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.

Kelsey Buchalter is a Nutrition Network Coach Practitioner (NNP), Sankofa Peer Recovery Coach, TEDx Speaker, Host of “The Human Theatre” Podcast, Singer-Songwriter & Actor. After navigating her way through severe Anorexia, Bulimia and Anxiety, she has become passionately outspoken about lifestyle interventions in the treatment and prevention of chronic disease. Her biggest inspiration is the body’s innate ability to heal itself when put in the right environment to do so.

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.

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.

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.

Dr. Laurie Twells is a clinical epidemiologist and Associate Dean of the Division of Population Health and Applied Health Sciences in the Faculty of Medicine at Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada. Her research focuses on obesity, metabolic health, bariatric surgery, and the prevention and management of nutrition-related chronic disease. She has contributed to the development of Canadian clinical practice guidelines for obesity and has led research examining long-term outcomes following bariatric surgery and non-surgical approaches to weight management. Dr. Twells is also a co-lead of the World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative (WBTi) Canada, which assesses national policies and practices that protect, promote, and support optimal nutrition in the first year of life. 

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.

Erik Peers is an Executive Coach who works with senior leaders to maintain performance while facing the metabolic and psychological realities of coming off long-term psychiatric medication.
He came to the work through his personal experience of a decade on antidepressants, and the slow taper he developed to finally end it. He has been medication-free for twenty-one years. Instability persisted well after the last dose. Work on both body and mind, including ketogenic nutrition, cleared lingering symptoms twelve years ago.

In addition to completing the Nutrition Network Advisor Training, he holds a Bachelor of Social Science (BSocSc) in Economics from the University of Cape Town and completed a full undergraduate major in Psychology through the University of South Africa. He also holds two UK qualifications: a Professional Certificate in Executive Coaching from Henley Business School at the University of Reading, and Health Coach certification from the Health Coaches Academy.

He spent more than twenty years in senior international business roles before moving into coaching. His practice is structured around the 5Fs Framework, which he developed.

He is running a case series documenting psychotropic medication tapering in combination with metabolic health improvement and coaching.

Jeff Tsoutsos is a Cape Town-based nutrition, mindset and spiritual coach whose work bridges modern health science, ancestral intelligence and spiritual awakening.

A qualified personal trainer through the Exercise Teachers Academy at the Sports Science Institute of South Africa, Jeff began his career more than 20 years ago in conventional fitness, including a stint training at a celebrity Hollywood gym. He went on to become a two-time Fitness SA Champion and also holds a four-year business degree with majors in Philosophy and Politics.

His path changed profoundly after a serious car accident, followed by a debilitating health crisis that forced him to question everything he thought he knew about health and healing. What followed was an eight-year deep dive into nutrition, human biology, mindset, consciousness and the interconnected relationship between body, mind and spirit.

Today, Jeff is the founder of the Institute of Human Technology and creator of the Ancestral Intelligence Protocol, designed to help people remember, reactivate and reconnect with the innate human intelligence already within them.

At the heart of his work is what he calls the Trinity: nourish and move the body as nature intended, train and optimise the mind through conscious thought, intention and practice, and create the conditions that allow the spirit to soar.

It begins with a simple premise: food is more than fuel. Food is code. The body is our hardware, the mind our operating system, and when both are functioning as nature intended, we create the foundation for deeper spiritual connection, purpose and optimised human potential. We cannot expect the spirit to soar on corrupted hardware.

His central message is about disentangling from the societal conditioning, corporate systems and modern toxins that have taught us to outsource our health, intelligence and power, and instead reconnect with what has been within us all along. The journey is not about becoming something new, but remembering who and what you have always been: that you are one with Source. 

That YOU are the technology.