I am a qualified Animal Health Technician with an MSc and PhD in Agriculture (Animal health). I have competency in laboratory techniques, research methodology, and data analysis. My research interests include animal reproductive health and metabolomics. At present, I have published eleven peer-reviewed papers and have also presented papers and posters at local and international conferences.

Mariaan Wicks is a registered dietitian and a senior lecturer at in the Faculty of Health Sciences, Subject Group Nutrition at the North-West University, South Africa. Mariaan has a special interest in nutrition focussed interventions to combat obesity and non-communicable diseases, with a specific focus on nutrient profiling and food labelling.

I am an Associate Professor of Nutrition at North-West University (NWU), with expertise in gene-environment interactions related to non-communicable diseases (NCDs). I hold a PhD in Nutrition from NWU, where I investigated gene-diet interactions influencing homocysteine levels. My postdoctoral research at Wageningen University in the Netherlands further deepened my expertise in nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics. Since 2010, I have been a faculty member at NWU, where I was promoted to Senior Lecturer (2012) and Associate Professor (2018).

Prof Le Roux is an Associate Professor in the field of Human Physiology, appointed at the North-West University since February 2014. She teaches and supervises undergraduate and postgraduate students and performs research as part of the Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART) at the South African Medical Research Council: Unit for Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease at the North-West University.

Prof Yolandi Breet is an associate professor and researcher in the field of Cardiovascular physiology and is also the subject leader of Physiology. Her research focuses on factors leading to the development of hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Her specific interests include large artery stiffness and early vascular aging.

Salome Kruger is a registered dietitian and pharmacist and Professor of Nutrition at the Centre of Excellence for Nutrition, North-West University. As member of consultative groups to the South African Department of Health she had the opportunity to advise on national policy.

Annchen Mielmann has expertise in Food-, Sensory- and Consumer Sciences with specialisation in the factors (sensory and non-sensory) that influence consumers’ food choices to strive for healthy and sustainable food consumption. In 2018, she completed the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship for postdoctoral studies at the Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH-HAFL) in Switzerland. In 2024 she completed the COMFOCUS Research Scholarship at the University of Goettingen, Germany.