Kersti graduated in Veterinary Science from Sydney University and became very interested in animal behaviour whilst working overseas. To further her knowledge, she went back to university, graduating from Macquarie University with a BA in Behavioural Sciences with a major in psychology. In 1992 she began developing the program of Puppy PreschoolsR in veterinary hospitals around Australia. This led her to complete her MA (Hons) degree by thesis on the long and short term behavioural effects of puppy socialisation and training programs.

She is a registered specialist in Animal Behaviour, one of only two Fellows of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists in Animal Behaviour and the only Australian to become a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behaviourists. She has studied at Cornell University, USA, University of Pennsylvania, USA, Guelph University, Canada and Queensland University, Australia and is a NSW Veterinary Surgeons Board registered Animal Behaviour Consultant. In 1999 she spent 7 months on faculty at the University of Pennsylvania, based in the Department of Clinical Studies, Animal Behaviour Clinic.

Kersti has presented at conferences and meetings in Australia, NZ, UK, Japan, China, Thailand, Europe and USA. She currently teaches veterinary students at the University of Sydney, is the tutor in Behavioural Medicine for the Post Graduate Foundation in Veterinary Science in Australia, as well as regularly teaching veterinarians and veterinary students in the USA and China. She has published numerous papers on animal behaviour in scientific journals, magazines and periodicals, and is a regular contributor to print and electronic media. Currently she is a regular presenter on ABC radio on pet care and behaviour. Her first book is entitled 'Training Your Cat' and another book is in the pipeline