Environmental physiotherapy network

Chair: Danielle Munford 

Danielle is a lecturer in physiotherapy at the University of Plymouth. Her clinical background is in neurological rehabilitation in the NHS and private sector.

Danielle’s current role involves embedding environmental sustainability as a ‘golden thread’ in undergraduate physiotherapy teaching and placements.  

Beyond physiotherapy, she has established a ‘community of practice’ with colleagues in healthcare to share best practice and build interdisciplinary research opportunities across the School of Health Professions and School of Nursing and Midwifery.

As chair, Danielle hopes to facilitate discussion, collaboration and the sharing of ideas and knowledge with all EPN members. Physiotherapists do not need to be experts in this field to make a difference. The Environmental Physiotherapy Network aims to help all physiotherapists recognise the interconnection between human health and planetary health and learn how to practice in an environmentally informed way.

Vice-chair: Kath Donohue

I have been a practising respiratory physiotherapist for 25 years and an academic at the University of Plymouth for 12 years. Throughout my career and life outside of work, I have had a keen interest in sustainability and have been privileged enough to meet and work with like-minded people in driving this agenda forward within physiotherapy and other allied health professionals (AHPs).

Through my university roles as academic lead and associate head of school for student experience and inclusivity, I have been able to support AHP staff and students in developing knowledge and understanding of this topic and supporting staff groups to develop curricula that embed sustainability in their education and clinical practice. 

Alongside my colleague, Dani Munford, EPN chair, we have established interprofessional collaboration to promote student engagement across professional boundaries, built research outputs and delivered symposiums at the CSP conference. 

I am delighted to see this network come into reality and look forward to meeting and working with colleagues on delivering positive change in this critical aspect of our healthcare delivery.

Social media officer: Yahweh Van Ram, Sri

Yahweh Van Ram brings expertise in environmental management systems and digital content creation platforms as social media officer for the EPN.

As a qualified ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems specialist alongside ISO 9001 (Quality Management) and ISO 45001 (Occupational Health and Safety) credentials, he bridges environmental science with healthcare practice. He holds professional qualifications in workplace health and safety (specialist diploma), complementing his physiotherapy education with a technical understanding of sustainable healthcare operations.

Having served as chair of the physiotherapy society and course representative at TUSU, Yahweh represented students as CSP international delegate and regional representative for Northeast England. He is a student member of the British Geriatrics Society, has been featured in Frontline magazine, and presented conference e-poster abstracts at the CSP annual conference in Wales.

Yahweh's diverse academic background includes a master's in learning sciences and technologies, BSc (Hons) in psychological studies (University of Derby), graduate diploma in precision engineering (industrial automation) from A*STAR Simtech Research Institute, graduate certificate in LegalTech, and specialist diploma in medical technology and informatics. Currently, he is advancing the physiotherapy profession through his international study visit to OnePhysio Singapore, focusing on musculoskeletal research.

With 16 years of education and digital media experience, he is tenured as an associate educator with Singapore University of Social Sciences' Institute of Adult Learning. Yahweh brings professional expertise in video editing (CapCut, iMovie, Animotica, Adobe), photo editing (Adobe and imaging tools), and digital learning platforms (Articulate, authoring tools). He has authored publications in the Journal of Heart Valve Disease Innovation, Scientific Research Open Access journal, and Elsevier Physiotherapy Journal on professionalism, values, and neurophysiotherapy.

Yahweh is passionate about leveraging digital platforms to make environmental physiotherapy accessible, engaging, and action-oriented for students, practitioners, and the public.

Leadership lead: Chris Duncan

I am a doctorate in physiotherapy (pre-registration) student at Glasgow Caledonian University, and I am due to complete my course in summer 2026. Throughout my doctorate, I have gained experience in research and quality improvement, alongside teaching and co-facilitation across BSc, MSc, and Doctorate pre-registration physiotherapy programmes.

My core interests focus on how physiotherapy philosophy and professional identity should evolve in response to planetary health challenges and environmental sustainability. My research interests also explore the psychological factors that underpin student wellbeing and academic success, as well as faculty development within interprofessional education.

As leadership lead for the EPN, I am keen to foster a culture of shared and inclusive leadership, prioritising collaboration, valuing diverse perspectives, and supporting members to discover and develop their own capacity to lead, influence, and advocate for planetary health. 

Clinical co-leads: Aisling Condon and Paula Bright

Aisling Condon

Hello! I'm Aisling, a musculoskeletal physio down in Cornwall, with a special interest in connective tissue disorders. In 2021, I set up my own business, the Green Physio, providing online and face-to-face physio, as well as carbon literacy training for physios and other healthcare professionals.

I was also one of the first few to join Physio Declares, a subgroup of Health Declares, advocating for more environmental consideration in everything we do as a profession and as part of the wider healthcare industry. 
I am thrilled to share the clinical lead role with Paula Bright, as I feel I can help support the network from a clinical perspective, for those on the 'front line' of practice, and facilitate an informative and approachable platform for clinicians to utilise.

I look forward to meeting you! 

Paula Bright

I am a physiotherapist with 25 years’ experience, including over 20 years working in musculoskeletal physiotherapy across the NHS, GP surgeries and private practice, in both the UK and New Zealand. I now own a sustainable private practice, embedding environmental responsibility within clinical decision-making, service design and day-to-day operations.

I have completed carbon literacy training and the Future Climate Leaders programme with Plymouth University, and I serve as vice-chair and sustainability lead on the board of Active Cornwall. I am strongly committed to continuing professional development and to providing clinical leadership that supports physiotherapists to respond confidently to the challenges of climate change and widening health inequalities.

I believe that good physiotherapy is inherently sustainable. By reducing reliance on secondary care, supporting patient agency and independence, and enabling appropriate deprescribing, physiotherapy plays a vital role in delivering high-value, preventative and person-centred care. Sustainable practice is therefore not a specialist interest, but a professional responsibility embedded within our existing scope and identity.

My approach is grounded in whole-person physiotherapy, with a focus on each individual’s unique context and what matters most to them. I’m delighted to be in this joint clinical lead role within the EPN, supporting a profession that is clinically excellent, socially responsible and fit for the future.

Education lead: Leanne Wiles

Leanne works at the University of Lincoln as a senior lecturer. Before working in higher education, Leanne worked in NHS musculoskeletal practice and pain care services. This clinical experience helped her understand how important environmental factors are to people’s health and wellbeing. In her current role, she continues to embed planetary health and environmental sustainability into the curriculum.

As education lead, Leanne hopes to work with fellow physiotherapists to ensure environmental physiotherapy education is relevant, innovative, accessible and hopeful. She is passionate that physiotherapy education equips the next generation with the knowledge and skills to be aware of, and address, the climate and ecological challenges impacting our patients and profession.

Leanne is a member of a local climate hope group, which keeps her connected to grassroots, community action.

Research lead: Cynthia Swarnalatha 

Cynthia is a physiotherapy researcher and holds a PhD in Applied Health Sciences, with postgraduate degrees in Physiotherapy and Psychology. 

Her work spans hand rehabilitation, implementation science, cross-cultural adaptation of patient-reported outcome measures, and efforts to improve equitable access to physiotherapy services. She develops sustainable online courses for health professionals on evidence-based physiotherapy interventions and applies her experience in co-design and stakeholder engagement. 

Cynthia is committed to research mentorship, environmental responsibility in healthcare, global partnerships, and voluntary initiatives.

Student engagement officer: Josie Farrar

I’m Josie, a third year physiotherapy student at the University of Southampton. 

I am passionate about the link between planetary health and human health. 

I am excited to engage students in this network and to work together to improve the integration of environmental health in our profession!

Associate engagement officer: Katie Reed

My name is Katie. I graduated from Brunel University last year and am currently working as an orthopaedic physiotherapy assistant at University Hospitals Sussex. 

Outside of my work, I enjoy exercising outdoors in nature, which strengthens my passion for caring for both people and the planet. 

I recognise how interlinked our health is with the health of our planet, and I am concerned by the environmental degradation caused by our lifestyles and systems. 

I am excited to work collaboratively to support our profession in becoming more sustainable. 

As associate engagement officer, I will support our valued associate members in delivering sustainable practice and representing our voices.