Dr May Warner (OL 2016)
OLA Fellowship Winner 2025

May completed school in 2016, and went on to study a Bachelor of Science (Veterinary Bioscience) and the University of Melbourne, which she completed in 2019. Since then May has completed a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, and has, this year, commenced a Master of Philosophy – Veterinary Science.

In conjunction with her studies, May worked as Veterinary Nurse, and then an Associate Vet at Evervet. May has completed several internships and dedicated numerous hours to volunteer work, and is now a Veterinary Resident at the Australian Wildlife Health Centre, Healesville Sanctuary for Zoos Victoria.

As a Resident, May will further her professional development as a wildlife vet, and will also spend time conducting research for her Master’s – which aims to investigate the maternal transfer of antibodies to pouch young in eastern grey kangaroos and bare-nosed wombats.

May’s Fellowship application sought to support her research with the purchase of equipment for the collection and processing of donor plasma, with the objective of developing protocols for the prevention and treatment of immunodeficiency due to Failure of Passive Transfer in hand-reared orphaned joeys.

May impressed the Committee with her enthusiasm and passion for her field, and her ability to break down the technical language and communicate her objectives to non-scientists!

May linked her interest in native Australian wildlife to her fond memories of her Howqua year. She has demonstrated her connectedness to Lauriston’s values and showed her initiative in seeking a mentor from the OLA database early in her studies and was already scheduled to spend time towards the end of 2025 with the year 3 & 4 students, in her approved Zoos Victoria uniform!

May embodies all the attributes we could hope for in an Old Lauristonian, and we have no doubt that she will excel at her Masters and continue to ensure the health and future of our native animals.

We congratulate May as a most worthy recipient of the 2025 OLA Fellowship.