I am a Sport and Exercise Physician based in beautiful Queenstown, working at Axis Sports Medicine Specialists and also the Medical Director for Snow Sports New Zealand.
I have thoroughly enjoyed my roles with the New Zealand Olympic Committee (2014-present) and have had the privilege of attending multiple Commonwealth and Olympic Games. One of my proudest moments was leading the New Zealand Team at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games during rigorous COVID screening protocols. I also cherished being part of a very special event for New Zealand in Paris, serving as the Deputy Health Lead, and I am extremely excited to be the Health Team Lead for the New Zealand Team for the Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina 2026. Being part of the New Zealand team during the Games is an incredibly special experience, as it contributes to the unique manaaki of our team while representing our country and our profession.
I am deeply grateful that my sports medicine journey has allowed me to fulfill my desire to make sport safer, and healthier, for everyone, particularly for our wahine. I was a founding member of WHISPA (Women’s Health in Sport; A Performance Advantage), an initiative by High Performance Sport New Zealand (HPSNZ). It was a delight to be involved in this interdisciplinary group and together, we have published research, run workshops, held online seminars, and continued to focus on education at all sporting levels in New Zealand.
I have a special interest in low energy availability (RED-S) and the various issues it encompasses. I run regular specialist clinics in this area, primarily via telehealth, to support active individuals from across the country. I have gained significant experience in understanding the difficult belief systems and, unfortunately, the sad thought patterns that often drive disordered eating.
Lastly, I am deeply passionate about safeguarding in sport, particularly for our vulnerable athletes, as well as being a woman working in a challenging sporting climate. In recent years I have been working with coaches, athletes, health teams, and organizations to develop safeguarding policies and pathways for escalation when things are not okay. It is our collective responsibility to keep each other safe and uphold our integrity. I have recently been added to the national Sports Tribunal, which operates under the National Integrity Unit in New Zealand. I hope that my commitment to keeping sport safe, fair, and aligned with integrity will be beneficial.
I am extremely proud to work alongside this wonderful group of SEM wahine, and I advocate for being each other's biggest cheerleaders. There are amzing women's health initiatives going on everywhere around us and it's a gerat time to be involved. The camaraderie and support among each other and our SEM colleagues is what makes being part of our college so fantastic.
Below is a picture of me skinning (uphill skiing) for a sunrise view atop one of the mountains in Queenstown with my dog, George. I truly believe that dogs are one of life’s greatest gifts. Nga Mihi.
