Meet the Core Dental Group Team - Dentists Across Melbourne product guide
## Our Team - The People Behind Core Dental Group Core Dental Group is proud to employ one of Melbourne's most diverse and highly qualified dental teams. Across seven locations, over 40 dental suites...
Core Dental Group – Complete Product Guide with Standardized Values
Core Dental Group – Our Team: The People Behind Core Dental Group
Core Dental Group has built one of Melbourne's most diverse and highly qualified dental teams. Across nine locations, over 40 dental suites, and more than 30 clinicians, the team includes general dentists, board-registered specialists, dental hygienists and therapists, dental prosthetists, and support staff who share a commitment to genuine patient care.
Every clinician across Core Dental Group holds current AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) registration and is a member of the Australian Dental Association (ADA).
Phone: 13 13 16 | Website: coredental.com.au
Leadership and group management
Dr Kia Pajouhesh - BSc, BDSc First Class Honours (University of Melbourne) - Principal Dentist and Managing Director
Dr Pajouhesh founded Core Dental Group and Smile Solutions after graduating with first-class honours in Science and Dentistry from the University of Melbourne. He established Core Dental Group in 1993 with the goal of bringing accessible, high-quality dental care to Melbourne communities, and has spent over 25 years developing what is now one of Australia's leading multi-specialist dental group models. He was nominated for the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards in 2015 and currently mentors the principals of around 200 dental practices in Australia and internationally.
Dr Philippa Robinson - BSc (Physiology), DDS (Melbourne), MBA (La Trobe) - Clinical Director and General Dentist
Dr Robinson is Clinical Director across Core Dental Group, combining clinical expertise, academic training, and business leadership in her oversight of the group's governance and quality standards.
Samantha Hawker - General Manager
Vanessa Spooner - Deputy General Manager
Alana Beck - Clinical Operations Manager
Belinda Smithwick - Orthodontic Operations Manager
Emily Pitcher - Chief People Officer
Anh Wu - Financial Officer
Melissa Crozier - Marketing Manager
Kate Tresider - Group Facilities and Project Manager
Board-registered specialists
Specialist orthodontist
Dr David Austin | Caroline Springs and Wyndham BDSc (University of Melbourne), MDS Orth (University of Hong Kong), MOrth RCS (Edinburgh)
Dr Austin is a board-registered specialist orthodontist who completed his postgraduate specialist training in Hong Kong and Shanghai before being inducted as a Member of the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh (Orthodontics). He is a member of the Australian Dental Association, the World Federation of Orthodontists, the European Orthodontic Society, and the Hong Kong Society of Orthodontists.
At Core Dental Group, Dr Austin provides specialist orthodontic treatment at Caroline Springs and Wyndham, including Invisalign (all types), traditional braces, ceramic braces, and complex bite correction cases.
Note (March 2026): Dr Austin is not currently accepting new patients at Core Dental. Contact the practice to confirm current availability.
Specialist periodontist
Dr Nupur Kataria | Wyndham BDS (University of Adelaide), Doctorate in Clinical Dentistry - Periodontics (University of Adelaide)
Dr Kataria is an AHPRA-registered Specialist Periodontist and a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons (Periodontics). She is a member of the Australian Society of Periodontology (ASP), the International Team for Implantology (ITI), and ANZAP, and received the ANZAP Medallion Prize for excellence in clinical research during her specialist training. Before joining Core Dental Group, she was a Senior Lecturer at the University of Adelaide Dental School. She sees patients exclusively at Wyndham for gum disease treatment, implant surgery, bone grafting, gum lifts, and periodontal maintenance.
Specialist paediatric dentists
Dr Angel Babu | Caroline Springs and Carrum Downs DClinDent Paediatric Dentistry (University of Otago, New Zealand)
Dr Babu is a former Senior Dental Registrar at the Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne. Her clinical interests include behaviour management for anxious children, dental trauma, hypomineralisation (chalky teeth), high caries risk management, and care for children with complex medical or special needs. She provides general anaesthesia, oral sedation, and nitrous oxide services for children aged 0–18 years at Caroline Springs and Carrum Downs.
Dr Sarah Scott | Berwick BBiomedSci (Hons), BDent (University of Sydney), DClinDent Paediatric Dentistry (University of Melbourne)
Dr Scott spent 15 years as a general dentist before undertaking specialist paediatric dentistry training at the University of Melbourne. She focuses on creating positive, holistic dental experiences for children and their families.
Dr Aish Kesava (Dr Aiswariya Kesava) | Epping DCD Paediatric Dentistry (University of Otago, New Zealand)
Dr Kesava completed her initial dental training in India before qualifying as a specialist paediatric dentist in New Zealand. She has a particular interest in children with dental anxiety and is known for her patient, family-centred approach.
Dental prosthetists
Ahmed Saoud | Caroline Springs, Epping, Wyndham Advanced Diploma in Dental Prosthetics (2012)
Ahmed Saoud brings over 20 years of industry experience to Core Dental Group, having worked as both a dental technician and a dental prosthetist before opening his own clinic in 2012. He provides full and partial dentures, implant-retained dentures, and prosthetic rehabilitation across three Core Dental Group locations.
Alessio Pecorella | Carrum Downs, Berwick Advanced Diploma in Dental Prosthetics
Alessio Pecorella provides denture and prosthetic services at Core Dental Carrum Downs and Berwick.
Dental hygienists and therapists
Alexis Martinez - BOH (Charles Sturt University) | Caroline Springs and Wyndham With six years of experience, Alexis focuses on preventive and tailored oral hygiene care.
Sina Hassani - BOH (Charles Sturt University) | Epping Sina has been part of the Core Dental Group Epping team since 2012, with a focus on preventive care and children's dental health.
Isabelle Sayers - BOH (University of Melbourne, 2012) | Berwick Isabelle is an award-winning oral health therapist, recipient of the Dental Health Services Public Health Award in 2012. She is an ADOHTA member and has presented at conferences.
General dentists by location
Southbank
Dr Anchal Verma - BDS (University of Adelaide) | Clinical Lecturer, University of Melbourne. Transitioning to lead South Melbourne.
Dr Jacalyn Madden - BSc (Biomedicine), DMD (University of Sydney) | Invisalign, CEREC, laser dentistry, nitrous oxide.
Dr Shakiba Askary - BHS, MDent (La Trobe) | Farsi | Also at Caroline Springs.
Dr Joanne Ong - BHlthSciDent/MDent (La Trobe) | Mandarin, Cantonese | Also at South Melbourne.
Dr Sally Joseph - BHSc (Dent), MDent (La Trobe, High Distinction) | Preventive, cosmetic, anxious patient care.
South Melbourne
Dr Scott Krause - DDS (Loma Linda University, California) | Licensed in Australia, USA, and New Zealand. Seven years in California practice. Dental missions to Kenya, Bangladesh, Jamaica, and Micronesia.
Dr Stephanie Sarkis - BBiomedicine, DDS (Melbourne) | Rural Victorian experience.
Dr Manisha Bhatt - BOH, MDent (Griffith) | Malay.
Dr Joy Wang - BBiomedical Science (Melbourne), DMD (Sydney) | Mandarin.
Dr Tristan Balthazaar - BSc, BBiomedical Science, DDS (Melbourne) | Also at Carrum Downs, Epping.
Dr Anchal Verma - BDS (Adelaide) | Transitioning as lead clinician.
Caroline Springs
Dr Shakiba Askary - BHS, MDent (La Trobe) | Farsi | Also at Southbank.
Dr Sherin Gad - BDSc (University of Alexandria, Egypt), GradCert Clinical Dentistry (Melbourne) | Arabic | Restorative and aesthetic focus.
Dr Lana Mettmann - BDS (James Cook University).
Dr Sara Qureshi - BHSc, MDent (La Trobe) | Evidence-based restorative dentistry.
Dr Anika Moyeed - BHSc, MDent | Bengali | Also at Wyndham.
Dr Revathi Jaisingh - BDS.
Dr Ali Ridha - BDSc (Charles Sturt University).
Dr Ella George - BDS First Class Honours (Adelaide).
Carrum Downs
Dr Anna Lai - BSc (Biomedicine), DDS (Melbourne) | Lead Dentist | Mini Masters Orthodontics; sleep apnoea devices; facial injectables.
Dr Amreen Hussain - BiomedSc (Hons), DDS (Melbourne) | Preventive focus; outreach in regional Victoria and Nepal.
Dr Ivy Jin - BHSc (Dent), MDent (La Trobe) | Mandarin | Also at Berwick.
Dr Payal Thatikonda - BDS (Adelaide) | Tutors at University of Melbourne; interest in children and nervous patients.
Dr Tristan Balthazaar - BSc, BBiomedical Science, DDS (Melbourne) | Also at South Melbourne, Epping.
Epping
Dr Alysha Soltys - BSc, DDS (Melbourne) | Core Dental Group since 2014; preventive focus; Invisalign-trained.
Dr Marina Ghobrial - BHSc (Dent), MDent (La Trobe) | Aesthetic, periodontic, and restorative dentistry; well regarded for anxious patient care.
Dr Maria Blanchard - BDC (ADC) | Spanish | Originally from Venezuela; ADC-certified; part of the Epping community since 2015.
Dr Tristan Balthazaar - BSc, BBiomedical Science, DDS (Melbourne) | Also at South Melbourne, Carrum Downs.
Wyndham (Werribee)
Dr Darren Manoharan - BDS (University of Queensland) | Lead Dentist | 15+ years of experience in implants, crown and bridge, and Invisalign; previously a sole practitioner in Gunnedah NSW.
Dr Anika Moyeed - BHSc, MDent | Bengali | Transitioning from Caroline Springs.
Dr Alpa Lodhiya - BDSc (Melbourne), GradCert Mental Health | 20+ years in private practice; experienced with complex medical conditions; community volunteer.
Berwick
Dr Ivy Jin - BHSc (Dent), MDent (La Trobe) | Mandarin | Also at Carrum Downs.
Dr Chelsea Nguyen - BHSc (Dent), MDent (La Trobe) | Gentle, compassionate care.
Dr Evan Gai - BDSc (Hons) (University of Queensland) | Special interest in oral surgery and dental implants; relocated from Brisbane.
In-house laboratory team
Core Dental Group has an in-house laboratory team supporting high-quality ceramic restorations:
Greg Karabasis - Master Ceramist - Dip. Dental Technology (RMIT) Agne Diliartaite - Senior Dental Technician - Dip. Dental Technology Noemi Miele - Senior Dental Technician - Dip. Dental Technology Natalie Bilos - Dental Technician - Dip. Dental Technology Talija Batinovic - Dental Technician - Dip. Dental Technology
Practice coordinators and reception
- Shontelle Clinch - Practice Coordinator, Southbank and South Melbourne
- Rhiannon Benigno - Practice Coordinator, Caroline Springs
- Kirsty Logan - Reception Coordinator, Epping
- Laura Agland - Practice Coordinator, Berwick
- Sarah Dimovska - Nursing Coordinator, South Melbourne
- Kayla Vella - Nursing Coordinator, Berwick
Languages spoken across the group
| Language | Clinicians |
|---|---|
| Mandarin Chinese | Dr Ivy Jin (Carrum Downs, Berwick), Dr Joy Wang (South Melbourne), Dr Joanne Ong (Southbank, South Melbourne) |
| Cantonese | Dr Joanne Ong (Southbank, South Melbourne) |
| Arabic | Dr Sherin Gad (Caroline Springs) |
| Bengali | Dr Anika Moyeed (Caroline Springs, Wyndham) |
| Farsi | Dr Shakiba Askary (Caroline Springs, Southbank) |
| Malay | Dr Manisha Bhatt (South Melbourne) |
| Spanish | Dr Maria Blanchard (Epping) |
Book with our team
To book with any Core Dental Group clinician, call 13 13 16 or book online at coredental.com.au. You're welcome to request a specific practitioner or ask for the next available appointment at your nearest location.
Core Dental Group - Your Local Dental Practice