Teaching Staff

Dr Sally Catt

Associate Professor Sally Catt

EPRD Director, MCE Course Coordinator

For the past 20 years, Dr Sally Catt has been training and guiding Master and PhD students in all aspects of IVF, including cloning, transgenesis, ICSI, cryopreservation and embryo transfer and since 2006 has taken on a full-time education role as Coordinator of the Master of Clinical Embryology Course.

Dr Catt completed her first degree at Edinburgh University in 1983 and after working as a reproductive toxicologist, she took her first job as an embryologist at Bourn Hall, Cambridge UK, training under Mr. Patrick Steptoe and Professor Bob Edwards, and after that specialising in the commercialisation of cattle IVF.

Dr Catt’s work in domestic species l IVF has seen her move Cambridge to New Zealand and then to to the University of Sydney, where she initially set up a domestic and laboratory species IVF facility; and then took on a Meat Research Corporation Junior Fellowship allowing her to complete a PhD evaluating the feasibility and commercial practicality of producing lambs following X and Y sperm separation by flow cytometry using in vivo and in vitro methodologies.

Dr Catt returned to the clinical IVF field working as an embryologist at Fertility First, Sydney and later as a Research embryologist at Sydney IVF (now Genea). In 2004, she joined Dr Helen Picton in Leeds University, UK as a Research Fellow studying the growth of ovine pre-antral follicles and the subsequent maturation and fertilisation of their oocytes.

In 2009 Dr Catt became the Education Co-ordinator within SIRT and is also a member of the “Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority Public Education Reference Group”. She also consults for clinics in Australia and Asia.

Find out more about Dr Sally Catt.

A/Prof Peter Temple-Smith

Associate Professor Peter Temple-Smith

MRS Course Coordinator

A/Prof Peter Temple-Smith is a zoologist by training and a reproductive biologist by discipline and research experience. He graduated in science, with a major in Zoology, from the University of Tasmania (BSc Hons) and completed a PhD in Zoology at the Australian National University, Canberra.

From the early 1980s to the mid-1990s, A/Prof Temple-Smith collaborated with Monash IVF to develop various techniques relating to severe forms of male infertility. He achieved international success for newly developed techniques, and in 1984 and 1991 he worked as a consultant for the World Health Organisation.

In 1988, A/Prof Temple-Smith co-founded and became Director of what would become the Education Program in Reproductive Biology (EPRD), and in 1997 he was appointed Director of Conservation and Research at Zoos holding  this position until 2004. During this time A/Prof Temple-Smith was appointed as a Professorial Fellow (Honorary) in the Department of Zoology at the University of Melbourne.  He has a continuing interest in the use of ART for improving the conservation of endangered species.

In 2005 A/Prof Temple-Smith returned to Monash University as Director of EPRD. He has published over 110 papers in peer-reviewed journals and was co-investigator in the sequencing of the platypus genome. Peter retains a strong interest in animal reproduction and current research interests include  sperm structure and function and manipulation of mammalian gametes, structure  and function of the epididymis, the use of induced pluripotent stem cells in  developing new tools for assisted reproduction of endangered species, and  control of fibrosis in wound healing.

Find out more about A/Prof Peter Temple-Smith.

Dr Mulyoto Pangestu

Dr Mulyoto Pangestu

Lecturer, MCE Practical Coordinator and Laboratory Manager

Dr Mulyoto Pangestu obtained his first degree in Animal Husbandry majoring in Animal Reproduction from Jenderal Soedirman University, Indonesia. He was then appointed as a lecturer in Reproductive Physiology in the same faculty.

In 1993, Dr Pangestu received an Australian Government Scholarship (AIDAB) for PostGraduate study in Australia. First he took the Graduate Diploma in Agricultural Science at Melbourne University then Master in Reproductive Sciences at Monash University. He was conducting his research on in vitro production of bovine embryos and cryopreservation, under supervision of Dr Jill Shaw and Dr Ian Lewis, at the Centre for Early Human Development.

In 1995 Dr Pangestu went back to Indonesia and was involved in IVF at Permata Hati Infertility Clinic in Jogyakarta, while he also remained as a lecturer at Jenderal Soedirman University. In 1998 he received another scholarship from the Asian Development Bank to continue his doctoral study and completed his PhD with Dr Jill Shaw and Dr Orly Lacham-Kaplan on dry storage of biological material. During his PhD study Dr Pangestu was also working as a research embryologist on human oocyte vitrification with Dr Lilia Kuleshova, in 1999-2000. In 2000 he won a Gold Award of Asia- Pacific Young Inventors sponsored by Hewlett Packard and the Far Eastern Economic review for his research on sperm dry storage, which was then known as evaporative drying. Dr Pangestu completed his PhD in 2002, then worked as a research fellow at Monash Institute of Reproduction and Development.

Dr Pangestu has been involved with Master in Clinical Embryology since 2001, first as a lab demonstrator for micromanipulation and then as Unit Coordinator in 2003. In 2005 he was appointed as Laboratory Manager and Practical Coordinator for the MCE. Dr Pangestu is also involved in running EPRDs short course and workshop program both in house and overseas. Mulyoto helps to set up new IVF clinics in Indonesia and is consultant for four clinics in Indonesia, Cook Medical and Vitrolife. He also holds a lecturer position in Indonesia where he teaches and conducts workshops in the field of IVF.

Dr Pangestu did research collaboration with researchers from The University of Melbourne, Deakin University, Jenderal Soedirman University, The University of Indonesia, Airlangga University, Gadjah Mada University and Udayana University on various topics related to reproduction, Infertility and assisted reproductive technologies.

Find out more about Dr Mulyoto Pangestu.

Dr Kiri Beilby

Dr Kiri Beilby

EPRD Course Coordinator, Senior Lecturer

Dr Kiri Beilby is currently the Course Coordinator for the Graduate Diploma of Reproductive Science & a Unit Coordinator for the Masters of Clinical Embryology at Monash University. She graduated from The University of Sydney with a PhD in Animal Reproduction & Genetics, followed by a Grad. Dip. in science communication at The Australian National University. Until recently, Dr Beilby was the Head of Medical Marketing for a global leader in medical device development for human assisted reproduction, and was living in Copenhagen. Her varied research interests cover the in vitro maturation of oocytes, the ethical application of commercial assisted reproduction in society, and using play & design theory to create stronger, more productive teams of scientists.

Dr Beilby was recently selected to join the Homeward Bound Project, an initiative that aims to heighten the influence and impact of women with a scientific background in order to influence policy and decision making as it shapes our planet. She is a Director for the Australian Society for Medical Research (ASMR) and is on the Executive Committee for Scientists in Reproductive Technology (SIRT). Kiri is an advocate for women in leadership; is passionate about public health; and believes that good education is a driving force behind a better community, society and planet. That aside, she likes cat videos on YouTube, climbing mountains, cycling to work, and sipping gin, just to name a few character defining hobbies.

Find out more about Dr Kiri Beilby.

Dr Penny Chen

Dr Penny Chen

Lecturer, Practical Coordinator and EPRD Administrator

Dr Penny Chen completed her MBBS Degree in 1987, graduating from the Shanghai Second Medical University and practised medicine in China before moving to Australia. In 2005 Penny also completed her Master of Clinical Embryology at Monash University.

Since joining the Education Programme in Reproduction and Development (EPRD) in 2008, Dr Chen has been working as a Practical units Coordinator which involves teaching and running the Master of clinical Embryology laboratories and two practical unit coordination. She developed a pair learning program of ICSI training.

Dr Chen is one of the core members in the management, teaching and research of the Masters of Clinical Embryology as well as in associated local and International workshops.  As an education focused academic staff, she also has supervised many research projects for Master of Clinical Embryology, and support and joined researches with Hudson Institute of Medical Research and School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health as well as external researches.

With her multi skills of management, Dr Chen manages EPRD administrations including Admissions and enrolment through Callista and UniCRM, as well as Moodle, Echo360.  She is the first contact for all student administration matters in EPRD.

Dr Chen has twice received the Quiet Achiever Award from the School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health - in 2009 and 2013.

Find out more about Dr Penny Chen.

Dr Fabrizzio Horta

Dr Fabrizzio Horta

Lecturer

Dr Fabrizzio Horta is a medical reproductive scientist who started his career as a research Andrologist. He has been involved in IVF as a clinical Andrologist and actively working in the field of IVF as clinical embryologist. Dr Horta was the head of Andrology for 6 years and obtained experience in IVF in the most prestigious unit of reproductive medicine of South America; UMR, Clinica las Condes, Santiago, Chile. He has undertaken studies in Medical Science, Medicine, Master of Clinical Embryology and PhD studies at Monash University in Melbourne, fellowships in molecular and clinical Andrology as well as training in biomedical innovation and entrepreneurship. He has published several papers and book chapters mainly related to male infertility, presented in international conferences and currently developing research in male infertility, idiopathic infertility, biomarkers and non-invasive biomarkers of oocyte DNA repair, sperm DNA damage, sperm selection, IVF media culture and technology innovation in IVF. Dr Horta currently works lecturing and developing research at the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University where he already has completed supervision of research projects of more than 40 students up to date. He is actively developing research with graduate students under his supervision. Additionally, he also works developing clinical research at Monash IVF as a Clinical research embryologist.

Find out more about Dr Fabrizzio Horta.

Ms Nicola Rivers

Dr Nicola Rivers

Lecturer, GRS Course Coordinator, Senior Teaching Fellow

Ms Nicola Rivers graduated with a Bachelor of Biomedical Science from the University of Western Australia before moving to Melbourne to complete the Graduate Diploma in Reproductive Sciences (GRS) in 2016. She then went on to complete her PhD at EPRD, investigating the use of cryopreservation and assisted reproductive techniques (ARTs) in threatened fish species. Ms Rivers’s main interest lies in the application of ARTs in conservation and species management. She is currently part of the management team for the Australian Frozen Zoo, and a committee member for Reproductive Health Australia where she advocates for the use of ARTs in conservation. Ms Rivers is also interested in science communication, having received several awards for presentations during her PhD, notably receiving a high commendation in the international round of 'Visualise Your Thesis' in 2020.

Ms Rivers has been a part of the EPRD team since 2017, first as a tutor, then as GRS practical co-ordinator from 2019. In 2021, she stepped in as GRS course coordinator while Kiri Beilby was on maternity leave. Having been a GRS student herself, she is passionate about the design and delivery of the course and enjoys watching each new cohort of students develop their skills and confidence each year.

Find out more about Ms Nicola Rivers.

Dr Duc Huynh

Dr Duc Huynh

Lecturer, Practical Coordinator, Short-Course and Workshop Coordinator

Dr Duc Huynh graduated with a Doctor of Medicine degree in 2012 from Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam where he then worked clinically. In 2015, he completed the Master of Clinical Embryology (MCE) at Monash University, Australia and has been a practical tutor for the MCE program and a trainer of the EPRD’s workshops since graduating. Since 2018, Dr Huynh has been a practical coordinator in the Master of Clinical Embryology degree and the short courses and workshops offered to professionals working in the IVF industry. Dr Huynh has become an invaluable and integral member of the EPRD team, introducing new technology and training methods.

Dr Huynh has been involved in re-writing the MCE training and procedures manual and has particularly advanced the EPRDs reputation in micromanipulation training such as Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) and embryo biopsy. He has a unique approach to teaching which has been recognised favourably not only by MCE students but also by all our professional workshop participants. In 2018, Dr Huynh was involved to provide new teaching methods particularly recording pre-class teaching videos and post class feedback and online quizzes to optimise knowledge transfer.

Additionally, Dr Huynh has been working as a senior clinical embryologist and embryo biopsy specialist at City Fertility Centre (CFC) in Victoria clinics (CFC Melbourne and CFC Bundoora) since 2020.

Dr Huynh has international collaborations with IVF Clinics in Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong, India and can aid in the placement of students in ART clinics in these countries. He has also collaborated to organise workshops for commercial companies related to IVF industry (Cook Medical, Vitrolife, ESCO Medical, Hamilton Thorne) for Australian and overseas embryologists.

Find out more about Dr Duc Huynh.

Ms Emma Lingham

Ms Emma Lingham

MCE Lecturer/Prac Tutor and Education Design

Ms Emma Lingham graduated as Dux from the Master of Clinical Embryology in 2012 and has trained and worked as a clinical embryologist since her graduation. In 2014, she won a joint tender to create an Embryology Training manual and logbook for embryologists and andrologists in Australia and New Zealand commissioned by Scientists in Reproductive Technology (SIRT) a sub-group representing the scientific membership of The Fertility Society of Australia. Ms Lingham became a committee member for SIRT in 2017 and has initiated and coordinated many educational meetings and conferences within the Australian embryology community.

Ms Lingham’s strength in design and delivery of educational material has been apparent since her study days. In 2018, she took on teaching in the practical units and lecturing, with the aim of using her experience to enhance the transition for students from post-graduate study into IVF clinics. Ms Lingham was heavily involved in the course restructure for 2019 and is responsible for much of the new educational material. Emma has taken on further unit coordination for both practical and theoretical units this year, and continues to create and design educational resources for MCE.

Find out more about Ms Emma Lingham.

Mr Will Leong

Mr Will Leong

Lecturer

Mr Will Leong graduated from Master of Clinical Embryology in 2018. He has worked in various research and commercial laboratories across different disciplines including stem cells, immunoproteomics, and wine chemistry. Apart from teaching MCE practicals, Will is involved in teaching EPRD workshops and GRS practicals. He is also working as an embryologist at City Fertility.