Meet The Team

Joining the practice in February 2013, Dr. Celso Cardona is the skilled and passionate Lead Dentist at Maven Dental Avalon Beach. Originally from Brazil, Dr. Cardona graduated from UFRGS (Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul) in 2006 with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery and later, in 2008, obtained his Master's in Pain and Palliative Medicine. In 2023, he completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Oral Implants (ACDP).

Dr. Cardona discovered his love for dentistry at a young age, inspired by both his father and brother who are also dentists. After receiving his qualifications, he spent time working alongside them in Brazil until 2008 before moving to Australia the following year. He worked as a clinical educator at Sydney University in 2009 and then went on to work at two other dental surgeries before joining Maven Dental Group.

In his role, Dr. Cardona is passionate about helping his patients achieve a better understanding of dental health and providing them with exceptional dental care. With over 18 years of experience, he has gained extensive knowledge in all aspects of general dentistry, with a keen interest in root canals, full mouth reconstruction, implant surgery, and teeth alignment. Due to his expertise with complex dental cases, he also receives referrals from other dentists.

Dedicated to his professional growth, Dr. Cardona is one of only ten dentists in Australia to have completed the prestigious Kois Center curriculum in Seattle. Furthermore, he is the sole dentist in the country to have completed both the Kois Center curriculum and the curriculum at the esteemed Pankey Institute in Miami.

Away from the practice, Dr. Cardona enjoys meditating, rock climbing, playing video games, surfing, flying small planes, and traveling. He also has a love for yoga, practices daily, and is a qualified yoga teacher.

Dr. Mahima holds a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) from Manipal College of Dental Sciences (MCODS), Manipal University, Karnataka, India, which she completed in 2011. She further pursued a Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) from the same institution, finishing in 2015. 

From 2012 to 2017, Dr. Mahima worked as a general dentist and oral pathology consultant, specialising in biopsies and the analysis of complex dental lesions through evidence-based dentistry, and oral cancer research. Since 2021, she has primarily focused on restorative dentistry, providing services such as crowns, veneers, root canal treatments (RCTs), extractions, and managing dental emergencies. 

Dr. Mahima is deeply passionate about restorative dentistry, aiming to save as many teeth as possible while improving smiles and boosting patient confidence. Her commitment also extends to pediatric dentistry, where she emphasises the importance of preventative care to avoid serious dental and general health issues later in life. 

Outside of the clinic, Dr. Mahima enjoys decompressing by taking long nature walks, exploring various cuisines, and spending quality time with family and friends. 

AHPRA Registered

Suzanne (Suzie) Zerafa was welcomed to the Maven Dental Inner West Sydney practice as an experienced Dental Hygienist and Oral Health Therapist. Suzie holds a Bachelor of Oral Health Therapy, Diploma of Dental Therapy and Diploma of Reflexology having attended Westmead Dental in 2004 and Melbourne University in 2005.

Beginning her dental career at the age of 16, Suzie worked as a dental nurse for a number of years. At 21 she left Australia to travel and gain experience working in London, where she discovered her love for dental hygiene. Upon her return to Sydney, she studied dental therapy at the Westmead Hospital and after graduating completed her dental hygienist studies at Melbourne University. She now offers 30 years' experience in the dental industry, 15 of which have been as a dental hygienist/therapist.

Within the practice, Suzie is passionate about developing strong relationships with her patients and loves being able to have a positive impact on their lives in regards to great oral health. While enjoying all aspects of her role, she holds clinical interests in treating periodontal disease, peri-implantitis, diet and nutrition issues of the mouth, sleep disorders and growth guidance issues in children.

Suzie is a member of the Dental Hygienist Association Australia and Australian Dental and Oral Health Therapist Association.

Away from the practice, Suzie loves spending quality time with family and friends and is often kept busy getting her daughter everywhere she needs to be. She also enjoys baking, entertaining, getting outdoors and riding motorbikes (currently doing offroad and motocross). When she finds the time, Suzie also loves taking part in Bikram yoga.

Layken Williams began her dental journey at Maven Dental Burwood in 2009, spending four years as a Dental Assistant and Front Office Coordinator, which prompted her studies. Since graduating with a Bachelor of Oral Health (2015) and Bachelor of Oral Health Therapy (2017), she’s worked as a Dental Hygienist / Therapist in Sydney for three years and in London for five, alongside both General Dentists and Specialists.

Layken describes herself as a bubbly, laid-back, inviting person who loves to try new things, travel to new places and learn/experience new cultures. She believes any medical-related profession should be patient-focused and provide honest, reliable, and educational services.

Her clinical interests include Periodontal (Gum) Disease diagnosis, treatment and maintenance, Paediatric Dental treatment, and Restorative and Orthodontic care.

What Layken most enjoys about her role, however, is meeting new people: helping them feel more comfortable in a dental setting. She finds it especially important to assist patients in achieving a healthy mouth and empowering them with the skills & knowledge to maintain their smile long-term.

Outside of practice, Layken enjoys painting, writing, reading, going to the gym, travelling, and visiting friends and family.

Practice Manager, Lindel Aquino, was welcomed to the caring and compassionate Maven Dental Avalon Beach team in September 2013. Lindel completed her Certificate III in Dental Assisting in 2014 through TAFE New South Wales. Prior to discovering her love for dental, she gained valuable experience working as an airfare and ticketing specialist for a wholesale travel company - holding a Diploma in Travel and Tourism (2004). 

Within her roles, Lindel is passionate about working with an amazing team to provide patients with high-quality dental care and treatment. She loves being able to meet new people on a daily basis and enjoys the opportunity to continuously learn new skills and responsibilities.

In her spare time, Lindel enjoys spending quality time with family, going to the beach, heading out with friends and travelling.

Carly O’Neill is your Treatment Coordinator at Maven Dental Avalon Beach and brings a vibrant energy to the practice! Carly loves all things teeth and has been working within the dental industry for three years, but also has an extensive background in other customer services. As an extrovert, Carly thoroughly enjoys the social side of her job. Getting to know and building relationships with her patients is of utmost importance to her, as this in turn will ensure they feel comfortable from the moment they step foot into the dental practice.

Carly is an advocate for good dental hygiene and loves joining her patients on their journey to a healthy, happy smile. As well as working chairside with our dental professionals, you’ll find Carly working with a big smile behind the reception desk, ticking admin tasks off her list and keeping all our lovely patients updated on our Instagram page!

Carly has spent the last 10 years living in the Northern Beaches. She makes use of every spare second outside of the practice playing netball, roller skating, playing the piano and soaking up the sunshine at the beach. She is also a youth leader at her local church!  

Growing up on the beautiful Northern Beaches, Elizabeth Howard began her career in dental assisting in 2005 and has joined the Maven team at our Avalon Beaches practice. With over 15 years of experience in the dental industry, Elizabeth brings a wealth of knowledge and loves taking a more hands-on approach with her patients and clinicians. Elizabeth is well known within the practice for her big, beautiful smile and can-do attitude and thoroughly enjoys working alongside her incredible team. Elizabeth is clinically passionate about cosmetic and surgical dentistry and has a soft, hands-on approach with her patients, who often request for her to be in the room during their procedures.

In her spare time, Elizabeth enjoys getting amongst nature, reading, drawing and spending quality time with her friends and family.