ACT Anaesthesia is a group practice of specialist Anaesthetists based in Canberra, ACT. We are highly trained in the provision of anaesthesia, intensive care, pain and perioperative medicine. In addition to this, the group has a high profile in anaesthesia administration, teaching, mentorship and continuing medical education.
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Dr John G. Ellingham
Dr John Ellingham is a VMO Anaesthetist. Canberra based. He works in private and public practice and was one of the founders of the first private practice group in the ACT. John is a Monash medical graduate, and trained and has worked in Anaesthesia in Australia ( Royal Prince Alfred, Royal North Shore and Westmead Children’s) and overseas both in the United States (as a staff specialist at Duke University) and (as a Cardiothoracic Fellow) in South Korea.
Major subspecialty interests are preoperative assessment using information systems, retrieval medicine and anaesthesia for cardiothoracic surgery. Supporting these interests John has post graduate qualifications in Clinical Ultrasound and Information Technology. Over a decade John completed over 600 missions for the Snowy Hydro SouthCare Medical Retrieval Helicopter as a flight doctor.
He has been a training supervisor and regional representative for ANZCA with a long-term interest in education his focus is squarely on what anaesthetists do every day. In this role John has been an invited and keynote speaker at many, conferences. Day to day he is involved in teaching at the Australian National University and examiner for the ANU Medical School. As a previous ACT Health Directorate advisor to the Coroner he has a unique and always educational perspective on things medical.
Dr Ellingham is an Active Naval Reserve Specialist Medical Officer. He has deployed overseas including to the Middle East and the Asia Pacific Region.
Major subspecialty interests are preoperative assessment using information systems, retrieval medicine and anaesthesia for cardiothoracic surgery. Supporting these interests John has post graduate qualifications in Clinical Ultrasound and Information Technology. Over a decade John completed over 600 missions for the Snowy Hydro SouthCare Medical Retrieval Helicopter as a flight doctor.
He has been a training supervisor and regional representative for ANZCA with a long-term interest in education his focus is squarely on what anaesthetists do every day. In this role John has been an invited and keynote speaker at many, conferences. Day to day he is involved in teaching at the Australian National University and examiner for the ANU Medical School. As a previous ACT Health Directorate advisor to the Coroner he has a unique and always educational perspective on things medical.
Dr Ellingham is an Active Naval Reserve Specialist Medical Officer. He has deployed overseas including to the Middle East and the Asia Pacific Region.
Dr John G. Ellingham
MBBS DipObs GMCU Grad Cert IT FANZCA RAN
Dr Andrew Hehir
Qualifications
MBBS BA MM (Clin Epi) FANZCA
Areas of specialisation
ENT, Faciomaxillary, Gastrointestinal and General Surgery, Neurosurgery, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Orthopaedic, Plastic & Reconstructive, Vascular
Profile
Undergraduate training at Sydney University. Residency at Westmead Hospital. Anaesthetic training through Royal North Shore Hospital. Rotations to Manly, Mona Vale and Port Macquarie Hospitals. 1 year of training at Guys, St Thomas’ and Evelina Children’s’ Hospitals in London.
Specialist Anaesthetist in Canberra since 2008. Appointments include The Canberra Hospital, Calvary Bruce (Public and Private), Calvary John James, Canberra Private, National Capital and Barton Private Hospitals. Engaged in all areas of elective and emergency anaesthesia with the exception of cardiac, neonatal and transplant surgery.
ANZCA ACT regional committee 2014-2018 (Chair 2014-2017), ASA regional committee 2009-2017 (Deputy Chair 2011-2014), VMOA committee 2014-2016 (Vice President 2015-2016). TCH Deputy Director 2019- Present. EMAC and CICO instructor. Scholar Role Tutor and SSU Supervisor Vascular Surgery and Interventional Radiology TCH. Director ACT Anaesthesia 2010 - Present (Chair 2017-2018).
Memberships
Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists, Australian Society of Anaesthetists, Visiting Medical Officer Association (ACT)
Dr Andrew Hehir
MBBS BA MM (Clin Epi) FANZCA
Dr Liam Gleeson
Qualifications
BMed/MD (University of NSW)
MMed Critical Care Medicine (University of Sydney)
Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (FANZCA)
Profile
Dr Liam Gleeson is a specialist Australian trained anaesthetist based in Canberra providing anaesthesia care in both public and private settings. His areas of practice include anaesthesia for gastroenterology, dental, maxillofacial, upper GI, vascular, plastic surgery, ENT, orthopaedics, pain management, obstetrics and gynaecology.
Dr Gleeson completed his undergraduate training in 2013 graduating with a Bachelor of Medical Studies/Doctor of Medicine from the University of NSW. He completed internship and residency in Sydney at St George Hospital and Sutherland Hospital before spending two years in London where he worked in intensive care at St Bartholomew's Hospital, a quaternary referral hospital specialising in cardiothoracic surgery and cancer care. He returned to Australia in 2018 to pursue anaesthesia training in Wagga Wagga and Canberra and gained his fellowship with the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists in 2024.
Dr Gleeson prides himself on excellent interpersonal skills to ensure the mental and physical wellbeing of patients throughout their procedure and beyond. His rigorous anaesthetic training in Australia along with his varied prevocational training has provided him with a unique clinical skillset to manage patients safely and to a high standard.
Dr Gleeson has a keen interest in patient safety, quality improvement and education. He is the co-chair of the morbidity and mortality meetings in anaesthesia at the Canberra Hospital and runs the journal club to keep trainees and consultants up to date with leading-edge management in anaesthesia.
Professional Memberships
- Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists
- Australian Society of Anaesthetists
Dr Liam Gleeson
BMed/MD MMed FANZCA
Dr Jennifer Herrick
Qualifications
MBBS(Hons I) GCertClinUS MMed FANZCA
Areas of specialist interest
Obstetrics and gynaecology, ophthalmology, chronic pain, perioperative medicine, trauma and retrieval, vascular anaesthesia, sedation, general and bariatric surgery, plastics, and simulation education.
Backgrounnd
Dr Jennifer Herrick is a Specialist Consultant Anaesthetist with over a decade of experience providing safe, thoughtful, and individualised anaesthetic care to patients across Canberra and the ACT. She is a Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) and is known for her calm approach, broad clinical expertise, and strong commitment to patient wellbeing.
Dr Herrick completed her medical degree at Monash University with First Class Honours before undertaking specialist anaesthesia training across Canberra, Albury Wodonga, and Melbourne. Her early career included training at The Alfred Hospital, one of Australia’s leading tertiary referral centres. She also completed additional training in intensive care and retrieval medicine, giving her a strong foundation in the management of complex and critically unwell patients.
In recognition of her clinical excellence, Dr Herrick was awarded a Merit Award in the Final Fellowship ANZCA Examination, one of only two awarded nationally that year. She has also been recognised for her dedication to medical education, receiving the ANU Medical School Excellence in Teaching Award.
Dr Herrick holds a Master of Medicine in Pain Management from the University of Sydney, reflecting her commitment to addressing the full perioperative experience — including pain before, during, and after surgery. This additional expertise supports a holistic, patient centred approach to care.
She works as a Specialist Consultant Anaesthetist at all major private hospitals in Canberra as a Visiting Medical Officer, as well as at a number of smaller private facilities. Previous roles have included Pre hospital and Trauma Helicopter Retrieval Consultant with Snowy Hydro SouthCare, as well as lead of Simulation Education at The Canberra Hospital. She currently serves on the Medical Advisory Committee at Barton Private Hospital.
Dr Herrick is committed to ensuring every patient feels informed, comfortable, and well cared for throughout their surgical journey, and she welcomes questions and open discussion.
Memberships
- Fellow of the Australian College of Anaesthetists (FANZCA)
- Member of the Australian Society of Anaesthetists (ASA)
- Member of the Australian Medical Association (AMA)
- Member of the Australian Pain Society
Dr Jennifer Herrick
MBBS(Hons I) GCertClinUS MMed FANZCA
Dr Dinuk Jayamanne
MBBS, FANZCA
Dr Victor Loa
MBBS, FANZCA
Dr Fabio Longordo
Qualifications
M.Pharm (University of Genoa, Italy); Ph.D. Neuroscience (University of Lausanne, Switzerland); Doctor of Medicine and Surgery (Australian National University); Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (FANZCA).
Profile
Dr. Longordo is a highly accomplished Australian-trained anaesthetist with extensive experience in both clinical and research anaesthesia. He began his academic journey with a Master's degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from the University of Genoa, Italy, before earning a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of Lausanne, Switzerland. Driven by a passion for clinical research, Dr. Longordo furthered his education at the Australian National University, where he earned his Doctor of Medicine and Surgery degree in 2016.
Throughout his international academic career, Dr. Longordo has consistently achieved the highest distinctions, earned several prestigious academic awards, and published extensively in peer-reviewed journals.
Currently, Dr. Longordo serves as an anaesthetic consultant and staff specialist at The Canberra Hospital, while also providing anaesthesia services in the private sector. His unique combination of clinical expertise and scientific research underscores his commitment to advancing patient care and contributing meaningfully to the field of medical science.
Professional Memberships
Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists
Australian Society of Anaesthetists
Australian Medical Association
Dr Fabio Longordo
M.Pharm (Italy); Ph.D. Neuroscience (Switzerland); Doctor of Medicine and Surgery (Australian National University); FANZCA
Dr Don Lu
Qualifications
M.B., B.S. (Hons) Syd, FANZCA
Profile
Dr Don Lu is a locally and internationally trained Specialist Anaesthetist in the Canberra region who provides services for paediatrics, dental, ophthalmic, vascular, orthopaedic, ENT and O&G surgery.
Professional Biography
Don completed his medical degree at The University of Sydney, graduating in 1997.
After Internship and residency at St. George Hospital, Sydney, he completed his Anaesthetic training at Westmead Hospital, The Canberra hospital, and Kings College Hospital, London.
He has been a Specialist Anaesthetist since 2005 and joined ACT Anaesthesia in 2006.
He is passionate about improving Third World health, and has been involved in aid work with indigenous communities and disadvantaged communities in East Timor and Thailand.
Dr Lu is a Visiting Medical Officer at The Canberra Hospital and Calvary Public hospital as well as all the private hospitals in Canberra.
Dr Don Lu
M.B., B.S. (Hons) Syd, FANZCA
Dr Will Matthiesson
Qualifications
MBBS (Sydney). BSc/LLB (Monash).
Areas of specialisation
Regional anaesthesia, anaesthesia for orthopaedic, maxillary facial, general and bariatric surgery
Background
Sydney University Graduate who has worked Royal Prince Alfred and Orange in NSW. Monash and the Alfred Hospital in Victoria and The Canberra Hospital since 2002. I now work a mix of Public and Private practice and enjoy teaching. I am involved in Medical Advisory Committees.
Other interests
Horse Riding, Hiking, Skiing.
Memberships
Fellow of the Australian College of Anaesthetists (FANZCA). Fellow of the Australian College of
Legal Medicine (FACLM). Member of the Australian Society of Anaesthetists.
Dr Will Matthiesson
MBBS (Sydney), FANZCA, BSc/LLB (Monash)
Dr Phillip Morrissey
Qualifications
MB BS (Hons) DipRACOG DCH FRACGP FANZCA GCertClinUS
Profile
Dr Phil Morrissey graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery with Honours from the University of NSW in 1990. He completed his internship and residency at St Vincent’s Hospital, followed by work in rural Australia and the United Kingdom, including rural general practice training, with additional qualifications in obstetrics and child health. He then completed anaesthetic training in Sydney from 1996 - 2000, based at St Vincent’s Hospital and The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, with rotations including Royal Hospital for Women, Liverpool, St George and Concord Hospitals, followed by a fellowship at The Canberra Hospital in 2001.
Since 2002 he was worked as a Consultant Anaesthetist in mixed private and public practice in the ACT with appointments at all major public and private hospitals as a Visiting Medical Officer in Anaesthetics. He has special interests in paediatrics, ENT, oral and maxillofacial, orthopaedic, vascular, obstetrics and gynaecology and perioperative medicine. He has worked in all areas of elective and emergency anaesthesia, with the exception of cardiac, transplant and ophthalmic.
He is one of the founding doctors of ACT Anaesthesia, Canberra’s oldest group anaesthetic practice, formed in 2003. Other roles over the years have included ANZCA Supervisor of Training, SnowyHydro Southcare helicopter retrieval consultant, and director of the John James Foundation.
Outside of work, he is married with 3 children. His interests include spending time with family travelling, golf, squash, skiing, bushwalking and cinema.
Professional Memberships
Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists
Australian Society of Anaesthetists
Australian Medical Association
Visiting Medical Officer Association (ACT)
Society of Paediatric Anaesthetists of New Zealand and Australia
European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care
