Podiatry 2025: Speakers A - Z

Nadia graduated with a BSc in Biology from the University of Toronto in 2007 and gained Advanced Specialty Certificates in Forensic Investigation and Crime Scene Analysis from BCIT in 2010. She completed an MSc in Forensic Science at the University of Strathclyde in 2018, researching gait analysis using CCTV footage.

A Professional Member of the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences, she holds certificates of competence in Forensic Gait Analysis and Barefoot/Foot-in-Shoe Analysis. Nadia is a member of the International Association for Identification and its European Division, a founding member of Forensic Gait Analysis International, and part of the Forensic Podiatry Advisory Group

Dr Helen Banwell is the Program Director for Podiatry at Adelaide University, South Australia (SA). Her experience spans over 25 years of teaching, working, and researching various aspects of podiatry clinical practice.

Helen is a Podiatry Board of Australia member, a paediatric credentialled podiatrist (via the Australian Podiatry Association), spent several years as the podiatrist for Correctional Services (Juvenile division), and has worked extensively within the national disability insurance scheme for children with movement and function concerns.

Her research focuses on flat feet and movement conditions, predominantly in the paediatric area, improving consistency in assessment and intervention approaches, and translating evidence into clinical practice.

Dr Ivan Bristow PhD (Dermatol) MSc (Oxon) FRCPodM is a graduate of the University of Oxford and holds a strong interest in lower limb and foot dermatology. He has promoted the subject worldwide. He has co-authored books, published over 140 professional and academic papers and runs a successful podiatric dermatology blog (www.foot.expert).

His current work includes consultancy, research, private practice and is an Honorary Professor at Health Sciences University in Dorset, United Kingdom and holds other visiting positions at other Universities in the UK and Australia.

Tommy Chan is a Consultant Podiatric Surgeon within the Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS FT and Doncaster Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS FT.

He was an elected committee member with the Faculty of Podiatric Surgery and now holds the role as the Regional Chair of the Northern Deanery.

He has also been an invited faculty teaching member with the Vascular Society for Great Britain and Ireland and a visiting lecturer for the Masters programme in Podiatric Surgery with the University of Huddersfield as well as being a registered surgical tutor.

His main areas of interests are minimally invasive foot and ankle surgery and high-risk limb salvage surgery.

Luxmi Dhoonmoon is a Nurse Consultant Tissue Viability working for London North West University Healthcare (LNWH) NHS Trust.  

Luxmi completed her BSc (Tissue Viability Pathway) in 2010 and MSc in Advanced Practice in 2013 at St George's University of London and is currently enrolled on a PhD in Nursing studies. She is also a Professional Nurse Advocate and Queen's Nurse.  

Passionate about wound care and with a passion for addressing inequity across all types of wounds she introduced the Skin Tone tool across LNWH NHS Trust to reduce harm across all skin tones and increase inclusivity in all wound assessments thus delivering equitable wound and PU care. She also leads a team of Tissue Viability Nurses.

Luxmi won the Journal of Wound Care Award for Best Clinical Research in 2015 for making a difference in patients with chronic wounds while using topical oxygen therapy. She contributed to several case studies, best practice statements and research to enhance clinical evidence forming the future of practice.

Luxmi has published several clinical evaluations on patient care and improvement and recently authored an article in Independent Nurse on Long Covid and self-care. She recently co-authored a best practice document with Wounds UK to reflect assessment of dark skin tone in practice. 

Luxmi's aim is to develop her clinical research further to improve public health and lower limb care in the community and recently won an award at the Health Equity Summit for North West London ICB for addressing skin tone and improving pressure ulcers in dark skin tone.

Sally is a PhD student at the University of Southampton, exploring representation in research populations.

She is the chair of the Royal College of Podiatry's Equality, diversity and inclusion steering group, and sits on the Research, development and innovation committee.  

Sally has a background in linguistics and complementary therapies before moving into podiatry.

Sharon qualified as a podiatrist in 2002 from Southampton University.

Sharon has worked in private practice and specialised in biomechanics. She also worked for the Ministry of Defence at the then Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court.

She has worked for the Royal College of Podiatry as a Professional Support Officer since 2011.

Dr Jill Halstead-Rastrick PhD is a podiatrist with 22 years' experience. She holds an NIHR Senior Clinical Research Award, and is the Clinical Lead for Research at Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust.

Jill has degrees in Sport & Exercise Science (BSc 2000), Podiatry (BSc 2003), Health Research (MSc 2008) and was awarded a PhD in 2013. She holds a Visiting Research Fellow title at the Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine and works with leading osteoarthritis (OA) research groups across the UK, USA and Australia.

Jill worked with the NICE guideline OA committee and the International foot and ankle osteoarthritis committee. She co-founded MSKUK, a special interest group to support grass roots and advanced practice in musculoskeletal practice. This has including publishing the first osteoarthritis foot atlas and publishing the first feasibility study of orthoses to treat painful midfoot OA.

Jill has received funding and published over 20 research articles exploring midfoot pain and osteoarthritis.

Alex is clinical manager at Wye Valley NHS Trust and has worked for many years across both acute and community settings, both developing and leading integrated pathways that support seamless patient care.

With a strong background in service development and clinical leadership, Alex has played a key role in strengthening collaboration between podiatry and podiatric surgery, recognising the vital role close working relationships have in delivering high quality outcomes.

Passionate about innovation, teamwork and patient experience, Alex continues to drive initiatives that improve pathways, enhance professional integration, and support the evolving needs of patients within the NHS.

Saul is the Professional Head of Podiatry and the Acute and Community Podiatry Service Manager at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Following service in the British Armed Forces, he began his career as a Registered Podiatrist and progressed to roles as an Extended Scope Practitioner and Non-Medical Prescriber, with clinical interests in wound care, podiatric surgery, and research.

He has held senior operational roles within Community Health Services, leading on integrated care, service transformation, strategy implementation, and co-production.

Saul currently serves on the Royal College of Podiatry’s Medicines and Medical Devices Committee and the NHS Clinical Senate (East and West Midlands). He holds an MSc in Podiatric Surgery, an MBA in Healthcare Management, and has recently undertaken further study in Healthcare Policy at the University of Oxford.

Dave James is a TEDx speaker coach, former podiatrist and A&E nurse.

After a career in healthcare, he helps experts develop their speaking skills so they can bridge the gap between their expertise and their audiences. Drawing on his healthcare background and experience hosting stand-up comedy, his work focuses on storytelling, presence, authenticity, and making complex ideas easy to connect with.

His TEDx talk, How Mindfulness and Meditation Can Help Men, has been viewed over 20,000 times and was chosen as an Editor’s Pick.

His keynote, How to Be a Happy Human, blends personal story with practical tools for well-being.

Mr Ewan Kannegieter is a Consultant Podiatric Surgeon based in Essex and current Dean of Podiatric Surgery at the Royal College of Podiatry.

He is also Associate Professor of Medical Sciences at Quinnipiac University, USA, where he supervises research Fellows.

With nearly 25 years’ experience in foot surgery, his specialist interests include minimally invasive techniques, limb salvage, service redesign, and surgical education.

Ewan leads a private practice, sits on the hospital’s medical admissions committee, and oversees clinical governance for MSK, orthopaedics, radiology, SEM, and podiatric surgery. He is passionate about raising the profile of podiatric surgery in the UK and beyond.

Felix graduated with a First Class Honors degree in Podiatry from Ulster University in June 2025 and was awarded the Colin Fullerton Cup for the highest pass in his year.

Felix is presently undertaking his Masters in the theory of Podiatric Surgery at Huddersfield University and hopes to pursue a career in podiatric surgery.

He is presently working as a staff podiatrist at Hillsborough Private Clinic, North of Ireland.

Jackie Lock is a senior lecturer at Glasgow Caledonian University and has been undergraduate programme leader since 2014.

He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (Glasgow) and a Fellow of the Academy of Higher Education. He has a long standing special interest in local anaesthesia in podiatric practice, and nail surgery in the high risk patient.

In addition to being responsible for theoretical and practical delivery of local anaesthesia and nail surgery to undergraduates, he has delivered post graduate updates nationally and internationally. 

Other areas of interest include anatomy and all things medical especially neurological disease, and his current research is in student mental health.

Fiona is an Advanced Practice Podiatrist in NHS Highland with over 30 years' experience. Fiona is a Regional Advisor for Scotland North for the Faculty of Podiatric Medicine, RCOPS (Glasg) and a member of the executive committee of FDUK. Fiona enjoys networking with colleagues across Scotland and the wider UK. Fiona is passionate about remote management of complex diabetes foot disease and collaborating with others to achieve faster wound healing.

In her spare time, Fiona is busy working towards a Masters in Advanced Practice in PVD at Birmingham City University.

Professor Carolyn McDonald is the Chief Allied Health Professions Officer (CAHPO) for Scotland and provides professional leadership in the Scottish Government for the third largest of NHS Scotland workforce as lead for all 14 of the allied health professions. She provides expert advice to Scottish Government Ministers and policy officials on professional matters including education, training, workforce, regulation and practice affecting all disciplines.

Carolyn graduated as an occupational therapist in Dublin, Ireland, and has worked all her professional life in Scotland holding various clinical roles in acute and community settings across older people and children’s services as well as in public health research.

Carolyn is the National Clinical Lead within the Scottish Government on Rehabilitation and has presented at the 3rd Global Rehabilitation 2030 meeting in Geneva, Switzerland on the policy and action on rehabilitation in Scotland. She also has a leadership role and impacts on other aspects of Scottish Government policy including Getting It Right For Everyone (GIRFE) and AHP contribution to Population Health Policy.

Carolyn is an Honorary Professor at both Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh and Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen.

I was appointed Consultant Podiatric Surgeon at University Hospitals Birmingham in 2014. I work in private practice at Spire Little Aston Hospital in Sutton Coldfield and at Rowley Hall Hospital in Stafford. In my NHS post I am a surgical tutor and have been involved with limb preservation surgery, working with our vascular, diabetes and podiatry colleagues to improve the surgical outcomes for patients across Birmingham and Solihull.

I am an elected Fellow of the Faculty of Podiatric Surgery and was Conference Co-chair in 2022 and 2023. As part of my role for Faculty I am National Tutor Co-ordinator and also sit on the Royal College of Podiatry Academic Quality Assurance Committee. I have also represented Faculty on the Royal College of Podiatry’s Research, Development and Innovation Committee.

Mr Nazir is a Consultant Podiatric Surgeon with more than 24 years NHS experience. He was appointed as an NHS Consultant Podiatric Surgeon and departmental lead at Guys & St Thomas’ NHS trust in 2010 and performs reconstructive and corrective foot and ankle surgery. He has a specialist interest in keyhole minimally invasive bunion surgery and has performed more than 500 cases to date, thus being one of the most experienced MIS bunion surgeons in the country. He is also the Immediate Dean of the Faculty of Podiatric Surgery.

He qualified in Podiatric Medicine at the London Foot Hospital, University College London Medical School in 2001, subsequently gaining his Fellowship in Podiatric Foot Surgery in 2007 after his surgical training in London and Surrey.

Mr Nazir also completed a Foot and Ankle Surgery Travelling Externship at the Harvard / Cambridge Healthcare Alliance, Massachusetts, USA and Saint Francis Hospital, Connecticut, USA.

Claire qualified as a podiatrist in 1991 and became a Podiatric Surgeon in 2000 being awarded both the Alan Proctor and Ian Turnbull awards for the highest passes in these examinations. In 2003 she completed her training in podiatric surgery and was appointed as a Consultant Podiatric Surgeon at Ilkeston Hospital in Derbyshire.

Claire started working in Hillsborough Private Clinic, Co Down, in March 2007.

She has published papers on the surgical correction of Hallux Valgus surgery, Hammer toe surgery, central metatarsalgia and fusions of the second metatarsalcuneiform joint among others.

I have been a proud member of the Royal College of Podiatry Council since June 2023, where I chair the Employment Support Committee.

For over 25 years, I have represented members as a Staff Side rep, contributing to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion projects and shaping policy on Parkinson’s disease and other neurological conditions. I have represented the College at the Trade Union Congress and within the Midlands network.

Alongside my independent podiatry practice, I serve as a Freedom to Speak Up Guardian across two NHS trusts, and chair the Midlands Regional Guardians Network.

Derek qualified as a podiatrist in 2005 and was awarded his Fellowship in 2023 having completed the new Masters in Podiatric Surgery course at Huddersfield University. He is currently working as a specialist registrar in Podiatric Surgery for Wye Valley NHS Trust whilst completing his CCPST. He also works in an advanced podiatry practitioner role for Hywel Dda University Health Board, where he has set up an independent diagnostic foot and ankle ultrasound service.

Derek has published several peer reviewed articles on a range of broad subjects in both podiatry and surgery.

He also holds a role as an associate lecturer for both Plymouth and Cardiff Metropolitan University having provided lectures for both the under and post graduate level programmes.

Katie specialises in sports injury management, musculoskeletal diagnosis, and biomechanics, bringing a performance-focused and patient-centred approach to podiatric care. Katie’s clinical background includes NHS, private practice, and multidisciplinary work with Spartans Football Club.

Katie is a Lecturer in Podiatry at Queen Margaret University, teaching across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, and has recently completed an MSc in Podiatric Sports Medicine at Queen Mary University of London.

With degrees in Sports Science and Podiatry, and as a former Scotland international and captain of Spartans Women’s FC, Katie is uniquely placed to integrate elite sporting insight into clinical practice and podiatric education.

Jayne Robbie is a senior lecturer and course lead for the MSc in Advancing Practice in Peripheral Vascular Disease at Birmingham City University as well as a Diabetes Specialist Podiatrist at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust.

She has been involved with high risk foot care for over twenty-five years, and became the first podiatrist in the West Midlands to be accepted onto the Diabetes UK Clinical Champions programme in 2019 and now sits on their Healthcare Professionals Advisory (HPA) Committee and Health Inequalities steering group.  She is also co-chair of the Foot in Diabetes UK Executive Committee, and a member of the English Diabetes Footcare Network Committee and the iDEAL (Insights into Diabetes Excellence, Access and Learning) multi-professional panel as well as the RCPod Vascular SAG. 

Jayne is currently studying for a doctorate and is researching person-centred ‘missingness’ and missed opportunities in accessing specialist foot care for people with diabetes. She is passionate about the unique role of podiatrists in the MDT and has been pivotal in the ACT NOW campaign to raise awareness of early referral of foot problems to specialist centres to reduce amputations.

She was awarded Fellow of the Faculty of Podiatric Medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons and Physicians of Glasgow in 2022 and elected Dean in May 2025. She was also awarded Fellow of the Royal College of Podiatrists in April 2023 in recognition of her work.

Emma has worked in the NHS for 27 years across Bedfordshire and Luton with a diverse clinical history working across Podiatric Surgery, MSK, and Diabetes gaining a non medical prescribing qualification in 2011. She is currently the Professional Lead for Podiatry at East London Foundation Trust, Deputy Therapy Lead and Intermediate Care manager in Bedfordshire Community Health Services.

Having previously chaired the Royal College of Podiatry Apprenticeship Group she has also completed a secondment with the College supporting the Workforce and Education Programme with apprenticeships. Emma is an accredited life coach and Quality Improvement Coach and enjoys facilitating others with their personal growth, providing mentorship to colleagues and supporting service innovation.

In July 2025 she joined the Council as a new elected council member and is looking forward to consolidating all of her skills and experience to support the continual growth of our profession.

Having the role of Conference Chair has been a privilege and career highlight for Emma and in her final year as Conference Chair she is looking forward to building on our purpose and uniting our profession.

 

I graduated in medicine in  London and trained in general/internal medicine in the north of England and Australia. I then trained in dermatology at the Institute of Dermatology (St John’s) in London, and in Aberdeen and Edinburgh.

I spent some time out of my clinical training to complete a research MD degree and then spent three years in post-doctoral research training in Dusseldorf, Germany, and Pittsburgh, USA.

I returned to Edinburgh where I am Professor of Medical Dermatology. I have an active research group, with a focus on the effects of sunlight on general health.