About us

Annaliese graduated from the University of Otago with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy in 2016. She returned to work in her hometown, Tauranga, and has since moved to Queenstown in 2022 to enjoy the outdoor lifestyle.

Annaliese is working on her qualification in Vocation Rehabilitation and has an interest in supporting people to get back to work safely and sustainably. She is passionate about connecting with people of all ages and backgrounds to support working through the physical and overall well-being struggles that come with injury. Annaliese is passionate about getting to the cause of an injury through biomechanics, strength assessment and providing injury prevention education.

When not at work you can find her somewhere in the mountains hiking, rock climbing, mountain biking or skiing

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Originally from Ireland Aoife is an experienced senior physiotherapist who has made Queenstown her home for the last 7 years. She loves the variety of the incredibly active community here and the value they place on physiotherapy. Her practice revolves strongly around manual therapy including dry-needling and massage to calm injured tissues but ultimately her goal is to get you into the gym to bridge the gap from injury to performance and getting you back to doing what you love.

Alongside gym-based training she has over 4 years of experience as a pilates instructor so can confidently tailor a rehab program that is right for you. She appreciates clients who are curious and motivated who want to take their rehab to the next level.

Over the past 2 years she has also completed further education in the area of pelvic health after a 6-month stint working in a maternity hospital in Dublin. She loves being able to combine her knowledge of the pelvic floor and her musculoskeletal background to provide a full systems approach particularly to her female population.

Over the years she has worked with various sports teams including soccer and rugby. She loves training herself and takes part in both Gaelic football and muay thai at competitive levels as well as being a keen trail runner and mountain-biker

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Mike is a dedicated senior physiotherapist with a passion for helping athletes and weekend warriors return to peak performance. With extensive experience in both the public and private sectors, he has worked with complex musculoskeletal injuries in Ireland’s healthcare system and has developed a particular clinical interest in concussion and vestibular rehabilitation.

Recently, Mike completed a Sports and Exercise Medicine Diploma, further refining his assessment and treatment techniques for injured sportspeople. His approach is evidence-based, focusing on rehabilitation strategies tailored to each individual’s needs.

Beyond physiotherapy, Mike has a deep love for the outdoors. A qualified Austrian ski instructor since 2019, he has years of experience coaching skiers of all levels. In his spare time, you’ll find him mountain biking, hiking, ski touring, or more recently, paragliding. His firsthand understanding of the demands of adventure sports enhances his ability to support fellow outdoor enthusiasts in recovering from injuries and optimizing performance.

Whether you’re recovering from an injury or looking to prevent one, Mike is committed to helping you move better, feel stronger, and get back to doing what you love.

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Bron is an accomplished Australian trained Physiotherapist with over 14 years of clinical experience spanning 3 continents. His career has taken him from Sydney, Australia to Canada, the UK, and back down under before crossing the ditch to New Zealand.

Bron has significant experience working with sports and lifestyle conditions and has special interests in hand, wrist, lumbar spine, lower limb and running injuries. Bron is especially passionate about ACL rehabilitation where he has undertaken extensive training alongside the team pioneering the Cross Bracing Protocol in Sydney, having been through the novel process himself as a patient.

He is the consultant Physiotherapist at the well renowned Aro-Ha Wellness Retreat and considers his patients holistically with patience, care and understanding. Additionally he is trained in dry needling, clinical Pilates, and headache management.

Outside the clinical space, Bron is a Sports Photographer, often capturing images for endurance events such as Ironman, ultras and marathons. He also is a keen trail runner, snowboarder, tramper, footballer, and a (very average) pianist.

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Daisy is a physiotherapist with a special interest In musculoskeletal & sports medicine. Specifically, she has experience working with a variety of elite athletes, facilitating their return to sport.

Having qualified from Cardiff University in 2018, she has primarily gained experience working in private practice and sport. She was a physiotherapist for Bradford Bulls professional women's rugby league team in the UK and has worked in the French Alps treating ski injuries.

Daisy is also qualified in sports massage, acupuncture and reformer Pilates.

Outside of work, Daisy enjoys a diverse range of activities including skiing, CrossFit, gravel biking, trail running, yoga, and cold water swimming.

Laura qualified as a Physiotherapist in the UK in 2011 and started her career off in the health service to gain a variety of experience. Alongside working in a leading orthopaedic and spinal injury hospital, Laura joined the medical team for the British Superbike Racing Series in 2013. That led into a position on a High Performance Team at one of the UK’sleading sports clinics, where she treated a range of high profile Red Bull extreme sports athletes.

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Having dabbled in GB Taekwondo, assisting at training camps and worldwide events, her love of two-wheeled sport continued into motor-cross, providing physiotherapy for riders in the British Maxxis Series, and then joining the GT Downhill racing team with the Athertons. This led into a 7 year journey as team physio for Santa Cruz Syndicate Downhill Racing Team on the UCI Downhill MTB circuit. With a couple of unforgettable roles working with world champions, Laura has decided to move to Queenstown to continue to work with athletes and people who love sport and the outdoors.

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“When I decided to become a physiotherapist, I knew I wanted to get people back to their sport and to what they love doing. I enjoy the challenge of a complex ‘traumatic’ injury and going through the whole journey, empowering people to get through”.

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Laura recently completed a Masters in Sports Medicine and has a particular interest in concussion management.

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You will find Laura mostly riding bikes, snowboarding/skiing, in the gym and yoga.

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Sam brings extensive experience across elite sport and private practice, having studied and worked as both a Physiotherapist and Strength & Conditioning Coach. His multidisciplinary background allows him to deliver a highly integrated and effective approach to clinical care.

He previously served as Head of Academy Sport Science and Medicine within professional football in the UK, where he developed comprehensive rehabilitation pathways and built strong expertise in athletic development and return-to-play programming. His ability to take athletes from initial injury, through the return to play process, and beyond that to elite performance was honed whilst in this role and serves him well with those looking to progress their physical performance, as well as those simply looking to live a pain-free active lifestyle.

Earlier in his career, Sam worked as a Strength & Conditioning Coach in University, professional football, and private school settings after completing his first Masters degree in Strength & Conditioning in 2018. After completing a second Masters degree in Physiotherapy, he combined both fields to deliver high-quality, evidence-based treatment. He is a firm believer that the principles in both professions are fully complementary and can be applied to any population and goals.Sam’s clinical skillset includes the use of advanced assessment technology such as force plate testing, including experience with Vald systems, alongside several years applying Functional Range Conditioning principles.

With a strong rehabilitation focus, he has developed a broad and adaptable exercise library and is able to lean on his coaching experience to communicate in a personable, assuring, and positive style

Eleanor, from the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, is an experienced Sports Physiotherapist with a strong academic foundation and diverse clinical experience. After finishing her BSc in Physiology & Sports Science at the University of Glasgow, she went on to complete her MSc in Physiotherapy at Glasgow Caledonian University, equipping her with a deep understanding of the science behind human systems and function.

From there, Eleanor gained invaluable experience working within the NHS.  She worked across a range of specialities and alongside multi-disciplinary teams to provide comprehensive care to diverse client populations.

Eleanor is no stranger to the gym floor having managed commercial gyms and also being a certified Level 3 Personal Trainer. Eleanor is also a qualified Sports Masseuse, Hydrotherapist and has additional interests in the role of nutrition and psychology which further enhances her ability to provide holistic care.

Eleanor has a strong passon for sports, physical activity and inclusivity.  She brings firsthand experience of high-performance sport to her physiotherapy practice, having played football (soccer) in the Scottish Women’s Premier League.  Her diverse sporting background not only fuels her enthusiasm for movement but provides insight into the needs and challenges of athletes at all levels.  Regardless of your sporting prowess or physical abilities, Eleanor cares deeply about your personal goals and will give 100% to help you achieve them.

Outside of work, Eleanor is an outdoor and arts enthusiast and so she embraces a wide range of activities day to day - most recently taking up Gaelic Football

Joe has been immersed in high performing environments for close to 15 years. Having been on both sides of the white line in professional football he know finds himself serving the Queenstown lakes community. Joes passion for sports Physio has taken him around the world completing multiple courses in Ireland, Scotland, New Zealand & Australia to enhance his skill set. Joe is highly passionate about sports medicine, strength & conditioning and educating people on ways to better their lives through exercise. 
 

Joe believes if you have a body you are an athlete. He thrives in helping people find their true potential & make real life changes for people. He takes lessons learned from working with some of New Zealand's top international athletes & footballers and apply them to everyday practice. 

Enjoying the Queenstown lifestyle, he now finds himself out hiking & hitting a small white ball most weekends.

Rayn brings a wealth of experience to the team. His personal athletic career at the highest level of football has provided some invaluable experiences into high performing arenas. Rayn thrives in transitioning patients from rehab to performance.

With years of experience coaching all ages, shapes and sizes Rayn has discovered his interest is geared toward those who have sports and performance goals and loves applying strength and conditioning principles to get the individual to their goal.

Outside of Sports Physio Lab you'll find Rayn up in the mountains hiking or trail running, strength training and playing football.

Nikki’s passion for combining smart, structured training with performance and injury prevention began during her BSc in Sport & Exercise Science, completed in the UK in 2013. Her early interest in human movement deepened over five years working as a Snowboard Instructor in Canada, where she fell in love with mountain sports especially snowboarding and mountain biking.

After qualifying as a Personal Trainer in 2019, Nikki has since worked with a diverse range of clients ,from mountain sport athletes to everyday movers helping them train with purpose and return to the activities they love with more strength, confidence, and clarity. She holds additional certifications as a Pre & Postnatal Coach and Women’s Coaching Specialist, with a keen interest in supporting women through all stages of life and training.

Now a competitive powerlifter, Nikki lives and breathes strength training. Her coaching blends evidence based methods with real-world experience across action sports, rehab, and performance. Whether in the gym or on the trails, she’s passionate about helping people train smarter, reduce injury risk, and build resilience for life and sport.

When she’s not lifting heavy, you’ll likely find her on two wheels or hiking her snowboard into the backcountry — chasing adrenaline and alpine views.

Areas of coaching Focus:

Strength & Conditioning for Mountain Sports

Return-to-Sport & Injury-Rehab/performance Training

Pre & Postnatal Strength Coaching

Performance Programming for Women

Powerlifting & Strength Development

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Hooper holds a degree in Physiology from Oklahoma State University and earned her Doctor of Chiropractic from the New Zealand College of Chiropractic. Earlier this year, she also completed her International Certificate in Sports Chiropractic (ICSC), further building her expertise in working with athletes at all levels.

Having experienced an ACL tear from a ski injury herself, Hooper knows what it takes to move through the ups and downs of rehabilitation. She understands the patience, determination, and support needed to return to full function, and this personal journey has shaped the way she cares for her patients. She takes time to provide tailored assessments, hands-on treatment, and clear education—helping each person feel confident and supported in their recovery.

Over the years, Hooper has had the privilege of working with high-performance teams and organizations such as the All Blacks, the Professional Pickleball Association, the local women’s ice hockey and football teams, and New Zealand’s national women’s ice hockey team, the Ice Fernz.

Passionate about helping people get back to what they love, Hooper works with everyone from elite athletes to weekend warriors and busy parents. She also has a special interest in supporting women during pregnancy and caring for children, helping improve function and wellbeing through all stages of life.

Her approach brings together soft tissue release, joint mobilisation, chiropractic adjustments, and practical lifestyle and exercise guidance to support long-term health and resilience.

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Alisha is both a Registered Clinical Nutritionist and Registered Accredited Sports Nutritionist. Originally from Australia, Alisha has completed many running and triathlon events over the years, while these days settled in Queenstown, she enjoys running and cycling the trails. Alisha teaches her clients that proper fuelling and nourishment are essential for performance and overall wellbeing. Through tailored individual nutrition planning she will guide you in making sustainable dietary choices that support your training, enhance recovery and improve your overall health.

Whether you are in sports training, or just someone looking for better health, she will work with you to create a plan that suits your individual needs. Alisha’s motto is “one size certainly does not fit all, and neither should your nutrition.”

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To enquire about Nutrition Services email lets.explore.nutrition@gmail.com or visit www.letsexplorenutrition.com to find out more.

Originally from Medellín, Colombia, Ana brings a warm and welcoming energy to the Sports Physio Lab team as our Reception and Administrative Support. With a strong background in customer service and healthcare administration, she ensures the front desk runs seamlessly while providing essential support behind the scenes.

Passionate about living an active lifestyle, Ana enjoys CrossFit, running, hiking, and making the most of the outdoors. When it’s time to unwind, she loves romantic movies, good food, and connecting with people through shared experiences.

Her approachable nature and strong organisational skills make Ana an important part of our team and a familiar, friendly face for all our patients.

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Katie is our Practice Manager and all round office guru keeping the clinic running smoothly. Originally from the UK Katie started off her professional career working for one of the UKs top premier league football clubs and has since worked across Australia & New Zealand in various management roles, before making Queenstown her permanent home 4 years ago. You will find Katie either around the clinic caring for the practice's rather large plant collection or out on the Queenstown trail.