PNZ Executive and Standing Committees

The PNZ Executive is our governing body which plans strategically for the future direction of Physiotherapy New Zealand. Members of the PNZ Executive may be contacted through the PNZ Office.

PNZ Executive

Elizabeth Binns- President

My first job was as a physiotherapist on the Assessment, Treatment & Rehabilitation of the Older Adult wards at Waitakere Hospital. It was there that I was bitten by the rehabilitation bug seeing the lifelong changes that physiotherapy creates with the people we work with and their family/whanau. It was also in West Auckland that I became aware of the diversity of New Zealand and the opportunities and challenges that this creates for health professionals.

I currently work at AUT University as a senior researcher and lecturer focusing on older adults, falls and neurological physiotherapy. I have presented both nationally and internationally.

Elizabeth can be contacted by email - president@physiotherapy.org.nz

Grant Chittock

I am a registered physiotherapist and currently work as the managing director of the Motus Health group, of which my wife and I are the founding shareholders.

I started working in private practice 19 years ago as a sole trader, essentially a start-up operation and over the intervening years have learnt an inordinate amount about what it takes to run a business, how to manage risk, how to manage growth and most importantly from a retrospective learning perspective, how to manage significant downturns in our industry.

Motus Health is now one of the largest physio practices in the country with significant diversity in what, how and where our services are provided. I have an innate understanding of the issues facing small rural practices, large urban practices, low socio-economic areas, staffing challenges, succession planning, contracting models, remuneration frustrations and working in an environment that is quickly evolving.

My passion is the business of physiotherapy. Whether we enter the business aspect of our profession by design or default, a high-quality patient centric physio service model needs to be complemented with a robust, sustainable and profitable business model. Following the demise of the private practitioner’s association, the voice of private business has been somewhat lost within PNZ and given the majority of PNZ members' work in some form of private business it is crucial to have advocates at the highest levels.

I currently chair the private practitioners’ advisory group to PNZ and in recent times myself and others have been working closely with ACC on the physiotherapy contract redesign. This role, alongside other work I’m doing in the delivery of a proof of concept for the bundled delivery of ACL surgery and rehabilitation, puts me in a strong position to be an advocate for our profession.

I have strong business and financial acumen, which combined with working under a formal governance structure within our workplace has enabled me to gain first hand, relevant experience which I believe will be an asset to the PNZ executive.

My personal crusade is twofold. Firstly, to ensure physiotherapists truly value their skills, time and worth. Secondly to get our profession's remuneration up to a level befitting the central role we play.

Melissa Davidson

I own a private practice in Queenstown and have just completed my MPhil (research masters) in physiotherapy for the pelvic floor and intend to continue my research with a PhD over the next few years.

I am at a stage in life and my career where I can use my experience to give back to the profession.

I have been the Secretary and Physiotherapy New Zealand representative for the Continence and Women’s Health Special Interest Group since 2009. During that time, I have actively represented our special interest group to the wider physiotherapy community, organised courses and conferences, assisted in teaching, brought our special interest group into the computer and cloud age and generally got ‘things done’.

This year I have been selected to join the Academic Committee for PNZ.

Ben Hinchcliff

I am a physiotherapist and enrolled barrister and solicitor of the High Court in New Zealand.

I have been a physiotherapist for over 20 years working in all areas, but mostly as a private musculoskeletal practitioner. I am the director of ACC Legal Limited. This company focuses on providing legal advice to claimants challenging ACC decisions and employment law. The primary focus is to help people navigate the ACC appeal process at review and in the District Court.

As I was a clinical advisor at ACC for 2 years, in the ACC32 and knee surgical request teams, I understand how ACC makes decisions and its culture. I understand why ACC makes their decisions and how to challenge those decisions.

I was previously the chairperson of the Auckland Branch of Physiotherapy New Zealand and co-chairperson of the Professional Practice Committee. I worked on these committees to help New Zealand physiotherapists to be excellent ethical and expert clinicians. As well as undergraduate LLB and BHSc (physiotherapy) I have a master’s degree in the Science of Administration and a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree.

I have a contract to provide physiotherapy at the Auckland District Health Board, but most of my time is spent focusing on ACC and employment legal litigation. As most of my time is working on legal matters, I appreciate the complex nature of decision making.

Kurt Thomas

I graduated from Otago University in 2003 and worked in Dunedin in private practice. I developed an interest in Occupational Health Physiotherapy and completed a PG Diploma in Ergonomics in 2008.

From 2007 I worked in Mount Isa, Queensland, returning to Dunedin in 2008 to private practice. I also lectured in Vocational Rehabilitation at Otago Polytechnic from 2009 – 2014. I became a member of the College of Physiotherapy in 2009 as an Advanced Practitioner and have been an active member of the Occupational Health Physiotherapy SIG since 2009 and am the current chairperson.

Currently I am the Vocational Contracts Manager for RATA South in Dunedin. I undertake management, return to work programs, injury prevention education, ergonomics and pre-employment testing. I have also been involved in the development of the Physiolog application for smart devices.

Mark Quinn

I am the owner and founding director of a private practice in Auckland and have 14 years’ experience working in musculoskeletal physiotherapy. Currently I spend halfmy time working clinically and the other half on business management, advocacy, post graduate teaching, and PNZ Auckland branch work.

I have spent my career working in both private and public settings across New Zealand, Australia and theUK.In 2014, I completed my Master’s in Health Practice (with distinction) and have been on the Auckland branch committee for nearly 5 years. For the last 4 of those years, I have been the treasurer and one of the main organisers for our very successful annual symposium.

Recently I have been working with Procare (PHO) aroundthe design of an initiativeto improve patient outcomes in primary healthcare. A large portion of this project is to foster stronger relationships between GP’s and physiotherapists. This has involved multiple workshops and collaboration with consumers, physiotherapists, GP’s, and specialists, as well as teaching GP’s. I want physiotherapists to lead the way in improving pain and function, but also preventing disease such as obesity, diabetes, and osteoarthritis and I will continue to push this throughout my career.

Within our profession, I see a group of well educated, talented, and passionate health professionals who are often undervaluedand whose skills are under utilised. If I am elected, my aim is to advocate for the profession and show other medical professionals, as well asthe general public, that we do make significant changes to key health issues. I want to approach all major funders and ensure that we are getting paid what we deserve - not to only make our profession sustainable but also highly respected. I hope that when we are asked whether physiotherapy would be a good job for me we can answer this with a definite yes.

Standing Committees

Finance, Risk and Audit Committee

The Finance, Risk and Audit Committee oversees the financial and risk management of PNZ, regularly monitoring all expenditure, with the mandate to ensure that PNZ remains in a strong financial position.

Professional Standards and Ethics Committee

The Professional Standards and Ethics Committee focuses on setting and promoting ethics and professional standards.

Professional Development Committee

The Professional Development Committee aims to enhance the value of physiotherapy by supporting and recognising the professional growth of physiotherapists, and to establish and promote a career pathway for physiotherapists in New Zealand.

Private Practice Advisory Committee

This committee acts as the voice of private practice, representing their interests and needs.

Scholarship Trust Fund Selection Committee

The Scholarship Trust Fund was established in 1980 to promote, encourage and assist members carry out physiotherapy research and contribute to physiotherapy education in New Zealand. The committee meets annually to consider applications to the fund and decide on allocations of funding. Criteria and processes for applying to the Scholarship Trust Fund (members only)