Meet the team
Dietitian Connection began in 2012 and was founded by Dr Maree Ferguson. Maree is an Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian, Fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and is an internationally renowned nutrition and dietetics expert. She was previously the Director Nutrition and Dietetics, Princess Alexandra Hospital. Prior to this, Maree worked at an international medical nutrition company in the United States. She has held leadership positions both within the Dietitians Association of Australia and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly American Dietetic Association). Maree developed the Malnutrition Screening Tool to identify patients at risk of malnutrition. Her innovative malnutrition screening tool has been implemented in many hospitals worldwide.
Maree is an invited speaker at national and international dietetic conferences. She has received more than $1 million in research grant funding and authored over 30 peer-reviewed journal articles. She is a reviewer for many international nutrition and dietetics journals. Maree has been awarded the Dietitian’s Association of Australia National Award of Merit, Barbara Chester Award and the President’s Innovation Award. She also received an Australia Day Achievement Award in 2011.
Maree received her Graduate Diploma of Nutrition and Dietetics and Doctoral degrees from Queensland University of Technology and Masters in Business Administration from Franklin University in the USA.
Tanya Gilliver is an Accredited Practising Dietitian with 20 years’ experience in senior leadership roles in Australia and the UK. She has a diverse career, from working in public health and private practice, to the digital health technology start-up sector, and more recently, in legal services operational management. A dietetic career was the perfect choice to combine her love for food and cooking with supporting others in their health journeys. Tanya is known for thinking ‘outside the box’, being an adaptable manager and is focused on making the people she works with shine. Tanya received her Dietetics Qualifications in South Africa and holds an Executive Masters of Business Administration from RMIT University in Australia.
Rebecca Sparrowhawk is a dietitian and the Medical Nutrition Account Director at Dietitian Connection. Bec has extensive experience working in the medical nutrition industry, where she thrives on connecting with people and collaborating to achieve positive health outcomes for patients. Bec is based in Perth, WA – which expands the Dietitian Connection team across five states of Australia! — and is a proud mum of two. She grew up surrounded by the pristine beaches of Esperance with many an adventure had on annual camping trips. “I’d love to give my kids the same experience, with an extended caravan trip up the west coast of Australia, creating life-long memories and fostering an appreciation for the simpler things in life”.
Andrea Mortensen is an Accredited Practising Dietitian, with a background in nutrition marketing and communications over many years. Andrea started off her dietetic career in food industry and then founded her own agency where she developed a strong passion for helping clients navigate the complex world of nutrition communications to build reputation, innovate and make healthier easier. Andrea thrives on sharing her nutrition marketing expertise to help companies connect with nutrition leaders and consumers to build reputation, innovate and make healthier easier through evidence-based strategies.
Angelo De Blasio is our consulting Consumer Behaviour and Innovation specialist. Prior to joining the team Angelo worked cross functionally across the United States and Australia to launch some of Australia’s favourite Natural Foods brands including MILKLAB, Freedom Foods Cereals, Messy Monkeys, Barley+ and Australia’s Own Organic. Angelo brings a consumer perspective to our strategic initiatives which has helped launch our new web series Dietitian to Dietitian and consumer facing resource hub; Nutrition Connection.
Sarah Bramah is a dietitian and Consultant at Dietitian Connection. Sarah has a diverse professional background, including account service, medical education, regulatory compliance, food marketing and product development, bringing skills from these areas to DC. A love of all things food, cooking and nutrition goes without saying! She holds a Bachelor of Health Science and a Masters of Nutrition and Dietetics from Griffith University, along with qualifications in community pharmacy and business administration.
Melissa D’Imperio is an Accredited Practising Dietitian and the Nutrition Communications Director at Dietitian Connection. Melissa is an incredibly talented writer, a regular contributor to body+soul and a self-proclaimed ice cream enthusiast! She holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Exercise and Sport Science) and a Masters of Nutrition and Dietetics from The University of Sydney.
Alicia Mizzi is an Accredited Practising Dietitian and the Marketing and Communications lead at Dietitian Connection. Alicia has strong foundations within the medical nutrition industry, playing a critical role in providing technical and scientific knowledge to support the credible positioning of brands, products, and services. Alicia holds a Bachelor of Science (majoring in Human Biology) and a Master of Nutrition and Dietetics from The University of Sydney.
Brooke Delfino is an Accredited Practising Dietitian and the Editor at Dietitian Connection. Brooke is a savvy media dietitian with ten years print and digital publishing experience at one of Australia’s leading health and food magazines. She’s an accomplished writer, editor and presenter, with a mission to make good health and nutrition anything but boring. Brooke is a proud mum of two, who, despite her knowledge, still struggles to get her toddler to eat veggies! She holds a Bachelor of Science (Nutrition and Dietetics – Honours) and Bachelor of Applied Science (Exercise and Sport Science) from The University of Sydney.
Tegan Stuckey is an Accredited Practising Dietitian and the Marketing & Communications Assistant at Dietitian Connection. Tegan has a background in administration, IT and coordinating marketing activities and has a passion for all things food and wellbeing. She holds a Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics from Queensland University of Technology where she completed her honours in the clinical outcomes of malnourished older adults.
Emma Fabian has a Bachelor in Communication and Design and is our in-house Creative Director who has been working behind the scenes with the DC team from its early beginnings. Collaborating with numerous retail brands over the years, Emma brings an expansive background in print and digital graphic design, brand development, brand management and communications to the team. She has a deep interest in helping others and bringing ideas to life, and is always looking for the next creative challenge. The transition into the food and nutrition space, ties in well with her love of cooking, entertaining and most importantly – tasting!
Kristin Houts is a Chicago-based Registered Dietitian with a background in media. Kristin has extensive research, writing and editing experience from years in editorial and nutrition communication roles. She is the US marketing and communications lead for Dietitian Connection and coordinates the programming for all US-focused initiatives including e-newsletter, dedicated e-blasts, podcast, webinars and accredited webinar series, Dietitian to Dietitian, hosted by Joy Bauer. Kristin also runs a private practice where she counsels clients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome and other chronic GI issues with expertise in the Low FODMAP Diet.