James Fensham

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine – Class of 2016

A specialist in aquatic animals, James graduated in 2016 and is currently working at Future Fisheries Veterinary Service

What are your hobbies
Gardening, Fishing, Hiking.

Favourite place to eat when in Adelaide
Hewett Country Bakery.

If I could go back to my University days
I would be younger than I am now.

Most prized possession
Fishing rod.

I can’t get enough of
Calm and sunny weekend days.

Something that makes you smile
Catching a fish.

Something you are grateful for
The natural world around us.

If I could pursue a different career I would
be a gardener.

The most valuable lesson I have learned
Live sustainably.

I cannot get through the day without
Chocolate bullets.

Three words your closest friends would use to describe you
Enthusiastic, hard-working, pragmatic.

Your definition of success
Being happy with what you have

My mother taught me
To be organised.

Your career path in two sentences or less
From graduating from veterinary school I began work as an aquatic animal veterinarian. Every day, every case and every animal I work with is very different.

Biggest career highlight
Helping a prawn farm go from its lowest production on history to its highest in one year.  

2020 is the year I will
Finishing painting my house, so I can get back to gardening and boating.

When I get home the first thing I do is
Pat the dog.

The biggest risk I have taken
Trying to catch mud crabs from my kayak in a river containing crocodiles…worth it.

A misconception about you
I know exactly what I am doing. 

What advice would you give your younger self at university?
Focus on the concepts, enjoy the people around you, and make sure you get to all the wineries in the Barossa.