Councillors
Dr Poppy Anastassiadis
Poppy joined council in 2016. Utilising her diverse engagement across the profession to advocate for all members. She is a tenured lecturer within the Adelaide Dental School and works as a general dentist in private practice. She is a Fellow by examination with the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons, and will soon complete a Masters in Clinical Education. Poppy continues to develop research through ongoing publications, is committed to progressing the art and science of dentistry and value sharing my experiences through the ADA mentoring scheme, as well as mentoring candidates completing their Membership in General Dental Practice through the College. Poppy believes in optimum oral health for all and support the advocacy efforts of the ADA, providing clinical service at Common Ground Community Outreach Clinic and care to remote patients through the Royal Flying Doctor Service. She is keen to advance the profession; adapting and responding to the challenges that face members to deliver excellent care. Advocating for members as a representative of the Employed Dentists Working Party, working with Federal ADA to address the needs of these members and their unique issues.
Dr Sharyn Borrett
Sharyn graduated from Bachelor of Oral Health (Adel) in 2005. She worked in private general and specialist practice as a hygienist, and South Australian Dental Service as a dental therapist. Sharyn went on to further studies in Bachelor of Dental Surgery (Adel), graduating in 2011 with the “South Australian Dental Service Prize” for having attained the highest standard in clinical dentistry, demonstrated professional behaviour, supported peers, and acted as an advocate for colleagues throughout the clinical years. She worked in the Special Needs Unit of the Adelaide Dental Hospital part time for two years, and now works in her own private general practice in Bridgewater. She was involved with the Recent Graduates Committee for 5 years, and this will be her second year serving on the Australian Dental Association council. She has also been involved in the Rotary/Lions East Timor Dental Project since 2005, volunteering in East Timor on 5 occasions, and promoting the project through events and presentations.
Dr Vaibhav Garg
Vaibhav graduated from the School of Dentistry, University of Adelaide in 2012. ADASA and interstate branches continue to be invaluable in the development of his career. He has volunteered with the ADA SA Recent Graduates Committee to encourage other young dentists to become a part of the ADA and find support they may need for their own success. His professional life has taken him to rural Western Australia where he enjoyed the unique benefits and challenges of working in regional Australia. Vaibhav has since returned and settled in Adelaide. Currently, working privately in Health Partners and recently accepted the position of Senior Dentist with the Royal Flying Doctor Service Central Operations. The two positions provide unique insights into private dentistry and the numerous challenges faced in delivering oral health services to remote communities in South Australia.
Dr Mark Hutton
Mark has practised in Mt Gambier since graduation from the Adelaide Dental School and has been a member of the ADASA Branch Council since 1996. He has been a member of many ADASA committees in that time, served two terms as president, and been very active in pursuing the best interests of our members. As a country councillor he has been active in supporting rural dentistry and was one of the founders of the Limestone Coast Partnership. At a federal level, he has been nominated by ADASA as a Federal Councillor since 2004, has been a member of the Federal Executive since 2014 and is currently the Federal Treasurer. Mark has served on many ADA committees and currently chair the Constitution and Policy Committee. He has been a board member of and examiner for the ADC, am member of several advisory committees and a member of the committee reviewing the Therapeutics Guidelines.
Dr Sachin Kulkarni
Sachin graduated as a Dentist from Griffith University, and is currently completing a research degree focussed on Photobiomodulation on extraction sockets. Working full time as a General Dentist, and also teaches dental students at the University of Adelaide in Neuroanatomy. Research and practice interests include TMDs and Orofacial pain, and he has published several articles in that area. In addition to research, teaching and clinical practice, he is also looking forward to beginning Orofacial pain management training at University of Sydney in 2020. His long-term goal is to continue academic and clinical practice interests and become an expert practitioner and academic of Orofacial pain. A value that drives clinical practice - empowerment of people, also drives volunteering. Awarded the South Australian Volunteer of the year award while at the University and continues to involve himself in several projects with ActionAid and National Committee for UN Women. It is with this drive for empowerment, and passion for this profession that he wishes to actively participate in the committee.
Dr David Mann
David graduated as a dentist from the University of Adelaide in 1975. In 1992 he was awarded the Honours degree of Bachelor of Science in Dentistry. Since 1982 until his retirement in 2014 David worked in general dental practice in Rose Park. During this time he has worked on a number of ADASA committees serving on Council from 2002. He is currently the Chair of the Constitution committee serving on the committee for over 20 years. Prior to the commencement of the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme David served a term from 2008 to 2010 on the Dental Board of South Australia. David has been a member of the Federal Constitution and Policy committee for over 12 years finishing at the end of 2018.
David has tutored at the Dental School on and off for many years both in restorative dentistry and endodontics. David has been the SA Branch Council representative in the ADA Professional Indemnity Consortium since 2012. David believes strongly in the benefits of the sharing of information, advice, collegiality and support offered to practitioners by being a member of a collective of practitioners and values these relationships and what they contribute to one’s dental and personal life.
Dr Angela Pierce
Angela spent two years as ADASA President after joining Council in 2009. She graduated from the University of Adelaide a very long time ago and, after some years in private practice, including working for the NHS in England; she completed her MDS in Oral Pathology and headed over to Sweden where she obtained a PhD from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm. Returning to Australia in the late 1980's, Angela joined the academic staff as a senior lecturer at the University of Adelaide, where she became Head of Oral Pathology, Associate Dean, and Deputy-Convenor of the University Academic Board. Following the birth of her second child in 2000, Angela spent some time living in the South of France. Since her return, she has been working in private practice. Angela is an ADA Federal Councillor, a member of the Health Practitioners Tribunal, a member of the Professional Services Review panel, and has recently sat on the panel reviewing the Commonwealth Dental Benefits Act. Angela is also a practising solicitor and started her own law firm Angela Pierce and Associates in 2016. She has 2 lovely sons who, naturally, love cars and planes.
Dr Ben Sharpe
Ben graduated from the University of Adelaide in 2005. He then started working in Tasmania before returning to Adelaide in 2008. Together with his wife Joyce he has owned and operated a private dental practice for the last 9 years in Unley Park. Outside of dentistry he is a father of 3 young children and an avid horse racing fan.
Ben is at a point in his career where he has the time and interest to give something back to the profession. Never being short of an opinion he feels the ADA council would be a good place to start.
Dr Rob Shea
Rob Shea has been continually involved in ADASA over the last 15 years and has been treasurer for 3 terms and on council for 2 periods for a total of 6 years. Rob is currently editor of ADASA Insights and is currently a councillor for ADASA. Rob has been practicing dentistry in private and public practice for over 40 years and is currently practicing part time exclusively in Dental Sleep Medicine. He has lectured extensively on oral appliances for Sleep Apnoea throughout Australia
Dr Anthony Smerdon
Anthony graduated from the Gilles Plains School of Dental Technology in 1980. He has worked as a dental technician ever since. Anthony also graduated from the University of Adelaide BDS in 1989 and has worked in private practice. He has tutored at the University of Adelaide for last 16 years in removable prosthodontics and general dental practice. He has been President and Treasurer of the Prosthodontic Society SA Branch and Federal Councillor of the Prosthodontic Society. He has also been treasurer of DASI. Anthony has been on ADASA council for 6 years and was President of ADASA in 2015 and is currently Treasurer of the Association.