NAVIGATION
Sydney Brain & Spine

The Team

Emma Winder

Practice Executive
Clinical Nurse Specialist

Emma qualified as a Registered Nurse with Honours in Auckland, New Zealand.  Her love for the job in operating theatres lead her to becoming a Clinical Nurse Specialist.  Her multi specialties as a Clinical Nurse Specialist were primarily Liver Transplants, Vascular and Upper Gastro-intestinal.  At the age of 24 she was invited to travel to Royal Prince Alfred (RPA) hospital in Sydney to co-ordinate their Liver Transplant Unit.  After working at RPA, Emma worked as an agency Clinical Nurse Specialist in many hospitals across Sydney.  She was invited to work as a private scrub nurse in orthopaedics and neurosurgery, which led to her committing to Neurosurgery.

After having some time off to enjoy raising her 4 young children, she has returned to work in an Administrative role with years of experience in a surgical environment.

Catherine Haines

Senior Surgical Practice Receptionist

Catherine first started working in medical administration at the age of 18 and has now accumulated nearly two decades of experience in the field. She got her start in general practice, spending 5 years at a practice in her hometown of Woolgoolga on the Mid-North Coast. She then made the move to Sydney in 2010 and has worked for a variety of specialists including a rheumatologist, renal physician, respiratory physician, and rehabilitation specialist, among others. She has a special interest in all things Japanese and travels to Tokyo frequently.

Michelle Reilly

Senior Administration Manager

Michelle brings a warm, caring approach and a diverse background to her role at SBAS.She began her career as an early childhood educator before moving into healthcare administration, gaining valuable experience at a busy general practice on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. She later expanded her skills in radiology and ophthalmology before joining SBAS in 2021.With her approachable nature and strong organisational skills, Michelle enjoys connecting with patients and helping ensure their experience is smooth and well-supported from start to finish. Her genuine care for others is at the centre of everything she does.Outside of work, Michelle enjoys staying active, exploring new places, especially those with plenty of sunshine and making the most of life’s everyday adventures.

Naomi Wood

Advanced Practice Nurse
Nurse Practitioner

Naomi has been nursing since 2001, and has worked in the operating rooms for 23 years. Naomi has experience in cardiac, orthopaedic, urology and robotic surgery, however has always specialised in neurosurgery. During this time she has worked in a variety of roles including Clinical Nurse Specialist, Associate Nurse Unit Manager and Clinical Educator. Naomi has a Masters in Clinical Nursing with a specialisation in surgical assisting. She qualified as a Perioperative Nurse Surgeon’s Assistant (PNSA) in 2009 and assists regularly in surgery. Naomi joined Dr Winder’s team as a practice nurse in 2014 as she  wanted to have greater patient contact and to be more meaningfully involved in the  patient’s perioperative journey from start to finish. Naomi has found this role to be extremely rewarding and she enjoys being able to support patients throughout their surgical experience

Priscilla

 Surgical Practice Administrator

Priscilla began her medical career in 2014 and has since dedicated much of her experience to supporting cancer patients. She has worked across a variety of medical settings, providing both compassionate care and essential administrative support. Priscilla finds great reward in building trusting relationships with patients and helping them feel at ease during challenging times.

Driven by a passion for making a meaningful difference, Priscilla values being part of a supportive and collaborative team that places patient-centred care at its core and fosters both personal and professional growth. Outside of work, she enjoys spending quality time with her family.