Our Team
Professor Brian Owler - Founder
A recognised leader in his field, his busy career has spanned research and diagnosis as well as non-surgical and surgical management of spinal conditions of patients in Australia and leading centres overseas.
Improved communication and models of care have always been in the forefront of Prof Owler’s approach to patient care. As a previous president of both the Federal and NSW Australian Medical Association (AMA), he has been actively involved in public health advocacy. This has included the RTA/NSW AMA Road Safety “Don’t Rush” campaign as well as lobbying to prevent childhood injury from window falls and improving pool safety.
Due to his vast expertise, Prof Owler was asked to develop the neurosurgery units at both The SAN and Norwest Private Hospital. He continues providing services to his patients at these centres, as well as the Children’s Hospital at Westmead and Westmead Private Hospital.
Professor Owler understands how concerned patients, their family and their support network can be when faced with conditions that affect their spine. With this in mind he has established O Spine, a unique spine care model that is dedicated to improving spinal health through the collaboration of highly trained medical and dedicated spine allied health practitioners.
Robin Sanderson - Operations Manager
Robin is a physiotherapist of over 15 years experience and brings 10 years leadership and management experience to his role at O Spine.
Following his early career in the NHS (UK) where he gained a solid grounding in all areas of Physiotherapy, he progressed into elite athlete management working predominantly with professional football and ice hockey teams. On moving to New Zealand in 2011, Robin transitioned to specialising in the management of back and neck injuries under the expert guidance of senior physiotherapists and orthopaedic surgeons at The Back Institute, a subsidiary of the Canadian Back Institute. In the following years, Robin gained further experience in the area of occupational rehabilitation, culminating in his progression into a leadership position with an international occupational rehabilitation provider as well as leading teams in the medical industry.
Robin’s developing interest and experience in leadership and management led him to complete his Master in Business Administration in 2021. Robin has recently returned to his passion for spinal health, leading the highly skilled team at O Spine.
Nick Mangan - Senior Physiotherapist
Nick is a dedicated and passionate physiotherapist with nearly 9 years experience. He is focused on improving people’s lives and helping them reach their goals.
Nick has developed expertise in various physiotherapy settings including spinal, musculoskeletal, orthopaedic and sports injuries. He has a particular interest in the conservative management of spinal pain as well as post spinal surgery rehabilitation. Nick is passionate about tailoring treatment to achieve specific goals across the domains of work, sports, hobbies or any other area that is important to each individual patient.
Nick’s philosophy includes promptly optimising management of injury symptoms whilst identifying and treating the root cause of issues. To achieve this he utilises manual therapy, dry needling, exercise prescription, and patient education as well as close collaboration with treating GP’s, surgeons and pain management specialists. Ultimately aiming to achieve the optimal outcome in the shortest possible timeframe.
Brian Park - Senior Physiotherapist
After obtaining his undergraduate physiotherapy degree from the University of Sydney, Brian developed a comprehensive grounding in all areas of physiotherapy practice. He has developed in depth expertise in musculoskeletal, orthopaedic, geriatric, elite athlete and sports injury management.
Brian has a special interest in biomechanical analysis as well as the management of complex cases. He prioritises patient-centred care, ensuring that his treatment approach combines patient’s preferred treatment modalities with up-to-date evidence-based practices. As such, Brian excels in employing tailored treatment strategies to assist his patients in achieving their goals, whether they involve returning to hobbies, sports, leisure activities or work.
Brian integrates a diverse array of manual techniques and structured exercise programs, personalised to suit each individual patient’s unique condition and environment. His dedication to enhancing his patient’s well-being is underscored by his commitment to delivering high-quality care.
Anthony Hibberson - Senior Physiotherapist
With over a decade of experience in private practice, Anthony is a dedicated physiotherapist specialising in spinal pathologies, musculoskeletal conditions, and orthopaedic rehabilitation. After completing a Bachelor of Health Science and a Masters of Physiotherapy degree, Anthony has spent the best past of 10 years honing his skills and knowledge in a variety of clinical settings and ongoing professional development courses.
Anthony’s passion for physiotherapy stems from personal experience. As a teenager, he faced his own challenges with back pain, which inspired a deep commitment to helping others overcome similar issues.
Throughout his career, Anthony has developed a reputation for effectively addressing complex spinal conditions utilising a detailed assessment to develop a tailored, patient-centered approach to rehabilitation. His extensive experience and dedication to ongoing professional development ensure that every patient receives the highest standard of care and support on their path to recovery.
When Anthony isn’t at work, he’s either running around after his new daughter and dog or slicing a few balls off the tee on the golf course.
Vanessa Turner - Receptionist & Administrator
Vanessa has almost 30 years experience in reception and administration, in various medical environments such as large pharmaceutical companies, non for profits, and private practice.
Vanessa’s welcoming nature and sense of empathy, combined with her passion for customer service will make you feel right at home when arriving at either one of our practices.
She is happy to assist with any enquires either via phone or in person regarding making your initial consultation, follow up, and pre and post surgery consultations. She can also assist with any payment, CTP or Workers Compensation enquiries or any general enquires you may have.
