Our Mentors

Cath has been a physiotherapist for over 30 years, initially specialising in musculoskeletal physiotherapy and working mainly in private practice. Early in her career, she developed an interest in lymphoedema management while working in hospital settings. When she began seeing women recovering from breast cancer surgery, she undertook lymphoedema training and discovered a passion for oncology care.

Since completing her PINC training in 2016, Cath has also trained in Next Steps, PaddleOn, and STEEL, and now divides her time between private practice and hospice care. She is passionate about supporting people with advanced cancers to live well while undergoing treatment, helping them maintain independence and quality of life. Cath feels privileged that her entire caseload is now oncology-focused and enjoys mentoring others interested in this rewarding field.

Hi, I’m Jonty. I’m a father of two, keen cyclist, outdoor lover, sports coach, and co-owner of Zone Physio & Pilates in Taupō. Living in such an active part of New Zealand makes it easy to live a healthy lifestyle. I love working with human movement and biomechanics and enjoy helping people get back to life after injury or cancer.

I use a practical “play it as you see it” approach, watching how people move and function to understand their story. This helps me focus on what really matters and make things clearer and less overwhelming. I also enjoy supporting and mentoring other colleagues when they need help.

I’m Tam. I’m a mum of two, a business owner, and I love movement and being creative. Oncology rehab is life-changing for clients and practitioners, and I’m passionate about helping this work grow and last.

Life can feel busy and full, with lots of roles to balance. I bring over 30 years of experience as a post-graduate physio, using a holistic, movement-based approach. I’m also a Pilates trainer, oncology rehab physio trained in Next Steps and PaddleOn, a business owner, and a mum.

I’d love to work alongside you, supporting reflection, growth, and progress toward your goals. I aim to provide a safe, honest space to listen, learn about you, brainstorm ideas, and guide you. I truly want to see you succeed in oncology rehab and in life.

Helen graduated from the University of Cape Town in 1988. She has done further training in musculoskeletal therapy, clinical Pilates, and chronic pain management. She is also a Bradcliff-certified Breathing Therapist and a Level 2 Certified Lymphoedema Therapist.

For the past 14 years, Helen has mainly worked in oncology rehabilitation through her private practice in Nelson. She supports people through their cancer journey, helping them rebuild strength, confidence, and wellbeing. She is also passionate about showing how important physiotherapists are in cancer care.

As a mentor, Helen supports oncology physios across New Zealand. She understands the challenges of working alone, building services from scratch, and looking after yourself. She enjoys helping others grow in confidence and provide caring, holistic support.

Renee (Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Ruanui) is an experienced physiotherapist and kaupapa Māori practitioner. She is passionate about improving access and fairness for Māori in cancer care.

After graduating from Otago University, Renee started her career at Whakatāne Hospital. There she learned about post-surgery breast physio and lymphoedema care. She completed lymphoedema training in 2008, and later trained in PINC and Next Steps to support people through cancer rehabilitation.

Renee has been involved in the Waikato Breast Cancer Research Trust’s Lymph Node Grafting Trial. She now works with ĀKI Innovations, a kaupapa Māori health provider guided by values of whanaungatanga, tika, pono, aroha, kaitiakitanga, and rangatiratanga.

Kath is a very experienced physiotherapist who has spent many years supporting people affected by cancer. Through her work and her own family’s experience, she brings strong empathy, skill, and understanding to her role.

As Lead Physiotherapist at Active+ Mt Eden, Kath has built a caring and supportive team. She loves mentoring physios who are new to oncology rehab and helping them grow in confidence. Many of her team started as new graduates and have developed into strong, compassionate clinicians under her guidance.

Outside of work, Kath enjoys spending time with her two adult daughters and her much-loved dog.

Megan trained in Australia and has worked as a physiotherapist for over 26 years. For the last 15 years, she has focused on oncology rehabilitation. She is internationally certified in cancer rehab, Pilates, and lymphoedema care.

Megan has helped develop national cancer rehab programmes and is part of the international teaching team for PINC and STEEL. She also set up a wellness centre inside a private oncology clinic, where exercise is a standard part of care during chemotherapy.

Megan has supported and mentored many physios new to cancer rehab and is passionate about growing the next generation of clinicians. She offers mentoring in person (Auckland) and online.

Pam is a physiotherapist with over 20 years of experience and has worked in oncology rehabilitation since 2009. She supports people through their cancer recovery with care and compassion.

Alongside oncology work, Pam has strong experience in musculoskeletal physio, business ownership, practice management, and leadership roles in not-for-profit organisations. She has spent 16 years in leadership positions.

Pam is passionate about mentoring and helping physios and health professionals grow their skills and confidence in oncology rehab, so they can provide better care for people living with and beyond cancer.