Victorian Fitness Academy (VFA)

The Team

Ryan Koski - Academy Manager

With over 12 years experience working in the fitness industry, Ryan brings a wealth of knowledge to the Narre Warren Academy. Having completed a Bachelor of Applied Science (Honors) in Human Movement as well as a Masters in Exercise Rehabilitation. Ryan began his career in the industry as a personal trainer, he then moved into corporate health and then into commercial health club management. Ryan has managed a number of Genesis health clubs and more recently became a club owner with Fenix Fitness Clubs.
Justin Healy

Justin has completed a Bachelor of Applied Science in Human Movement and a Graduate Diploma in Education. He has run a successful fitness business for eight years, its operations including team building, personal training, and player development. Recently he ran player development programs for Collingwood, Hawthorn, Geelong, Western Bulldogs & Melbourne Storm. He operates a corporate training business with footballers Shane Crawford and Ben Dixon. They have run corporate training for some of Australia's biggest companies including Loreal, Ford, HSBC and Target.
Tahi Reihana

Tahi has operated a successful personal training business for eight years. He has represented New Zealand at test level in rugby league and had a long professional career in the NRL. Tahi has also been a strength and conditioning coach at the Geelong Football Club and trained many elite national level athletes.
Renae Butterworth

Renae has been presenting for five years. During her previous employment in Queensland she was nominated presenter of the year. Renae also opened a personal training business in Queensland which became the second largest personal training business in Queensland in the first eight months. She presents in the areas of physiology, anatomy, prescription and business. Renae has competed at a state level in a number of sports.
Dr Paul Cribb

Paul is the Director of Research of AST Sports Science, based in Colorado, USA. In what he describes as the coolest job in the world, Paul designs and coordinates research studies in collaboration with leading Universities that investigate how to enhance the benefits of exercise using various training techniques and nutritional supplements. As Sports Nutrition Consultant to the United States Dairy Council, Paul travels frequently presenting the latest research to industry and organizations around the world.
Linda Newman

Linda has more than 20 years practical experience in the fitness industry in the UK, USA, Asia and Australia. She has been involved in many aspects of the industry, including club management, personal training and group fitness, and has competed in sport aerobics nationally and internationally. Linda has had personal sponsorship, and been a presenter for both Nike and Reebok, and a international presenter for Network Australia. She is currently group fitness coordinator with Fenix Fitness Clubs and a Pilates Master Trainer.
Sarah Murray

Sarah is an Exercise Physiologist having completed a Bachelor of Applied Science in Human Movement and Graduate Diploma in Exercise for Rehabilitation. Sarah runs her own business TEKNIQUE Health & Rehabilitation? prescribing exercise and rehabilitation programs for people with injuries and/or chronic illness involving Workcover, Medicare, DVA and private clients.
Lochi Horner

Lochi has been working in the fitness industry for the last 10 years as a Personal Trainer, Gym Instructor, business owner and teacher. He recently sold his business in OLD and now calls Victoria home. His passion is making you the student a world class fitness professional.
Steven Lewry

Steven is the current Head Strength Conditioning Coach of the VFL team at the Geelong Football Club, a position he has held for the past six years. He is also a two time winner at the famous Stawell Easter Gift. Steven is a highly successful personal trainer who has trained athletes such as James Bartell, Paul Chapman, Brent Prismall, Trudy McIntosh and boxer Kane McKay. Steven specialises in leadership and motivation and has over recent years mentored world class middle distance runner Craig Mottram.
Mick Malley

Mick is a former Commonwealth boxing champion with a top ten in the world ranking. He has been a qualified fitness instructor for eight years but has concentrated on running a successful personal training operation for the previous four years since retiring from boxing. Even though Mick spends alot of his time personal training he also specialises in group and boxing training. Mick has built his personal training business to a point where he now has personal trainers working under him.
Bo Chudsonik

Bo is a Physical Education Teacher at Sacred Heart College, Geelong. He has a two degrees in P.E and a Masters in Business Administration. He also runs workshops in the areas of Corporate Wellness, Fitness, First Aid and Massage. He has podium finishes in Triathlons and Surf Life Saving and was a competitor in the 2007 Coolangatta Gold.
Nicole Little

Nicole has close to two decades of fitness experience, ten of which have been dedicated to fitness education. She has both seen and experienced many changes in the fitness, its education and its fashion!! Most recently working in a dual University/ Tafe environment fitness education isn’t just her job but her passion!
Raph Riga

Fitness and health has always been a large part of my life. When I was younger I played Aussie rules football and was selected to play for the Preston Bullants which was definitely a highlight of my football career. It taught me to have goals, be positive and determined at whatever I try to accomplish. I became a personal trainer 3 years ago and since then have had an awesome time working in the industry and have learnt lots of new skills. These skills include a Level 2 Boxing Instructor, Pilates training, taking many different group exercise classes, and what I believe is the most fun, 1 on 1 personal training.
Pete Gleeson

Pete joined the fitness industry 10 years ago after completing a Bachelor of Science at Melbourne University with majors in Anatomy and Physiology. His knowledge and his passion to work with people led him to become a gym floor and group exercise instructor, Personal Trainer, Personal Training Manager, and for the last 2 years the National Personal Training Manager at Fenix Fitness Clubs. Pete believes as a trainer you must practice what you preach; and has therefore trained-up and enjoyed joining his clients in numerous marathons, cycling events such as Around-the-Bay, and the rewarding Kokoda Trail. One life, live it!
Ozlem Ozkan

My vision is to support and inspire every person to create and live the healthy lifestyle of their dreams. I believe that anyone can achieve what they focus on. I am passionate about my work and am fulfilled by the incredible outcomes people achieve in their lives. My extensive experience & training gives me the ability to uncover barriers that get in the way of change and inspire people to achieve more by raising their expectations of what’s possible. I have extensive knowledge & experience working as a personal trainer and nutritionist and am dedicated to supporting and inspiring future leaders in the industry.
Kate Martin

Kate Martin has been a personal trainer for 12 years during which time she has become a Level 1 Chek Practitioner (Corrective Holistic Exercise Kinesiologist). Kate also has completed a Diploma in Remedial Therapies and ran her own clinics in busy Sydney gyms. She also has certification in ‘Nutrition and Metabolic Typing’. She has successfully started and continued to run several personal training businesses and gets great pleasure out of mentoring and teaching other personal trainers to get results with their clients. She also has a passion for public speaking, which she does frequently on the topic of health to both other health professionals and members of the public.
Marcel Duryea

Marcel has been in the Fitness Industry for 12years after doing his Cert IV in Fitness. He has been a gym instructor, personal trainer, run his own personal training business and has also been a PT Manager at a large commercial club. He comes with a lot of hands on experience and is passionate about the fitness industry. Currently he is still personal training and taking boxing classes. Marcel keeps life in balance with meditation and spiritual philosophy and is passionate about creating well rounded people who can make great fitness professionals.
Phil Haydon

Phil has been active in all sports and fitness from a very early age, leading him to play at very competitive levels for many sports. As a junior, he played for Australia in tennis and later become the Australian champion in martial arts (2002).I’ve been a trainer for a little over 5 years now and am very goal orientated and love challenges, participating in trekking through the Kokoda Track which I’ve completed twice, the last time as a Trek Leader. As a personal trainer I have had years of experience in rehab and strength and conditioning. I also run regular Boot Camps. I am a qualified Metabolic Precision provider and an advanced Boxing and Kick Boxing Instructor.
Alex Rojas

Alex has been part of the fitness and massage therapy industry for over 15 years. Alex has lecturered at Swinburne, Victoria and Monash Universities within the different modalities of fitness, rehabilitation, OHS and massage therapy. Alex has also travelled abroad with the Australian Triathlon Team where he has developed his craft and a passion for long endurance training. Alex has participated in a variety of short and long distance events, some of these events have included Ironman Triathlons, marathons and endurance racing.
Lauren Hall

Lauren - has travelled the globe to London, Belgium and India to learn a dynamic variety of massage treatments. This has allowed her to work in 5 star hotels, day spas, rehabilitation clinics and 5 years in her own successful massage business. She has contributed articles on massage to Wikipedia, and has also had these published in health magazines. Lauren is an advocate for all forms of massage therapy and believes "a great massage treatment is one of the most effective ways to bring balance and wellbeing into one's life". Her classes bring a depth of passion, she is committed to learning and development and hopes to inspire others to continually evolve in theirs.