Council
Our Council is elected by members to represent the dental profession and to achieve the mission and goals of the Australian Dental Association Victorian Branch (ADAVB).
Councillors
Please contact the councillors below to discuss issues, achievements or concerns. You can also hear from and meet councillors at ADAVB Group and other events. Keep an eye out for upcoming events on our training and events page.
Dr Andrew Heredia
President
Dr Andrew Heredia graduated from the University of Melbourne in 2006 and was elected to ADAVB Council in 2016. He is currently the Council representative on the ADAVB Oral Health Committee, vice-chair of the ADAVB Finance, Risk and Audit Committee and represents the ADAVB on the Guild Liaison Committee. Dr Heredia has volunteered for the ADAVB mentoring program and for oral health promotion initiatives in early learning centres. He has practised as a general dentist in both private and community dental sectors throughout Melbourne, regional Victoria and Sydney. Dr Heredia has supervised recent graduate dentists and oral health therapists in clinical practice and is involved with teaching in preclinical sessions at the University of Melbourne.
Dr Carolyn Ng
Vice President
Dr Carolyn Ng was elected to the branch Council in 2018, and to the Executive committee in 2022. She received her Bachelor of Dental Science from the University of Melbourne and her Doctorate of Clinical Dentistry in Orthodontics from the University of Sydney. She is currently working in private specialist orthodontic practice in Melbourne. Dr Ng has provided public and private general dental services in Melbourne and regional Victoria. She has contributed to the Barwon Health Oral Health Working Party and the RACDS VIC/TAS Regional Committee; supervised dental students in general practice at the Melbourne Dental School, tutored dentists undertaking the FRACDS final exams in orthodontics and mentored dentists in the ADAVB mentoring program. She has contributed to the ADAVB CPD Committee and Third Party Committee. She currently serves as Vice Chair of the Finance Risk and Audit committee, and as Chair of the Melbourne Inner East Regional Group. Dr Ng also serves as Chair of the Australasian Orthodontic Board, and Secretary for the Australian Society of Orthodontists Victoria/Tasmania Branch.
Dr Jonathan Teoh
Immediate Past President
Dr Jonathan Teoh is a public health dentist and has also worked in private practice. He graduated in 2004 and completed a Master of Public Health in 2015. Dr Teoh is a manager and senior dentist at a community health centre. He was elected to Council in 2018 and to the ADAVB executive committee in 2020. Dr Teoh completed the Health Sector Leadership Program (2013). Dr Teoh is the former vice-chair of the ADAVB Finance, Risk and Audit Committee. Dr Teoh has served on multiple ADAVB committees including Oral Health, Public Dentistry and CPD Committees. He has also been a demonstrator at the University of Melbourne, a mentor in the ADAVB mentoring program and is a regular contributor at ADAVB Group meetings.
Dr Conny Qian
Councillor
Dr Conny Qian was elected to council in 2022, and appointed to executive council in 2023. She serves on the ADAVB Disputes and Ethics Committee, and is council representative for the Recent Graduates & Students Committee and the CPD committee. Dr Qian was chair of the ADAVB Northern Group in 2021 and 2022, and organised regular CPD and social meetings for oral health professionals and students in regional Victoria. Dr Qian practises as a general dentist in Melbourne and Bendigo, and volunteers for the ADHF Rebuilding Smiles Program and overseas on behalf of Rotary Australia.
A/Prof Neil Hewson
A/Prof Neil Hewson has been on Council since 1987, was secretary of ADAVB Group R (Peninsula) (1985), Branch President (1995/96), Honorary Secretary (1997–2008), elected an Honorary Life Member in 2001 and awarded the Dentistry Achievement Award in 2008. He has chaired and served on most ADAVB committees and currently chairs the ADAVB Constitution and Policy, and Honours and Awards committees. A/Prof Hewson has served on and chaired several ADA Inc committees, currently on one, was a Federal Councillor from 1996 until 2022, was Federal President from 2008 to 2010 and elected an ADA Inc Honorary Life Member in 2010. He was Australian Dental Congress 2011 Chairman and served on the 1993 and 2013 LOCs. A/Prof Hewson served as FDI speaker from 2011 to 2014. He has been a clinical demonstrator and in 2009, was appointed a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Melbourne and in 2016, he was admitted to an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Dental Science by the University of Melbourne. A/Professor Hewson has served on several government and outside organisations committees.
Dr Andrew J Barnes
Dr Andrew J Barnes began on Council in 1996, and has served as honorary treasurer, vice president and president (2001-2002). He has been a member and chair of the Recent Graduates, Legislation, and Finance and Audit, Disputes and Ethics committees. Dr Barnes is deputy chair of the ADAVB Disputes and Ethics Committee. He a private practitioner with additional roles as a consultant dental adviser with the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Health. He has also served on the Department of Human Services’ Dental Intern Working Party.
Dr Mark Bowman
Dr Mark Bowman began as Group Q (Inner Melbourne) secretary in 1986, joined Council in 2004, and served as president (2007/08) and honorary secretary (2010–2014). He has served on several committees, and is currently a member of the Constitution and Policy Committee, Disputes and Ethics Committee, and chair of the Finance Risk and Audit Committee. Dr Bowman was a federal councillor (2008–2014) and a member of the Federal Policy Committee (2009–2014). He is a past president of the Australian Society of Periodontology Victorian Branch (2003-2004) and federal president ASP (2010–2012), elected ASP Honorary Life Member in 2016 . He is a consultant with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and adviser to the Department of Health. He was elected ADAVB Honorary Life Member in 2022.
Dr David Curnow
Dr David Curnow was elected to Council in 1992 and was president in 2002/03 after serving as honorary treasurer and vice president. He has served on and chaired numerous committees, and is currently a member of the Defence Advisory Committee. He is an ADAVB representative on the Guild Liaison Committee and chair of ADA Schedule and Third Party Committee. Dr Curnow was chair of the 37th Dental Congress in 2017, an external examiner at La Trobe University Dental School and member of the South East Melbourne Medicare Local eHealth Advisory Group (2013–2015). He was a mentor in the ADAVB Mentoring Program and at Ormond College. He was awarded the ADAVB Award for Distinguished Service in 2009 and the ADA Service Medallion in 2013. In 2020, Dr Curnow was elected an honorary life member.
Dr Linton Nash
Dr Linton Nash actively participates in Group meetings and is a past graduate of the ADAVB Health Sector Leadership Program. After completing his undergraduate studies at Griffith University in 2011, Dr Nash worked in private practice before studying orthodontics at the National University of Singapore, gaining his MDS and MOrthRCSEd in 2017. Dr Nash is the President's Representative on the ADAVB Recent Graduates and Students Committee.
Dr Devin Ong
Dr Devin Ong actively participates in ADAVB Group meetings and has been treasurer for Melbourne North Group since 2014. Dr Ong completed the ADAVB Health Sector Leadership Program in 2014 and is involved in orthodontic undergraduate teaching at the University of Melbourne. He also sits on the committee of charity organisation Give a Smile, and is the President's Representative on the ADAVB Recent Graduates and Students Committee.
Dr Angelo Pacella
Dr Angelo Pacella graduated from the University of Melbourne and a member of ADA since 1989. He is a Fellow of Pierre Fauchard Academy, Fellow of International College of Dentist, Fellow of the Academy of Dentistry International, Fellow of International College of Continuing Dental Education of Singapore in Orthodontics in General Dental Practice. Dr Pacella appointed to the ADAVB Executive Committee in 2017, was Vice President in 2019/20 and President ADAVB in 2020/21. He is currently Chair of the Finance, Risk and Audit Committee and was chair of the Third-Party Committee for 10 years (continues to serve on this committee). Dr Pacella served on the Melbourne Dental School Senior Management Committee and Post Graduate Studies Committee, and The La Trobe Dentistry and Oral Health Course Advisory Committee. Dr Pacella served on the DHSV Voucher Review Advisory Panel in 2013.
Dr Katharine Dal Santo
Dr Katharine Dal Santo completed her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree at the University of Sydney in 2016 having previously completed her Bachelor of Oral Health at the University of Melbourne in 2009. Katharine also has an interest in forensic odontology having just completed her Masters in Forensic Medicine (Forensic Odontology). She has worked in both public and private clinics across Melbourne as a dentist and an oral health therapist.
Katharine is currently involved in academic teaching and supervision of dental students with the Melbourne Dental School as well as working in private practice. Katharine enjoys all areas of dentistry and especially loves ensuring that children have a fun and positive first experience in the dental chair, setting them up to have a good oral health routine for life.
Dr Jason Rerksirathai
Dr Jason Rerksirathai completed the Bachelor of Dental Science with Honours at the University of Melbourne in 2009. In more than a decade of general practice, Jason has worked within a range of different private practices within metropolitan Melbourne, including the practices of prominent past leaders within the profession. He has been a Clinical Teaching Instructor at the University of Melbourne’s Melbourne Dental Clinic and enjoys being a part of shaping the next generation of dental professionals. Jason has training and experience working within organisations in the health sector, including completion of Leadership Victoria’s Health Sector Leadership program, as well as being an active member of the Australian Dental Association, currently serving on the Victorian Branch’s Finance, Risk and Audit committee in addition to a new member of Council.
Dr Dilhan Rajasingham
Dr Dilhan Rajasingham is a multi-qualified healthcare entrepreneur with an extensive career in healthcare, dentistry, business, and leadership. Having qualified in 2012 from the University of Adelaide, he has provided clinical care in rural, suburban and metropolitan private practice settings. Dr Rajasingham is the current chair of the Digital Health and Dental Informatics committee of the Federal ADA, is a spokesperson for a number of healthcare organisations including the Federal ADA, and is a clinical teaching instructor at the University of Melbourne. Dilhan has also completed his MBA at Monash University and completed the GAICD qualification, enabling foundations for his contributions toward the digital healthcare landscape locally and globally, working with a number of dental and medical technology companies. Dilhan's focus has always been on providing new pathways and ideas to leverage digital health and technology to enhance healthcare service delivery, promote community health advocacy and engage stakeholders effectively.
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Dr Derek Mahony
Dr Derek Mahony is a world renowned Specialist Orthodontist who has spoken to thousands of practitioners about the benefits of interceptive orthodontic treatment. Early in his career Dr Mahony learned from leading clinicians the dramatic effect functional appliance therapy can afford patients in orthodontic treatment. He has been combining the fixed and functional appliance approach ever since. His lectures are based on the positive impact such a combined treatment approach has had on his orthodontic results and the benefits this philosophy provides from a practice management viewpoint.
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Dr Marietta Taylor
Dr Marietta Taylor is a public dentist with experience in both private and military settings. Graduating in 1995, she served in the Royal Australian Navy in Sydney and Darwin until 2003, moving into private practice from 2003 to 2012. Between 2012-2020 she served as the Senior Dentist at a large public dental clinic in regional Victoria, providing mentoring and support to students and early career clinicians. She has a graduate diploma in public health and a PhD in clinical epidemiology from La Trobe University.
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Dr Tori Carter
Dr Tori Carter has a rich background in both public and private dental care, currently serving as senior dentist at Better Health Network's South Melbourne and Prahran locations. Leading a multidisciplinary dental team, she prioritizes public health initiatives with a strong focus on sustainability and equity. Dr Carter's career encompasses experience in general dentistry, emergency management and oral surgery marked by her experience at the Alfred Hospital and the Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne. As an active member of the Victorian Oral Health Alliance, she advocates for policy reforms to benefit all communities across Victoria and improving statewide oral health outcomes.
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