Our Team

Kim Johnston 
Manager - The Zone

Kim has over 25 years' experience in the sports, fitness, health and wellbeing and outdoor education sectors. She’s worked in strength and conditioning coaching, endurance performance coaching, outdoor education instruction and sport and recreation management. She also spent a year working as a fitness manager at a women’s gym in Saudi Arabia.

Kylie Grimmer
Nutritionist/Clinical Co-ordinator

Kylie is an Associate Registered Nutritionist and graduate of Ara’s Bachelor of Applied Science in Human Nutrition. She’s played a significant role in establishing The Zone’s nutrition clinic where she works 1:1 with a variety of clients. Kylie is intensely passionate about helping people learn how to fuel their bodies in a way that nurtures their mental and physical health while keeping the fun in their lives.

Maria Choukri
The Zone and Allied Health Support/Nutritionist

Maria is a Registered Nutritionist with a passion for wellbeing and a special interest in nutrition for mental health, perimenopause and outdoor pursuits. She loves supporting people to make better food choices that work for them and make them feel good. Maria is skilled in helping her clients identify realistic goals and finding achievable pathways to attain them.

Julie Slattery
Nutritionist and Dietitian

Julie first qualified and worked as a dietitian in the UK before practicing in Australia and now New Zealand. Much of her work has focused on helping people to manage and prevent chronic diseases such as Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease but as a keen multisporter, she’s also skilled at helping people manage their nutrition for training and competition. Julie believes health is a toanga that we need to look after.

Claudia Leong
Nutritionist

Claudia is a Registered Nutritionist and one of Ara’s nutrition lecturers. She has a PhD in human nutrition specialising in infant and child health and is particularly interested in nutrition for pregnancy, infants and children. Claudia places a strong emphasis on values and understanding her clients’ (and their family’s) unique needs. She strives to provide up to date, evidence-based advice in an accessible, easy to understand and positive manner and works hard to ensure her clients have the support, confidence and skills to adapt to change.

Rochelle Waghorn
Student Nutritionist

Currently in the final year of an applied science degree, Rochelle is passionate about promoting the benefits of healthy food and a balanced lifestyle. She enjoys working closely and collaboratively with clients to understand their motivations, lifestyle and preferences. Rochelle is adept at formulating practical and sustainable nutrition plans that lead to successful outcomes.

Naomi Fahy
Student Nutritionist

Naomi is studying nutrition at Ara, an interest sparked by growing up in a multicultural home. She believes that our quality of life can be significantly impacted by how we eat. Her goal is to encourage eating habits that are well balanced yet cater to the individual’s journey and help them to develop a relationship with food that is joyful.

Priscilla
Student Nutritionist

A mother of three teenage daughters, Priscilla is currently in the final year of her Bachelor of Applied Science in human nutrition at Ara. She has long been interested in nutrition, particularly after she discovered how allergies were affecting her wellbeing as a teenager. Priscilla’s own mindful food choices and lifestyle adjustments over the years have significantly improved her quality of life and she’s dedicated to empowering others to make informed health and wellbeing choices that deliver the same benefits.