VOICE OF CHANGE: WNS 2025 SPEAKERS & BIOS

Prof Noakes has published more than 750 scientific books and articles. He has been cited more than 21 000 times in scientific literature and has an H-index of 77. He has won numerous awards over the years and made himself available on many editorial boards.

For the final 15 years of his academic career he was rated an A1 scientist – the highest possible rating indicating a world-leading scientist – by the South African National Research Foundation. He is now the co-founder and Chief Medical Director of the Nutrition Network and devotes the majority of his time to promoting the low carbohydrate high fat diet, especially for those with insulin resistance, raising funds and doing research through The Noakes Foundation and supporting Eat Better South Africa.

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.

Nick Hudson is a private equity fund manager, actuary and founder of PANDA, an organisation that took the covid narrative to task, demonstrating its complete fallacy on multiple dimensions. He loves birds, forests, wine, classical music and his growing family

Bitten Jonsson is a  registered nurse, addiction specialist and ADDIS®/SUGAR®-authorized (addiction screening, assessment, and diagnostic tools), Nutrition Network practitioner, and I currently offer courses and training for professionals. Today there are many very skilled counselors all over the world to whom I refer any clients that contact me. My mission is to bring knowledge and experience to others so that more people are able to diagnose and treat this fatal disease, addiction, in order to free people from this painful illness and to decrease shame and stigma. I hope you will join me.

Peter Ballerstedt (also known as “Don Pedro, Sodfather of the Ruminati”) earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Georgia and his doctorate at the University of Kentucky. He was the forage extension specialist at Oregon State University from 1986 to 1992. He worked in the forage seed industry from 2011 until 2023. He is a member of several national and international scientific societies, participates in related global initiatives, and is a Past-President of the American Forage and Grassland Council. Peter’s personal experience has led him to re-examine human diet and health. What he has learned doesn’t agree with the advice given for the past several decades. Peter is an advocate for ruminant animal agriculture and the essential role of animal source foods in the human diet. He strives to build bridges between producers, consumers, and researchers across a wide variety of scientific disciplines increasing awareness of metabolic health and ruminant animal agriculture’s essential role in social, economic, and ecological sustainability. Peter has spoken at many different events in the US and internationally. Many of his presentations are available on YouTube. Peter and Nancy live in western Oregon (northwestern USA) with their three dogs, Conor, Noni, and Iris.

Jayne believes research in healthcare needs better funding and strong minds. Since joining in 2015,she has grown The Noakes Foundation into one of the key research funders in South Africa, an entity that is changing the way the nation eats. As the Advocacy and Strategy Lead of The Noakes Foundation she established Eat Better South Africa alongside inspiring colleagues and Prof Noakes.

Most recently she was appointed as Managing Director of the Nutrition Network, where she has taken the lead in the process and creation of this educational and networking platform founded by The Noakes Foundation in partnership with an esteemed team of doctors and scientists.

After realizing the dichotomy between brand research budgets and human health research, she decided to leave the corporate research world and took the leap into medical and biological research to bring her experience in big biz research into new areas to affect change to human health.

Jayne is an MBA, High Dip in Marketing and International Relations graduate. She began her career taking products into Africa and researching local markets in the West and East African block and later moved to the UK to read for an MBA at Leeds University, later conducting Pan European media research and strategy evaluation. She is also a Mind Body Medicine Practitioner, a barefoot dancer and a mom.

Dr Hassina Kajee specialised as an Internist and then landed her dream job heading up the High Care Unit of a teaching hospital in South Africa. As her patient population became younger and more patients were being admitted with chronic disease, some under the age of 30, she realized she needed to evolve her practice. She embarked on a journey to empower patients and health care providers alike with nutrition and lifestyle education in order to transform their health. Thus it was that she co-founded Nutrition Network, an educational platform that was instrumental in bringing Keto education to thousands of health care practitioners and nutrition advisors across the globe. Through this initiative, Nutrition Network has also become largest the affiliate of the Eat Better South Africa campaign in South Africa that brings nutrition interventions to under-resourced communities in South Africa. Dr Kajee also sees patients in private practice and is a mum to two low carb kiddies and wife to one low carb emergency physician. Her message of compassion and understanding is a lesson for us all!

Dr Neville Wellington is a GP and managing practitioner at Kenilworth Medicross, as an associate with 12 other GP’s. He has been in practice for over 27 years now. He completed a two-year Postgraduate Diploma in Diabetes in 2012, through the University of Cardiff and now runs a Centre for Diabetes and Endocrinology (CDE), with a diabetes educator. Following the completion of the Diploma, Neville became interested in the science behind low carbohydrate lifestyles, especially when patients started following this lifestyle and were experiencing some profound benefits. At the time Prof Noakes was starting to advocate for a low carbohydrate lifestyle, and this helped Neville to investigate the science more fully, and ultimately led to him using the lifestyle for his patients with diabetes and other Non-communicable diseases. He has seen patients reverse their diabetes, and has recently been the lead physician in a lifestyle trial attempting to find novel methods to reverse diabetes in patients. He is a lifelong learner and continues to research methods and lifestyles which would help his patients treat their chronic diseases with minimal medication. He is a staunch advocate of low carbohydrate lifestyles as well as the use of effective monitoring in patients.

Travis’ research explores how digital voice at the micro level relates to capitals in the higher meso- and macro levels. He first explored high school arts students’ arts e-portfolios, and recently described celebrities’ fake endorsements in social media ads. His ongoing research tackles how scientific dissidents use social media to work around resistance, such as online academic bullying.

 

Tracey McBeath lives in Melbourne, Australia. She is a mum of 5, author of two books, global health and life coach and coach mentor, Nutrition Network lecturer, qualified personal trainer, TEDx speaker, and public speaker.

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.

Craig Emmerich graduated in Electrical Engineering who has spent the last 16 plus years researching nutrition and working with thousands of clients along side his wife Maria Emmerich. He is an international best selling author of the “Keto: The Complete Guide” and “The Carnivore Cookbook”. He uses his knowledge of how our bodies work to help clients heal and lose weight leveraging their biology to make it easy. Craig has helped hundreds of thousands of people regain their health and vitality with a strong focus on the science of human nutrition. Craig has been keto for over 17 years and carnivore for over 6 years to help treat his chronic Lyme disease and CIRS pain.

Dr. Madison Kackley is an Assistant Professor at The Ohio State University and the founding director of the SHE IS (Scientific Health Empowerment & Integrative Solutions) Laboratory. Her interdisciplinary research advances women’s health by exploring the intersections of nutrition, metabolism, and hormonal physiology. With over a decade of experience, Dr. Kackley leads NIH-, DOD- and foundation-funded clinical trials focused on the therapeutic potential of ketogenic interventions for reproductive, metabolic, and mental health. Her work is dedicated to translating science into practical, empowering solutions for women across the lifespan.

Maria Emmerich is a nutritionist who specializes in the ketogenic diet and exercise physiology. She struggled with her health and weight throughout childhood which led her to become such a passionate nutrition expert. “My goal is to help transform people’s lives and start living again!” Maria specializes in brain neurotransmitters and how food can increase mental wellness. Her expertise has sent her around the World speaking about ketogenic diets. She has also cooked with Halle Berry and writes for Halle’s website. You can find her at KetoMaria.com. She has been keto/low carb for over 25 years and helped clients lose weight and heal for over 20 years.

Andrea Salcedo, DO, MPH, FACOG is a board certified obstetrician and gynecologist, wife, and mother of three young boys. She practices full scope obstetrics and gynecology at Loma Linda University Health, an academic medical center in Southern California. Her clinical practice is diverse, ranging from low risk women’s health care to complex gynecologic and obstetric problems. 

A large part of her practice involves root-cause investigation into the development of gynecologic disease. Particularly, she focuses on metabolic health, as it relates to the development of uterine fibroids, endometrial polyps, and endometriosis. She has a special interest in using non-surgical strategies to treat endometriosis. Dr. Salcedo is a clinical researcher and published author in peer-reviewed academic journals. She has spoke at several conferences, including at the prestigious, Symposia for Metabolic Health, in San Diego, CA, a clinical instructor for the Nutrition Network, and has been a featured on several podcasts. She also serves as an expert for the Osteopathic Medical Board.

She is an active member of the Society for Metabolic Health Practitioners. 

She also has a YouTube Channel that promotes metabolic strategies to treating gynecologic problems, called Conscious Gynecologist. 

She is fluent in English and Spanish. Dr. Salcedo has a passion for cooking, lifestyle design, and work-life balance. She is an avid reader, and often reads outside of her field to make connections to what she does every day, treating patients. 

 

 

Angela A Stanton, PhD, MS, MBA, BSc., fMRI cert., has earned her doctorate in
NeuroEconomics (experimental neuroscience using economic models) and is also fMRI
certified, having earned the following degrees: PhD Claremont Graduate University in
Economics with dissertation in neuroscience (Neuroeconomics); fMRI certification at
Harvard University, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging; MS in
Management Science & Engineering, Stanford University; MBA at University of California,
Riverside; BSc Mathematics, University of California, Los Angeles. Her doctoral research
focused on understanding how human decision-making is influenced by neurotransmitter
changes in the brain. She ran clinical trials to gain an understanding of the role
neurotransmitters play in decision-making. A lifelong migraine sufferer, in 2008 she took
early retirement from her academic career and has become an avid researcher of
migraines. Her efforts in understanding the cause of migraine have been assisted by
thousands of migraine sufferers around the world. In 2014 she published the first, and in
2017 the second edition, of the book (Fighting The Migraine Epidemic: Complete Guide;
How to Treat & Prevent Migraines Without Medicines) that established her as a leader in
the field of migraine research based on nutritional and electrolyte management. She now
teaches migraine sufferers and healthcare providers all over the world about how to abort
and prevent migraines without any medicine.

I’m a registered dietitian, science writer and editor and nutrition educator, with a special interest and expertise in Ketogenic Diets (KD) and Therapeutic Carbohydrate Restriction (TCR) – particularly pertaining to mental and gut health. My Masters Degree in Physiology (Dist.) (2018), focused on TCR in Type 2 Diabetes, under the supervision of Prof Tim Noakes. I currently hold the role of Senior Editorial Manager, Content Editor and Creator, as well as Contributing Lecturer, at Nutrition Network, the global leader in TCR training for healthcare professionals. As science writer, author and editor I have contributed to various publications – most recently – the textbook, Ketogenic: The Science of Therapeutic Carbohydrate Restriction in Human Health. I have also co-authored, contributed to and edited other books (including Sugar Free and Eat Right Revolution), articles (including as a health magazine editor), and peer-reviewed publications, on the topic of nutrition and TCR. I am passionate about improving health and quality of life for all, particularly in my own country. To give back to the community, I have volunteered at NPO’s, including serving on the Board of Directors of Eat Better South Africa, a community-based outreach program that implements nutritional education in lower socioeconomic status communities, and giving nutrition advice to The Noakes Foundation.  I also have past experience in nutritional supplements (training and research and development), as well as clinical experience in private dietetics practice and community interventions focusing on TCR.

Miriam Kalamian, EdM, MS, CNS, is a global expert in the implementation of ketogenic diets for cancer. She was an early adopter for this specialized use, initiating the diet in 2007 with her young son, Raffi, when conventional treatments failed to stop the relentless progression of his brain tumor. As the founder of Dietary Therapies LLC, Miriam brings her knowledge and experience to her work as a nutrition educator and consultant. She is the author of Keto for Cancer and KetoMetabolic Quickstart Guide, and a co-author of the Cancer section of the Nutrition Network’s Ketogenic textbook. She has also coauthored numerous publications on ketogenic metabolic therapy alongside renowned cancer researcher Dr. Thomas Seyfried..

 

Although Miriam recognises that keto is not a cure for cancer, she has seen first-hand just how powerful an impact a properly planned and executed keto diet has on cancer outcomes. This impact is even more impressive when keto is combined with other metabolic treatments and pro-health strategies, often leading to vast improvements in quality of life even in the face of cancer. Sharing what she’s learned is Miriam’s passion: her Q&A with attendees will be lively and engaging!

Martha Tettenborn is a Registered Dietitian and Primal Health Coach with

40 years of experience in clinical nutrition. In her role as a keto coach and nutrition educator, she works alongside Miriam Kalamian at Dietary Therapies LLC to support people with cancer who self-select ketogenic diet and fasting alongside conventional care.

 

An ovarian cancer survivor and thriver since 2018, Martha used ketogenic diet and strategic fasting throughout her treatment. She drew on this experience, both physical and emotional, to develop her Chemo Fasting Protocol, detailed in her book, Hacking Chemo.

 

Martha has been active in the Nutrition Network’ mission: she’s completed the LCHF training for Dietitians, developed content for several courses, and contributed to the Cancer section of Ketogenic.

Lori Calabrese, MD is a board-certified psychiatrist, founder of Touchpoints180, clinical consultant to Metabolic Mind and Baszucki Group, and a recognized leader in metabolic psychiatry. She’s pioneering the integration of ketogenic metabolic therapy (KMT) into psychiatric care, creating remission stories that redefine what’s possible for conditions like OCD, ulcerative colitis, anxiety, depression, anorexia, and neuroinflammatory disorders.

Through her clinical work, published case reports, flagship programs through Touchpoints180, and clear voice in her forthcoming book, Toxic Roots: The Rewiring of a Generation–and How to Do a 180, Dr. Calabrese brings together the science of metabolism, the art of psychiatry, and the power of lifestyle change. Her voice is warm, clear, and dynamic—grounded in rigorous research but delivered with heart, humor, and a touch of drama. 

She is on a mission to help individuals and practitioners alike “do a 180” in their mental and metabolic health—replacing symptom management with true transformation.

Nicole Laurent, MA, LMHC, is a licensed mental health counselor, nonprofit founder of Brain Fog Recovery Source, and clinical innovator in metabolic psychiatry. Nicole specializes in the targeted use of ketogenic metabolic therapy (KMT) to achieve remission in psychiatric disorders traditionally labeled treatment resistant. Through her clinical practice, peer reviewed articles, influential blog, continuing education programs for psychotherapy professionals, and nonprofit initiatives, Nicole challenges conventional psychiatric paradigms and increases access to evidence based ketogenic interventions for low income and government disabled populations globally. She reframes how mental health clinicians conceptualize and implement treatments, moving the field toward genuine remission and improved patient outcomes.

DeNitra Davis, M.Ed. is the A.C.E. – Advocator, Coach, and Educator, and co-founder of Knewtritional Knowledge. With over 25 years of experience in education and a proven track record of reversing chronic illness in her own life, DeNitra equips others to heal from the inside out by bridging the dangerous gap between misinformation and metabolic truth.

A passionate student of science and a devoted disruptor of health myths and the statistical status quo, DeNitra holds credentials from the most respected organizations in metabolic health:

• Metabolic Health Practitioner with the Society of Metabolic Health Practitioners (SMHP)
• Nutrition Network Coach Practitioner
• Keto & Carnivore Health Coach through Keto-Adapted

She specializes in insulin resistance, inflammation, and chronic disease rooted in metabolic dysfunction. Her signature approach includes: no diet pills, no shots, no injections, no juicing, no sprays, no prepackaged diet foods, no surgery, no drops, no points, no excessive exercise, no potions & NO DEPRIVATION!!!

DeNitra is also the host of Knewtritional Knit, a bold, truth-telling broadcast on metabolic healing, and facilitates immersive learning through Kooking Klasses, workshops, retreats, health & healing experiences & more. She brings clarity, compassion, and conviction to every space she serves, helping people unlearn lies, reclaim their health, and live in alignment with what their bodies were designed to do.

Admire Maravanyika is a seasoned public health professional and Senior Technical Officer at Zimbabwe Health Intervention, with over a decade of experience strengthening health systems across both public and private sectors. A medical doctor, he holds multiple qualifications, including a Certificate in Change Leadership from the University of the West of England.

Admire’s career has been defined by frontline leadership during major health emergencies, notably Zimbabwe’s coordinated responses to COVID-19 and Cyclone Idai. He is a passionate advocate for change leadership and people-centered development, known for integrating systems thinking, adaptive governance, and community-driven approaches into health programming.

With extensive experience in coaching and lifestyle modification for people living with HIV, Admire emphasizes behavioural change, psychosocial support, and sustainable wellness, including nutrition, as core pillars of his work.

 

Shashikant Iyengar is a globally recognised Metabolic Health Coach with over 35 years of experience in the health sector, including a long tenure with Abbott and Pfizer before transitioning full-time into health coaching in 2022. He is the Founder of Metabolic Health India, and proudly holds the distinction of being India’s first SMHP Metabolic Health Practitioner (MHP) and Nutrition Network (NN) Coach Practitioner. Shashikant is also the co-organiser of the Metabolic Health Conference (MHC), India’s first low-carb conference, alongside Anup Singh of dLife.in. Together, they have hosted three editions, shaping India’s low-carb movement and creating a platform for professionals and the public to explore nutrition-based solutions for chronic disease.

Certified in low-carb, ketogenic, and metabolic health coaching, Shashikant specialises in type 2 diabetes, hypertension, obesity, fatty liver, insulin resistance, and mental health disorders. Widely regarded as India’s most recognised metabolic health coach, he has helped hundreds of clients across more than 15 countries, empowering individuals to reclaim health through personalised, evidence-based nutrition strategies.

I’m an Accredited Practising Dietitian, Certified Nutrition Network Medical Practitioner and Certified/licensed SUGAR® specialist offering telehealth services specialising in Therapeutic Carbohydrate Restriction and Therapeutic Fasting. I am currently completing certification in Holistic Medicine for Addiction® (HMA®) to enhance my understanding of the role of metabolic dysfunction in sugar/carbohydrate/processed food addiction and skillset in the implementation of Holistic Treatment Protocols. I am extremely passionate about lifestyle medicine and empowering people to adopt a ‘food as medicine’ approach to fuelling wellness, achieving metabolic and mental health and enhancing quality of life. I love learning, real food cooking, functional strength training and connecting with like-minded people.

Entrepreneur | Nutrition Advocate | Social Innovator

Org van der Wath is the founder and Executive Director of the StartWell Foundation, a social enterprise on a mission to end childhood stunting in South Africa. A former teacher turned corporate leader, Org holds a BA in Languages (NWU) and an MBA from Stellenbosch Business School. His MBA research on small-scale farming ignited a passion for addressing nutrition gaps in early childhood development centres (ECDs).

Since launching StartWell in 2018, Org has pioneered the development of the StartWell KIDS meal—a ready-to-eat, bioavailable, protein-rich morning meal reaching over 18 000 children nationwide. He spearheaded the commissioning of a bespoke food extrusion facility to make nutrient-rich meals affordable at scale. He dreams that soon all households in South Africa have a sense of understanding and urgency around the daily “growth nutrients” their growing children need. He also leads high-impact awareness initiatives like GrootSwem, using bold action to draw attention to chronic malnutrition.

Recognized as a thought leader in the child nutrition space, Org frequently collaborates with academics, policymakers, and innovators – including Prof. Tim Noakes – to create systemic shifts and change. His work blends education, business strategy, and social impact, turning bold ideas into measurable results for South Africa’s children.”

Dr. Stef Snyman is an occupational medicine practitioner and health professions educationist. Living in Cape Town, South Africa, he’s passionate about helping people break free from metabolic diseases, prescription drugs, and despair by embracing the FIRE lifestyle.

As the visionary behind FIRE for Life, Dr. Snyman leads an interprofessional team that offers this groundbreaking online program. It’s designed to help people reverse conditions linked to insulin resistance, such as type 2 diabetes.

Outside his clinical work, Dr. Snyman sits on the Editorial Board of ICF Education, the Board of SAVIMS, and the scientific advisory board of Medical School Hamburg (Germany). 

His commitment to improving how different health professionals work together shines through his past role as the first partnership facilitator for the Africa Interprofessional Education Network (AfrIPEN) and Interprofessional.Global.

Stef is married to Helena, and they have two teenagers, Christiaan and Isobel

Dr Frank Muller (or “Doc Frank” as he is popularly known) is a board-certified medical doctor, as well as a clinical pharmacologist. Despite his academic credentials, he has spent the past three decades helping thousands of people live healthier lives – free from medication – by using simple, natural solutions anyone can implement at home.

Doc Frank has been a consultant to the British Commonwealth regarding the cultivation of medicinal herbs. For a ten years, he was a guest lecturer in Community Health at the University of Stellenbosch. He is the founder and CEO of Integrow Health (Pty) Ltd, an online wellness company.

Doc Frank is married to Ami, and (at last count) they have 6 children, 4 boys and 2 girls.

Joris Jeelof , Co-Founder and Commercial Director of VO2

Joris is a global serial entrepreneur and networker specialised in Corporate

Strategy, Business Development and Operational Excellence.

His areas of expertise include Finance, Investment, law/legal, IT,

Manufacturing, DeFi & FinTech, Big Data, Marketing, Social Enterprises.

 

Joris has a preference for start/scale-ups, is passionate about taking innovative technologies and building solutions for global problems.

Besides building and scaling tech companies, Joris also supports and mentors founders in tech for several accelerators and venture studios and funds worldwide.

 

 https://www.linkedin.com/in/joris-louwrens/

Johann Els graduated as a registered Biokineticist from Stellenbosch University and is a visionary health and fintech entrepreneur, renowned for bridging the gap between human physiology and financial science. He is the founder of Medicise and VO2 Group (Pty) Ltd. Importantly he created the V̇O₂ Proprietary Software — an advanced platform that integrates deep cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) analytics, artificial intelligence, and big data to detect hidden metabolic dysfunctions early and translate them into measurable financial and actuarial insights. Driven by a lifelong fascination with how the human body uses oxygen and generates energy, Johann established a world-class CPET and cardiac rehabilitation laboratory, creating a clinical foundation to understand and restore human metabolic efficiency. His pioneering work revealed how declining fat oxidation rates profoundly impact not only personal health but also long-term economic and societal stability. To turn this discovery into a practical, scalable solution, Johann founded VO2 Group (Pty) Ltd — the platform behind his groundbreaking fintech innovation, the V̇O₂ Account.  This system integrates real-time metabolic data with banking, insurance, and finance, enabling individuals to align their biological resilience with financial wellbeing and lifestyle outcomes. Under his leadership, VO2 Group has also introduced the D-lactate / L-lactate blood test, a first-of-its-kind diagnostic tool offering deeper insight into the root causes of metabolic dysfunction, chronic disease and peri-operative risk. Johann Els is redefining how health, risk, and value are measured — building a transformative bridge between medicine, finance, nutrition, and human physiology that is set to reshape healthcare, banking, and life itself.