Janine was born and raised in South Africa, where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Human Kinetics. After meeting and marrying her Canadian-born husband in Johannesburg, they immigrated to Canada in 2007 and settled in Vancouver. This significant cross-continental move prompted her to reevaluate her career path, and in 2010, she inadvertently began working in veterinary medicine as a Veterinary Assistant. It quickly became evident that she had found her true calling. Janine completed her Veterinary Technician diploma at Thompson Rivers University in 2014 and gained experience working in small animal general practice in Vancouver.

In 2016, Janine relocated to Ottawa, where she worked at a large Emergency and Referral hospital in the Internal Medicine department. It was during this time that she discovered her passion for Medical Oncology. She transitioned to the Oncology department full-time in the summer of 2017 and has continued to specialize in this field. Janine achieved her Veterinary Technician Specialty in Oncology in 2025. She is now excited to return to the beautiful province of British Columbia and make Victoria her new home. She takes great satisfaction in supporting pets and their owners through cancer treatment, and has a particular interest in helping clients navigate end-of-life care for their pets.

Outside of work, Janine enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband, daughter, and two Golden Retrievers. Her family loves biking during the summer and skiing or snowboarding in the winter.