I'm proud to call myself a South African-Kiwi! Born and raised in Cape Town, I completed my Bachelor of Science and Honours degree in Nutrition & Dietetics at the University of Cape Town, qualifying as a dietitian in 1995. Later that year, I moved to New Zealand, where I earned a Masters in Sports Nutrition and a Doctorate focused on weight loss.
I currently work at AUT as a Professor of Nutrition, while also maintaining a private nutrition practice. My career has allowed me to evolve alongside advances in nutrition science. Today, I’m a strong advocate for a whole-food approach—encouraging people to reduce processed carbohydrates and include more protein and healthy fats.
I believe nutrition should be tailored to each individual, as macronutrient needs vary widely. My philosophy is grounded in sound science and practical experience, and I see this as the path forward to improving health outcomes and addressing issues like obesity and Type 2 diabetes.
While I work with a range of clients and goals, my main areas of expertise are metabolic health and sports performance, particularly using whole-food and carbohydrate-restricted approaches.
At AUT, I teach across the Sport & Recreation Programmes and conduct research within the Human Potential Centre. AUT is committed to academic freedom and supports research at the cutting edge—even when it’s controversial.
