The APA team

The APA is governed by a Board of Directors elected by key representative groups, including the National Advisory Council (NAC). There can be up to nine Board Directors, which includes provision for external non-physiotherapist directors.

The role of the NAC is to advise the board on important and emerging matters relating to the physiotherapy profession and the association. The NAC comprises APA members who are presidents of branches or chairs of National Groups. Other NAC members include representatives of the student group, the rural and remote membership base, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Committee and the Australian College of Physiotherapists.

The Executive Leadership Team (ELT) of the APA comprises its CEO and general managers across the divisions of finance, policy and government relations, brand and development, education, member engagement and people and culture.

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS
NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM

Melissa McConaghy

Member Director

Melissa is a Specialist Neurological Physiotherapist (as awarded by the College in 2010). She holds a Master of Health Science (Neurological Physiotherapy)...

Leesa Chesser

External Director

Leesa is an alum of the Australian Institute of Company Directors Chair’s Mentoring Programme and was a finalist in the inaugural Future Directors Award 2022 that seeks to recognise board directors pulling their organisations towards a fairer, safer and smarter future.

Ruth Faulkner

External Director

Having served on the APA Audit and Risk Committee since 2017, Ruth is excited to get further involved as a board member.

Rik Dawson

National President

Rik Dawson graduated from Sydney University in 1993. He is a Titled Gerontological Physiotherapist who began his career as a paediatric physiotherapist...

Holly Brasher

National Vice-President

Managing Director and CEO at SquareOne Physio and SquareOne Women’s Health. Titled APA Sports Physiotherapist.

Catherine Willis

Member Director

Team Leader Physiotherapist at Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, sessional teaching staff in Gender Health, Australian Catholic University.

Mark Round

Chair of the Board

Mark Round is the Managing Director of Symmetry Physiotherapy, a multidisciplinary Physiotherapy and allied health group in Melbourne that operates out of nine sites.

Peter Tziavrangos

National Vice President

Managing director, Move for Better Health – an allied health and clinical exercise business. Clinical physiotherapist.

Scott Willis

Immediate Past President

Scott Willis was the first Indigenous man to have been be elected as National President of the APA...

Aaron Beck

National Chair, National Advisory Council

APA Titled Musculoskeletal and Titled Sports and Exercise Physiotherapist. 16 years experience working across private practice, public health, and management settings. Current Australian College of Physiotherapists council member. Current SA Branch Manager at APM WorkCare.

SA

Adnan Asger Ali

National Chair, Musculoskeletal Group

Director and Principal Physiotherapist at Accelerate Physiotherapy in Canberra. Dual titled physiotherapist in both Musculoskeletal and Pain and sits on the Capital Health Network’s Clinical Advisory Council as the Allied Health representative.

ACT

Alison Smith

National Chair, National Professional Standards Panel

Titled Musculoskeletal physiotherapist with experience in public health orthopaedic and neurosurgery screening clinics in Queensland and the ACT. Currently working at Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital. Member of the National Professional Standards Panel since 2017.

ACT

Amber Davey

Western Australia Branch President

Director and Principal Physio at Mint Wellbeing - a women’s health and musculoskeletal clinic. Lecturer for the APA WMPH courses. Over 15 years management experience in hospital, not-for-profit and private practice.

WA

Amy Fagan, APAM, MACP

Queensland Branch President

Amy first joined the QLD Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy committee in 2002 and has held numerous office bearer roles at state and national levels. Amy’s career has included clinical work in acute, rehabilitation and outpatient settings predominately working with people who had medical and orthopaedic/ musculoskeletal conditions.

QLD

Angela James

National Chair, Women's, Men's and Pelvic Health Group

Angela is the Founder & Principal Physiotherapist of Sydney Pelvic Clinic, a specialised pelvic health service for women, men, and children. Angela has developed a team of like-minded, highly trained professionals committed to delivering an evidence-based and person-centred approach to improve their patient’s pelvic health. In addition to her clinical work, Angela teaches locally and internationally, striving to improve the quality of physiotherapy services beyond her own borders.

NSW

Antony Hirst

National Chair, Business Group

Physiotherapist and business owner who graduated over 30 years ago and while I trained as a physiotherapist, I realised early on that I’m in the business of making people feel better.

VIC

Brice Pennicott

Tasmania Branch President

Titled Sports and Exercise Physiotherapist and a Senior Physiotherapist at Allcare Physiotherapy in Hobart and has served as a member of the Tasmanian APA Branch Council and Tasmanian Sport and Exercise Group since 2020.

TAS

Caitlin Farmer

Victorian Branch President

APA Titled Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist with experience in private practice and public health in Australia, the UK and Canada.

VIC

Caitlin McDonald

National Chair, Gerontology

Caitlin is a highly experienced physiotherapist, with over a decade of expertise in community aged care, having worked in the private and the not-for-profit sectors.

WA

Calum Neish

Early Career Representative

Calum (he/him) is a recent graduate from the University of Queensland and the APA Board of Director’s Student Prize winner in 2023. Currently working as a graduate rotational physiotherapist at the Princess Alexandra Hospital.

QLD

Cameron Edwards

National Chair, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Committee

A proud Kamilaroi man, he currently works at Westmead Children’s Hospital in NSW in Burns and Mental Health. He has enjoyed rotating through approximately 15 clinical areas within NSW Health, working with both adult and paediatric populations.

NSW

Carolyn O'Mahoney

National Chair, Disability Group

A Titled paediatric physiotherapist who has worked in the disability sector for over 20 years.

ACT

Cassandra Zaina

National Chair, Acupuncture and Dry Needling Group

Specialist Occupational Health Physiotherapist and dual Titled in Musculoskeletal and Pain, experience in private and public sectors, consults to ReturnToWorkSA as their Physiotherapy Advisor, runs Handsup for Health, teaches for APA and all Adelaide Universities and has been member of numerous SA and national APA committees for over 20 years and previously with ACP College Council for 9 years.

SA

Dharsha Petrie

National Chair, Neurology Group

Advanced Physiotherapist at Surgical Treatment and Rehabilitation Service (STARS) with extensive neurological physiotherapy experience across public and private models of care in Queensland and overseas including the United Kingdom.

QLD

Dominic Furphy

Australian Capital Territory Branch President

Community Care Allied Health Manager at Canberra Health Services, with over 20 years experience working in Australia and the UK.

ACT

Ellen Lake

National Chair, Mental Health Group

Accredited Mental Health First Aider and in final year of a Masters of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy.

QLD

Emily Riglar

National Chair, Educators Group

A Titled Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist and holds a Masters of Clinical Education. Emily has worked in both public and private sectors, and is now Director of a private practice. She has been involved at a committee level in the Educators group since 2018.

VIC

Germaine Tan

National Chair, Cancer, Palliative Care and Lymphoedema Group

Senior Physiotherapist and Research Project Manager, with a focus in cancer exercise rehabilitation across major metropolitan public hospital and not-for-profit community organisation settings. Eastern Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia

VIC

Heather Malcolm

Northern Territory Representative

Currently Professor of Physiotherapy and Course Coordinator at Charles Darwin University for their new physio program, Heather recently completed a Graduate Certificate in University Teaching and Learning, as well as being a Titled Sports Physiotherapist for over 20 years. She has been a private practice owner, a Senior Policy Officer in NT Health and Chief Allied Health Officer for 4 years. Heather has worked as an accreditation auditor for Australian Physiotherapy Council for 15 years and is a Fellow of the Australian College of Health Service Management.

NT

Ian Starkey

New South Wales Branch President

Physiotherapy Head of Department at Blacktown and Mt Druitt Hospitals in Western Sydney Local Health District. Ian has 23 years’ experience in the NSW Public Health Environment.

NSW

Jason Collins

South Australian Branch President

APA Titled Sports and Exercise Physiotherapist with 17 years of clinical experience spanning private practice, elite and pathway sports, and workplace injury rehabilitation. Currently working at Physioactive SA, WorkGain Solutions, and Football South Australia.

SA

Jianqi Li

Student Representative

Jianqi is a final year Physiotherapy student at the University of Queensland and the APA Board of Directors Student Prize winner in 2024. Currently, he contributes to various academic committees as a student representative at the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (SHRS).

QLD

Johanna Higgs

National Chair, Animal

Director of Animal Physiotherapy Adelaide, with nearly 20 years of experience in musculoskeletal physiotherapy and post graduate qualifications in Veterinary Physiotherapy.

SA

Lilly Kochen

National Chair, Aquatic Group

Director of Platinum Physio with three clinics in Melbourne.

VIC

Lucia Tsui

National Chair, Occupational Health Group

APA Titled Occupational Health Physiotherapist in Melbourne with over 15 years of private sector experience in occupational health, workers' compensation and workforce health management.

VIC

Maree Raymer

National Chair, Advanced Practice (incl Emergency Department)

Maree is an APA Musculoskeletal physiotherapist, health service manager and researcher, who is the Program Manager for Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Screening Clinics in Queensland Health. She has coordinated the pilot, roll out and expansion of advanced practice roles across 18 facilities.

QLD

Marisol Reyes Fuentes

National Chair, Leadership and Management

Titled Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist and team leader at SquareOne Physio. Marisol is passionate about leadership and team culture. She believes that leadership and management are crucial skills to be developed and nurtured in our profession.

NSW

Mark Elkins

Scientific Editor, Journal of Physiotherapy

A Clinical Associate Professor at The University of Sydney, Scientific Editor of Journal of Physiotherapy and Co-Director of the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro). His research investigates: ways to capitalise on interactions between physiotherapy and pharmacological interventions in chronic respiratory disease, and ways to monitor and improve the quality of the clinical research methods used in physiotherapy.

VIC

Megan Ross

Chair of the LGBTQIA+ Advisory Panel

Physiotherapist and Postdoctoral Research Fellow at The University of Queensland. Megan (she/her) identifies as part of the LGBTQIA+ community and is passionate about conducting research that will improve the experiences of physiotherapy for the LGBTQIA+ community.

QLD

Nick Jones

National Chair, Rural Advisory Committee

Over 25 years experience in the private sector as a generalist and sports physiotherapist.

NT

Nicola Mepstead

National Chair, Sports and Exercise Group

Nicola is a dual-titled Sports & Exercise and Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist. She has worked extensively in elite and amateur sport, and is the Director of the newly established G.O.A.T Physiotherapy & Sports Medicine in Sydney.

NSW

Nicole Pates

National Chair, Paediatric Group

Director of Western Kids Health in Perth, APA Titled Paediatric Physiotherapist

WA

Sonia Cheng

National Chair, Cardiorespiratory Group

Dr Sonia Cheng is a Lecturer at The University of Sydney and physiotherapist in Acute Medical/Surgical Services at Macquarie University Hospital. Sonia completed her PhD in 2020; her research interests are the measurement and promotion of physical activity and behaviour change in people living with chronic conditions. Sonia is passionate about improving access to pulmonary rehabilitation and digital health care for people with chronic heart and lung disease.

NSW

Thomas Petrie

National Chair, Orthopaedic Group

Senior Physiotherapist in Orthopaedics at the Princess Alexandra Hospital with extensive experience in both elective and trauma, including spinal cord injuries, sarcoma and limb reconstruction within Australia and the UK.

QLD

Tom McMillan

President, College of Physiotherapists

Specialist Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist with clinical, governance and management roles across the healthcare spectrum. Tom is the Executive Director of the Physio Plus Group, and sits on the Council of the National Rural Health Alliance and the Clinical Council of the Northern Queensland PHN.

QLD

Zoe Harper

National Chair, Pain Group

APA titled Pain and Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist. Senior Clinician Physiotherapist and Clinical Coordinator at the Barbara Walker Centre for Pain Management at St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne.

VIC

Andrea Johnson

General Manager, Marketing and Communications

Andrea is a senior marketing leader with a career spanning over 20 years across technology, professional services, financial services and including extensive experience in membership organisations.

Craig Maltman

General Manager, Corporate Services

Craig is a qualified CPA and in his role as General Manager, Corporate Services, is part of the team committed to improving the insurance offering for APA members.

Craig Richards

General Manager, Member Experience

Craig is passionate about helping members achieve their goals and promoting physical activity. He has previously worked as General Manager at the Brisbane Broncos and Carlton Football Club, and has held executive roles at the Outdoor Education Group and the Bicycle Network.

Ellen Webber

General Manager, Education

Ellen is a strategic and innovative leader in health professions education with over 20 years’ experience, committed to delivering high-quality, evidence-informed programs that meet learner needs and prioritise community health outcomes.

Elles Vanderkley

General Manager, People and Culture

Elles has been with the APA since 2010 and has more than 15 years’ experience in human resources and organisational development.

Executive Leadership Team (ELT)

The ELT provides strategic guidance and leadership across the divisions of finance, policy and government relations, brand and development, education, member engagement and people and culture.

Katherine Utry

General Manager, Policy and Government Relations

Katherine is a seasoned health sector professional with a diverse background spanning government, private health insurance, hospitals, and community settings. Known for her leadership in reform implementation, she combines vision, strategy and a talent for building strong relationships to drive systems change.

Melanie Sherrin

Company Secretary

Mel is a qualified lawyer and in her role as Company Secretary for the APA she applies her extensive experience as a trusted advisor to boards and CEOs. She is committed to embedding modern governance practices into the APA.

Rob LoPresti

Chief Executive Officer

Rob has extensive experience in senior positions across large university, public health, and not-for-profit professional membership organisations. Originally educated as a physiotherapist, Rob also holds a Master of Management from the University of Melbourne.

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The APA team

The APA team

Aaron Beck

SA

Adnan Asger Ali

ACT

Alison Smith

ACT

Amber Davey

WA

Amy Fagan, APAM, MACP

QLD

Angela James

NSW

Antony Hirst

VIC

Brice Pennicott

TAS

Caitlin Farmer

VIC

Caitlin McDonald

WA

Calum Neish

QLD

Cameron Edwards

NSW

Carolyn O'Mahoney

ACT

Cassandra Zaina

SA

Dharsha Petrie

QLD

Dominic Furphy

ACT

Ellen Lake

QLD

Emily Riglar

VIC

Germaine Tan

VIC

Heather Malcolm

NT

Ian Starkey

NSW

Jason Collins

SA

Jianqi Li

QLD

Johanna Higgs

SA

Lilly Kochen

VIC

Lucia Tsui

VIC

Maree Raymer

QLD

Marisol Reyes Fuentes

NSW

Mark Elkins

VIC

Megan Ross

QLD

Nick Jones

NT

Nicola Mepstead

NSW

Nicole Pates

WA

Sonia Cheng

NSW

Thomas Petrie

QLD

Tom McMillan

QLD

Zoe Harper

VIC

Australian Physiotherapy Association

Acknowledgement