Taking physio across borders

In this episode of the Business of Allied Health series, we sit down with Bevan Colless, an expert physiotherapist and the founder of Asia Physio. Bevan shares his incredible journey of taking a leap of faith to open his first clinic in a tiny 23sqm Tokyo apartment in 2002, and subsequently scaling it into a powerhouse international network of 13 clinics across Japan and Singapore. He pulls back the curtain on the unique challenges of establishing seasonal clinics in high-demand ski resorts like Niseko and Hakuba, and what it takes to manage cross-border operations alongside a global team of clinicians.

The discussion explores the logistics of building a highly specialized multinational business and the importance of maintaining "Informal Excellence" to meet the demanding expectations of expat and traveling patients. Bevan also dives into his deep clinical passion for knee injury management, specifically the evolution of ACL rehabilitation and the Cross Bracing Protocol. He offers invaluable perspective on how his background as an elite Ironman triathlete translates into a high-performance business mindset, sharing actionable advice for practice owners looking to expand beyond their local geographic footprint.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction to Bevan Colless and the origins of Asia Physio

01:20 - Taking the leap: From a Tokyo apartment to an international network

03:15 - Expanding to the snow: The strategic move into Japanese ski resorts

04:45 - Logistical hurdles: Managing cross-border operations and seasonal scaling

06:10 - Core values: Delivering "Informal Excellence" for high-expectation patients

07:30 - The clinical niche: Why specialising in complex knee and ACL management drives the business

08:50 - The athlete mindset: Translating Ironman triathlon discipline to clinic ownership

10:15 - Recruitment challenges: Attracting top clinical talent to remote global locations

11:30 - Future expansions and final takeaways for scaling allied health businesses