Meet the Team
Your HCA team is here to help you from the moment you first contact us. Here are some of the HCA team members you might come into contact with on your journey. We thoroughly enjoy getting to know each of your personal stories and reasons for training in health coaching, and we wanted to share a little of our own stories.
​

Nikki Wilson
Director of Studies
Nikki holds a degree in Nutritional Therapy and is a Master Coach. Based in White River, South Africa, she combines her passion for health, wellness and business in a duel career. She serves as Director of Studies at HCA and is also the Owner and Operations Director of a group of Dialysis Clinics and a Renal Management company. With her children finding their own paths, Nikki now enjoys hobbies like motorbiking and slack-packing. As Director of Studies, she focuses on creating an academically robust and life-changing experience for HCA students, ensuring a positive and impactful journey for all.
​

Mary Walker
Head of Live Supervisions
Mary is a highly qualified professional with a background in Psychology and extensive teaching for A-level psychology students in the UK. She holds a Diploma in Nutritional Therapy, Health Coaching, Clinical Hypnotherapy, and NLP Mastery, and is a certified Mindfulness and Self-compassion teacher and supervisor. A member of BANT, CNHC, and BAMBA, she has been a Health Coach since 2009, working with both Zest4Life and HCA. Actively involved with HCA since 2017, she serves as a Trainer, Head of Live Supervision, and oversees Pastoral Care. Mary also runs her private practice, "Your Compassion Coach," promoting mindfulness and self-compassion.

Marcelle Dubruel
Senior Health Coach Trainer
Marcelle is a Master Health Coach and Nutritional Therapist and member of the British Association of Applied Nutritional Therapy. She is also a certified Heart Math practitioner, leads corporate Wellbeing Programmes, and sees one-to-one clients privately. Marcelle is a Senior Health Coach Trainer for HCA and runs the monthly Health Coaching Clinics, demonstrating Coaching-in-Action. Marcelle is fascinated by the power of coaching and the ability it has to facilitate others in living a life they absolutely love, with a level of health that they all deserve.
​

Lyn Hatch
Head of Student Experience
Lyn is a Trauma-informed and Functional Medicine Health Coach, i3 accredited profiler. She works with adult clients one-to-one and in group programmes. She also supports companies with wellbeing initiatives. After 20 years in corporate roles, her mother's cancer diagnosis and passing inspired Lyn to change direction, leading her into palliative care and eventually Health Coaching. Her mission is to provide others with the dignity, care and compassion her mother received. Outside of her work, which she loves, Lyn is a wife and mother of two teenage boys, and enjoys studying health topics and listening to podcasts in her spare time.

Zena le Roux
Mentor
Zena is a Functional Nutrition Coach and Health Journalist. She owns Zena Health Transformations, based in South Africa. Her focus is on sustainable health and helping clients feel strong in their bodies. Zena is also a qualified Mindful Eating teacher, assisting clients in reconnecting their hunger and satiety signals and reducing problematic eating behaviours. She collaborated with Novak Djokovic's doctor on the 'Enhance Your Sports Performance' programme, designed to improve athletic performance without compromising health. Zena has additional qualifications in sports nutrition, mindfulness, Internal Family Systems, Applied Polyvagal Theory, and Trauma-Informed Yoga. She shares her expertise through one-to-one sessions, group programmes, workshops, talks, retreats, and as a podcast host for HCA Talks Health.
_edited.jpg)
Catherine Shelton
Curriculum Development Coordinator
Catherine is a certified Health and Wellness Coach specialising in helping women manage perimenopausal symptoms, empowering them to feel calm, confident, and thrive in a life they love. Her journey began in Southern Russia, where digestive issues sparked her passion for health. After returning to England, she pursued her studies while homeschooling her four children and eventually launched her private practice. Catherine now works with one-to-one clients, leads group programmes, and runs an annual Wellness Reset weekend. She is also the HCA Curriculum Development Coordinator, supporting and inspiring students in their Health Coaching careers.
​

Clare Hegarty
Mentor
Clare is a Nutritionist and Health Coach based in Ireland, passionate about helping clients live happier, healthier lives. After transitioning from a corporate career, she now runs a thriving practice, blending her expertise in nutrition, sleep, stress, and anxiety management to drive lasting health changes. Clare's work focuses on the corporate sector, delivering workshops and tailored programmes to promote wellness in the workplace. She also supports parents in raising confident eaters, drawing from her personal experience. Clare believes optimal health is achievable for all, inspiring clients to overcome barriers and embrace simple, sustainable changes for a better life.

Sharon Alfred
Mentor
Sharon is passionate about health and wellness coaching, personal growth, and self-mastery. She believes in lifestyle transformation through a person-centered approach, serving as a thought and accountability partner. With a background in business administration and corporate governance, Sharon recently became a certified coach and member of COMENSA. Highly organised and detail-oriented, she has over 20 years of experience in administrative, finance, and governance roles for international organisations in the agricultural policy research sector. In her free time, Sharon enjoys golf, hiking, meditation, yoga, reading, travel, and nature.

Candace Vermaak
Mentor
Candace is a Health Coach and owner of Balanced4Life Health Coaching in South Africa, as well as a Biokineticist with a PhD in Sport Science. Passionate about health and wellness, she helps overwhelmed women make small, sustainable changes to regain balance. since starting her own health journey in 2007, she has continued to upskill herself. Currently, she lectures at Stellenbosch University and shares her expertise with students, one-on-one clients, group programmes, and retreats. Candace also aspires to be a health journalist, sharing her knowledge to inspire positive change in others.

Nichola Flood
Mentor
Nichola is the founder of The Queen Of Health, a Dublin-based nutrition and lifestyle consultancy specialising in weight loss and hormone support for women over 40. With over 20 years in corporate pharmacy and a BA Hons in training and education, she is dedicated to coaching individuals toward their goals. In 2017, Nichola established her business and became a certified Health Coach and Nutritional Therapist. Her personal health transformation through nutrition and lifestyle fuels her passion for inspiring others to prioritise their wellbeing. She is also the author of "Body Beautiful," sharing her own wellness journey.
​

Nicky Denvir
Mentor
Nicky has been practising as a nutritional therapist for the past 7 years, after gaining an MSc in Personalised Nutrition from CNELM in the UK. Nicky works with clients on a 1:1 basis, as well as running group programmes and delivering corporate talks and workshops. Nicky's 1:1 and group clients are predominantly women over 40 who want to feel more energised, more ‘in balance’, healthier and more positive about life.
​

Pam Clark
Mentor
A Palliative Care Nurse by background, Pam re-trained in Nutrition and Trauma Therapies following the death of her mum, to meet people earlier in their health journey. Pam uses her skills in Nutrition, Health Coaching, EFT (Tapping) and HeartMath to meet people exactly where they are and nudge them forward with a gentle loving heart. Originally from Glasgow, Pam now lives is Worcestershire, UK. When not coaching, teaching or writing, she is commonly spotted perched on her back step with a cup of something warm and murky, wondering if she’s forgotten something vital.
_edited.jpg)
Debi Mason
Mentor
Debi holds a bachelor's degree in education and has a background in sales and marketing. She held an executive position at UGG Europe, based in the London head office, and played an integral part in the brand's growth from modest beginnings into a multimillion-dollar success. Debi is a brand builder with an understanding of global business dynamics and its relevance to brand requirements. Today, Debi runs a thriving health coaching practice dedicated to helping individuals. As an HCA mentor, her mission is to empower aspiring health coaches in their entrepreneurial journeys, contributing to a wave of positive change in the health and lives of countless individuals.​​
_edited.jpg)
Sophia Murray John
Mentor
Sophia Murray John is a nurse and certified Health Coach with over 30 years in the NHS. Passionate about transforming healthcare, she empowers people to enhance their wellbeing. With firsthand experience of the growing demands on health services, Sophia aims to foster a culture of health and wellness despite limited resources. Health coaching has been a career milestone for her, merging her expertise in chronic disease management with coaching skills. She also coaches triathlon and swimming, striving to inspire individuals and communities to move from merely surviving to truly thriving.
​

Jana Burraston
Head of Student Support
Jana is originally from a small farming community called Darnall in South Africa, where she loved growing up surrounded by the land and all it teaches you. She moved to the USA recently, and now lives in Ponte Verde Beach, with her husband and daughter. She's one of the few non-HCA graduates on the team, but her journey with HCA began when she volunteered as a case study for a team member when they were a student. Before joining HCA, she worked in the culinary field, but she shifted focus when her daughter was a toddler. She's been with HCA for several years now, and loves welcoming new students and witnessing the transformations that take place as they go through the course.

Lindie Nortje
Student Support
In 2019, while on a mission to improve her own health, Lindie discovered health coaching. Initially, she had no plans to pursue it as a career, but by the end of the course, she realised that making a positive impact on others' lives was her true calling. After graduating from HCA in 2021, she founded Beyond Health Coaching, offering in-person and online sessions. With 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.
​
​

Melissa Andrews
CORE Support
Melissa is a health enthusiast, wife, and mom of two daughters, blending family, wellness and coastal living. Her health journey began after recovering from severe burnout, teaching her that true health is about balance, joy, and wellbeing in all areas of life. Family is central to her approach, and she's passionate about working with bridal couples and families to improve their overall health. After earning her Health Coaching diploma through HCA, Melissa joined the team as CORE Support, where she enjoys supporting students navigate their own Health Coaching journeys.
​

Karina Marais
Administrative Support
With nearly 20 years in health and wellness, Karina is passionate about helping people live their healthiest lives. Her background in fitness and nutrition allows her to offer a well-rounded approach to Health Coaching. As a Level 1 Performance Personal Trainer, she specialises in boosting athletic performance and overall wellbeing. Her experience as a group fitness instructor and running coach lets her connect with diverse individuals, helping them reach their goals. She's currently pursuing a Level 7 Clinical Nutrition Diploma to deepen her nutritional expertise and provide evidence-based guidance. Her holistic approach connects mental and physical health, inspiring sustainable lifestyle changes.