About Us
Dr Muhammad (Mo) Maarj
PhD, B Pod, M APodA
Sports Podiatrist
- Vice Chair (previously Chair) of the Australian Paediatric Podiatry group
- Principal consultant Podiatrist at Narrabeen Sports Medicine
- Previous contingent consultant at The Children’s Hospital Westmead
Memberships:
- Member of the Australian Podiatry Association
- Member of Sports Medicine Australia
- Member of the Ehlers-Danlos Society International Consortium
- Previous Official consultant Podiatrist for the Manly Sea Eagles
With a decade of experience in sports podiatry and a passion for transformative patient care, Dr. Mo blends clinical excellence, groundbreaking research, and a collaborative approach to help people of all ages move with confidence. His journey began at Charles Sturt University, where he trained in Podiatric Medicine and honed his skills through hands-on international placements in Singapore and London.
As a leader in the field, Dr. Mo holds a PhD from Newcastle University, where his pioneering research focused on improving outcomes for children with hypermobility. His dedication to advancing podiatric knowledge doesn’t stop there—he actively contributes to global conversations as Chair of the Australian Paediatric Podiatry Group and a key member of the Ehlers-Danlos Society International Consortium. Through monthly collaborations with experts worldwide and multiple peer-reviewed publications, he stays at the forefront of treatments for hypermobility and connective tissue disorders.
Specializing in custom foot and ankle orthotics, including the innovative Riche Brace, Dr. Mo provides life-changing solutions for conditions like drop foot, posterior tibial tendon dysfunction, and chronic ankle instability. His expertise extends beyond the clinic as a sought-after educator, teaching courses in sports podiatry and biomechanics while mentoring fellow practitioners. Recognized for his insights, he was invited to speak at the 2022 EDS International Conference in Rome and recently 2025 at the Gold Coast Australian podiatry conference, where he shared cutting-edge approaches to podiatric management.
At the heart of his practice is a commitment to teamwork. Leading his clinic with a focus on excellence, Dr. Mo works side-by-side with colleagues Michael and Aymen, fostering a culture of learning and precision in biomechanics. He also collaborates seamlessly with physiotherapists, sports physicians, and orthopaedic surgeons at Narrabeen Sports Medicine Centre, ensuring every patient benefits from comprehensive, multidisciplinary care.
Outside of his professional pursuits, Mo enjoys playing football with the Manly Vale and cherishes traveling with his wife and son Malik to visit family in Iraq and the UAE.
Mr Michael Gumatay
Podiatrist
- Member of the Australian Podiatry Association
- Member of the Sports and Exercise Podiatry Australia formerly Australasian Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine
- Previous Personal Trainer
Michael completed his training through the Newcastle University Podiatric Medicine Program.
Michael holds special interests in sports podiatry, paediatric podiatry and musculoskeletal foot and lower leg rehabilitation through strength and conditioning exercise programs.
Michael pursued podiatry after suffering chronic foot, knee and lower back pain for most of his growing years having hypermobility and flat feet. Now proud of his flat feet, he is acutely aware of the debilitating nature of foot and leg pain.
Michael is passionate and enjoys the satisfaction of helping patients with the aid of prescribed custom foot orthotics combined with personalised exercise rehabilitation treatment programs as this aided his own personal recovery.
Michael enjoys playing basketball and loves to talk all sports specifically soccer and rugby league. As a new father, he jokingly plans to mentor his son to become an elite athlete.
Mr Aymen Maarj
BPod MAPodA
Podiatrist
- Graduated from Newcastle University with a degree in Podiatric Medicine.
- Committed to continuous learning and professional growth in the field.
- Inspired to pursue podiatry after observing its impact during practice with his brother, the clinic owner.
Aymen Maarj is a passionate podiatrist who graduated from Newcastle University with a degree in Podiatric Medicine. His journey into this field was inspired by witnessing the profound impact that podiatrists can have on patients’ physical health, particularly during his time spent in practice with his brother Mo, the owner of the clinic. Aymen found great fulfillment in seeing patients who arrived with significant pain and left with a tailored treatment plan that improved their quality of life.
During his training, Aymen excelled in key areas such as sports podiatry, biomechanics, and minor surgical procedures, equipping him with a diverse skill set to address various patient needs. His dedication to the field is evident in his ongoing commitment to learning and growth.
Outside of his professional life, Aymen enjoys engaging in lively discussions with his brother about podiatry—often testing Mo’s knowledge with a barrage of questions. He also proudly supports Arsenal FC, much to the playful annoyance of his family and friends. Aymen’s combination of enthusiasm and expertise makes him a valuable asset to the practice and a compassionate provider for his patients.
Mr Ray Harding
MAPodA FAAPSM
Retired Sports Podiatrist
- Past President NSW Podiatrists Registration Board
- Past President Australian Podiatry Association (NSW)
- Past President The Association of Health Professions
- Past President The Australasian Academy of Podiatric Sports medicine
Ray Harding has been practicing Podiatry in Sydney since 1971. When Biomechanics and Orthotic therapy was introduced from America in 1980 he embarked on a post graduate education program spanning more than 5 years. Learning techniques in managing general foot function to sports and paediatric related problems, Ray was one of the first Podiatrists in Australia to convert his practice to solely biomechanics and orthotic therapy. He is the past President of The Australasian Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine.
In 1988 Ray was one of the founding partners in the Running Clinic at North Sydney recruiting the services of some of Sydney’s foremost Podiatrists to address the problems caused by the running boom.
In 1993 Ray moved his practice to Narrabeen Sports Medicine Centre to work with some of Australia’s best Sports Physicians, Orthopaedic Specialists and Physiotherapists. He works in collaboration with these other health professionals to bring the highest level of assessment and treatment of lower limb pathology. Treating athletes of all ability, both professional and recreational, Ray also enjoys helping children with growing problems and those associated with sporting activities, not to mention the ageing community with the increasing demand they place on community services in their bid to remain healthy and fit.
Ray employs the latest technology to assess and treat his patients, utilising computerised pressure plate gait assessment, treadmill video gait and track assessments as well as bicycle set up to optimise cycling biomechanics. For orthotic manufacture Ray uses a cad-cam laboratory and a scanning camera instead of old fashioned plaster casts. The orthotics are ground to prescription by a computer controlled drilling gig from a sold piece of plastic. This makes the orthotics super light and thin, but very strong. For football boots and those needing soft orthotics or less control, Ray uses premade Formthotics‚ and EVA shells fashioned by the cad-cam laboratory.
Years ago Ray put together a Recommended Sports Shoe List to help other health professionals and their patients as well as members of the public sort out which sport shoe is best for them from the hundreds on offer in the retail outlets. This list is updated every six months from information provided by the shoe companies and their representatives, retail outlets and feedback from athletes. You can find the list here.
Ray is a Fellow, NSW Trustee and past President of the Australasian Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine and a member of Sports Medicine Australia. He attends their conferences on a regular basis. Ray is a Past President of the Australian Podiatry Association NSW and Past President of the NSW Podiatrists Registration Board, a position he held for over fifteen years. He is also one of the founding directors of the Australian Podiatric Biomechanics Association. He has lectured extensively on lower limb biomechanics, assessment and casting techniques and has a regular succession of Podiatry students on clinical placement at Narrabeen.
Ray has played a variety of sports including competition squash and tennis. Unfortunately, following a knee injury from skiing at age 16 and subsequent surgery, Ray is now limited to bushwalking and golf, when time allows and working out in his home gym.
