Meet the Team
Physicians
Dr Ronnie Stein, MD FRACP
Paediatric Endocrinologist
Specialising in a wide array of hormonal issues affecting children from newborns through to older teenagers. Her expertise lies in addressing the complex needs related to growth, metabolism, and sexual development in paediatrics.
Dr Nir Fireman, MD FRACP
Paediatric Gastroenterologist and Endoscopist
I am Dr. Nir Fireman, a Consultant Paediatric Gastroenterologist based in Auckland. Trained as a general paediatrician, I further specialised in paediatric gastroenterology in Israel.
Dr Annaliesse Blincoe MBChB, FRACP
Specialist in Paediatric Immunology and Allergy
Annaliesse calls upon her broad experience to provide the best patient and family focused care. Annaliesse has gained widespread experience within New Zealand and internationally.
Dr Prerna Sehgal
General Paediatrician
Prerna graduated from University of Otago School of Medicine in 2009 completing her initial medical training in Dunedin and Invercargill. She began her career in Paediatrics in Starship Hospital in Auckland and is currently working as a Paediatrician in the public sector for the paediatric service at Middlemore Hospital Kidzfirst.
Dr Eran Nevo, MSc, MD
Overseas‑Trained Paediatrician (Working Under General Scope)
Dr Eran Nevo is a highly experienced overseas-trained paediatrician practising under the general scope at TinyGiants, supervised by specialist paediatricians. He brings over a decade of clinical and academic experience, with particular expertise in developmental and behavioural concerns such as ADHD, bedwetting, and soiling. Dr Nevo is trained in Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS), allowing rapid bedside assessment of issues like constipation, urinary retention, and respiratory conditions. Outside of work, he enjoys photography, cooking, and spending time with his wife and three energetic sons.
Dr Candice Feben-Small FRACP, FCMG (SA)
Clinical Geneticist
Dr Angelo Sivathasan, MBBS, RANZCP
Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
Dr Angelo Sivathasan is a specialised paediatric psychiatrist dedicated to providing the highest standard of compassionate, evidence-based care for children, adolescents, and their families. He supports young people across a wide age range, from early childhood through to young adulthood, and has extensive experience managing complex presentations such as emotional dysregulation, mood and anxiety disorders, behavioural challenges, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), including comprehensive assessment and ongoing management.
Dietitans
Rebecca Bruce, BSc, PGDipDiet
Registered Dietitian
My passion is improving health and wellness through nutrition and giving kids the helping hand they need. I get great satisfaction from being able to change children’s lives for the better through the right nutrition.
Anna Richards
New Zealand–Registered Dietitian & Advanced Practitioner
I’m a New Zealand Registered Dietitian with over 25 years of experience helping children thrive through evidence-based nutrition care. Whether your child struggles with allergies, digestive issues, or growth concerns, I provide personalised guidance that brings clarity and confidence to families. I’ve supported thousands of children and parents across New Zealand, helping them build lifelong healthy habits. Let’s work together to ensure your child grows up healthy, happy, and nourished.
Caroline Worth Bsc PGDipDiet
Registered Dietitian
Sarah McKenzie, BSc, PGDipSci, MHSc Nutrition & Dietetics
Dietitian with 11 Years Paediatric Experience
I have worked with Starship Children’s Health for eight years, and have a solid foundation for supporting you in a wide range of nutrition areas, including food allergies and intolerances, faltering growth, Coeliac Disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and various disabilities including cerebral palsy and Down’s Syndrome. I have experience working with neurodivergent tamariki including autism and ADHD, and with selective eating and restricted diets including ARFID.
Psychologists
Phillippa Walker, DIPT, B.Ed, PGDipSpEd, MEdPsych, PGDipEdPsych
Child & Educational Psychologist
Physiotherapists
Sitar Naaman, BPT
Developmental Paediatric Physiotherapist
Sitar is a developmental paediatric physiotherapist who supports babies, children, and their families from infancy through childhood. She works with infants and young children to develop the movement skills they need for play and everyday life, supports children with a wide range of developmental, neurological, genetic, and other complex conditions and needs, provides paediatric pelvic health physiotherapy for bladder and bowel dysfunction and toileting difficulties, and offers infant sleep consulting. Sitar takes a holistic approach, working alongside families to help each child move, play, and participate in everyday life.
Educational and Learning Difficulties Assessor
Dr Janine Kantor (Phd) - Educational & Behavioural Practitioner
Dr Janine Kantor is an Educational and Behavioural Practitioner with extensive experience assessing and supporting children and adolescents who experience learning, attention, executive functioning, and neurodevelopmental differences.
Speech and language therapists
Josie Pla- Catucci
Bachelor of Speech and Language Therapy with Honours
Josie is a Speech and Language Therapist who graduated with Honours from Massey University in 2022. She has experience working in specialist school settings with children and young adults (ages 5–21), supporting communication and swallowing needs. Josie works with both neurodiverse and neurotypical children, tailoring strategies, implementing AAC systems, and collaborating with families and educators. She values holistic, individualized care and enjoys reading, exercising, travelling, and spending time with loved ones.
Alice Loughlin
BSLT (University of Canterbury), RMNZSTA
Alice, a qualified Speech-Language Therapist, has over 14 years of experience across health and education sectors in New Zealand, Australia, and the UK. Since joining Counties Manukau Health in 2016, she has specialised in pediatric feeding, supporting young children with diverse needs including prematurity, cleft palate, and cerebral palsy. She also coordinated the Paediatric Videofluoroscopy clinic at Middlemore Hospital.
Clinical Hypnotherapist
Elle Nusbaum
HNZDCH, HypnoGUT
Elle Nusbaum is a Board Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist and member of Hypnosis New Zealand, with specialist training in Gut-Directed Hypnotherapy and Trauma-Informed Hypnotherapy, as well as a range of complementary protocols grounded in evidence-based approaches that support the gut-brain connection, inner belief systems, emotional wellbeing and resilience.
Head
Penny Prolton
Administration
Georgia Fitzwater
Practice Manager
Bianca Tran
Administration
Bianca brings extensive experience in administration, coordination, process improvement, and relationship management. She is passionate about delivering exceptional support and is dedicated to ensuring every patient feels welcomed, informed, and cared for throughout their journey. Outside of work, Bianca enjoys hiking, cooking, and baking.