The team
Meet the people who care for your animals
Vets, registered veterinary nurses, students and a reception team who know Orkney, its farms and its animals. Tap anyone to read their story.
Veterinary surgeons
8Registered veterinary nurses
5Registered veterinary nurse & clinical admin
1Student veterinary nurses & care assistants
2Admin & reception team
4Team shown as currently listed on the practice website.
Partner and veterinary surgeon
Kate Carmichael
BVMS MRCVS
Kate graduated from Glasgow Vet School in 1987, and worked as a new graduate in a small animal hospital in Twickenham for a few months, then in mixed animal practice in Orkney for two years and in Aberdeenshire for a further twelve. On return to Orkney, Kate founded Flett & Carmichael Vets in 2002 alongside Liz Flett.
From mainly cattle and sheep work initially, she did more and more equine and small animal work as time went on. Kate enjoys the variety of working in a mixed practice including exotics and wildlife, with a special interest in surgical operations and in equine work.
Kate is married to Alistair and has two grown up sons, a labrador called Eddie and a cat called Coco, as well as some hens. Away from work Kate enjoys dog walks, playing music and singing.
Partner and veterinary surgeon
John Davidson
BVM&S MRCVS
John's interest in veterinary medicine started at a very young age as the son of an Orkney farmer, and as a school student he came to see practice at Flett & Carmichael with Liz and Kate. He then went on to vet school to complete his studies.
John graduated from Edinburgh's RDSVS in 2013 and, with his farming background, mixed practice was a natural choice. After graduation he worked in the busy practice in Insch in Aberdeenshire for two years gaining experience before making the move back home to Orkney.
From small animal consulting and surgery, to equine dentistry or helping farmers improve the overall health of their herd or flock, he enjoys all aspects and the variety of clinical work in mixed practice.
Partner and veterinary surgeon
Moira Sinclair
BVMS MRCVS
Moira graduated from Glasgow Vet School in 2003 and joined the team at Flett & Carmichael in 2007, having spent three and a half years working in a busy mixed practice in Aberdeenshire.
Being a farmer's daughter with a passion for horses, she enjoys the varied work that comes from being a vet in mixed practice. As well as equine and farm work, she has a particular interest in soft tissue surgery and chronic pain. Moira has undergone further training in acupuncture and chronic pain management and runs pain clinics at the practice.
Moira became a partner alongside Kate and John in 2019. When not at work, she keeps herself very busy on the farm at home with her husband, three children and their horses.
Co-founder and veterinary surgeon
Liz Flett
BVM&S MRCVS
Veterinary science was a natural career choice for Liz, with her love of animals and a medical doctor for a father. She graduated from the "Dick" Vet College in Edinburgh in 1981, when female vets were still considered a minority in a male dominated career. Her first job was at a two-vet mixed practice in Warwickshire which gave her wide experience.
Liz then moved to Orkney when she married Tom, a local farmer. She worked as a mainly large-animal vet for 18 years before founding Flett & Carmichael with Kate Carmichael in 2002. Liz's main interests are farm work and medical cases, and with Kate she wanted to provide a caring, high quality service for clients and their animals and build a like-minded team.
In 2019 Liz stepped back from owning and running the practice, with John and Moira taking over her share. She still works regularly in the practice, helping out at busy times and providing holiday cover. In her semi-retirement she is often helping on the family farm, watching and taking part in sports, walking her dog and singing in the Winter Choir.
Veterinary surgeon
Gillian Wylie
BVMS MRCVS
Gillian qualified from Glasgow Vet School in 1985 and worked in small animal practices in Kilmarnock and West Yorkshire before moving to mixed practice in Orkney in the autumn of 1986. She married a local farmer and they have a large herd of beef suckler cows.
She has been part of the Flett & Carmichael team since 2002, when Kate and Liz established the practice. Gillian has also undertaken the role of Official Vet during the BSE crisis and at Orkney Meat.
In recent years Gillian's focus has been mainly on the companion animal side of practice, and she particularly enjoys carrying out surgical operations. Outside work she uses her surgical stitching skills to make costumes for a local drama club, and enjoys choral singing and time with her family.
Veterinary surgeon
Leah Hunter
Leah joined us in August 2021 after graduating from Edinburgh University. She is a well established member of the team, is developing an interest in dentistry and enjoys the variety in mixed practice.
With her dogs Molly, Archie and Riggs, and her partner Tom, Leah loves the wildlife and outdoors in Orkney, and as a BDMLR medic has a great interest in marine mammals. She is also involved with the Orkney Nature Festival, and loves crafty things, gardening, the gym and pilates.
Veterinary surgeon
Ava McPhail
Ava qualified from the University of Vermont in 2016 with a degree in Animal Science (pre-vet) and a minor in history, before attending the University of Glasgow from 2016 to 2021. After qualifying she spent two years working on the Isle of Lewis and one year in Ayrshire before making the move to Orkney.
She loves all aspects of mixed practice but has been developing an interest in exotics, soft tissue surgery and herd health planning. Outside the practice she's kept busy with her dog Connolly, tortoise Donatello (Donnie for short), cat Ember and boyfriend Stewart, and enjoys hiking, running, baking, reading and true crime stories.
Veterinary surgeon
Raphaela Hiltrop
Raphaela is a German veterinarian who graduated from the University of Ghent in Belgium in 2019. Towards the end of her studies she spent time in Orkney assisting with lambing on Gairsay for a local farm, an experience that kept her ties with the family and Orkney strong and eventually drew her back to Scotland.
After graduating she began her career in mixed practice in Fort William, developing a particular interest in companion animal cardiology and laboratory and microscopic diagnostics. In 2022 she returned to Belgium to specialise in veterinary pathology (histopathology, cytology and post-mortem diagnostics), areas she finds especially rewarding for their impact on herd and flock health, individual pet care and public health.
Raphaela joined Flett & Carmichael in March 2025. Alongside her work with cattle and horses she is keen to keep developing her skills in small animal cardiology and to contribute her experience in pathology and microscopy-based diagnostics. Outside work she enjoys hiking, stand-up paddleboarding and sea swimming, often with her two Spaniel-Collie crosses, Mia and Otis.
Head Veterinary Nurse
Anna Davidson
RVN
Anna qualified from North Highland College in 2013. In 2016 she left Flett & Carmichael to pursue a career in equine veterinary nursing at the University of Glasgow's Equine Hospital. After six years in Glasgow she moved to another equine hospital in West Yorkshire, before moving back to Orkney (and Flett & Carmichael) at the beginning of 2024. Anna now leads our nursing team and became Head Veterinary Nurse in 2025.
Anna enjoys the variety the nursing role offers day to day, particularly nursing patients requiring intensive care, and excels in all things equine thanks to her time in Glasgow (although she would never admit it). In her spare time you'll find her working on the family farm with her German Shorthaired Pointer, Ledi, in tow.
Registered veterinary nurse
Kirsten Learmonth
RVN
Kirsten joined our team in 2016 and qualified in 2021 with a Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing from North Highland College.
Coming from a beef and sheep farm and brought up with horses, Kirsten has a keen interest in farm and equine work. She also has a strong interest in small animal patient care, especially older and arthritic patients: with additional physiotherapy training she builds personalised exercise and mobility plans, and physio exercises before and after orthopaedic surgery. She also enjoys diagnostic imaging and emergency critical care.
Kirsten helps keep our social media and website up to date (you may notice her dog Roxy appearing on several posts!). Outside work she explores Orkney's coastline with her two dogs, on foot, by paddle board and sometimes swimming.
Registered veterinary nurse
Amanda Mowat
RVN
Amanda joined our team in 2002, later qualifying from North Highland College in 2008. In 2014 she took a career break to raise her young boys and run her equine massage therapy business. In 2018 she moved across the water to Caithness, running a self catering business and small croft alongside her equine massage therapy, before moving back to Orkney in 2024 and rejoining Flett & Carmichael.
Outside work Amanda is kept very busy with her five horses, two dogs and three kids, and enjoys riding club activities and being outside. Her main interests are anything equine, radiography, diagnostics and nursing care of sick patients. She would love to take all the animals home!
Registered veterinary nurse
Kate Friel
RVN
Kate joined the team in September 2022 as an Animal Care Assistant and qualified as a Registered Veterinary Nurse from North Highland College in December 2025.
Growing up around animals, Kate has always had a strong interest in their wellbeing, helping at local farms during lambing and caring for her own cat and poultry. In her spare time she explores the coast with family or takes to the sea for sailing, paddle boarding and sea swimming. She enjoys the variety of cases in our busy practice and making sure patients in hospital are as comfortable as possible.
Registered veterinary nurse
Ruth Watts
RVN
Ruth moved from Cumbria and joined our team in 2026, having qualified as an RVN at the Central College of Animal Studies in Devon in December 2023. Before changing career to veterinary nursing she was a herdswoman, milking cows in Pembrokeshire and then Wiltshire, after gaining an HND in Rural Resources and their Management.
Outside work Ruth enjoys the outdoors with her husband, walking their two dogs, watching wildlife, paddle boarding and swimming. She is also a Marine Mammal Medic and is looking forward to helping care for these wonderful animals around Orkney. She especially enjoys nurse consults, connecting with people and their pets.
Veterinary nurse & clinical admin
Gillian Aitchison
RVN
Gillian joined the Flett & Carmichael team at the very beginning, back in 2002, and qualified as a Registered Veterinary Nurse from North Highland College in 2008 with an NVQ Level 3 in Veterinary Nursing.
Gillian enjoys most aspects of nursing, particularly producing handouts and displays to keep clients up to date. She took on the Clinical Admin role in April 2022, processing insurance claims, wholesale and orders. She spreads her love of animals with talks at local schools and clubs, and has a special interest in hedgehogs, often fostering one or two at home.
"The best thing about the job is the variety of cases we deal with, one day is never the same as the next."
Reception and animal care assistant
Ava Laughton
Ava joined the team in September 2023 as our Saturday assistant, alongside completing an agricultural course at Orkney College. She now works four days a week, splitting her time between reception and work as an Animal Care Assistant.
Outside work she enjoys the family farm and showing her own flock of sheep, alongside her dog Balfour and two cats, Miss Tippy Toes and Maggie. Ava is an active member of East Mainland Young Farmers and has competed for Orkney District at the Highland Show in the junior stock judging team.
Student veterinary nurse
Alana Sinclair
Alana joined the team in July 2022 as our Saturday Assistant. In September 2023 she went on to college and is now a full time Student Veterinary Nurse with us.
Alana enjoys horse riding and helping out on her family farm, and has two cats, Fudge and Smudge, and a dog, Bruiser. She is a member of Sandwick Young Farmers Club, and is enjoying working with such an excellent team, learning new skills and gaining valuable experience.
Customer care
Anna Fraser
Anna joined us in May 2019. The daughter of a local farmer, she enjoys horse riding and Young Farmers activities and has two cats at home. After years in customer care and management, her love of animals made joining our customer care team a natural move.
Anna and Leona manage our busy consult times and visits out to equine and farm clients. If you're from the outer isles you may have been in contact with them about an isles visit, which they organise, liaising between our clients and the vets.
"Every day is different, but it's a very rewarding job. Plus getting to meet all the adorable puppies and kittens is a bonus."
Customer care and administration
Leona Sinclair
Qualifying from Orkney College in 2000 with an HNC in Business Administration, Leona built up great admin experience before joining our customer care team in May 2019. She is married to a local beef and sheep farmer and enjoys showing Shetland ponies and riding with her family, so she understands the needs of our clients and their animals.
Leona keeps our office running smoothly day to day. With Anna she runs reception, keeps client accounts up to date and makes sure reminders are sent out.
"I have always felt part of the team, and get great satisfaction ensuring our clients and their animals are given the best possible care."
Veterinary receptionist
Danielle Nelson
Originally from New York, Danielle has had an exciting journey, from performing on cruise ships to settling in Orkney in 2020.
She joined our admin team in 2024 as a Veterinary Receptionist and loves helping animals and their owners feel at ease. With a background in dog training and behaviour, she is passionate about understanding and caring for pets, including her two dogs, Loki and Miska.
Veterinary receptionist
Rebekah Johnstone
Rebekah joined our admin team in 2024 as a Veterinary Receptionist. She previously worked in one of the local banks and still works weekends in one of Kirkwall's pubs.
She loves the variety of animals that come through our doors and is delighted to welcome them (and their owners). Outside work she fusses over her two Ragdoll cats, Elsie and Skye, and fosters for Orkney Cats until they find their forever homes.