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.
Dr. Stephen Schmidt
Dr. Stephen Schmidt, 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).
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.
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.
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.
Winsie Oosthuizen
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.
Johann Els
Johann Els is a Stellenbosch-trained Biokineticist and founder of Medicise and VO2 Group.
He developed the VO2 software, which uses exercise testing, AI, and big data to detect early metabolic inefficiencies and their health and economic impacts.
His work links physiology with finance, leading to the VO2 Account—integrating real-time metabolic data into banking and insurance.
He also helped develop a novel D-/L-lactate test with the FIRE team to better understand chronic disease risk.
Johann is redefining how health and value are measured across medicine, nutrition, and economics.
Nada Oosthuizen
“Systems aren’t just about technology—they are the bridge that carries your inner intentions into your daily life.”
As the Administration & Health Coach at Fire for Life, Nada focuses on the “how” of transformation. By ensuring the practice’s technical and practical aspects work in harmony with the care provided, she helps create a structured yet supportive space for growth.
With a background in Business, Law, and Systems Management, Nada brings a deep appreciation for the unique stories of those she supports. Outside the digital world, she is deeply committed to human development and spiritual accompaniment. Whether tending to systems behind the scenes or offering a listening ear in coaching, she is dedicated to making meaningful change feel natural and seamless.
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.
Flolinda Strauss
Flolinda (also known as Flo) Strauss studied at Stellenbosch University and worked in marketing for seven years before moving to Australia in 1996. It was there that her passion for the fitness and wellness industry inspired her to return to her studies at Endeavour College of Natural Therapies, where she qualified as a Sports Massage Therapist. After completing several fitness courses, her passion naturally grew into her profession.
When Flo returned to South Africa in 2006, she worked as an External Examiner for Stellenbosch University’s Sports Massage course and served as a Massage Therapist for an athletic group and the Cape Epic cycling event. She also taught group fitness classes and provided pre-season training for school sports teams and the University Ladies Hockey team.
Alongside her love for sport, Flo has always been deeply passionate about nutrition. This led her to join the UK-based Health Coaches Academy, where she qualified as a Certified Health Coach.
She later founded Flow in Balance, a holistic health and lifestyle coaching practice that supports clients in creating sustainable health through nutrition, movement, self-care, and lifestyle balance — without the pressure of perfection.
Flo’s path crossed with Fire for Life when she joined the program alongside some of her clients. What began as support quickly became alignment. The Fire for Life philosophy resonated deeply with her own lived experience and values, reinforcing her belief that strength, vitality, and longevity are built through consistency, balance, and community.
Flo is married and a proud mother of three daughters. Outside of work, her family thrives on being active, spending time in nature and by the ocean, and finishing the day gathered around the dinner table — living the balanced life she inspires others to create.
Nelda Hart
Nelda Hart is a qualified Health and Hormonal Health Coach who brings both professional insight and lived experience to the Fire for Life 180 team. With a background in Communication Studies and over 15 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical and surgical ophthalmic industry, she combines evidence-based understanding with compassionate, people-centred coaching.
Her own journey through weight and hormonal health challenges sparked a deep interest in metabolic health and sustainable lifestyle change. This led her to complete her Health and Hormonal Health Coach training through the Institute of Integrative Nutrition (IIN) and the Nutrition Network, with a strong focus on addressing the root causes of metabolic dysfunction.
As a Fire for Life 180 coach, Nelda supports participants with education, encouragement, and practical tools to restore metabolic health, improve energy, and build sustainable habits that extend well beyond the 180-day programme. She believes lasting change happens when people feel supported, understood, and empowered to take ownership of their health.
Nelda lives in Stellenbosch with her husband James and their two children.