice mainly doing equine work and has a particular interest in modern equine dentistry.
She holds a certificate in Radiology of the horse and Ultrasonography of the horse and she is a 3* FEI Official Veterinarian as well as 3* Endurance Treatment Veterinarian . She is passionate about education, improving standards of clinical care and personal development.
Dr Shalom Phiri
WSAVA Representative, Welfare
As a daughter of a Vet I grew up around all sorts of animals on a little farm called Tsumis in the Southern part of Namibia. Daily life, once school was out, involved taking long walks around the kraals, running from ostriches or conducting post-mortem’s on all the dead birds I could find. I recently graduated from the University of Namibia with a developed passion for animal welfare, exotic medicine, surgery and educational outreach programs.
I`m currently the Shelter Veterinarian at SPCA Windhoek. When I`m not rehabilitating birds or treating diarrhoea, I spend my time swimming, cycling, watching my partner play basketball or singing at church. My aspirations in life all involve adrenaline, I`m sure this stems from all the running from ostriches that I had to do as a kid. When I grow up, I want to travel to war torn or disaster stricken areas to rescue animals. Greetings from my cat Annie and my dog Minnie.
Dr Chanel van der Merwe
CPD Coordinator, Paravets
I was born in Pretoria but grew up in Namibia my whole life. From the age of 4 I got my first pony Esau and started horse riding in Okahandja. One pony turned into three arab horses which later turned into 18. With all the horse we moved to a farm where I was always surrounded by my horses and many other animals. I had a great (and still do) love for horse riding and caring of all sorts of animals and so began my journey to become a vet. I graduated in 2023 from the School of Veterinary Medicine.
Today I’m fortunate enough to live out my dream to work with animals on a daily. I’m currently working for Khomas Veterinary Practice and recently became employed as a part time lecturer for the School of Veterinary Medicine at UNAM in the department of companion animals.
My great love for veterinary medicine lies mostly with equine medicine and companion animals but I will never shy away from a challenge.
Please enjoy this photo of me and my first pony Esau (28) on my wedding day in 2023. Esau is still kicking and going strong!
Dr Olebile Olibile
Dr Christian Lichtenberg
President, NVC Representative, AFSCANI grew up in Otjiwarongo, where I used to hang out at the veterinary clinic on Friday afternoons and during school holidays from an early age. I completed high school in Windhoek and then graduated from Onderstepoort in 2012. I worked in rural practice for 5 months until I joined Rhino Park Veterinary Clinic in May 2013. I’ve come to love small animal medicine and surgery and hence am still working there to date.
I have a special interest in emergency, critical care and anaesthesiology and am currently working towards an RCVS certificate in that field.
I enjoy trail running and playing inline hockey.
I have a soft spot for cats and therefore feel honoured that my two cats are sharing their home with me…;)
Dr Cveta Pudar - Vice-President
Vice-President, WVA Representative Dr Cveta Pudar was born and grew up in Oranjemund. She had a keen interest in veterinary medicine since a young age.
She started volunteering at the local vet rooms in 2001. After finishing high school in 2005, Cveta was employed by Southern Cross Veterinary practice (SCVP) for 2 years, during which time she also studied dog behaviour and owned and ran a grooming parlour.
In 2007 she moved to Serbia, but returned in 2011 to work as a vet assistant in Walvis Bay, again with SCVP. Cveta attended vet school at UNAM in Windhoek, qualifying in 2021, and returned to SCVP in the same year.
She is a cat lady, loves reading, and has a a crush on all things Land Rover.
Dr Vincent Sevenster - Treasurer
Treasurer, UNAM RepresentativeI was born in Pretoria but I have lived most of my life outside of South Africa. At an early age we moved to Gaborone, Botswana where I stayed for most of my life with a short move to Durban before returning to Botswana.
In Botswana I would frequently visit the Veterinarian either with my own animals or just to see what entailed a day in the life of a Veterinarian.
I had a love for medicine since I was young and from that my passion for Veterinary medicine grew.
I have lived in Windhoek since 2011 when I started the Pre-Vet course before moving over to the BVM course in 2014. I was fortunate enough to graduate in 2019 as part of the first Namibian trained Veterinarians. During my studies Small animal medicine and surgery always peaked my interest.
I have worked at Rhino Park Veterinary Clinic since January 2020, where small animal medicine and surgery are the main focus of the clinic.
I am quite interested in Orthopaedics and Diagnostic imaging. However the complex puzzle of Small animal medicine also interests me thoroughly.
I currently live in Windhoek with my wife Jolanda Sevenster and our 2 dogs and 2 cats.
Dr Andrea Klingelhoeffer - Secretary
Secretary, Editor of the Manga Newsletter, WebsiteI was born in Windhoek and graduated from the University of Pretoria, Faculty of Veterinary Science in 2016.
I worked as a state veterinarian in Ondangwa in 2017 where I was involved with primary animal healthcare in mainly cattle, goats and chickens as well as rabies control in dogs.
In 2018 I relocated to Windhoek State Veterinary Office, where the work included small animal clinical cases, export certification, import control and inspection of export facilities.
I transferred to Gobabis State Vet in 2019. This was predominantly mixed rural practice with a focus on disease surveillance, maintenance of the disease control fences and import/export control.
I have an interest in fish farming and completed a Certificate in Aquaculture from the University of Stellenbosch in 2020.
I am currently working as a locum while completing my Master`s thesis in infectious diseases of oysters.
Dr Jolandie van der Westhuizen
Industry, Rabies Representative Jolandie v/d Westhuizen graduated from Onderstepoort, University of Pretoria in 2012. She headed the Pathology Section at Central Veterinary Laboratory, heading rabies, parasitology and clinical pathology for six years. During that time she was part of the OIE Laboratory Twinning project between the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), Isle of Riems,Germany and the Central Veterinary Laboratory (CVL), Windhoek, Namibia.
The project was to strengthen the Namibian Central Veterinary Laboratory in rabies diagnostics and control and she is co-author of 9 peer review articles that was published in that time. She has also opened a private veterinary practice mainly doing equine work and has a particular interest in modern equine dentistry.
She holds a certificate in Radiology of the horse and Ultrasonography of the horse and she is a 3* FEI Official Veterinarian as well as 3* Endurance Treatment Veterinarian . She is passionate about education, improving standards of clinical care and personal development.
Dr Shalom Phiri
WSAVA Representative, WelfareAs a daughter of a Vet I grew up around all sorts of animals on a little farm called Tsumis in the Southern part of Namibia. Daily life, once school was out, involved taking long walks around the kraals, running from ostriches or conducting post-mortem’s on all the dead birds I could find. I recently graduated from the University of Namibia with a developed passion for animal welfare, exotic medicine, surgery and educational outreach programs.
I`m currently the Shelter Veterinarian at SPCA Windhoek. When I`m not rehabilitating birds or treating diarrhoea, I spend my time swimming, cycling, watching my partner play basketball or singing at church. My aspirations in life all involve adrenaline, I`m sure this stems from all the running from ostriches that I had to do as a kid. When I grow up, I want to travel to war torn or disaster stricken areas to rescue animals. Greetings from my cat Annie and my dog Minnie.
Dr Chanel van der Merwe
CPD Coordinator, ParavetsI was born in Pretoria but grew up in Namibia my whole life. From the age of 4 I got my first pony Esau and started horse riding in Okahandja. One pony turned into three arab horses which later turned into 18. With all the horse we moved to a farm where I was always surrounded by my horses and many other animals. I had a great (and still do) love for horse riding and caring of all sorts of animals and so began my journey to become a vet. I graduated in 2023 from the School of Veterinary Medicine.
Today I’m fortunate enough to live out my dream to work with animals on a daily. I’m currently working for Khomas Veterinary Practice and recently became employed as a part time lecturer for the School of Veterinary Medicine at UNAM in the department of companion animals.
My great love for veterinary medicine lies mostly with equine medicine and companion animals but I will never shy away from a challenge.
Please enjoy this photo of me and my first pony Esau (28) on my wedding day in 2023. Esau is still kicking and going strong!
Dr Olebile Olibile
Dr Christian Lichtenberg
