Our Team

Darren originally joined Axiom in 2004 as a microbiologist and has spent many of the years since then working within the veterinary diagnostics industry including roles as Laboratory Manager at the Animal Health Trust and General Manager at Finn Pathologists.

James joined the team in March 2013 having worked for 8 years as a Veterinary Investigation Officer in South West England. He was involved in all aspects of farm animal diagnostic work, both pathology and clinical pathology, with a particular focus on cattle, sheep and camelids. He co-authored a number of publications arising from the diagnostic caseload and also managed two of the APHA’s TB programmes. In his spare time, James is a pathologist for the UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme, providing post mortem cover for stranded marine mammals on the coasts of Cornwall.

Catriona graduated from the University of Glasgow and spent three years in mixed practice before the next 14 years in Veterinary Investigation Officer and Disease Surveillance Centre Manager roles in north and north east Scotland for SAC. Her work involved farm animal diagnostics, disease investigation and surveillance plus cattle and sheep health schemes. She was awarded an MSc in Livestock Health & Production through the RVC in 2004. In 2014 she returned to farm animal practice and also set up a fertility company, doing mainly sheep AI and ET, whilst continuing to work part time as a VIO. She joined Axiom in May 2018 as a Farm Animal Veterinary Advisor.

Mark qualified from the Royal Veterinary College in 1986 and worked in predominantly large animal practices for 12 years. In 1998 he joined the Veterinary Laboratories Agency at Preston performing large animal disease (predominantly ruminant) investigation and diagnostics and studied for Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists specialising in large animal pathology. He is published widely in the field of large animal and mammalian exotic pathology. Mark managed surveillance pathology within the Agency until he joined Finn Pathologists in May 2014. His main interests lie in ruminant pathology especially infectious and degenerative diseases, and farm animal diagnostics. In 2015 he was awarded RCVS Specialist status in pathology (large animals).

Nick followed up a BSc in Animal Virology from Edinburgh University with a Veterinary Degree from the Royal Veterinary College in 1994. He spent 5 years in general practice in Suffolk before taking up a residency in Veterinary Pathology at Cambridge University Veterinary School. He attained membership of the Royal College of Pathologists in 2005 following spells with Finn Pathologists & the Veterinary Laboratories Agency. His special interests include diagnostic pathology of ruminants and pigs, bone pathology and dermatopathology.

After graduating from the University of Glasgow Veterinary School in 2002 Alistair worked in practice for five years, before undertaking a Horse Trust funded residency in anatomic pathology at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies. During his time there he was awarded a Masters degree for work on the pathology of equine dental disease. After completion of the residency Alistair took up the post of Veterinary pathologist / Veterinary Investigation Officer at SAC consulting vet services, working with a wide range of pathology in farmed and companion animals including horses. In 2013 he became a fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists.

Katie worked in mixed and farm animal practice for 5 years after graduating from the University of Bristol. She completed a PhD at Nottingham Vet School, followed by an anatomic pathology residency with half her time based at Farm Post Mortems Ltd in County Durham, during which she was awarded a Masters degree for investigations into laryngeal chondritis in Texel sheep. Katie remained at Nottingham to set up a new farm animal pathology diagnostic service as a third party provider for APHA, before starting at Finn Pathologists in July 2021. Katie is a Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Pathologists and her main interest is diagnostic pathology of ruminants.

Katy graduated from Glasgow vet school in 2002. After several years in mixed practice in Herefordshire and the Shetland islands, she settled in Aberdeenshire working in farm animal only practice before moving to SAC (now SRUC) to work as a VIO in 2012. She has come to Axiom after a short career break to take care of her two daughters. Katy is particularly interested in sheep and beef cattle health and disease and, in her spare time, she enjoys working as an assistant shepherd on her partner’s farm.

Prior to joining Axiom, Gareth spent 8 years as a specialist Biomedical Scientist at Public Health Wales in Cardiff. Whilst there he gained a Masters Degree specialising in Medical Mycology and became a Fellow of the Institute of Biomedical Science. After joining Axiom as Head of Department in 2010, he has continued to develop his interest in microbiology, has also set up a successful Molecular Diagnostics Unit and has modernised both the microbiology and serology departments. Gareth takes pleasure in seeing his own team grow in number and expertise and is proud of the skills and knowledge he has been able to transfer to this ever expanding group of scientists. Outside of work, Gareth is a father of 3 children, a dog, a cat and 8 Indian runner ducks. He also coaches junior rugby at Torquay RFC and enjoys a variety of sports and outdoor activities.

After completing a BSc in Chemistry, Richard joined Axiom in 2007. He trained in all areas of the Biohaem department before becoming Senior Scientific Officer. In 2018 he was made Divisional Biohaem Technical Manager and continues in that role. In his spare time Richard likes to walk his three dogs and tinker with his classic cars

Sam is a Chartered Scientist and Fellow of the Institute of Biomedical Science. She spent 11 years working in the NHS in Cardiff as a Biomedical Scientist where she completed a MSc in Biomedical Science and two IBMS Specialist Diplomas in Medical Biochemistry and Clinical Immunology before moving to Axiom as a Serology Scientific Officer in 2013. She was promoted to Quality Manager in 2015 and led the way to Axiom gaining UKAS ISO 17025 accreditation. Sam has now taken on the management of the rapidly expanding Serology Department at Axiom, combining her scientific experience with her quality knowledge. At home she has 3 children, a dog, cat, rabbit, guinea pig, 3 chickens and 8 ducks.