Jana Retief, Foundation Manager at The Noakes Foundation, brings a diverse background with experience in the NGO and educational sectors. Alongside her M.A. in Drama and Theatre Studies and a postgraduate degree in Psychology, Jana’s diverse expertise encompasses community development, project management, research coordination, and operations management.

She has a passion for helping people live happy and healthy lives and is dedicated to driving positive change in the fields of nutrition and mental health.

Maritza is a passionate and dedicated individual who has a passion for health and fitness. She believes in the importance of self-care and enjoys working with people, inspiring and motivating them to love themselves a little more each day. She is very excited to be part of The Noakes Foundation team as the Junior Administration and Communications Executive. She is also a mom of two beautiful children.

Karen has a PhD degree in exercise physiology from the University of Cape Town and brings over 15 years of research and communication experience from both corporate and academic environments. She has managed global projects for market research agencies and has provided medical and health related research, insights, and copywriting to support the introduction of telemedicine in South Africa. With a keen interest in digital health, Karen also has experience in health risk management and coaching via AI and science-backed personalised health education.

Karen is a passionate health advocate; a scientist at heart; a cheerleader for the importance of sustainable health habits and a strong believer in the power of research and engagement to motivate and improve health and well-being.

I join The Noakes Foundation with a unique interdisciplinary background in natural and social sciences. Holding an Honours degree in Anthropology from Rhodes University, I bring a holistic understanding of human health and wellbeing. I’m passionate about innovative public health solutions that drive social impact, and I’m committed to community engagement and outreach. My goal is to increase accessibility and bridge health disparities, empowering local communities and promoting equitable health outcomes, guided by evidence-based research and scientific best practices