Meet Our Team

Gordon Towell
Chief Executive Officer

As Chief Executive Officer, Gordon is responsible for setting the companies vision and overall direction, and leading his executive team to implement the National Dental Care strategic plan to ensure the best possible outcomes both for our partnered practices and patients.

With over 30 years’ experience in the health, technology, and media sectors, Gordon has built up a broad range of business experience. Prior to his role at National Dental Care, Gordon has held both executive and non-executive roles with “blue chip” companies including; Director – Strategy, Marketing and Operations of Dental Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bupa; Non-Executive Chairman of AIMEDICS – developer and manufacturer of Type 1 diabetes nocturnal hypoglycaemia monitoring devices; CEO of IBS Automotive – global leader in automotive software systems; Non-Executive Chairman of Dynamic Hearing Pty Ltd; Non-Executive Director of Netregistry, Australia’s largest provider of domain names; Group CEO of the GEON Group – a leading print and mail communications business in NZ and Australia; Managing Director of Granada Business Technology, a subsidiary of the Granada Group PLC; and Managing Director of the Compel Group PLC.

Mark Fisher
Chief Financial Officer

Mark Fisher is the Chief Financial Officer of National Dental Care, directly managing finance, information technology, procurement, acquisitions, settlement, legal and facilities.

Mark is a senior professional with close to 20 years of international finance and capital markets experience. He brings a wealth of experience to our company and has previously worked as a senior director at Credit Suisse in Australia, UBS in London and KPMG. Mark began his career as a chartered accountant at KPMG where he managed the provision of auditing, accounting and taxation services for a number of leading global clients. Since then he has spent time in the European Management team at UBS working alongside regional CEO’s with specific oversight of the Healthcare franchises in France, Germany and Switzerland, and more recently at Credit Suisse where he advised a range of clients on strategic reviews, capital management and on over $50bn of successful transactions. In addition to being a Chartered Accountant, Mark is also an ACMA and CFA charterholder.

Derek Shearer
Chief Operating Officer

Spending the first 10 years of his career in the UK working for Six Continents Retail (the world’s largest hotel company – Intercontinental Hotels, Holiday Inn, etc.) Derek emigrated to Australia in 2004.  Since then he has held various national retail roles in some of Australia’s most iconic specialist retailers including Brazin, SFG, and OPSM.  After joining Luxottica as National Sales Director in 2010 Derek swiftly progressed onto the Asia Pacific Executive Committee, responsible for a variety of functions including Product, Buying, Marketing and Retail Operations.

Derek holds a BA Honours in Retail Management and Catering Management from Oxford Brookes University with majors in Managerial Accounting and Marketing.

Dan Drummond
Information Technology Manager

Dan has 20 years’ experience within the ICT discipline, including extensive exposure and knowledge of the management of IT Operations and Service Delivery incorporating ITIL frameworks. Dan’s history includes working in Operational, Security and Project Management roles in Private Enterprise, Government, Cloud Service Providers, and Legal and Educational environments.

Dan has a Bachelor of Computing, Diploma of Business and Project Management, Executive Profiling and Leadership courses. He is also a member of the Australian Computing Society.

Jason Gent
Financial Controller

Jason Gent is a chartered accountant with several years audit and commercial experience in multinational organisations across a range of industries.  Jason’s experience includes the provision of audit, taxation and advisory services to the small to medium enterprise sector, as well as financial reporting, statutory accounting and business analysis for large complex global corporations.

Throughout his career Jason has developed strong technical analysis and problem solving skills and demonstrates a high attention to detail and quality.

Jason has a Bachelor degree in Business from Queensland University of Technology and a diploma of Chartered Accounting and current membership with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (ICAA).

Dr Antony Benedetto
Chairman & Lead Dentist, National Dental Care Erina, NSW

I obtained a Bachelor of Medical Science and a Bachelor of Dentistry from the University of Sydney, pursuing further dental study by doing an implant course in Cambodia and through an exchange program in Japan.

I have been practicing as a dentist for over a decade, working in Tamworth, Taree, and the Central Coast area.

I chose dentistry as a career because I have a deep care for people, and a love of working with my hands. I thoroughly enjoy solving dental problems for people, and my honesty and competence is reflected in the great connection I form with my patients.

In my spare time, I pursue my interest in cars and aquariums.

Gordon Towell
Chief Executive Officer

As Chief Executive Officer, Gordon is responsible for setting the companies vision and overall direction, and leading his executive team to implement the National Dental Care strategic plan to ensure the best possible outcomes both for our partnered practices and patients.

With over 30 years’ experience in the health, technology, and media sectors, Gordon has built up a broad range of business experience. Prior to his role at National Dental Care, Gordon has held both executive and non-executive roles with “blue chip” companies including; Director – Strategy, Marketing and Operations of Dental Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bupa; Non-Executive Chairman of AIMEDICS – developer and manufacturer of Type 1 diabetes nocturnal hypoglycaemia monitoring devices; CEO of IBS Automotive – global leader in automotive software systems; Non-Executive Chairman of Dynamic Hearing Pty Ltd; Non-Executive Director of Netregistry, Australia’s largest provider of domain names; Group CEO of the GEON Group – a leading print and mail communications business in NZ and Australia; Managing Director of Granada Business Technology, a subsidiary of the Granada Group PLC; and Managing Director of the Compel Group PLC.

Dr Henry Gilkes
Lead Dentist, National Dental Care West Lakes Dental, SA

I graduated from the University of Adelaide with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery in 1982.
From 1982 through to 1983 I worked in Hounslow in the United Kingdom. I returned to Australia in 1984, when I worked in the community of Robe as a dentist, and at West Lakes Dental until 1989. In 1989 I became a managing partner at West Lakes, and have been here ever since! I have worked hard to become skilled in all aspects of general dental practice, whilst still maintaining a special interest in oral surgery and implantology.

My ongoing education has included numerous courses to upskill in oral surgery, implantology, hypnosis, practice management and general dental clinical skills.

I am currently the SA state chairman for the National Dental Foundation (a philanthropic organisation that supplies pro bono dental treatment to the needy in our community).
I am also an active member of The Seattle Study Club, SA Osseointegration Society, the Australian Dental Association, and am registered with the Dental Board through AHPRA. I have been accredited with Admitting and Dental Surgical privileges at Western Hospital and accredited with Surgical Assistant privileges at Wakefield Hospital.

In my spare time I enjoy bike riding, photography, and windsurfing. I am married with two adult daughters.

Dr Nick Morton
Clinical Director, DB Dental, WA

Nick Morton is Clinical Director for DB Dental which involves him advising on clinical issues within the 17 strong group of practices in Western Australia. He is available to advise any of the dentists in clinical matters and mentor any dentists who are learning new techniques.

Nick qualified from King’s College, London in 1990. He spent 23 years practicing in private practice in Harpenden, Hertfordshire. During that time he spent a great deal of time enhancing his skills in all aspects of dentistry to provide his patients with a fully comprehensive dental service. His particular interests are dental implants, adult orthodontics, cosmetic dentistry and the use of lasers in dentistry. He made the big move to Australia in 2013 by joining DB dental and is loving every minute of it.

Dr Kieran McNamara
Lead Dentist, National Dental Care Newstead, QLD

Dr Kieran McNamara is passionate about giving the highest standard of patient care. He graduated from the University of Sydney with honours in a Bachelor of Dentistry and previously completed a Bachelor of Physiotherapy at Queensland University.

Dr McNamara has spent a few busy years living and working in Country Queensland and Newcastle and is pleased to return to Brisbane.

Dr McNamara’s interests lie in cosmetic dentistry, tooth replacement and dental implants. He is an accredited member of The Australian Society of Implant Dentistry and completed the Master Clinician Program in Implant Dentistry with the GIDE Institute at UCLA in 2011.

Outside of dentistry Kieran loves spending time with his wife and two sons. He enjoys living an active lifestyle that includes running, cycling and hockey. He is also a regular attender of the New Farm Parkrun and markets with his wife and young family.

Dr David Gordon
Lead Dentist, National Dental Care Darwin, NT

I graduated from the University of Adelaide in 1997, with a Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours). I am the longest serving member of National Dental Care team at Absolute Dentistry, and have cultivated exceptional skills in this time, having experienced a wide array of dental procedures. My passion lies in caring for my patients; I pride myself on my ability to treat anxious patients with understanding and a friendly manner.

In my spare time, I love to play the piano.

Dr Rod Wills
Lead Dentist, National Dental Care CBD Dental, NSW

Dr Rod Wills started his dental practice in the Central Business District of Sydney in the early 1970’s. He has been in the one continuous practice since then.

During this time, Dr Wills has observed a continuing change in the type of dental care requested by patients along with amazing technological advances in delivering this care.

It is this continuing change in the demographics of his practice and the evolving technology that keeps Dr Wills highly motivated and passionate about his profession.

With a vast majority of the community wanting to keep their teeth looking and functioning at their absolute best, Dr Wills saw the need to develop a high degree of skill to meet these treatment requirements.

Over the past two decades, Dr Wills has devoted his professional energy into developing a sound business model for his practice along with a rigorous post-graduate and professional development program.

Dr Wills’ main interests lie in Aesthetic and Restorative Dentistry. He is a member of The Australian Dental Association, a member of The Australian Prosthodontic Society, a member of The International and Australian Society of Periodontology, a member of The Australian Osseointegration Society and a member of The Cerec ( Computerised Restorative Dentistry) Study Club.

In recent years Dr Wills attended The Advanced Continuing Education Institute in Italy to study the most up to date treatments in the field of Aesthetic Rehabilitation Dentistry. He formed a small International Study Group with his classmates from that programme. They meet at the European Academy of Esthetic Dentistry Congress each year to listen to the World’s experts deliver the latest and most up to date information in this challenging field of Dentistry.

Dr Amy Bailey
Dentist, DB Dental Cottesloe, WA