Our team

BPhty PGDip SportsMed (credit), PGCertAcu (NZ)

Angela is a New Zealand Physiotherapist with 25 years experience and has post-graduate qualifications in both Sports Medicine and Acupuncture. She frequently attends conferences and courses to enhance her skills and knowledge

Angela enjoys the challenge of managing all musculoskeletal injuries. She has a keen interest in lower limb biomechanics + pelvic stability.  Following a thorough assessment to understand your specific condition, she uses a combination of manual therapy, acupuncture, breathing re-education and exercises to aid recovery and help you return to the things that are important to you.

Angela has been privileged to work with a huge range of sports teams and individuals including netball, hockey and ice skating to the highest of levels. But by far the sport she’s spent the greatest time on the side-line is rugby – working with both men’s and women’s teams, including seven campaigns the with Canterbury Women’s 15s and 7s teams.

In her spare time, she enjoys running and has completed 20 half marathons, using these as an opportunity to travel and explore the country.

BPhty

Ash graduated from Otago University with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy and has since completed both a dry needling course and ICIR Level 2 (Immediate Care in Rugby) certification. After finishing her placement in Christchurch, she decided to stay in the city and now works with Active Health, having ventured north from her Southland roots.

Ash practices general physiotherapy but has a particular passion for sports rehabilitation and helping those in physically demanding jobs return to their everyday activities. Growing up on a family farm in Moss burn, she was surrounded by people whose work pushed their bodies to the limit. That background gave her a deep appreciation for physical resilience and a strong understanding of how to support recovery when injuries occur.

Her interest in physiotherapy is driven by a love of helping people, a fascination with the human body, and a lifelong enthusiasm for movement and exercise. For Ash, it’s the perfect blend of personal passions and professional purpose – every day offers a new challenge, the chance to make a difference, and an opportunity to keep learning.

Ash has over five years’ experience in rugby physiotherapy, currently supporting the Belfast Division 1 team and previously working with the St Thomas First XV. Her dual background in farming and sports gives her insight into the physical demands of both lifestyles, and she draws on her own sporting experiences to help clients return to activity with confidence.

A keen athlete herself, Ash grew up playing netball, rugby, and athletics, fostering a love for the outdoors and active living that continues to shape her approach to physiotherapy. In her spare time, she enjoys playing netball, going for runs, hitting the gym, and spending summer days enjoying water sports with family and friends. She also loves early morning walks, good coffee, and cheering on the rugby.

If Ash could have any superpower, it would be teleportation – or the ability to be in two places at once. With her family and partner still based in Southland, she’d love to get the best of both worlds by splitting her time between her Southland roots and her awesome Chch clients. Being able to instantly connect with loved ones and explore the world all at once would be, in her words, “the dream.”

BPhty (credit)

Bevan graduated from the University of Otago in 2006, receiving the Sheila Consuela MacDiarmid Scholarship. He is an experienced clinical physiotherapist in musculoskeletal and sports physiotherapy with a focus on exercise-based rehabilitation and injury prevention. Bevan enjoys working with all ages, from youth athletes to older adults, helping them rehabilitate from injuries and return to active lifestyles with improved biomechanical efficiency. Bevan has also developed expertise in muscle balance assessment, occupational health, golf-specific physiotherapy and mental strategies to overcome injuries. Bevan competes to a high level in his own sporting endeavours and is the captain of the New Zealand Korfball team. Bevan has also been the physiotherapist to both the New Zealand and Australian Korfball teams.

BSc Anatomy, BPhty (Credit), PGCert Sports Physiotherapy, Certified Mulligan Practitioner

Kirsten graduated from the University of Otago with a Bachelor of Science majoring in Anatomy before pursuing her Bachelor of Physiotherapy, completed in 2017. Subsequently she has completed her Post Graduate certificate in Sports Physiotherapy and is a certified Mulligan practitioner.

Kirsten is a senior musculoskeletal physiotherapist and has extensive experience in pre/post op physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, sports injuries, concussion headaches and TMJ. She has worked across a variety of sporting codes and has a keen interest in returning individuals to their sport after injury and limiting the risk of reinjury once they return. As a keen Kareteka herself, Kirsten has a special interest in martial arts injuries and when not at work you will find her in the Dojo where she has trained for the last decade or out mountain biking around Canterbury.

Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), Board Certified Sports Clinical Specialist (SCS) – USA

Sofia graduated from Texas Woman’s University (United States) with a Doctor of Physical Therapy. She went on to complete a Sports Residency at Texas Children’s Hospital where she became specialized in assessing and treating sport-related injuries in the adolescent population. She is a United Staes board-certified sports clinical specialist.

Sofia has worked with numerous adolescent athletes and is highly involved with returning them to their sport, along with performing venue and training room coverage for athletic events. She also has experience working with a broad range of musculoskeletal and orthopaedic conditions across all age ranges.

Her treatment approach focuses on an individualized plan utilizing specific exercise selection, manual therapy, and incorporating her patient’s goals into their rehabilitation. Sofia is a former competitive gymnast and has conducted research surrounding injury prevention in this athletic population.

Outside of work Sofia enjoys running, hiking, and rock climbing.

BPhty, CAS Orthopaedics, DPT, GCertCont&WH, Certified Oncology Physiotherapist (Pinc and Steel), Oncology Scar Specialist (Restore)

Susan brings over 30 years of physiotherapy experience to Active Health, having developed her career from musculoskeletal physiotherapy and manual therapy skills into areas of pelvic health and cancer rehabilitation. She has completed extensive training in Women’s, Men’s and Pelvic Health physiotherapy across Australia, America, and New Zealand, offering a unique and comprehensive approach to pelvic health issues for both women and men. Most recently, Susan travelled to Brisbane with colleagues Jo and Ashley for advanced training in Male Pelvic Health Physiotherapy.

Susan has developed a particular passion for cancer rehabilitation, working with patients before, during, and after medical treatments. She specialises in helping those affected by cancer return to activities they love by treating side effects like pain, fatigue, weakness, and pelvic health symptoms. Susan has also undertaken training to become an Oncology Scar Specialist. Her experience includes working alongside the Rocky Mountain Cancer Centre in Colorado, learning from highly regarded clinicians, with special interest in supporting women and men affected by pelvic cancers.

Susan is driven by her commitment to continued learning and helping patients overcome complex health challenges. She takes pride in staying at the forefront of her field and sharing knowledge with her colleagues.

Her expertise has been recognised through professional awards including 2022 Canterbury Physiotherapist of the Year (Physiotherapy New Zealand) and 2024 Finalist in the Oncology Rehabilitation Excellence Awards (Pinc and Steel Cancer Rehabilitation Foundation).

Susan lives with her husband Keith in Christchurch, and together they enjoy a well-balanced lifestyle including appreciation of good food and wine, travel, and outdoor activities like hiking, biking, skiing, and snowshoeing.

BHSc(Physio), PostGradAppTheo

Jo is an experienced physiotherapist who began her career in New Zealand working in musculoskeletal physiotherapy, developing strong manual therapy skills. She then volunteered at a hospital in Nepal for two years working in spinal cord rehabilitation, including bowel and bladder complications. After having two children while working in musculoskeletal practice treating pregnant and postnatal women, Jo became frustrated at the lack of help for women with post-birth complications or those wanting a directed return to sport and exercise.

This led Jo to develop a special interest in pelvic floor physiotherapy. She has completed extensive advanced training in pelvic health for women and children through numerous continuing education courses, often internationally, including pessary fitting and management for pelvic organ prolapse. Most recently, Jo has undergone advanced training in male and paediatric pelvic health physiotherapy, now offering comprehensive care for men, women, and children (aged 3 and up for bowel issues, 5 and up for urinary issues).

Jo’s passion lies in empowering her clients – whatever their age – with the knowledge and tools they need to live confidently and comfortably. She has particular experience with post-natal return to fitness and sports, pelvic organ prolapse and stress incontinence, post-operative gynaecological care, complex bowel issues, pelvic pain, and childhood wetting or soiling. Jo uses a friendly, practical approach with children, including videos and resources to explain causes and work with families on effective management strategies.

Jo lives with her husband and two children and can be found trying to keep up with her family in the hills tramping, biking, kayaking, skiing, or rogaining. She is also actively involved in her local Christian church and works out of both the Manchester Street and Jellie Park clinics.

Dip Phys.

Cath brings to Active Health a wide range of experience from her extensive career spanning over three decades. After graduating in 1991, she spent time working in the UK and the United States specialising in orthopaedics. Upon returning to New Zealand, she worked for a number of years in a leading multi-disciplinary sports practice specialising in musculoskeletal physiotherapy, before transitioning to work in a pain management practice managing chronic pain conditions.

For over 10 years now, Cath has been a valued member of the Active Health team, where she specialises in vocational health. Her expertise lies in helping clients navigate workplace injuries and return-to-work processes, drawing on her comprehensive background in orthopaedics, sports physiotherapy, and chronic pain management.

Cath has completed post-graduate studies in vocational health, further enhancing her ability to support clients through complex workplace rehabilitation scenarios and injury prevention strategies.

In her spare time, Cath enjoys Pilates, walking Moe her border terrier and has recently taken up golf maintaining an active lifestyle that complements her understanding of movement and injury prevention

BPhty, PGCertRehab, Pinc & Steel Cert

Kath graduated from the University of Otago in 1994 and has extensive physiotherapy experience across New Zealand, America, and the UK. She worked for Active Health from 2005-2008 at the QEII location and rejoined the team in 2017 after relocating from Auckland. Kath has developed a special interest in cancer rehabilitation, working with patients before, during, and after medical treatments to address side effects like pain, fatigue, and weakness that affect physical and functional abilities. She is a certified provider of the internationally recognised PINC and STEEL cancer rehabilitation programmes for women and men with cancer.

Kath also works on ACC Vocational Rehabilitation contracts, both as a lead provider and providing rehabilitation to help clients return to work as soon as possible after injury. She has completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Rehabilitation with a focus on work rehabilitation.

Kath’s passion for helping people stems from growing up with a physiotherapist mother and experiencing firsthand what the profession was about. She loves seeing people get back to the things in life they enjoy and finds it incredibly rewarding to be part of that journey.

Originally from Christchurch, Kath lived and worked as a physiotherapist in the USA and UK before deciding to return to New Zealand to start a family. She enjoys hiking, skiing, mountain biking, and walking her two dogs, alongside spending time with her family including her two teenagers.

MOst

Luke completed his Master’s in Osteopathy after discovering the effectiveness of osteopathic treatment during his own competitive sporting career. He enjoys working with patients of all ages (5 years and older) and uses a comprehensive range of techniques including joint mobilisation/articulation, joint manipulations, soft tissue manipulation and release, fascial release, and craniosacral therapy. Luke understands the importance of movement, mobility, and strength for pain management and longevity, often prescribing exercises alongside nutrition, supplement, sleep, and stress management advice as part of osteopathy’s whole-body approach.

Luke’s passion for osteopathy was inspired by his interest in health and wellbeing, combined with experiencing firsthand how much osteopathic treatment can improve someone’s quality of life. He loves being able to find the root cause of someone’s pain, help with management strategies, and get people back to pain-free living as quickly as possible. He also enjoys regularly meeting people from all different walks of life.

Having participated competitively in multiple sports growing up, Luke believes that regular movement, sport, and play are essential parts of a healthy lifestyle. His treatment plans focus on creating unique management strategies for each patient, considering physical factors, individual lifestyles, interests, beliefs, and general wellbeing to improve quality, frequency, and duration of daily movement without pain and injury.

Originally from New Plymouth but preferring the South Island, Luke is an avid trail runner currently training to race a 100km ultra next year. When he’s not out running in the hills, you can find him hiking, at the gym, bouldering, playing chess, or reading. His diverse sporting background and ongoing athletic pursuits give him unique insight into the physical demands his patients face.

Abbey holds Certificates in Exercise (Level 4 and 5) and is a qualified personal trainer with a passion for helping people reach their health and fitness goals. Her love for sport and exercise led her into the industry – after her planned 3-year OE in the UK was interrupted by COVID, she decided to dive into PT study instead.

Originally from a sheep and beef farm in South Otago, Abbey spent her high school years in South Canterbury and now calls Rangiora home after recently buying her first house.

Outside of work, she’s always on the move – whether it’s hitting the gym, heading out for a walk, watching or playing sport, or road-tripping with friends and family. If she could have any superpower, it’d be the ability to fly – because how awesome would that be?

Judy works part time between our New Brighton and Manchester Street clinics.

She attends her Aqua Fit classes most days and love to tandem bike ride with her husband and travel in their caravan.

Maddy is a new member of our friendly reception team. She studied at the University of Otago where she gained a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sport Management.

In her spare time Maddy loves fitness and the outdoors, particularly surfing and hiking, as well as socialising and travelling.

Deb is one of our lovely receptionists, working across both our New Brighton and Manchester Street clinics. A long-time East Christchurch local, she now enjoys the coastal lifestyle in Waimairi Beach, where she loves spending time outdoors gardening or walking the nearby tracks. She also enjoys reading, music, and has recently taken up watercolour painting.

Deb previously worked with us from 2005 to 2013, and we’re absolutely thrilled to have her back on the team!