Meet The Team

Robert Ashton

Owner/Podiatrist

  • Meet Robert – Our Sporty, Savvy, and Seriously Skilled Podiatrist

    Robert’s podiatry journey started in Australia, where he graduated from Charles Sturt University and began treating feet (and everything connected to them!) in New South Wales. In 2006, he swapped kangaroos for kopi and made Singapore his home — and he hasn’t looked back since. Over the years, he’s become one of the most recognised podiatrists in Singapore, known for his down-to-earth approach and extensive clinical experience.

    During his four years at Singapore General Hospital, Robert worked across a wide range of podiatric disciplines, sharpening his skills and developing a deep understanding of foot and lower limb health. He’s trained in multiple areas of podiatry, with special interests in sports podiatry, biomechanics, and paediatrics — in other words, if you’re moving, running, growing, or limping, Robert’s got you covered.

    Robert works closely with doctors, physios, and other healthcare professionals to ensure every patient receives a holistic and effective treatment plan. He’s also had the exciting opportunity to work with the National Indonesian Athletic Team, helping top-tier athletes stay in peak condition — and learning a whole lot more about sporting biomechanics in the process.

    Fun fact: Robert’s not just a sports podiatrist, he’s also a lifelong sports person and self confessed sneaker head. He’s played Australian Rules football, basketball, and touch rugby at a high level. Unfortunately, his own injury history — think ACL reconstructions and multiple shoulder injuries — forced him to dial it back a little. But these setbacks turned into strengths: he gained a deep understanding of injury rehab and prevention, which he now applies to help others bounce back stronger.

    These days, Robert channels his energy into running, wakeboarding, snowboarding and thinking about the next sneakers to buy — all while helping his patients return to the activities they love.

    Whether you’re a weekend warrior, a growing child, or a professional athlete, Robert combines clinical expertise with lived experience to get you moving confidently again.

Claire Coltman

Owner/Physiotherapist

  • With over 20 years experience working as a physiotherapist, mostly musculoskeletal, sports and performance medicine based. Having spent the better part of my career, traveling with the international sporting teams including the Australian Winter Olympic Athletes, touring with Cirque Du Soleil then managing large rehabilitation units for the Ministry of Defence and everything in between.

    Primary interests:
    Lumbo-pelvic dysfunction and Spinal pain
    Gait and running dysfunctions
    Dance and performance medicine
    Strength and conditioning
    Endurance sports

    Special interest areas:
    Paediatric sports and growth related injuries
    Ante natal/post natal pelvic pain
    Post operative orthopaedic and bone injuries
    Complex conditions
    Snow sports

Helen Crawford

Founder/Director

  • Helen is from an all medical (GP’s, dentists, nurses, specialists) family and one of the few areas that wasn’t covered were the feet. This led Helen into looking at a career as a podiatrist.

    She has a special interest in children’s feet after marrying a ‘flat footer’ and having children. She also specialises in treating patients with planter fasciitis, as after suffering with it herself, she knows how debilitating it can be.

    Outside of work Helen loves to travel, cook, paint and draw, play badminton and garden.

    Prior to joining Osteopathy & Podiatry Centre, Zhi Peng also worked at the Singapore Ministry of Health, where he developed and planned national healthcare policies and initiatives.

    Zhi Peng has a history of lower back problems and surgery in the past. This journey of pain, disability and reduction in daily activities gave him a deeper understanding and empathy for his patients. He strives to go beyond pain alleviation and help patients develop a personal holistic management plan, so that they can return quickly to their previous sport and daily activities. 

    Zhi Peng is also an accredited Certified Wound Specialist (CWS®) by the American Board of Wound Management. This is a formal recognition of a master level knowledge and specialty practice in wound management. He is also a proud member of the prestigious Golden Key International Honour Society. Being an advocate for evidence-based practice, Zhi Peng has attended conferences both locally and internationally to be kept abreast of the latest international podiatry clinical guidelines and best practices.  

    During his free time, Zhi Peng can be found either cycling, in the gym working out and running, or watching cartoons at home with his lovely newborn and four adorable nephews, if not being chased around the house by them!

Zhi Peng

Podiatrist

  • Zhi Peng was a recipient of the MOHH overseas healthcare scholarship, where he studied and graduated from La Trobe University in Australia with Bachelor of Health Sciences and Master of Podiatric Practice. Upon graduation he joined Changi General Hospital, where he practised a broad spectrum of podiatry, including dermatology, paediatrics, sports podiatry and wound care. He collaborated closely with medical specialists from the Sports Medicine, Vascular, and Plastic Surgery departments.

     

    Prior to joining Osteopathy & Podiatry Centre, Zhi Peng also worked at the Singapore Ministry of Health, where he developed and planned national healthcare policies and initiatives.

     

    Zhi Peng has a history of lower back problems and surgery in the past. This journey of pain, disability and reduction in daily activities gave him a deeper understanding and empathy for his patients. He strives to go beyond pain alleviation and help patients develop a personal holistic management plan, so that they can return quickly to their previous sport and daily activities. 

     

    Zhi Peng is also an accredited Certified Wound Specialist (CWS®) by the American Board of Wound Management. This is a formal recognition of a master level knowledge and specialty practice in wound management. He is also a proud member of the prestigious Golden Key International Honour Society. Being an advocate for evidence-based practice, Zhi Peng has attended conferences both locally and internationally to be kept abreast of the latest international podiatry clinical guidelines and best practices.  

     

    During his free time, Zhi Peng can be found either cycling, in the gym working out and running, or watching cartoons at home with his lovely newborn and four adorable nephews, if not being chased around the house by them!

Neelam Rai

Osteopath

  • Neelam is a UK-qualified osteopath with over two decade of clinical experience. She began her career in private practice in the United Kingdom before relocating to Singapore in 2011, where she has established herself as a trusted and highly regarded practitioner treating patients of all ages with various ailments. As a mother of three young children, Neelam truly understands the physical and emotional demands of parenthood. This personal experience adds a deep sense of empathy to her work, especially when supporting new mums and families with young children. She is passionate about helping little ones thrive and is well-known for treating common concerns like colic, torticollis, sleep issues, and digestive discomfort using gentle cranial osteopathy. Her treatments are grounded in a holistic philosophy, integrating structural, functional, and cranial techniques. She aims not only to relieve pain and restore mobility but to promote long-term well-being through lifestyle guidance, including postural advice, tailored exercises, and nutritional support.

    Recognised as one of Singapore’s leading paediatric osteopaths, Neelam also works extensively with adults and has substantial experience treating a wide range of conditions, including:

    Neck and back pain

    Headaches and migraines

    Shoulder, hip, and knee issues

    Tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow

    Asthma, sinus congestion, and respiratory challenges

    Sports injuries and muscular strains

    Neelam’s passion for osteopathy began with her own experience as a Dancer recovering from recurring injuries. This personal journey shapes her holistic approach to treatment as she understands the physical setbacks and is deeply committed to helping others regain movement, strength and confidence.

Stephen Smith

Osteopath

  • Stephen started osteopathy 30 years ago, and after practicing across the globe, he has been busy practicing full time in Singapore for the last 17 years. He is a 4th generation osteopath, who qualified under the highly respected John Werham in the UK during the 1990s. Previous to this, he completed a bachelors degree in Sports Science at Brunel University.
    He is registered with the governing osteopathic bodies in the UK and Australia, and closely follows their continuing professional development programme.

    His osteopathy is structurally based; involving mainly specific work on soft tissue release, joint mobilisation and manipulation. His passion within osteopathy is identifying the causative biomechanical dysfuctions that patients present with, thus getting to the root of their problem rather than just treating symptoms. This better enables his patients to be pain free for longer, and to manage their condition themselves with prescribed exercises.

    Musculoskeletal conditions which he regularly sees are:

    - spinal/facet joint/disc bulges/sciatica/pelvic misalignment/sacro-iliac joint dysfunction/leg length difference/muscle sprain and spasm
    - shoulder/rotator cuff/frozen shoulder/AC joint
    - elbow/tennis and golfers elbow/wrist sprains
    - hip/gluteal tendinosis/bursitis/arthritis
    - knee/patellofemoral alignment and tendinosis/meniscus/ligament sprains/ankle sprains/achilles tendinosis/plantar fasciitis
    - postural issues/scoliosis/work potural ergonomics
    - migraines and headaches
    - sports injuries

    Stephen's interest in osteopathy began as a teenager after receiving treatment for neck injuries in rugby. Osteopathic treatment for his scoliosis greatly helped his posture, and later for injuries while competing in martial arts at national level.

    In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his familly, and catching up with friends across Singapore. When not playing guitar; he is often found in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, training for mountain trail running races across the region.