Our People

I am thrilled to have the opportunity to join the Board of VPIS. As an independent director with a proven track record of successful performance and integrity in high paced and challenging organisations, I am excited to bring my expertise to this Board.

In addition to my role as a Veterinary Surgeon and Clinic Manager at the After Hours Vet Clinic in Christchurch, I have held various leadership and governance positions (including being a past Chair of Alzheimers NZ, current Chair of NZ Cat Fancy and Board positions on the Dementia Prevention Research Trust and Mace Consulting) which have provided me with valuable experience in organisational governance, strategic planning and stakeholder management.

Throughout my career as a veterinarian, I have owned and managed Veterinary Clinics and been a passionate advocate for the profession. I have witnessed firsthand the challenges and risks that veterinary professionals face on a daily basis. These challenges often extend beyond the clinic walls and require strategic planning, innovative solutions, and a deep understanding of the industry. I firmly believe that by serving on the VPIS I can utilise my expertise, passion, and commitment to contribute to the growth and success of VPIS, as well as to advocate for the best interests of the veterinary professionals.

Stephen Hopkinson graduated from Massey over 30 years ago and has been a dairy cattle veterinarian in South Taranaki ever since. He is currently CEO of Taranaki Veterinary Centre, employing 33 vets and over 50 support staff in 5 clinics throughout South and Central Taranaki. Stephen has been active within the wider profession with time on a VCNZ Complaints Assessment Committee, 10 years on the DCV (with 3 years as President), and 2 years on the NZVA Board and Member Advisory Group. Outside of work he has 5 children, a lifestyle block (an oxymoron if there ever was one!), plays football through winter and is an active volunteer firefighter with >30 years commitment.

After finishing the NZVA-based commitments, Stephen realised he still wanted to contribute to the veterinary profession and his experiences on the VCNZ CAC prompted him to join the VPIS Board to provide strategic and critical governance but through a pragmatic and practical lens so that veterinarians in all roles have the support, recognition and understanding that they require in these increasingly challenging times.

I am an actuary by profession. I have almost 40 years experience in the insurance industry, including in risk management and time spent in senior roles in life and general insurance companies and in the public sector. My time as an animal lover and frequent user of veterinarian services has created a strong interest in this role and I look forward to playing a part in the future growth and development of VPIS.

I'm CEO for Vetora Waikato, overseeing our 8 clinics and I have a diverse background that will help me support the VPIS Board and management. With a career in innovation, finance and insurance - including many years in leadership roles for FMG, a mutual insurer committed to its membership base - and a drive for innovation and sustainability. I'm excited to be able to contribute to VPIS growth and resilience in a changing landscape.

I am pleased to be able to continue to contribute to the profession through my involvement on the VPIS Board.

I have been with Vet Services since I graduated 40 years ago, a director for 36 of those years and have been the Chair of the Board for the last 8 years.

At the start of my career, I was in mixed practice for about 8 years and then increasingly moved into companion animal work. I am now the Companion animal Group lead for VSHB.

I was also project lead for the newly opened Hawkes Bay After hours clinic and am a Director of this company.

Over my career I have been very involved in the wider profession being on and chairing both the NZVA Standards committee and the NZVA Best Practice committee as well as being on the NZVA Board and serving as President and Chair.

Outside of work we have a family run sheep and beef farm and we are committed to restoring waterways and providing new areas for wildlife.

I will be retiring from VSHB Dec 2025 but I look forward to continuing to support the profession with my governance and business management experience as well as my pragmatic solutions focused approach to get the right outcomes for all parties, whilst providing support for profession.

Following graduation from Massey in 1977, I worked in mixed veterinary practices in New Zealand, the UK and South Africa.

I then joined the veterinary pharmaceutical industry in NZ, initially in a technical services role followed by product development and commercial leadership roles. Throughout this period I was very active in support for the veterinary profession and practices through NZVA, including leadership of the Sheep & Beef Cattle Society and Industry Branch.

My commercial leadership roles then took me to Australia and the USA where work included close relationships with veterinary practices and their professional organisations eg AVA, AVMA and AAHA. The economics, dynamics and stresses and strains were and are similar to those I knew here, including the emergence of practice management education, training and systems, professional standards, mentoring of new veterinarians and the expanding role of veterinary technicians.

On returning to NZ, I finished my business operations career in manufacturing business leadership before spending more time on "giving back", particularly with Institute of Directors governance development and mentorship of small business owners through Business Mentors NZ.

Along the way, I have retained both business and personal interest in the NZ veterinary profession and practice management. Peers, friends and family are still actively involved in practice ownership and leadership and I am enjoying working with VPIS to support all those who work in and manage veterinary practices across New Zealand.

"I'm the Claims Assistant for VPIS and will usually be the first person you speak to when you ring in to notify VPIS of a claim or complaint you've received from a client."

I have worked for VPIS since 2000 and have developed an in-depth knowledge of the types of claims and stresses that veterinarians face.