Meet
The HCA wider family
Supporting You Beyond the Classroom
At Health Coaches Academy, people are at the heart of everything we do. Whilst our founders and education team lead our training, there is a much wider team working behind the scenes to support, encourage and champion our students and graduates every step of the way.
MORE THAN A TRAINING PROVIDER
Many of our students describe HCA as more than a training provider, they describe it as a family. That sense of belonging comes from the people who show up every day with genuine care, expertise and a commitment to helping others thrive. Whether you're looking for guidance, encouragement, practical support or business-building advice, our team is here to help you move forward.
Student Support Team
Our Student Support Team is here to ensure your journey with HCA runs as smoothly as possible. From helping you navigate course logistics to answering questions and providing practical support, they are dedicated to making sure you feel supported, informed and cared for throughout your studies.
Rene Fourie
Head of Student Support and Finance
Rene is a qualified accountant with more than 20 years of experience as a Financial Manager. After completing her Health Coaching Diploma, she developed a passion for helping others improve their health and wellbeing and now runs her own coaching practice alongside her role at HCA. Rene works primarily with women navigating perimenopause and menopause, with a particular interest in sleep health. As Head of Student Support and Finance, she combines her expertise in finance with her firsthand experience as an HCA graduate to support students throughout their journey.
Melissa Andrews
Student Progress Manager
Melissa is a Health Coach whose passion for wellbeing was inspired by her own recovery from severe burnout. After completing her Health Coaching Diploma with HCA, she joined the team to support students throughout their studies. As Student Progress Manager, she enjoys helping students navigate their learning journey and achieve their goals with confidence.
Karina Marais
Administrative Support
Karina has worked within the health and wellness industry for nearly 20 years, with experience spanning fitness, nutrition and performance coaching. As Administrative Support, she helps ensure the smooth running of the student experience. She has recently completed Advance Stress Management Advisor Certificate and is studying for Level 7 Clinical Nutrition Diploma.Her holistic approach to wellbeing and commitment to lifelong learning underpin her passion for helping others create lasting lifestyle change.
Ursula Roberts
Business Systems Analyst
Ursula is a Business Systems Analyst with a background in the South African insurance industry. After qualifying as a Health Coach with HCA, she developed a strong interest in supporting the profession from both a coaching and operational perspective. As HCA's Systems Analyst, she works behind the scenes to improve processes, solve technical challenges and help ensure a smooth experience for students and the wider team.
Our Mentors
Our Mentors are at the heart of the HCA learning experience. Throughout your studies, you'll meet weekly in small mentor groups of no more than 18 students, providing a supportive and interactive environment where you can develop your coaching skills, ask questions and deepen your understanding of the course content. Every Mentor is an experienced practising Health Coach who is passionate about helping you grow in confidence and succeed as a Coach.
Zena le Roux
Mentor
Zena is a Functional Nutrition Coach, Health Journalist and Mindful Eating Teacher based in South Africa. She runs Zena Health Transformations, helping clients create sustainable improvements in their health and wellbeing. Alongside her coaching practice, she delivers workshops, group programmes and retreats, and hosts the HCA Talks Health podcast. Her additional training includes sports nutrition, mindfulness, Internal Family Systems and trauma-informed approaches.
Clare Hegarty
Mentor
Clare is a Nutritionist and Health Coach based in Ireland. After transitioning from a corporate career, she built a thriving practice supporting clients with nutrition, sleep, stress and anxiety management. She also works extensively within the corporate sector, delivering workplace wellbeing programmes and workshops. Clare is passionate about helping people make simple, sustainable changes that lead to lasting improvements in health.
Candace Vermaak
Mentor
Candace is a Health Coach, Biokineticist and lecturer at Stellenbosch University in South Africa. She holds a PhD in Sport Science and runs her own health coaching practice, helping women create healthier, more balanced lives through small, sustainable changes. Candace combines academic expertise with practical coaching experience through one-to-one coaching, group programmes and retreats.
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Pam Clark
Mentor
Pam is a Nutritional Therapist, Health Coach and Coaching Supervisor with a background in Palliative Care Nursing. Following the loss of her mother, she retrained in nutrition and trauma therapies to support people earlier in their health journeys. She combines Health Coaching with EFT (Tapping), HeartMath and nutritional approaches, helping clients move forward with compassion, confidence and practical support.
Nicky Denvir
Mentor
Nicky is a Nutritional Therapist with an MSc in Personalised Nutrition from CNELM. She works with clients one-to-one, delivers group programmes and facilitates corporate talks and workshops. Her practice focuses primarily on supporting women over 40 to improve their energy, wellbeing and overall quality of life through realistic and achievable health changes.
Sophia Murray John
Mentor
Sophia is a nurse and certified Health Coach with more than 30 years of experience in the NHS. She is passionate about helping individuals and communities improve their health and wellbeing through coaching and lifestyle change. Alongside her health coaching work, Sophia coaches swimming and triathlon, inspiring people to move from simply managing their health to truly thriving.
Lindie Nortje
Mentor
Lindie graduated from HCA in 2021 before founding Beyond Health CoachingWith an honours degree in psychology, her passion lies in combining health coaching with her background in human behaviour. She specialises in tailored programmes focusing on mental wellbeing and weight loss.
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Marelie Winterbach
Mentor
Marelie is a Nutritional Therapist and Certified Health Coach based in Stellenbosch, South Africa. She founded NutriRoots in 2011 before developing her online coaching practice, The Health Pilgrim. Drawing on her background in nutrition and more than 25 years in hospitality, Marelie helps clients find their own sustainable path to better health, balance and wellbeing.
Liz Jones Solano
Mentor
Liz is a Certified Health Coach, Speaker and HCA Ambassador who works with clients across Spain, the UK and South Africa. With a background in corporate business, she combines Health Coaching with expertise in Functional Breathwork, meditation and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). Liz delivers corporate wellbeing programmes, workshops and talks internationally, helping individuals and organisations build resilience and wellbeing.
Christabel Courtauld
Mentor
Christabel is a registered Nutritional Therapist and Health Coach (dipCNM, mBANT, rCNHC) specialising in women's health. Based in West Cork, Ireland, she works with clients both online and in person and hosts the West Cork Hormone Café. With over 20 years of experience as a professional chef, baker and caterer, Christabel combines her passion for nutrition and food to help women nourish themselves and their families through sustainable, enjoyable approaches to health.
Sarah Tomlin
Mentor
Sarah is a Nutritional Therapist and Health Coach with a passion for helping people create lasting lifestyle change. After establishing her practice, Mind Body Me, she expanded her work through Health Coaching to help clients successfully implement and sustain healthier habits. Sarah specialises in digestive health and supports midlife women and men experiencing gut health challenges through nutrition and behaviour change.
Victoria Perkins
Mentor
Victoria is a Health, Nutrition and Lifestyle Coach, and Personal Trainer with extensive experience delivering health coaching across the NHS, workplace wellbeing programmes, digital health platforms and private practice. Alongside her role as an HCA Mentor, she serves as the Education and Training Provider Liaison Lead for UK and International Heath Coaches Association (UKIHCA), supporting students, graduates and education providers across the health coaching profession.
Health Coaches Hub Mentors
Graduation is just the beginning. Our Health Coaches Hub Mentors provide ongoing support, resources and guidance to help you build a successful and sustainable coaching career. Whether you're developing your business, refining your niche, growing your confidence or exploring new opportunities, the Hub is here to help you continue moving forward as a professional Health Coach.
Debi Mason
Hub Mentor
Debi has a background in education, sales and marketing, including an executive role with UGG Europe during a period of significant international growth. Today, she runs a successful health coaching practice and brings her business and leadership experience into her mentoring role at HCA. Debi is passionate about supporting aspiring Health Coaches to build successful and meaningful careers.
Sheree-Ann Abrahams
Hub Mentor
Sheree-Ann is a Functional Medicine Health Coach, Pharmacist and Business Mentor with over 15 years of experience across healthcare, wellness and leadership development. She is the founder of a private women’s health community and specialises in group coaching, hosting retreats, delivering corporate wellbeing programmes and speaking internationally. She mentors health coaches to build credible, sustainable businesses with confidence, clarity and purpose.
Antonia Maguire
Hub Mentor
Antonia is a Nutritional Therapist and corporate wellness specialist with nearly 20 years' experience designing and delivering successful workplace wellbeing programmes. She has built a thriving practice by creating lasting partnerships with organisations and specialises in helping health coaches develop sustainable corporate wellbeing businesses. Antonia mentors coaches to confidently secure corporate clients, build meaningful relationships and create long-term opportunities.
Ailsa Hichens
Hub Mentor
Ailsa is a Nutritional Therapist and Health Coach, marketing mentor and former journalist and editor with over 20 years' experience in communications and more than a decade running a successful nutrition practice. She specialises in helping health coaches build confidence, clarify their message and create marketing that feels authentic and effective. Combining strategic business insight with a supportive, action-focused approach, Ailsa mentors coaches to develop sustainable businesses with greater clarity, consistency and momentum.
Magalie Paillard
Hub Mentor
Magalie is a BANT-registered Nutritionist with an MSc in Personalised Nutrition and over 17 years of experience in health and wellbeing. Based in France, she runs an international consultancy supporting both individuals and organisations. Alongside her client work, she specialises in translating complex nutrition science into practical, evidence-based advice and has a particular interest in oral health.
Ami Gilder
Hub Mentor
Ami is a registered Nutritional Therapist and Health Coach, who has run her own successful practice for over ten years. She focuses on supercharging her clients' energy and mood. Ami is a friendly and welcoming member of the Hub mentoring team, supporting our students after graduation by talking through their vision as a health coach, potential business strategies and best next steps.
Course Consultants
For many students, their HCA journey begins with a conversation with one of our Course Consultants. They take the time to understand your goals, answer your questions and help you decide whether Health Coaching and our training programme are the right fit for you. Their role is to provide honest guidance and help you make an informed decision about your next steps.
Sarah Stannard
Course Consultant
Keketso Mothibi
Course Consultant
Leane Adolph
Course Consultant
Marketing and Community Team
Our Marketing and Community Team helps share the message and mission of Health Coaches Academy with the wider world. From creating educational content and student stories to managing events, webinars and communications, they help connect aspiring Health Coaches with the information, inspiration and support they need to begin their journey with HCA.
Natasha Watkinson
Head of Marketing
Natasha is a Nutritional Therapist and Menopause Coach. After 20 years in corporate marketing roles, her own struggles with the peri-menopause inspired Natasha to change direction, leading her into Nutritional Therapy and then Health Coaching. Her mission is to inspire others to pursue their passion for health and develop a career they love.
Hannah Draboczy
Content Marketing Manager
Hannah combines over 10 years of marketing experience with a passion for health and wellbeing. Alongside her HCA role, she’s a qualified Pilates instructor and Health & Wellness Coach, having graduated from HCA in 2024. She’s passionate about helping people find enjoyable, sustainable ways to move more, feel healthier, and build habits that last. Hannah loves creating content, sharing HCA’s mission, and being part of a supportive team dedicated to helping people live happier, healthier lives.
Content and Social Media Marketing Coordinator
Currently a Health Coach student with HCA, Hayley brings 7 years of experience as a social media marketer and content creator and she loves engaging with HCA's audience on social media. Hayley is passionate about simplifying health and wellness and encouraging sustainable change, especially for wives and mothers, whose wellbeing impacts the whole family.
Megan Toni Couchman
Marketing Executive
Megan is currently a student with HCA, and brings over 10 years of experience in social media marketing and business support. Inspired by her own health journey, she is passionate about wellbeing and helping others create positive, lasting change. At HCA, she enjoys problem-solving, analysing data, and supporting students throughout their journey. Outside of work, Megan loves running, strength training, hiking with her dogs, and embracing new challenges.
Amy Mummery
Community and Events Assistant
Amy is a certified Health Coach with a background spanning more than 20 years as an Executive Assistant in the corporate sector. After graduating from HCA, she built a coaching practice supporting busy midlife professionals to reduce overwhelm and improve their wellbeing. As HCA's Community and Events Assistant, Amy organises our in-person events and Regional Group Network, helping to create opportunities for connection, learning and support for HCA students and graduates.
