Contact Executive

For any queries or for further information on our range of Sports Performance & Testing services please contact Sydney West Sports Medicine on 1300 13 SWSM.

Your Executives

Sydney West Sports Medicine is owned and operated by a team of high profile sports medicine professionals. Our practitioners at Sydney West Sports Medicine are recognised as leaders in their field across many different sports. The team possesses an extensive client network at an elite and amateur sporting level, while also working with the general community on their health, disability, chronic conditions, and rehabilitation.

Dr Corey Cunningham
Director & Sports & Exercise Physician

Dr Corey Cunningham is a fellow of the Australasian College of Sport and Exercise Medicine Physicians (ACSEP), having completed specialty training in Sport and Exercise Medicine. He is the current Censor in Chief, overseeing the ACSEP examination process.

He is also a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and holds a postgraduate Masters in Sports Medicine from the University of NSW.

Dr Cunningham’s experience includes working with elite teams across many sports, including rugby, soccer, rugby league, paralympic sport, rowing, sailing and golf.

He is currently Chief Medical Officer for the NSW Institute of Sport, the Australasian PGA Golf Tour, Football NSW and Western Sydney Wanderers FC.

He is part of the Tokyo 2020 Australian Olympic Games Team, having previously fulfilled medical roles in the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Team as well as Rio 2016 and London 2012 Paralympic Teams.

His interests include the management and prevention of injuries in all active people – from recreational to elite.

Dr Corey Cunningham
Kingsley Gibson
Director & APA Titled Sports & Exercise Physiotherapist

Kingsley Gibson is an experienced Sports Physiotherapist who has been an NSW Institute of Sport Physiotherapy Consultant for the past twelve years and worked with the state’s top 750 elite athletes, coaches and managers.

Kingsley has had extensive experience with elite national teams. He has been involved with the Australian Indoor Soccer, Triathlon and Hockey teams. At a state level, he has been involved with NSW Gymnastics and Hockey teams. In 2001 and 2002 he was the head Physiotherapist and Medical Coordinator for the Sydney Kings Basketball team and the 2007 West Sydney Razorbacks.

In 2000, he was the Assistant Physiotherapist to the Sydney Olympic Games Polyclinic. Kingsley travelled with the Australian Women’s Hockey team to the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester and 2004 Olympics in Athens. From 2005 to 2008, he travelled extensively with the Australian Men’s Hockey team, the Kookaburras. Kingsley was a member of the Australian medical headquarters staff at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games, working with eight sports and also filled the same position at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2012 London Olympics with 4 sports including Hockey, Diving, Synchronised Swimming and Shooting. In 2016 he attended the Rio Olympics with the Australian Olympic team working with beach volleyball, road cycling, open water swimming and diving. For his services and experience with Gymnastics, in the year 2000, the Commonwealth awarded Kingsley with a Sports Service Medal.

Kingsley has a keen interest in biomechanics and its relation to injuries, rehabilitation and the way in which Physiotherapy and various physio exercises can assist in the return to sport and/or work. He has particular expertise in shoulder, foot, ankle and knee injuries and is currently doing extensive work in the area of the lumbar spine and pelvic stability. Kingsley has also lectured extensively to many university graduates, Sports Physicians, GP’s and Massage Therapists, further demonstrating his vast expertise in Physiotherapy.

Kingsley Gibson
Brent Kirkbride
Director & APA Titled Sports & Exercise Physiotherapist

Brent Kirkbride is an experienced APA titled Sports Physiotherapist. He has been the NSW Institute of Sports Physiotherapy Consultant for the past six years, working with the state’s top 750 elite athletes, coaches and managers. He has also been the Medical Coordinator for Athletics Australia since 2001 and was a previous member of the NSW Sports Physiotherapy group committee.

Brent has gained extensive experience with many elite national and state teams in a variety of sports, including working with the Sydney Kings Basketball, GWS AFL, National Men’s and Women’s Water Polo teams, Athletics and more. He has also worked as a Physiotherapist at major sporting events including the Olympic and Commonwealth Games providing Physiotherapy services to treat pain or injuries and ensure the athletes were continually performing their best. This experience allows Brent to bring a vast range of practical knowledge to our patients at Sydney West Sports Medicine.

Brent also has a keen interest in biomechanics and its relation to injuries. He is also interested in the ways in which Physiotherapy and rehabilitation can aid the return to sport and/or work. As a result of his experience with aquatic sports, Brent has developed a particular interest in shoulder problems, while his experience in athletics provides him with great knowledge in all running related injuries, especially overuse and tendon injuries involving the lower limb and pelvis.

Brent has lectured extensively to Sports Physicians, Physiotherapists, coaches and athletes on a variety of topics relating to injuries and effective management. He has been involved in studies that have been published in international medical journals.

Through his vast range of experience and knowledge, Brent is passionate about providing the highest quality of care for all patients. This ensures Sydney West Sports Medicine maintains its reputation as one of the premier centres for effective management of all types of musculoskeletal injuries in NSW.

Brent Kirkbride
Dr Dean McNamara
Director

Dean McNamara is an experienced exercise physiologist, sports scientist and strength & conditioning coach. He currently holds accreditation as an Exercise Physiologist (AEP), Sports Scientist (ASpS2) and Accredited High Performance Manager (AHPM) with Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA), and is qualified Strength and Conditioning coach with the Australian Strength and Conditioning Association (ASCA).

Dean has a strong interest in the sports science and the management of athletes. He has completed a PhD at the Australian Catholic University. The focus of his PhD was monitoring workload and fatigue in elite cricketers. Dean continues to publish his work and has reviewed papers for several international sports science publications. Dean has held sessional lecturing positions at the Australian Catholic University in both the Undergraduate and Masters of Exercise Physiology program.

Dean's current positions include:

• Exercise Physiologist/Sports Scientist/Performance Coach – Sydney Sports & Exercise Physiology
• Physical Performance Manager – Sydney ThunderSports Science Consultant – Cricket Australia
• Sports Science Consultant – Cricket New South Wales
• Director – Sydney West Sports Medicine.

Dr Dean McNamara
Chris Pappas
Director

Chris is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist and Sports Scientist with Exercise and Sport Science Australia.

He has a keen interest and vast experience in the rehabilitation of musculoskeletal injuries, injury prevention, strength and conditioning programs, athletic development and VO2Max testing. He has previously lectured at Australian Catholic University for the Masters of Exercise Physiology as well as presenting for Sports Medicine Australia, Sydney University, Australian Physiotherapy Association and The Australian College of Sports Physicians. Chris has contributed to articles for Men’s Health, The Sydney Morning Herald and is often called upon as an Independent Expert for complex legal matters.

Chris’ extensive work experience includes consulting for Cricket NSW, Football NSW, working with National Rugby League and NSW Cup players, National level Track and Field athletes, as well as professional Mixed Martial Artists. Chris is currently the Head of Sport Science & Strength and Conditioning at Sydney FC. He has a passion for delivering the latest science to improve movement, strength, mobility and performance.

Qualifications:

Bachelor of Exercise Science
Masters of Exercise Science (Strength and Conditioning)
Accredited Exercise Physiologist
Accredited Sports Scientist (Level 2)
ASCA Strength & Conditioning Coach (Level 2)
Level 1 ISAKEXOS Performance Specialist
FFA Conditioning License

Chris Pappas
Nikki Lodge
General Manager

Graduating from the University of Sydney in 2010, Nikki has since had the experience of working in a diverse range of environments including private clinics, hospitals and industrial onsite locations. She has also used her knowledge as an Exercise Physiologist alongside a number of elite and semi elite sporting associations such as the Parramatta Eels and Penrith Panthers Rugby League Football Clubs, as well as Gymnastics NSW.

Nikki specialises in the delivery of exercise for chronic disease prevention and management, musculoskeletal rehabilitation (including pre and post-operatively), weight loss/management, sports specific training or general health and wellbeing advice.

Nikki is passionate about providing the appropriate support, education and management for patients with complex and/or chronic conditions such as Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes, Osteoporosis, Mental Health Illness, Cancer, Arthritis, Pulmonary Disease, Neuromuscular Disorders and more.

Nikki is experienced in working with large corporate companies to provide training in regards to safe manual handling practices, implementing injury prevention programs and providing functional capacity and musculoskeletal assessments. Nikki also instructs weekly group Diabetes classes to assist both pre-diabetics with controlling their condition, and group Hydrotherapy classes for those with musculoskeletal injuries and chronic lower back pain.

Nikki Lodge
Phil Dimond
Group Practice Manager
Phil Dimond
Matthew Hicks
Clinical Manager & Physiotherapist

Matt has been working in private practice and sports physiotherapy since 2013. He has worked as Clinical Manager and Senior Physiotherapist at Sydney West Sports Medicine for the past 8 years.  

Matt enjoys working with youth athletes and has extensive experience across gymnastics and football. He has attended multiple Australian Gymnastics Championships (Gymnastics NSW) and is part of the Gymnastics Australia Physiotherapy Network.

In football Matt has been a physiotherapist in the Future Matildas Program (2023) and Sydney FC Women's (2017/18).  He works closely with NPL Football Clubs Mount Druitt Town Rangers and Blacktown Spartans with their youth and senior programs.  

Matt is also very experienced with Workplace Injury Management and works closely with numerous National businesses, managing claims, early intervention and injury prevention programs.  He works closely with Occupational Physicians(IMMEX), Rehabilitation Consultants and the workplace to optimise the care of injured workers.  

Matt is a Clinical Physiotherapy Educator for Australian Catholic University (ACU), Macquarie University and University of Sydney.  He is on the ACU External Physiotherapy Committee to optimise student placements in private practice.

Matthew Hicks