Ellie is a Clinical Exercise Physiologist and the Director of the Dysautonomia NZ Foundation. She is also the co-founder and director of Ascend Health, a private exercise rehabilitation centre in Auckland that specialises in supporting individuals living with chronic and complex health conditions.

With a long-standing commitment to improving recognition, diagnosis, and support for people with dysautonomia, Ellie has spent many years working closely with patients to help them safely manage symptoms, improve functional capacity, and enhance overall health and wellbeing through evidence-based exercise rehabilitation.

Ellie is deeply passionate about advocacy, education, and collaboration, and is dedicated to building a stronger collective voice for people living with dysautonomia across Aotearoa New Zealand. Through her clinical work and leadership roles, she aims to improve awareness, access to appropriate care, and long-term outcomes for this often under-recognised community.

Scott is a Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapist and owner and director of Breathing Works Physiotherapy Clinic in Auckland. He is also a director of the BradCliff Breathing Method, delivering cardiorespiratory education courses for health professionals internationally.

Scott is a passionate physiotherapist and highly regarded diagnostician. Alongside the BradCliff teaching team, he is considered an expert in the diagnosis and treatment of Breathing Pattern Disorders. He has a strong interest in complex conditions including dysautonomia and Long COVID.

Scott completed his Master’s research in diaphragm dysfunction in Breathing Pattern Disorders and now supports postgraduate students undertaking research in this field. He takes a holistic approach to care and holds postgraduate qualifications in Clinical Pilates and Acupuncture. His experience spans private practice, outpatient, and hospital settings across New Zealand and Australia.

Outside of work, Scott enjoys wing foiling, surfing, snowboarding, mountain biking, hiking, and spending time outdoors with his two young children.

Brooke is a musculoskeletal-cardiorespiratory physiotherapist, and the owner and director of the Breathing Works Clinics in Auckland. She is also a director of BradCliff Breathing which runs online breathing education courses for Physiotherapists globally, as well as corporate workshops throughout New Zealand.

Brooke is passionate about treating breathing dysfunction and how it manifests across myriad presentations, including POTS, dysautonomia and Long Covid conditions. She has a personal interest in disordered breathing after she suffered from sports related breathing dysfunction and anxiety while competing in Triathlon as a Junior Elite athlete. She represented New Zealand in Triathlon, and previously worked as a masters swimming coach; as a result, she has a deep understanding of the requirements for sport and activity across a wide range of populations.

Through working with a clinical caseload of dysautonomia patients, Brooke has learned the challenges that these patients meet every day. Coordinating care across a multidisciplinary team, listening to understand specific barriers and problems, and patient education are key focus points.

In her spare time, Brooke loves mountain biking, trail running, reading and spending time with her two young children.

Greer is a lived-experienced researcher and PhD candidate at the University of Auckland, studying the mechanisms underlying POTS. After developing POTS in 2019, she began studying physiology and is now pursuing a PhD in cardiovascular physiology, exploring how blood vessels and the autonomic nervous system respond in people with POTS.

Greer combines her personal experience with scientific research to connect patients and researchers, translating complex science into accessible information. She is actively involved with patient groups across Aotearoa, giving people living with POTS a voice in research and advocating for greater awareness, understanding, and care.

Anita Crawshaw is the Clinical Director of The Hypermobility Clinic in Christchurch, New Zealand. With over 20 years’ experience as a physiotherapist, she is widely regarded as a clinician for people with Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes and related co-morbidites such as dysautonomia.

Anita takes a holistic and empathetic approach to care and is well known for her strong advocacy for clients within the medical community. She holds a Bachelor of Physiotherapy from the University of Otago and a Postgraduate Certificate in Occupational Health.

Living with Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome herself has shaped Anita’s clinical expertise and deepened her passion for supporting others. In 2021, she established The Hypermobility Clinic to elevate care, education, and treatment for individuals with hypermobility conditions, including associated comorbidities.

Dr Jenny Butler is a Consultant Physician in General Medicine at Christchurch Hospital (Te Whatu Ora Waitaha) with a longstanding clinical interest in autonomic nervous system disorders and the investigation of unexplained dizziness, fainting, and collapse. She has extensive experience supporting people living with conditions such as syncope, orthostatic intolerance, POTS, and other forms of dysautonomia.

She leads the hospital’s Funny Turns Clinic, a specialised service dedicated to assessing patients with transient loss of consciousness and suspected autonomic dysfunction. Her approach combines careful clinical assessment with evidence-based autonomic testing, including tilt-table evaluation, to ensure accurate diagnosis and personalised management.

As an advisor to Dysautonomia New Zealand, she provides clinical guidance to support advocacy, education, and better care pathways for people affected by dysautonomia across Aotearoa.