President - Luciana de Michelis Mendonça (Brazil)
In the past, I worked hard for SONAFE (the Brazilian National society of Sports Physical Therapy). I’m associate since 2007 and I have always engaged to help my profession grow. I took part on Organizing Committees of 3 SONAFE's Conferences since then. Moreover, I had 6 years of dedication on SONAFE's Executive Board. I was the first female president of SONAFE (2016-2017), in a country with many restrictions to women participation in sport and politics. In 2018-2019 I continued to help SONAFE in the International Committee being the link to actions related to IFSPT, as we started to work on the Brazilian pathways (to get RISPT). Moreover, I'm a teacher in a Federal University in Brazil and I develop research in Sports Physical Therapy field. I participated in the last 3 editions of IOC World Conference on Injury and Illness in Sport with poster and workshops presentations. I also engaged on the organization of the Physical Therapy services of the Rio 2016 Olympics and Paralympics Games.
Vice President - Carlo Ramponi (Italy)
I practiced sports at a competitive level for almost 15 years. Actually, my sport is running behind my sons and their needs and managing my rehab center.
I am a physical therapist interested in sport rehabilitation since my degree with both amateurs than professional athletes or team. My principal interests are muscle injuries treatment, ACL rehabilitation, shoulder instability rehabilitation. I really like work as part of health and staff team and work together to follow the same aims. Before my period as IFSPT EB member at large, I have been president of GISPT (Group of Italian SPT) for 6 years. When I started to work with IFSPT I was really excited to be in the position to help our Community to grown and improve. I supposed to be able to transfer my personal positive energy and competencies - that I put in Italian group and before in 15 years of previous sport or associative organization - in EB.
Treasurer - Suzanne Gard (Switzerland)
I discovered the IFSPT when I studied in the MSc in sports physiotherapy in Bath, we had great discussions upon the 11 competencies defined by IFSPT and the MSc was tailored to meet these.
I have been always very active during my career to develop CPD, organizing courses, conferences, workshops in my country but also internationally. For five years I teach at the University for physiotherapists in the bachelor’s degree and postgraduate. I travel with teams and work pitch side on major tournaments, and major events like the Olympic Games. I like working in the board of societies, like EUSSER, RRMES and now Sportfisio Swiss, it is a good way to inspire changes and make our profession thrive.
My main areas of interest are injury prevention, especially for young athletes, return to sports strategies and rehabilitation of unstable joints.
I am used to organizing congresses, courses and events at a national and international level and like networking.
If I am elected to be part of the EB of IFSPT, I would be keen to help develop CPD pathways to access RISPT in different member organizations, to develop the IFSPT learning platform and courses, strengthen the links with the IOC for the health of athletes, push for injury prevention, especially in young athletes to promote a safe and healthy sports participation.
Secretary - Chris Napier (Canada)
Chris Napier graduated from Curtin University’s Master of Physiotherapy program in 2003. While waiting for his accreditation in Canada, he started his first sport physiotherapy job with Vancouver’s professional soccer team (the Whitecaps). From there, Chris worked with a variety of sports and abilities including basketball, field hockey, alpine skiing, and athletics. He has been part of the medical team for the Pan Am, Commonwealth, and Summer and Winter Olympic Games, as well as multiple World Championships in Alpine Skiing and Athletics. Chris began volunteering his time to Sport Physiotherapy Canada shortly after graduating, joining the provincial section executive where he served for 10 years (2005-2015) before joining the national executive (2016-2020). While on the national executive, Chris brought the World Congress of Sports Physical Therapy to Canada where it was successfully staged in conjunction with a revitalized Sport Physiotherapy Canada Congress in 2019. He obtained his Sport Physiotherapy Canada Diploma in 2007, became a Registered International Sports Physical Therapist in 2017, and went on to complete his PhD (Running Biomechanics and Injury Prevention) in 2018. He currently serves as Sport Physiotherapy Canada’s liaison with the IFSPT and Chairs the Sport Physiotherapy Canada Conference Organizing Committee. Chris’ experience encompasses the full breadth of clinical (from private practice to elite sport), research, and service to the sport physiotherapy community.
Member at Large - Kenneth Watt, United Kingdom
I am an Experienced Musculoskeletal and Sports Physiotherapist with a background in private practice, and national/international level sports. I am due to complete a seven-year term as the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Sports and Exercise Medicine (ACPSEM) Regional Representative for Scotland. My role encapsulated regular communication (both electronic and in-person) with the membership, focused on education, CPD, and wider organisational updates. Within the region I built an active CPD calendar so developing skills in course organisation and administration including marketing across social media platforms. I have held a number of ACPSEM education committee steering group roles around the organisation of large national conferences aimed at promoting sports physiotherapy. Through my regional work I was appointed Regional Representatives co-ordinator in which I established and managed communication channels and served as a direct link to the executive board. In my role as social media regional manager, I was responsible for developing the first regional Twitter account which continues to be active and increase national awareness of the organisation. I went on to advise and publish guidelines around wider organisational accounts. I have taken great pleasure and satisfaction from my role within the ACPSEM, helping to support, promote and drive the profession on within my native Scotland and the UK. The region is now the most active within the organisation with regular fantastic member interaction. I would relish the opportunity to bring my energy and skills to the IFSPT Executive Board, and support the organisation with its member engagement and growing use of social media as a communication and educational tool.
Member at Large - Aleksander Killingmo (Norway)
I am a board member of the Norwegian Sports Physical Therapist Organization and has been so since 2015.
I think that IFSPT could be a powerful organization that should be in partnership and collaborate with the big organizations arranging sports competitions (FIFA, IOC, IAAF, FIS and so on), and organizations that are in place to take care of athletes' health (such as BJSM and its affiliates). I think IFSPT should be a central consultant in arranging sport events, leagues and teams regarding the need for a sports physiotherapist and a guarantor for the quality of sports physiotherapists. We should aim to become a "go to" organization for everyone in need of a Sports physiotherapist or so alike. I would like to dedicate my work towards this goal.
Member at Large - Ummukulthoum "KT" Bakare, Nigeria
Ummukulthoum "KT" Bakare is a Doctorate Candidate in Physical Therapy at the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa.
She is a founding member of the Nigerian Sports Physiotherapy Association and has been active in the development of FIFA 11+ training in her native country and across Africa. She received her Bachelor of Physical Therapy and her Masters of Physical Therapy from the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Ngeria.
KT has worked as a physical therapist since 2001, and has won several awards for her service.