Meet our volunteers

Katie is a chartered physiotherapist with over 30 years of musculoskeletal experience within the NHS and latterly in her own private practice in West Sussex.

Based in London, trained at Kings College then spent 2 years at Guys Hospital after which Katie specialised at St. Georges Hospital Tooting for 9 years working alongside Orthopaedic Consultants, running a team of physiotherapist in the busy hospital clinic setting.

Katie has been in private practice since 2002, is passionate about quality and ensuring people receiving accurate information about their specific conditions to determine the best course of management for optimal recovery.

She became our Physio First Chair during the 2024 AGM.

Paul’s title of Strategic and Business lead was conferred in 2019 to reflect the development of his role in championing Physio First in the business marketplace, and his work in establishing a private practitioner owned co-operative that aims to work closely with Physio First members in promoting their own worth in the healthcare marketplace.

A solicitor by profession and a litigator by specialism, the skill of giving sound, professional advice has never been foreign to Paul; as he says: “Being a non-voting member of our executive is exactly the same as representing my clients. It is always their case I am putting forward, not mine.”

Prior to this, Paul had been General Secretary of Physio First for more than 15 years, a role so varied it could more accurately be described as “chameleon”. The consistent elements include acting as advisor to our executive committee, liaising closely with our Chair and in helping Physio First’s commercial team to navigate through our growing strategic partnerships and the member benefits that come from them.  

 

Jacqui joined as a member of our office team in 2009 since when she has worked in our accounts department, supporting all aspects of our financial operation.

In 2016, Jacqui stepped into the Treasurers role after over 6 years of first-hand knowledge of Physio First's accounts.

She has over 25 years of accounting experience working within various industries.

Richard joined Physio First in 2008 and was appointed our Honorary Membership Officer in 2016.  He has been a member of our membership sub-committee since 2013, when it was originally our PR sub-committee.

Richard had qualified from the University of Bradford only two years earlier and was the first to admit he was a reasonably inexperienced physio at the time. 

Juggling the running of a busy clinic, entering the business environment and trying to advance his clinical skills – simultaneously – was a major challenge, especially with no mentor.

Richard said: “If it was not for Physio First I’m not sure how I would have survived those first few years. The financial climate at the time was not good and the practice wasn’t in the most affluent area of the country.”

“Being a Physio First member meant I received some much-valued support which resulted in me joining a sub-committee. Since then I have built many professional relationships with other physio colleagues, not to mention friendships, and gained a greater understanding of private physiotherapy as a whole.”

In his spare time Richard, who has two younger children, likes to keep fit in the gym, play squash and five-a-side football. One of his biggest passions is travelling and he spends much of his annual leave visiting all corners of the globe, often while following the England national football team!

Belinda has been an active member of Physio First for 15 years and is the owner and Clinical Director of Greystone Chartered Physiotherapy Clinic in Swadlincote and Ashby Physiotherapy Clinic in Leicestershire and has been established in private practice for over 25 years.

Her background includes NHS Superintendent level at a Regional Orthopaedic / MSK Hospital and now involves all areas of physiotherapy private practice. Belinda is a Specialist in MSK and Movement and Performance with extended interests in Paediatrics, women’s health and Fascia, and is a JEMS Certified Clinical Rehabilitation Practitioner.

In her clinics she promotes excellence in clinical rehabilitation and health and well-being and deals with all age ranges and modalities of physiotherapy.

Liz has been a member of Physio First since 1990 when she first started in private practice. She qualified From Guys Hospital in 1979 and has worked in hospitals in South Africa and Norwich. In 1998, Liz established Park Physiotherapy in Norfolk where she currently works, from her purpose-built clinic.

In 2014 Liz became the alternate regional officer for East Anglia before taking over as the regional officer. During that time Liz also become involved with our research and development committee and she resigned from the regional officer role in 2019 to take on the role of our Hon Research and Development Officer in 2020 because, as she says "I am passionate about the benefits of private practice, and working with the Data for Impact project gives me the opportunity to be part of facilitating how we measure our effectiveness as clinicians."

Liz has a special interest in treating migraine headaches and tinnitus and, in 2014 she completed a master’s degree in Advanced MSK Research and Practice at the University of East Anglia with her final dissertation on the physiotherapy treatment of cervicogenic headaches.

Pam joined Physio first as a volunteer in 2006, and then became part of our executive as Honorary Public Relations Officer in 2007.  She became Vice Chairman in 2011 and was our Chairman from 2015 to 2019 since then she has remained on our executive as Honorary Communications Officer. She is responsible for all outward facing communications to our members including bulletins and E publications.

Pam runs her own specialist training, consultancy and medico legal business.

Lucinda is the owner of Chipping Norton Physio. She specialises in musculoskeletal physiotherapy and has a specific interest in low back and neck pain, and post-operative rehabilitation.

Lucinda has been a member of Physio First since April 2009, and was an  Regional Officer for the Oxford region before commencing her current role as Hon Community Representative Lead.

In 2006 Lucinda completed her MSc in Advanced Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy at UCL. She has worked in the NHS, and at the Manor Hospital in Oxford, and is also a fully qualified APPI Pilates Instructor.

Tobias has worked in private practice all of his professional life. He has enjoyed being involved with Physio First in various capacities, since joining as a member in 2011. Private practice enables Tobias to offer personalised care to individuals, which makes my work very rewarding. He is also keen on collecting data to demonstrate that individualised private physiotherapy has proven outcomes and is greatly beneficial to individuals seeking help. Lastly, Tobias has a passion for 'educating the next generation of physiotherapists' and as Education Officer has many ongoing projects to facilitate this.

Karen has run her own private practice for over 25 years, and has been involved with Physio First since 2008, starting as a Regional Officer for Mercia region. She then became our Regional Officer Representative on our executive committee and served on our education sub committee, which she chaired from 2015.

Karen has served as a member of the CSP Council and chaired their Education Awards Panel. She is also a trustee of the Private Physiotherapy Education Foundation, which awards funds for programmes of research or education to physiotherapists.

Over many years Karen has been a clinical educator for local university undergraduate programmes, providing practice placements for students .

She became our Physio First Chair during the 2019 AGM at our annual conference in Nottingham.

Carys is the owner and Clinical Director of 'Swan Physio' in Keele, Staffordshire. Her clinic offers Physiotherapy, Pilates, Yoga, and Multidisciplinary Health/Rehabilitation services. With a background in the NHS and extensive experience in elite sports, including roles at Stoke City Football Club, Carys is passionate about physiotherapy education and supporting practitioners. She completed her MSc in Physiotherapy in 2014 with a research project in association with the Football Association. Carys has been a member of Physio First since 2018. Outside of work, she enjoys swimming, gym classes, and Pilates, and is considering taking up golf in the future.

Sean, a passionate physiotherapist with extensive experience. Graduating from Southampton University in 2001, he specialized in neurological rehabilitation before transitioning to musculoskeletal (MSK) care. With an MSc in MSK and various certifications, Sean runs a successful clinic in Storrington, West Sussex, alongside his NHS role. He's particularly interested in manual therapy, communication skills, and patient-centred care. Sean is actively involved with Physio First and enjoys volunteering to connect practitioners. Outside of work, he enjoys outdoor activities and has a growing interest in fitness training adaptation for older individuals." 

This version provides key details about Sean's education, experience, interests, and involvement with Physio First, while being more concise and suitable for a website's "Meet the Team" section. 

Jo, a multifaceted professional dedicated to health and well-being. As a Life Coach, founder of Mehab, and host of the You Matter podcast, she champions thoughtful and sustainable healthcare delivery. Jo is also a seasoned Physiotherapist and serves as the Director of Courtyard Clinic. With a deep belief in the value of clinicians and the importance of self-care, Jo's work centers on empowering healthcare professionals to prioritize their own well-being while caring for others. Through Mehab, she provides a platform dedicated to supporting clinicians in their journey to holistic health. Welcome to the team, Jo.

 

Amanda has over 30 years physiotherapy experience, in the NHS rising to Superintendent Physio at London’s Guys & St Thomas’s Hospital; and in private practice in the UK and Australia. 

She is a sports and orthopaedic specialist, completing a post graduate qualification in sports specific physiotherapy in 1997. 

She is caring and passionate about her profession, committed to keeping up to date with latest developments in physiotherapy and has held a position on the executive board of Physio First – the organisation representing Private Physiotherapy in the UK. (www.physiofirst.org.uk)  

She treats the whole person, often discussing life issues impacting on pain and disability, anything from improving dietary health to coping with the menopause.  

Sporty in early life, hockey, tennis and javelin throwing, Amanda now teaches Pilates 1:1 on her Allegro 2 Reformer, the best reformer currently on the market.  

She is born and bred in Marlborough and proud of the clinic she leads, offering excellence in physiotherapy and well-being healthcare right in the heart of her local community. 

Cabella has been a member of Physio First since she started working in private practice in 1988, fact she owned one of the first practices to be awarded Accredited Practice status, for those of you who remember that!  Despite a move into clinical management and governance for large clinical provider organisations, she has always retained a keen interest in promoting physiotherapy in the private sector and assisting Physio First in its objectives.  She also has an interest in musculoskeletal research and is in the final year of a PhD programme at Queen Mary University of London. 

Jenny has been a member of Physio First since she started her own practice, Physiofit Leeds in 2000. She became more aware of all the benefits that Physio First can offer during the COVID pandemic when the regular updates, interpreting guidance from the CSP and Public Health England, were invaluable in navigating her private practice through those difficult few years. Since then she has joined many of the community meetings on Zoom, and started as a volunteer in April 2023, after attending the Physio First meeting and Skills Exchange for the first time.  

Physiofit Leeds, is based in north Leeds, and combines physiotherapy clinics with Pilates and rehabilitation exercise classes. Jenny has a background in sport having worked in professional rugby in the past, but now prefers general musculoskeletal physiotherapy and supporting women through pregnancy and the post natal period. She mentors the team of Pilates Instructors at Physiofit, and works with Modern Pilates and Physiofit Education as a tutor and course developer. 

Jenny is a keen runner and cyclist and is trying to improve her swimming and hopes to combine them all with triathlons. 

David is a Chartered Physiotherapist with clinical experience in the NHS, MoD and professional sport. He continues to work clinically alongside his development role in Rehab Guru. David is passionate about Health tech to transform outcomes for patients. 

Susannah qualified with a first class Honours degree in Physiotherapy from Manchester University in 1994. She initially worked for the NHS in central London, gaining experience in many aspects of health care, before moving into private practice in Kent.

Having set up Active Now Physiotherapy, Susannah moved her practice to Warwick in 2007.

Between 1998 and 2000 Susannah worked as a physiotherapist with the British Para Equestrian Team, and she has worked as a National Classifier for Disabled Sport.

Susannah has been a member of Physio First since November 1998. She served as an Alternate for the Midlands region for a year before assuming the position of Midlands Regional Officer in 2015. This role underwent a name change to Community Representative in January 2022.  

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Details:

Susannah Solt, MCSP
Active Now Physiotherapy, Turkey Farm House, Beausale Lane, Hatton, Warwick, Warwickshire CV35 7PE

Telephone: 01926 800101
Email: [email protected]

 

Paul qualified with a degree in Physiotherapy from East London University, having previously studied Sports Sciences at Brunel University. After gaining  three and half years’ valuable and varied experience at Mount Vernon Hospital, he moved into the private sector.

As a physiotherapist  experienced in assessing, managing, and treating a large variety of musculoskeletal conditions, Paul specialises in sports injuries, spinal, knee and shoulder problems, and has an interest in biomechanical assessment of the foot and post-operative rehabilitation. He has been a member of Physio First since 2011. He has served as an Regional Officer for North West Met region since 2016. This role underwent a name change to Community Representative in January 2022.  

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The Alternate position is currently vacant, are you interested?

Speak to Paul Gibson (above), or contact our office team on 01604 684960 or email [email protected]

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Details:

Paul Gibson, MCSP
Ruislip Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Clinic, 15 West End Road, Ruislip, Middlesex HA4 6JE

Telephone: 01895638841
Email: [email protected]

Kenny is a Manager and owner of Ascent Physio and Massage based in Falkirk. He has over 29 years' experience as a physiotherapist and has been a member of Physio First since 2004.

Kenny has a special interest in sports injuries and manual therapy assessment, and has worked as Head Physiotherapist for Falkirk Football Club for six and a half years. He served as an Regional Officer for the Scottish region since 2017. This role underwent a name change to Community Representative in January 2022.  

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The Alternate position is currently vacant, are you interested?

Contact to Kenny Cross, or contact our office team on 01604 684960 or email [email protected]

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Details:

Kenny Cross, MCSP

Ascent Physio and Massages, 81-83 Mary Street, Laurieston, Falkirk, FK2 9PR

Telephone: 01324 630888 or 07967 446356

Email: [email protected]

Jill has been a Physio First member 1999. She works as a sole practitioner in her own practice in Warwickshire, specialising in the treatment of upper limb and spinal disorders including post operative rehabilitation. Jill is also a qualified acupuncturist. ​

She has been a Quality Assured practitioner since 2016 and a Quality Assured Clinic since 2020. ​

Jill has always enjoyed and valued being a member of the Physio First family and in particular has found the business guidance given over the last 24 months invaluable. 

Jo has been working in Private Practice since 1996, initially as a sole trader, and now as JK Physiotherapy Ltd, a 2 site practice in Kent and West Sussex.

Jo trained at Kings College and worked in the NHS for 10 years, before moving first into part time private work in a Private Hospital before committing solely to her own business.

Jo spent her earlier years working with elite hockey players, and gained Post Grad Qualifications in Sports Medicine, Orthopaedic Medicine and Injection Therapy.

Jo has been a member of PhysioFirst since starting in private work in 1997 and has found the support, knowledge and guidance invaluable, successfully supporting her over the years whilst juggling the role of lead clinician and business owner.  She is passionate about promoting the quality and depth of treatment and care Physiotherapists can offer in the private sector, and how this leads to happy patients, a successful business and incredible job satisfaction.

Jo has always played a mix of sports, but now when not at work, golf is her passion and stress reliever!

Jo has served as a Community Representative since 2023

A member since 1992, Shirley-Ann started attending the Physio First drop-in sessions during lockdown, appreciating the connections and potential for supporting one another, whilst embracing our similarities and differences, and representing the wider membership with openness, integrity, and understanding.

Practicing MSK physiotherapy for over 30 years, Shirley-Ann is dedicated to supporting people to receive the realisations that lead to self-care, consider the wider factors contributing to injury, facilitate healing and prevention and the return to life’s flow, using listening, expression and effective practical physiotherapy.

Shirley-Ann qualified from The Middlesex Hospital London, worked in the NHS, then in a group private practice before joining BMI Runnymede Hospital and becoming the physiotherapy manager. She started her own practice in Ascot, and in 2011 moved to a designated treatment room at home in Lightwater, Surrey, where she practices today.

Shirley-Ann has served as a Community Representative since 2023