Alena Gadoury National Suicide Prevention Conference 2026

Alena Gadoury

Alena is a veterinarian, researcher, and mental health advocate whose career bridges human and animal healthcare. She began as a Registered Nurse, working in adult mental health and paediatrics, before earning First Class Honours in Veterinary Science from the University of Sydney. Her clinical work spans across small animal, mixed, and emergency practice in Canada and Australia, and she now focuses on providing compassionate end-of-life care for pets. Alena is currently a PhD candidate at Griffith University, researching suicide prevention in Australian veterinarians. Through evidenced-based approaches and lived experience, her work aims to provide novel insights into suicidality, its associated factors, and the feasibility of a targeted intervention. The goal is to inform systemic and interpersonal changes that support a sustainable, stigma-free and more connected workforce. She co-founded VetHerd, a national suicide prevention initiative tailored to the veterinary and animal care community and is a registered LivingWorks ASIST and safeTALK trainer. Alena also volunteers on the Brisbane committee for Flynn’s Walk, a suicide prevention charity that fosters connection and awareness within the veterinary profession. Her previous roles also include coordinating and managing two international clinical research trials in paediatric lung health, and serving as a National Field Specialist where she supported veterinarians with education and resources for surgical procedures. She has contributed to numerous conferences, podcasts, and community events focused on veterinary wellbeing, and continues to mentor veterinary professionals through international networks. Alena’s work is grounded in compassion, collaboration, and a commitment to creating safer, more supportive environments for those who care for others.