As a member of Dental Protection, you have access to the expertise of our team of Dentolegal Consultants and Case Managers. In this article, you can meet the people behind the job titles.
It goes without saying that we, the WA dental community, have just endured a momentous and turbulent few years. A global pandemic, which initially cast a shadow over all aspects of practice/patient interactions and caused significant anxiety about what the future was going to look like, followed up by conflict in Europe and disruption of supply chains in many goods and services we had previously taken for granted.
We are now tentatively coming out the other side, still with some uncertainties but also stronger than ever with a dental community that stepped up (with significant support and assistance from ADAWA and Dental Protection), worked together and now practices seem to be busier than ever.
Dental Protection are here to help on that journey too, not only with complaints and indemnity assistance but also with resources around burnout and well-being in these times of change and unpredictability.
We want to take this opportunity to remind you of the breadth and variety of experience of the team here at Dental Protection and prompt you on our contact details should you ever need us in an emergency situation or just to make an enquiry regarding any possible dentolegal questions you might have.
BDS (Hons), MBA (Executive)
Dr Simon Parsons is a graduate of the University of Sydney and has over 30 years’ experience working primarily in private dental practice. Simon has tutored dental undergraduates and dental assistants and continues to enjoy teaching and mentoring oral health professionals. He completed an MBA at the Australian Graduate School of Management in 2001.
Balancing his interest in clinical treatment and practice management, he managed large multidisciplinary dental practices for over a decade and now works in a Sydney CBD group practice when not at Dental Protection. He also provides technical and educational support for a large multinational dental laboratory.
Interesting fact: Simon is an identical twin and is still approached on occasion by total strangers who seem to know him, when in fact it is a case of mistaken identity. Simon is an avid cook and has been known to roast his own coffee beans prior to tinkering as a wannabe barista at home and trying to perfect a microfoam for his latte.
BDS MHL FACD FPFA FICD
Dr Annalene Weston completed her undergraduate dental degree and vocational training in the UK and worked in NHS and private dentistry before immigrating to Australia. She has worked across three Australian states, in both private and public dentistry, and gained her Masters in Health Law at the University of Sydney’s Faculty of Law in 2008.
Annalene was awarded a Fellowship to the American College of Dentistry in 2016 and a Fellowship to the Pierre Fauchard Academy in 2019 in recognition of her strong work in ethics and collegiate support. She became a Fellow of the International College of Dentistry in 2020. Annalene works part-time in a suburban dental practice.
Interesting fact: Annalene loves words; writing them, reading them, listening to them and speaking them. When she is not at work, she is reading, or searching out interesting books or new (old) vinyl for her collection. She does this while being mother to two rambunctious boys and surrounded by oodles of poodles.
BDSc BA FICD FPFA
Mike Rutherford graduated from the University of Queensland and has more than 40 years’ dental experience in private practice, hospital clinics, the defence forces and supervising undergraduate dental students. He spent 19 years as a member of the ADAQ Patient Liaison Panel before joining the Dental Protection team in 2012. Mike was until recently a partner in a Brisbane suburban dental practice since the late 1980s, looking after three generations of patients.
Interesting fact: Mike has a BA in Social History and International Diplomacy and will happily discuss the Vietnam moratorium movement and Cold War politics for hours. He is also a mad dog cyclist.
BA BDentSc
Dr Colm Harney graduated from Trinity College Dublin and worked as a GDP in the private and public sectors in Ireland and Australia. He then worked for eight years in private practice in London before returning to Australia in 2007 where he works in suburban private practice in Perth. Colm has also worked as a tutor and clinical supervisor in the UWA Dental School. He has completed post-graduate studies in dispute resolution and worked in healthcare dispute resolution as an accredited mediator. In addition to his role as a dentolegal consultant, Colm continues to work part-time in the same practice he has been in since 2007.
Interesting fact: Colm is a third dan black belt in Aikijujutsu, a traditional Japanese martial art. He maintains that the best way to forget the troubles of the day and focus your thoughts is when an opponent is throwing a punch at your face or swinging a very sharp sword in your general direction.
BDS (Hons)
Kiran graduated from Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry in the UK. After completion of his vocational training, Kiran bought a dental practice in England, which he managed for five years before selling it and moving to Australia. Kiran also spent five years with a specialist dental negligence law firm in the UK as a dentolegal consultant, advising solicitors on matters relating to litigation.
Since moving to Australia, he has worked for corporate dental groups in Queensland and the ACT as the lead dentist, supporting and mentoring clinicians. As well as being a dentolegal consultant for Dental Protection, Kiran works part-time in private practice.
Interesting fact: During his undergraduate study, Kiran worked as security at Lord’s Cricket Ground, The Oval cricket ground, and Chelsea Football Club, where he got to meet many of his childhood sporting heroes. Despite their multiple failures in the past 20 years, Kiran is a passionate Arsenal fan and continues to live in hope...
BDS (Syd Uni) FICD FADI FPFA
Roger graduated from the University of Sydney and has more than 40 years’ experience in private practice in city, suburban and rural practice. Roger has owned and operated 3 quite different practices over his long career in dentistry, but now works part-time contracting his services to a corporate practice. He is a Past President of ADANSW and did at one time chair the Dental Care Assessment Committee of the NSW Dental Board. After that, he spent 17 years as an ADANSW Peer Advisor assisting members with dento-legal issues, before joining the Dental Protection team in September 2021, where he replaced Dr Ralph Neller AO.
Interesting fact: Roger has been known to play piano when suitably lubricated, although he will deny all knowledge of such alter-ego performances. Roger has recently become fascinated with hypnosis.
BAppHSC (Oral Health)
Anita has worked within the dental industry for over 20 years. Anita’s vast experience includes working in private practice in administrative, hygiene, dental therapy and dental assistant roles. More recently, Anita worked as a clinical support and compliance lead for a major health fund across Queensland before joining the Dental Protection team in December 2020 as a case manager.
Interesting fact: In a previous life prior to children, numerous injuries and arthritic bones, Anita was an avid touch football and rugby union player in New Zealand and Australia. Much to the disappointment of her Kiwi relatives, both of her daughters have shunned the game they play in heaven and are staunch AFL converts and players.
BAppHSc (Oral Health)
Kristin has a considerable background in the dental industry in both therapy and hygiene practice as well as previous dental assisting. Kristin has worked in private and government practice in Queensland and Western Australia in clinical, leadership and administrative roles. Kristin continues to work part time in private practice alongside her role as case manager with Dental Protection.
Interesting fact: Over the years Kristin has amassed quite a collection of antique and ceramic toothpaste containers and dental instruments, which her family finds somewhat disturbing. Her strange collecting habits are not an issue however for the most important member of the household, Hugo, the insanely spoilt French bulldog.
LLB- BCom
Helen joined the DPL team in 2021 as our first in-house lawyer. She graduated with a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce from James Cook University in 2001. She was admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland in 2003 and went on to practice in a number of different areas of law before working solely in injury related law for approximately the last 12 years. She practiced as a solicitor at a number of prominent law firms for approximately 14 years before moving into the insurance sector in 2018.
Interesting fact: Helen spends most of her spare time operating a free Uber service for her three teenage children, but when she does get some free time, she loves powerlifting at the gym and practising yoga. One day (when she can retire from the free Uber service), she hopes to enter a powerlifting competition and study to be a yoga instructor.
Before joining the Dental Protection team, Jenny previously worked as a legal secretary, had a successful small business of her own, and was a practice manager of a large medical centre for 15 years. She also worked for QFES rolling out the new radios for all emergency services. Jenny works full time as a case management assistant and many of our members will recognise her friendly voice as she is often the first point of contact when members call the team for assistance.
Interesting fact: A trainer/strapper for 24 years, Jenny is currently the head sports trainer of a rugby league club, which has grown from one senior team to six in the last seven years. She has also worked with many players who are now playing in the NRL. She loves to travel and has two sons who are both married to Registered Nurses and is waiting patiently for grandchildren.
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