Our Staff

Director and Practice Owner

Hywel is one of the partners of the practice and has been here longer than he can remember! He grew up in a Welsh-speaking family on a farm in the Conwy Valley, gained a degree in Agriculture from Bangor University before graduating from the Royal Veterinary College, London.

Hywel has developed Celtic Breeding Services, a sheep breeding company attached to the practice.

After 30 years Hywel says he still feels privileged to be doing a job that he really enjoys and being a member of the farming community. When not at work, he can be found at home farming or mountain walking.

Director and Practice Owner

I have been working as a vet since 1987 and in Ystwyth vets since 1999 . I joined the management team in 2001. I am married to Kate and we have 4 children, 2 whippets and a cat (the cat is the boss). I’m a Cardi, having being born and raised in the area. I attended Rhydypennau and Penglais schools before going to the RVC in London.

I have worked in practices across south and mid Wales, Scotland and a stint with VSO in Cambodia before coming back home. I am involved with various veterinary and community projects.

Director and Practice Owner

Dafydd is a native Welsh speaker from North Wales, where he was brought up on a sheep and cattle farm. He graduated from Cambridge in 2004 and worked at Ystwyth Vets for three years. He returned to work at the practice in 2013 after working in New Zealand and North Wales. Dafydd enjoys all aspects of mixed practice and has a special interest in horse and cattle work. He holds a certificate in advanced veterinary practice. 

Director and Practice Owner

Harry qualified from Cambridge University in 2016. After working in South Wales and a short stint out in New Zealand, Harry returned home to Aberystwyth and joined Ystwyth Vets in 2020.

Harry has a particular interest in cattle and sheep work but enjoys the variety of mixed practice.

Outside of work Harry enjoys all sports (transitioning from participant to supporter) and farming at home.

Hannah joined Ystwyth in 2015 following graduation from the Royal Veterinary College, London. After a few years in a mixed vet role Hannah embarked on an adventure to New Zealand in 2018 as a dairy vet, tackling large scale herd health and reproduction management, whilst also ticking off as many bucket list items as possible.

She returned to Ystwyth in 2019 to resume mixed vet life and has embraced the added challenge of studying for a certificate in small animal surgery. 

Unable to sit still for long Hannah can often be found running trails (when the Welsh weather permits) or finding various craft projects to turn her hand to. 

Ed joined the practice in October 2021 after over ten years working in mixed practice in Wales. He particularly enjoys ultrasonography and surgery. 

He and his wife Sara have recently had their third child which means he spends a lot of time out in the garden looking for distraction. He looks back wistfully to the days when he had time for singing, panto and sea rowing.

Gruff qualified from the University of Liverpool in 2024 and has been working at Ystwyth since. He is a fluent Welsh speaker originally from a sheep mountain farm in Cwm Pennant North Wales. As a result of his farming background his main areas of interest are sheep lameness, cattle fertility and herd health. Outside of work Gruff enjoys socialising, mountaineering, and following both Everton and the Welsh national football team.

Veetha recently graduated from the Royal Veterinary College, London. Before joining us at Ystwyth Vets she completed zoo placements in the UK and Canada. Having developed an interest in all things furry and hairy to feathered and scaled at university, Veetha enjoys the variety of mixed practice. She’s recently moved to Wales with her cat. Having been a city girl all her life, she is enjoying the greener side of Aberystwyth and is looking forward to hiking and exploring Wales.

Head Nurse

Nerys is our head nurse at the practice, she is a Welsh speaking local farmers daughter. Nerys is our equine nurse at the practice and enjoys all aspects of mixed practice nurse. Nerys is kept busy at home helping on the farm and training and competing with her horses.

Dawn moved here from Surrey where she lived on a houseboat and now lives near Ysbyty Ystwyth in a remote cottage.

She started working in a Veterinary Practice in 1986 as a trainee nurse and progressed to Head Nurse after qualifying. She enjoys all aspects of veterinary nursing.

Dawn enjoys walking her Irish terrier Ivy in the hills.

Student Nurse

Sasha is our newest member of the nursing team and her role is to assist the nurses in their work as well as basic animal care, animal handling and keeping the wards clean and tidy.

Sasha is orginally from Hereford but has spent most her life in Aberystwyth. Her goal is to become a qualified veterinary nurse and would like to specialise in nursing small animals and exotics.

In her spare time, she likes spending time with her family, loves reading and enjoys walking her dogs Marley & Juke.

Student Nurse

Glesni is one of our student veterinary nurses. She originally started as one of our ANA’s before moving onto the veterinary nursing course in Abbeydale college. When she’s not studying, she enjoys hiking and reading as well as looking after her 3 horses.

Animal Nursing Assistant

Cerys started as an Animal Nurse Assistant in December 2024 and is really enjoying the role. When she’s not working, she is mainly spending time with her dog Kenai and he horse Finn, who she is currently in the process of backing

Animal Nursing Assistant

Olivia is a Welsh speaker living locally in Penrhyn Coch. Olivia joined the practice in September 2024 after completing her diploma studying animal management in coleg Cambria. Her goal is to become a veterinary nurse. Outside of work Olivia enjoys farming and walking the Welsh mountains with her 4 springer spaniels.

Jan has been our Receptionist since 1995, having previously worked at a structural surveyor’s office. Jan loves her 3 horses, Flynn. Bunny and Harry and is a regular competitor in local shows, doing dressage and showing classes, when not hacking out, and generally enjoying the countryside in all weathers. Jan describes her dog Maisie the bull terrier as more project than pet.

In her spare time, Jan loves gardening and riding her Yamaha 850 around the Welsh country side.

Karen, a Welsh speaker, has been a member of the admin/reception team since 1993, having previously worked for the Welsh Pony & Cob Society for six years.  Originally from Aberystwyth, she now lives in the countryside and divides her time between her three adult children, family and close friends.  Karen has three horses, Mali, Tonca and Rocky and a lively dog called Dyfi and enjoys walking, in particular, the Wales Coastal Path with like minded friends.

Tracey joined the practice in 2007, following an admin post at Trawsgoed Farm. Tracey has a cat Tilly, and she is very busy spending her leisure time with her 6 grandchildren, and any spare time left she likes to read and socialise with friends.

Nikki joined the team in 2016 following a role as a reception manager in a large doctor’s practice in Aberystwyth. She studied Equine at Aberystwyth University. She’s married with two children and two pets. Enjoys running, cycling, gardening and cars

Angharad joined our Business Support Team  in October 2021. She has spent the last 20 years as an Office Manager at a local jewellery shop. Angharad lives locally on a busy farm with her husband and two boys. She enjoys spending time taking Pegi, the family dog on long walks as well as day-to-day jobs on the farm; she especially enjoys lambing season. If she has any free time she spends it baking tasty treats for the family.

Finance Officer

Rhiannon joined the team in May 2024 as our Finance Officer.

Rhiannon moved to Aberystwyth from the West Midlands in 2014 for university and fell in love with the area and people. After finishing her Mathematics degree, she found a passion for finance and started self-studying with AAT in 2021.She lives in the Llanbadarn Fawr area with her partner. In her free time, she can be found with a good book, playing a cosy board game, or planning the next escape room adventure.

Practice Manager

Wendy joined the team in 2023 as our Practice Manager.  She has previously worked in Finance, Purchasing and Project Management, and brings all these skills to Ystwyth Vets. Wendy is a keen swimmer, having moved to Ceredigion just prior to Covid in order to be closer to the sea. She lives on a small holding with her husband Rod, 4 dogs, 2 lovely gypsy cobs. She also has an elderly Sec A that was used by a previous owner to give rides at a tourist attraction until he dumped one too many kids on the ground. Wendy’s role at Ystwyth is very much back office based but occasionally she escapes to the front desk to cover Reception, and she always pops into the prep room to see what pets are in for the day.

Large Animal Technician

Steph is a Welsh speaker, originally from Pontypridd, moved to the area in 1999. Steph joined the practice in September 2023 as a Large Animal Technician, since joining she has qualified as a ROMS Cattle Mobility Scorer and enjoys all aspects of Large Animal work. Steph lives on a busy family farm with her husband and 4 children, lambing and calving is her favourite time of year in the farming calendar. In her spare time Steph enjoys riding her horses, taking William the family whippet for walks or can be found on the sidelines cheering on her children in their sporting activities.