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.
Dr Jane Winter is an Accredited Practising Dietitian and the Account Director at Dietitian Connection. Jane brings several decades of experience in clinical, community, industry and academic dietetics to Dietitian Connection. In addition to her dietetic qualifications, Jane holds a Masters of Professional Education & Training from Deakin University and in 2017 completed her PhD in the area of nutritional risk in community based older adults.
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.
Melissa Meier 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.
Tegan Stuckey is an Accredited Practising Dietitian and the Marketing & Communications Assistant at Dietitian Connection. Tegan has a background in coordinating marketing activities and has a passion for food, wellbeing and social media. 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.
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 Dietitian Connection. 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.
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.
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!