Our Dietitians
Cathy Thesing (BSc, MND, Grad Dip Pub Health, APD, AN)
Director
Cathy began practice with Leading Nutrition early in 1998 after returning from 7 years in Germany. Cathy became director in November 2002 and has built a successful practice. As well as being director of the business, she is also chief dietitian to her qualified team having consulted at several private hospitals, nursing homes and many years of one on one practice.
Cathy’s hobbies are cycling swimming and horse riding. She lives in the country with her husband and many animals.
Miling Toyle (BND, APD, AN)
General Manager
Miling is the General Manager for Leading Nutrition. Miling has had extensive experience as an Accredited Practising Dietitian and as Leading Nutrition’s primary Customer Partner, has worked closely with many facilities across Victoria to ensure customer expectations are not only met but exceeded.
Miling’s role as General Manager involves managing business administration, budgets, marketing, HR management and business planning all with the vision of ensuring Leading Nutrition continues to provide Victoria’s most impressive private nutrition services.
Miling loves to keep fit by playing hockey, running and boxing, and enjoys travelling to wine regions, hosting dinner parties and taking advantage of Melbourne’s world-class restaurant and dining scene.
Julie Orr (BSc, Grad Dip Nutrition and Diet, APD, AN)
Senior Dietitian
Julie is a dietitian supervisor for Leading Nutrition and has over 10 years experience as an Accredited Practising Dietitian working in a range of settings including: hospitals, community health centres and nursing homes. Julie’s experience extends to running education seminars, radio sessions, group programs and public health programs, but her passions now lie in aged care and working with nursing homes to improve overall nutrition and hydration systems so that there are positive improvements for every resident.
Julie loves to spend her spare time with her husband and two daughters. Julie enjoys being involved in her daughters’ school, eating out, visiting family and friends and walking.
Denise Burbidge (BND, APD, AN)
Senior Dietitian
Denise is an Accredited Practising Dietitian and supervisor for Leading Nutrition. Denise is experienced in aged care and has particular interest in diabetes management.
Denise practices in a range of settings within Leading Nutrition including: individual consulting at our Balwyn rooms, home visits for elderly, menu reviews, aged care consulting, presentations, in-services and group education sessions for the corporate groups, the community and aged care facilities.
Denise enjoys working with individuals and facilities to improve overall nutrition and hydration systems and individual outcomes.
When not working, Denise enjoys being active (currently playing soccer, netball and does fitness boxing), cooking and spending time with family and friends.
Lotta Lennartsson (BND, B App Sc, APD)
Senior Dietitian
Having completed a Bachelor of Food Science & Nutrition and a Bachelor of Nutrition & Dietetics, Lotta possesses a strong nutrition-based foundation.
Working from a number of sites around Melbourne, including hospitals, nursing homes and 1:1 consulting rooms, Lotta has a keen interest in Gastrointestinal Disorders, Food Intolerance, Diabetes, Elevated Cholesterol and Weight Management.
With an inherent passion for helping clients improve their health and well-being, Lotta thrives on assisting clients to realise their goals.
Chloe Fast (BND, B App Sc, APD, AN)
Senior Dietitian
Chloe has two Bachelor Degrees – one in Nutrition & Dietetics and one in Applied Science (Health Sciences) with a major in Exercise Science. She also holds post graduate Sports Nutrition and Anthropometry qualifications, and is an Accredited Practicing Dietitian (APD) and Sports Dietitian.
Chloe is extremely passionate about her work in the nutrition field and believes not only that health, vitality and wellness are you right, but that everyone should have the opportunity to achieve their individual health aspirations.
Christine Diamond (BND, APD, AN)
Senior Dietitian
Christine’s studies to become an Accredited Practising Dietitian were completed at Deakin University. After finishing her Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics, Christine gained experience in research, looking at the dietary intake data of 4000 Victorians in different socio-economic areas.
Christine has brought to Leading Nutrition a passion for various areas of Dietetics including aged care and rehabilitation, as well as her work in individual consulting. Christine is fluent in Greek, has experience in providing 1:1 nutrition advice, as well as group nutrition sessions in regard to health issues such as heart health, diabetes and weight management. Christine also has a keen interest in providing educational presentations, having experience in conducting group nutrition-based cooking demonstrations and various seminars. Christine enjoys cooking, going to the gym, trying new restaurants and socialising with friends and family.
Rebekah Sholes (BND, BSc, APD, AN)
Senior Dietitian
Rebekah is an Accredited Practising Dietitian, with both a Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics from Deakin University and a Bachelor of Science from Monash University.
Rebekah has special interests in aged care and diabetes management, and enjoys working across different areas of dietetics, including aged care facilities, private hospitals and consulting at medical centres. Rebekah is also keen on research, being involved with an infant nutrition study through Deakin University.
Rebekah has a strong passion for everything to do with food and nutrition, and in her spare time travels overseas to experience the different foods of the world.
Siobhan Coster (BND, APD, AN)
Consultant Dietitian
Siobhan is an Accredited Practising Dietitian with a Bachelor of Nutrition & Dietetics from Monash University. Siobhan has particular interests in aged care, gastroenterology, weight management and paediatrics and enjoys working in a range of clinical settings including: aged care facilities, hospitals, clinics and food service. Siobhan has clinical experience educating individuals and facilitating group nutrition sessions and seminars.
Being passionate about everything to do with food and nutrition, Siobhan loves cooking, eating and talking about food in her spare time. Aside from food, Siobhan practices yoga and loves socialising with friends and family (usually over a meal)!
Jessica Macri (MD, B Nutrition Sc, APD)
Consultant Dietitian
Jessica is an Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD). She completed her first degree of Bachelor of Nutritional Science at La Trobe University, followed by her Honours year in which she gained research experience, and then completed her studies with a Master of Nutrition and Dietetics at Deakin University. Jessica’s Dietetic interests include working within the aged care system and within chronic disease management.
Jessica’s passion for food arose from her Italian background and growing up surrounded by the traditional homemade cooking of her mother and grandmother. Jessica enjoys travelling, catching up with friends over coffee and going to the movies.
Samantha Cowan (BND Hons, APD, AN)
Consultant Dietitian
Samantha graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics and an Honours degree in Nutrition and Diabetes research. From a young age Samantha has been a passionate advocator for nutrition and wellbeing, and is thrilled to help others achieve their health goals.
Samantha holds a special interest in diabetes and chronic disease management, and continues to volunteer with the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Centre and Diabetes Victoria. With her enthusiasm for learning Samantha enjoys keeping up-to-date with dietetic practice guidelines, reading nutrition articles in journals and media outlets, and discovering new food products. Apart from nutrition, Samantha has a keen interest in history, culture and the arts, and enjoys reading novels, travelling and visiting museums and galleries. Samantha also loves to participate in outdoor activities such as walking, jogging and cycling, provided that the sun is shining and a picnic is awaiting!
Samantha Brazzale (BNutrDiet, APD, AN)
Consultant Dietitian
Samantha completed her Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics degree at Monash University. Samantha holds a strong interest in the dietary management of patients with type 2 diabetes, and is also interested in the impact nutrition can have on achieving optimal patient outcomes for those who have undergone orthopaedic surgery.
In her spare time Samantha enjoys playing netball and basketball, going to the gym, reading and travelling, having recently travelled to North America, Italy, Greece and England.
Anhly Bui (BNutrDiet, APD, AN)
Consultant Dietitian
Anhly completed a Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics at Monash University. She enjoys working within a range of dietetics including aged care, 1:1 consultations, clinical dietetics and group/corporate education. She is passionate about helping people balance and improve their lives through nutrition and health and has interests in weight management, diabetes management and gastroenterology. Anhly is fluent in speaking Vietnamese.
Anhly enjoys cooking and baking, spending time with family, friends and her Maltese x Shihtzu, dining out, photography and travelling. She keeps active with Pilates classes and dancing.
Kim Smith
Consultant Dietitian
Kim completed an undergraduate degree in Food Science and Nutrition, followed by a Masters of Dietetics at Deakin University. She has had a long-standing interest in health and wellbeing, and in the dietetic sphere, particularly in food allergies and intolerances.
Kim enjoys cooking, especially experimenting with new and healthy recipes, catching up with friends over good food and coffee, reading and art. She has a passion for languages, culture and travelling, and in recent years has travelled to Central and South America, South East Asia, India, Europe and the Pacific.
Meaghan Butterley
Consultant Dietitian
Meaghan graduated from Deakin University with a Master of Dietetics and a Bachelor of Health Sciences, with majors in nutrition and exercise behaviour. Whilst completing her university degrees, Meaghan worked in the weight management industry and provided nutrition consulting to gyms.
Meaghan’s key nutrition interests include aged care, gastroenterology and mental health. In her role at Leading Nutrition, Meaghan is passionate about improving the quality of the food supply within aged care facilities and optimising the overall health and wellbeing of each resident.
In her spare time, Meaghan enjoys playing netball and personal training, and is passionate about all things food-related, especially cooking for guests, dining out and reading food magazines.
Hayley Finch
Consultant Dietitian
Hayley graduated with both a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology and Nutrition and a Master of Nutrition and Dietetics. Hayley’s special interests include aged care, diabetes management, and weight management. Hayley is currently the Leading Nutrition’s main dietitian servicing residential aged care facilities in Western Australia.
In addition to her work with Leading Nutrition, Hayley also consults within the area of Bariatric Surgery.
Hayley is passionate about all things food, making healthy choices easy choices, optimising health through nutrition, and ensuring quality of life.
Gill Chamberlin
Consultant Dietitian
Gill qualified as a dietitian at Deakin University in Melbourne. Her studies prior to that Gill were a postgraduate diploma of human nutrition as well as an undergraduate degree in applied science food and nutrition.
Being passionate about food and nutrition Gill has worked for nearly 10 years in the food industry, this has given her the opportunity to improve the food supply for the general population. Interaction and connection to people also inspire Gill, she also consults in private practice and in corporate nutrition where she prepares resources and undertakes presentations, consultations and cooking demonstrations to various corporate groups.
In her spare time she likes to keep active (running, walking, swimming, gym classes, water skiing), cook, read and spend time with family and friends.
Alexia Archibold (BNutrDiet, APD, AN)
Consultant Dietitian
Alexia is an Accredited Practising Dietitian who graduated from Bachelor of Nutrition & Dietetics at Monash University. Alexia has extensive clinical experience and has specialised in neurological disorders and neurosurgery. Alexia has also worked in a small community setting in North East Victoria as well as private practice settings. Alexia enjoys working in a range of clinical settings including: aged care facilities, hospitals, clinics and food service.
Alexia enjoys food especially with a glass of wine. In her spare time she like to travel and do outdoor activities like snowboarding, hiking and jogging.
Anne Chipperfield (BNutrDiet, APD, AN)
Consultant Dietitian
Anne has worked in dietetics for over 10 years having qualified with a Masters of Human Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Sydney.
Anne has worked as a dietitian in a number of settings both in Australia and England. These roles have included working in the hospital setting with a special interest in neurology, community roles specialising in home enteral nutrition and food service roles. She is passionate about nutrition and is enthusiastic to ensure clients meet their nutritional goals.
When Anne is not working she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, growing fresh vegetables in the garden, jogging and cycling.