Prof Arianne P Verhagen is the Professor of Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy, and Head of Discipline of Physiotherapy, Graduate School of Health, University of Technology Sydney. Prof Verhagen is a physiotherapist and clinical epidemiologist from The Netherlands. She completed her PhD (high distinction) in 1999 at Maastricht University (Dept Clinical Epidemiology). Since then she worked as a Post-Doc, assistant / Associate Prof at Erasmus Medical Centre University (Dept General Practice) in Rotterdam. Since 2018, she joined UTS as the head of Physiotherapy Discipline. Prof Arianne has a good scientific track record (H-index=53; 9348 citations (Mendeley)), >280 international publications, >175 Dutch publications (aimed to increase the impact of her work within Dutch physiotherapy); with most cited paper being cited >1000 times. She is involved in various Cochrane Review and Methods groups and a specialist in systematic review methodology. At UTS, Prof Verhagen (together with the team), is working towards building a research environment at GSH-Physio and CAPRI is one of the main achievements so far.
Prof Jon Adams is Distinguished Professor of Public Health, Director of ARCCIM and Deputy Head of School (Research), School of Public Health, University of Technology Sydney. Jon has held three Category One Fellowships including an ARC Professorial Future Fellowship (2015-2019) and 20 NHMRC/ARC grants. Jon is a Senior Fellow on the Oxford International Primary Care Research Leadership Program, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford and holds a range of Visiting Professorships across Europe and North America. Jon has attracted in excess of $20M for his research program and he has published over 490 peer-reviewed publications and edited 9 international health research books. Jon has an H-index of 54 and his work has attracted over 11,000 citations. Jon has established and is lead researcher of 5 national practice-based research networks and he is committed to helping develop research capacity and engagement amongst practitioners and to designing research that is practice-based, practice-informed and practice relevant.
Prof David Sibbritt is the Director of the Australian Centre for Public and Population Health Research (ACPPHR), and Head of School, School of Public Health, University of Technology Sydney. Professor Sibbritt is the world-leading epidemiologist/biostatistician focused upon chronic illness and primary healthcare. He has authored >300 peer-reviewed publications to date and has attracted in excess of $20M in research funding, including grants from NHMRC, ARC and the Department of Health and Ageing. Professor Sibbritt is recognised internationally for his methodological expertise in the design, analysis and conduct of large cohort studies, health datasets, and practiced-based research networks (PBRNs).
Taryn is an Associate Professor of Physiotherapy and Director of the Doctor of Physiotherapy Program (DPT) at Macquarie University. She has over 20 years of experience as a physiotherapist, with 8 years higher education experience. She has won numerous awards for her teaching excellence and is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a member of CPDANZ. She has designed, developed and implemented high quality, innovative curriculum and assessment in a student-centred manner across all years of the DPT and successfully led the re-accreditation process for the MQU DPT in 2019. She has 19 peer reviewed publications and has authored 16 commissioned corporate reports. Her research has attracted over $240,000 in funds, and in addition is an Associate Investigator on a NHMRC trial titled “Tailored intervention for reducing falls after stroke trial (FAST)”, awarded over $1.8 million in funding and commenced in 2019. Taryn is passionate about innovation, quality and excellence across all aspects of the profession, including education, clinical and professional practice.
Dr Andrew Leaver is a Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy and mid-career researcher at the University of Sydney. Andrew’s research focuses on management of spinal pain with an emphasis is on modernising service delivery for people with musculoskeletal conditions. Andrew is appointed by SIRA NSW as an Independent Consultant (Workers Compensation) and Medical Assessor/Disputes Resolution Assessor (Motor Accidents). Andrew is a consultant physiotherapist to a private multidisciplinary pain management clinic and has Honorary Appointments with Westmead Hospital, Sydney and The University of the Philippines, Manila.
Dr Poonam Mehta is an early career academic & researcher, working as a lecturer in the Discipline of Physiotherapy, Graduate School of Health, University of Technology Sydney. Dr Mehta is a trained Pediatrics physiotherapist, she completed her undergraduate degree (Bachelors of Physiotherapy- 2007) and Masters Study (Masters of Physiotherapy in Pediatrics- 2009) in India. After working as a Lecturer in India (2009-2011), Dr Mehta completed her PhD at the School of Physiotherapy, University of Otago, New Zealand (2015). During her PhD, she also worked as a distant lecturer at the Angelia Ruskin University, Chelmsford, Essex, UK. After her PhD graduation, Dr Mehta worked as an Assistant Research Fellow at the National Science Challenge- Ageing Well, hosted by the University of Otago, NZ (2017-2018). Her research interests are in the health and well-being throughout the span of ageing; her approaches have included systematic reviews, qualitative research, and observational longitudinal studies.
Rik Dawson graduated from Sydney University in 1993 and after working in paediatrics switched to aged care in 1998. Rik is a titled Gerontological Physiotherapist and is a Director for the Australian Physiotherapy Association. Until recently Rik owned and operated Agewell Physiotherapy for over 20 years and employed physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists to work in residential care, home care and NDIS. At present, Rik is pursuing his PhD in aged care with Sydney University.
Ms Fiona Scott is the School Manager for the Graduate School of Health at UTS. Before moving into the higher education sector, Fiona worked as a clinical Physiotherapist in both public and private health facilities both nationally and internationally. Fiona is passionate about consumer advocacy, especially for the elderly, and has advocacy experience both professionally and personally.
Ms Libby Soderholm is a sports Physiotherapist and Managing Director of 2 multidisciplinary Allied health Clinics in Western Australia. A graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, she also has a diploma in business management and is passionate about good clinical governance. She is on the APA Business group’s National Committee and chairs the WA Physiotherapy Business Committee. She is the APA Australian representative for the International Private Physical Therapy Association (IPPTA), a subgroup of WCPT, and works with the Physiotherapy Board of Australia on their registrations and notifications Committee.