MEET THE TEAM
Dr. Stef Snyman
Dr. Stef Snyman is an occupational medicine practitioner and health professions educationist. Living in Cape Town, South Africa, he’s passionate about helping people break free from metabolic diseases, prescription drugs, and despair by embracing the FIRE lifestyle.
As the visionary behind FIRE for Life, Dr. Snyman leads a diverse team that offers this groundbreaking online program. It’s designed to help people reverse conditions linked to insulin resistance, such as type 2 diabetes.
Outside his clinical work, Dr. Snyman sits on the Editorial Board of ICF Education, the Board of SAVIMS, and is a research associate at the Centre for Community Technologies at Nelson Mandela University in Gqeberha, South Africa.
His commitment to improving how different health professionals work together shines through his past role as the first partnership facilitator for the Africa Interprofessional Education Network (AfrIPEN) and Interprofessional.Global.
Stef is married to Helena, and they have two teenagers, Christiaan and Isobel.
Dr. Frank Muller
Dr Frank Muller (or “Doc Frank” as he is popularly known) is a board-certified medical doctor, as well as a clinical pharmacologist. Despite his academic credentials, he has spent the past three decades helping thousands of people live healthier lives – free from medication – by using simple, natural solutions anyone can implement at home.
Doc Frank has been a consultant to the British Commonwealth regarding the cultivation of medicinal herbs. For a ten years, he was a guest lecturer in Community Health at the University of Stellenbosch. He is the founder and CEO of Integrow Health (Pty) Ltd, an online wellness company.
Doc Frank is married to Ami, and (at last count) they have 6 children, 4 boys and 2 girls.
Pete Goffe-Wood
Renowned TV celebrity Chef Pete Goffe-Wood, is the chef-patron at FIRE for Life.
Pete trained at the Beverly Hills Hotel, Umhlanga Rocks, Kwazulu-Natal. He lived and worked at some of the top restaurants in London for nine years. Pete returned to South Africa in 1999 and assisted in opening the restaurant at La Couronne Hotel and Winery in Franschhoek (now Mont Rochelle). Has worked in Namibia, Bangkok, Hanoi, Sydney and Oman. He launched the Kitchen Cowboys cooking workshops in 2003 in Cape Town.
Pete is author of four cookbooks, A Life Digested, Kitchen Cowboys, Blue Restaurant, and Food on FIRE. He was a judge on MasterChef South Africa for four seasons and judge on Ultimate Braai Master (season 8).
Pete is married to Elize.
Dr. George Roux
Dr George Roux is a psychologist and pastoral therapist with a passion to care for the carers. He specialises in the management of burnout, anxiety and depression. George is a seasoned marriage counsellor.
When he is not busy in his private practice, he facilitates groups of pastors, school masters or healthcare workers to build resilience, to cope and to live full-filled lives.
George lives life to its fullest. He often goes fishing and camping. His is married for 38 years to his co-adventurer on the journey, Talma.
They have 3 adult children.
Prof. Gerda Reitsma
Prof Gerda Reitsma is a Health Professions Educator and Higher Education specialist. She was a full-time lecturer and researcher for over 30 years at the NWU.
She has a background in nutrition and food product development, and later, through a combination of her science and education qualifications, focussed on mentoring lecturers in higher education teaching and learning. Even with extensive knowledge and training in food and nutrition, Gerda struggled with health and weight issues most of her adult life.
The FIRE Journey changed all that. FIRE instigated a paradigm shift, a better understanding of the true science behind metabolic health, and a changed lifestyle.
It is her passion now to help as many people as possible to get their health back. She is an independent higher and health education consultant and has joined the FIRE team to add her expertise and support in developing and presenting the FIRE programme.
Dr Stephen Schmidt
Dr Stephen, physician and gastroenterologist, has been in medical practice since 2000. He also conducted research in drug development for 25 years.
Stephen’s expertise lies in helping the FIRE Diabetes team solve complex medical problems relating to the gut, liver, heart, and pancreas. He has a special interest in fatty liver disease, Type 2 diabetes, obesity, and conditions related to insulin resistance.
At heart, Stephen is an educator. He taught medical students at Stellenbosch University and ran a continuous medical education academic club for 12 years. His sound knowledge of how physiology and biochemistry relate to health and disease, make him an indispensable member of our team.
“Medicine is a discipline in flux, and major changes are taking place in the approach to health. That is why I am excited to be part of the FIRE Diabetes team, to assist participants to prevent and reverse disease.
Stephen is married to Susie, and they have three adult kids (two daughters and a son).
Danilla Pretorius
Danilla is a Nursing Practitioner qualified in General, Psychiatric & Community Health Nursing and Midwifery.
She has 23 years experience in School Health.
She was also a Pre-School and Grade 1 educator in rural Kwa Zulu Natal, South Africa. During her time in School Health, she developed an interest in nutrition as part of a holistic approach to learners’ treatment plans.
Her interest grew into a passion after attending the Noakes Foundation’s first Nutrition Network training workshop. She is gifted in explaining medical concepts and physiology and has a passion for educating and promoting the health benefits of the FIRE program.
Lizl Hobson
As an accredited Health Coach, Lizl brings valuable experience from her background in sport coaching and owner of Live Young Health Coaching.
A converted Low Carb athlete herself, Lizl has competed in iconic endurance events like the Comrades Marathon, Two Oceans, The Epic, and two Xterra World Championships.
With her inspiring journey and coaching philosophy focused on sustainable lifestyle changes, she supports individuals at Fire for Life in reversing insulin resistance and achieving vibrant health through holistic approaches.
Winsie earned her honors degree in Biokinetics from the University of the Free State in 2007.
Since 2012, she has been a certified Lyno Practitioner and is also qualified as a MAP (Myofascial Activated Posture) trainer.
Specializing in chronic pain and disease management, Winsie helps clients regain mobility by identifying and releasing fascia restrictions within the body. Her approach primarily targets the parasympathetic nervous system, particularly the vagus nerve, to break the cycle of chronic pain and prevent repetitive injuries.
Winsie offers personalized treatments through one-on-one sessions, group sessions, and online consultations, focusing on fascia release, vagus nerve stimulation and exercise prescription.
Her practice is diverse, serving a wide range of clientele from elite athletes, children, and seniors and everyone inbetween. She works with individuals experiencing chronic pain, disease, sports injuries, and those seeking to improve mobility or stimulate vagal tone.
In addition to her clinical work, Winsie is the principal of the Lyno Academy in Cape Town, where she teaches the Lyno Practical Course.
Outside of work, she is a mother to two boys and has completed several athletic events, including the Comrades Marathon and the Two Oceans Ultra Marathon.