Meet your NHS Diabetes Prevention programme coaches

Bedfordshire, Luton & Milton Keynes

Elliot Smith (MSc, BSc) 

Sport & Exercise Psychologist / Health Coach 

Background: With over 6 years of training, I have a degree in Sport & Exercise Psychology and Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, and I have been working as a health coach for the past 16 months as part of the diabetes prevention programme. My expertise is health psychology, such as understanding motivation to change, habits, decision making, communication styles and leading a meaningful lifestyle.

Paola Lopez

Health and Wellbeing Coach 

Background: I am a registered Health Coach with a background in professional sport, currently delivering group coaching sessions for the NHS Diabetes Prevention Program with Xyla. I have a strong interest in holistic healthcare and functional medicine, and I’m passionate about supporting others in achieving their health goals. 

Lorraine Mullins

Metabolic Health Coach  

I retrained to become a health coach in 2020. I am an accredited diabetes educator and certified health coach. I educate and coach people to improve their cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar levels.  

I love working with groups of people to explain how metabolic health can be influenced by making small changes to diet and lifestyle. Seeing the smile on someone’s face when they have improved health markers in their latest blood work is the most rewarding part of my job.     

Bath & North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire

Andrew Collins

Health and Life coach 

I am Andrew Collins, a health and life coach and provide group coaching for Xyla and Diabetes prevention program. I specialise in health-based group and personal life coaching, particularly supporting individuals with chronic and long-term health conditions. 

Luke Bailey

Health & Wellbeing Coach

have a degree in Sports Coach an MA in Professional Acting and a Diploma in Transformational Life Coaching. My passion lies within behaviour change and group dynamics. I feel passionate about how coming together and working in a group and supporting each other has a greater benefit than just learning information, it helps form friendships, accountability, relatability and can reduce the feeling of isolation and loneliness.

Coventry and Warwickshire

Bev Hall

Health & Wellbeing Coach

I have worked for Xyla as a Health & Well-Being Coach delivering the NDPP (NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme) for 3 years.

I really enjoy meeting new people within this role and supporting them on their journey to lowering their blood glucose levels and improving their health and wellbeing.  

Shazia Hussain

Health and Wellbeing Coach 

I have a degree in Biological Sciences with Virology and qualified as a Nutrition Advisor before joining Xyla.

I have been working as a health coach for two and a half years and I am really passionate about Diabetes prevention and living a healthier lifestyle. 

Jessie Dharni

Health and Wellbeing Coach 

I studied Sports Science (BSc) and Strength and Conditioning (MSc), and I’ve had the exciting opportunity to coach elite athletes, including Birmingham City FC’s first team and professional boxers. I’m driven by helping people unlock their potential and feel their strongest, healthiest selves.

Nothing motivates me more than seeing someone make a positive change in their life.

Mark Horn

Health and Wellbeing Coach 

I believe health should feel achievable, not overwhelming, and that the best changes are the ones that fit real life. This work is personal to me following my mum’s experience and her sad passing.

With experience across health and wellbeing coaching, corporate health, and the prison service, I support people from all walks of life using a practical, compassionate, and honest approach. I focus on small, realistic steps where progress matters more than perfection and every small win counts.

Devon

Amanda Harvey

NDPP coach and Personal Trainer

With a passion for fitness and a focus on improving health and mobility, I have been a dedicated personal trainer since 2017. Specialising in Pilates and seated exercise, I have developed expertise in creating tailored workout plans that cater to diverse needs, particularly in supporting older adults. 

Loren Leaver

Health & Wellbeing Coach 

My name is Loren, and I am based in North Devon. 

I am a nutritionist and menopause specialist, working as a health coach covering various contract areas over the last two years at Xyla.  I am also currently studying my pathway to Msc in Clinical Nutrition. 

Neil Eriksen BSc Hons 

Health & Wellbeing Coach NDPP 

In 2005 I graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Health & Fitness and have been involved in the fitness industry since. Over the decades, I’ve added a diverse range of knowledge and skills to my portfolio. The aspect that I gravitate towards the most is behavioural change using Motivational Interviewing and habit-forming techniques. 

Frimley

Amanda Barron

Health Coach and Nutritionist 

I hold a Postgraduate Diploma in Nutritional Medicine, a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition, and a holistic coaching certification. Alongside coaching on the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme, I run a private nutrition practice where I deliver corporate talks and workshops and provide one-on-one consultations. My main focus is on disease prevention and reversal, and I am passionate about a food-first approach to well-being.

Helen Ritchie

Health & Wellbeing Coach 

I am a registered Nutritionist and have worked as a health coach for two years focusing on diabetes prevention. I’m really passionate about educating on the importance of a healthy diet on all aspects of health. 

I love seeing people change their lives, getting healthier, losing weight and reducing their HbA1c. It’s extremely rewarding.

Nisa Khan

Health & Wellbeing Coach 

I’m Nisa Khan a Health & Wellbeing Coach with a background in nutrition. I’m passionate about helping people make small lifestyle changes that lead to big results. I believe health should feel enjoyable and achievable. Fun fact about me: I love trying out new sports, from kickboxing to Pilates.

Gloucestershire

Darren Osborne 

Health & Wellbeing Coach

I spent several years working in the fitness industry as a fitness instructor and personal trainer, as well as a martial arts instructor and Tai Chi and Qi Qong coach. 

My specialty is in rehabilitation, recovery and weight loss as well as focusing on the benefits of utilising nutrients alongside a balanced exercise regime to maintain physical and mental fitness into later years. 

Helen Birt

Health and Wellbeing Coach and T2DR Diabetes Practitioner

I am a qualified Nutritionist, Personal Trainer, Pilates and Yoga Teacher, as well as a Cancer Rehab Exercise Coach. 

I have worked overseas in the Netherlands, France and Dubai. I enjoy helping service users find balance in their life with nutrition, stress management and exercise. 

My family keeps me grounded. I am a mother and a wife and a lover of travelling and the outdoors. 

Ruth King

I have a degree in Exercise & Health Science with a speciality in cardiac rehabilitation, an area I was actively involved in for several years. In addition, I am a registered Personal Trainer and had my own PT studio for over 10 years. During this time, I had the privilege of working with a wide cross-section of clients which I believe has given me an advantage when it comes to understanding the fears and concerns regarding Type 2 diabetes. 

Hampshire and Isle of Wight

Fiona Pierce

Nutritionist, Health Coach & Herbalist 

I’ve worked in healthcare for over 17 years, supporting people with making healthy lifestyle choices. An area of nutrition I really enjoy is making it simple and practical to apply to daily life. 

Nell Faux

Diabetes Practitioner

I am a Nutritionist, with a MSc in Nutrition and Behaviour, and I’ve worked for Xyla for 2 years. I am also a chef and teacher and concentrate on the practical side of implementing dietary change by teaching children and adults how to cook.

Phil Plant

Health and Wellbeing Coach

My name is Phil Plant and I am based on the Isle of Wight, delivering NDPP and son to be delivering T2DR. My post is slightly unique in the fact that I am the only Health and Wellbeing Coach delivering on the Island I have been in post for around 2 and half years. 

Tom Pratt

Health & Wellbeing Coach 

I’ve worked in health and wellbeing for over 17 years, with experience across lifestyle coaching, group education, and public health. Throughout my career, my focus has been on helping people live healthier, more fulfilling lives—supporting lasting behaviour change that improves both day-to-day wellbeing and long-term health outcomes.

Humber & North Yorkshire

Anna Lycett

Engagement Lead, Health & Wellbeing Coach 

I am a qualified gym instructor and hold qualifications in nutrition. I am fascinated by the role of our mind in health recovery and love finding easy, readily accessible solutions to common health obstacles.  

Claire Hanchard

Health Coach

I have a degree in nutrition and two years’ experience as a health coach specialising in diabetes prevention. I enjoy creating healthier recipe swaps for favourite takeaways and breaking down nutrition so people can make confident, enjoyable lifestyle changes that help them feel great.

Nick Nettleton

Health Coach

I have been a qualified Personal Trainer and Nutrition Coach since 2010 and have worked as a NDPP coach for 2 years. I’m especially passionate about getting people up and moving around and  

love seeing them begin to embrace their physical activity journey and experience the benefits it brings. 

Sharon Shepard

Health & Wellbeing Coach 

I’m one assignment off from completing a foundation degree in Advanced Health Coaching and Nutrition.  Since April, I’ve been working as a health and wellbeing coach with the Diabetes Prevention Team. What I truly love about this role is the opportunity to connect with service users, build trust, and support them as they make meaningful steps toward better health.”

Sinan Osman

Health & Wellbeing Coach 

I am a High Performance Triathlon Coach and have been coaching people in the outdoor industry, everyday sport and elite sport for over 30 years. Whilst being active and eating well are hugely important, I am a strong believer that ‘training the brain’ to unlock your potential and achieve your goals is fundamental.  

Lincolnshire

Eileen Kugler

I studied dietetics and nutrition education and worked as a dietitian in long-term and acute care in America. For the past year, I have focused on nutrition prevention with children and adults. An area of nutrition that I enjoy teaching and practicing in my own life is intuitive eating and mindfulness.  

Marcus Benson

International Fitness Presenter & Wellness Coach  

I have been in the Health & Fitness Industry as a coach for 20 years. I spent 10 years as an International Master Trainer & Presenter for Les Mills (Global Group Exercise & Fitness Brand). Throughout my time in fitness I have always worked as a Personal Trainer & Coach. The last few years I’ve specialised in working with clients over 30 for fat loss transformations, whilst still being able to juggle family and work life.  

Simon Spencer

Health & Wellbeing Coach

I have been a Health and Wellbeing Coach at Xyla for over 8years, seeing lives successfully transformed. I am passionate about supporting others to overcome health barriers and facilitating health improvements.  It is very rewarding seeing positive results in service users when they reach their health goals and I love my job. 

In my spare time I attend my local gym with friends. I also enjoy walking, cooking and going to the cinema 

Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland

Ellen Gibbs

Health & Wellbeing Coach and Local Support Trainer

I have a degree in sport and exercise science and have worked as a health coach on the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme for the past 2.5 years.  

The best part of my role is seeing the positive impact that small changes can make to help with a healthier lifestyle. 

Oliver Wright

Oliver Wright – Health & Well-Being Coach

I have an undergraduate degree and master’s degree in Sport and Exercise Psychology and currently 3 years into the BASES route to be an accredited Sport and Exercise Psychologist. I have worked as a health coach since January 2025 and have loved it so far.  

Versha Patel

NDPP Health & Wellbeing Coach 

I am a fully trained and experienced Personal Trainer who’s specialised in women’s health for over 13 years, and using my skills and knowledge in diabetes prevention for the general population. I am passionate about people living their healthiest version of themselves. 
 

Mid and South Essex

Daniel Galata

Health & Wellbeing Coach

I have worked on the Diabetes Prevention Programme as well as several other services for close to eight years, with previous experience also in Sports Coaching.  

What I enjoy most about my role is distilling what could be complex concepts and strategies, into digestible and actionable advice for people to take away.  

Lisa Abbott-Trangmar  

Health Coach for NDPP (MSE contract) 

I have been working on the NDPP program  for over 8 years (since almost the beginning!). Prior to this  I worked for the NHS as a Health Trainer for 7 years. Currently I work part time alongside my own business as an Holistic therapist and Qigong instructor. 

Shahida Sams

Health and Wellbeing Coach 

I am a Registered Nutritionist (RNutr) with the Association for Nutrition (AfN) and hold an MSc in Nutrition from Leeds Beckett University. I have a strong foundation in translating complex nutritional information into practical, actionable advice for individuals seeking to improve their health and well-being.

Norfolk & Waveney

Claire Green

Health and Wellbeing coach NDPP 

I have a background in health and fitness. I have been in the industry since 2004, working predominantly helping people with medical conditions use physical activity and lifestyle changes to manage or improve those conditions. I love supporting people to make changes to their lifestyle that have a real impact on their day to day lives. 

Julie Watson BSc 

Health and Wellbeing Coach

For the first 25 years of my career I was a RNutr (Registered Nutritionist) in the food industry advising on nutrition policy, product formulation and nutrition training for marketing, sales,  research and development colleagues.  In 2023 I grabbed the opportunity to move into public nutrition and health education with the National Diabetes Prevention program. 

Shaida Cawsey

I’m a Health & Wellbeing Coach with a background in fitness, massage therapy, and holistic health. My experience includes supporting recovery through movement and posture work, as well as exploring breathwork, nutrition, and herbal approaches to wellbeing. I’m passionate about helping people feel confident, balanced, and empowered to make positive, lasting changes in their lives. 

Tara Dixon

Health & Wellbeing Coach

I have a BSc in Biological Chemistry, an MSc in Cancer Chemistry and a GDip in Integrative Functional Nutrition. My background was originally in Synthetic Organic and Analytical Chemistry, however since experiencing first-hand the impact of diet and lifestyle on my own health condition, I trained as a Nutrition and Lifestyle coach and more recently as a Nutritional Therapist.

Sue Alexander

Health & Wellbeing Coach

I’m a Health & Wellness Coach with over 30 years of experience supporting people towards better health. My passion for wellbeing began after becoming pre‑diabetic in childhood, which gave me a deep understanding of the connection between lifestyle, emotions, and physical health.

My work focuses on building sustainable habits, restoring balance, and supporting confident, lasting change through practices including yoga, meditation, and complementary therapies.

Suffolk and North East Essex

Keralyn Moss

Health and Wellbeing Coach

I have an Advanced Diploma in Nutrition and Weight Management and a Certificate in Life Coaching. I have worked as a Health and Wellbeing Coach within this role for 6 months now. 

An area of Nutrition that I am passionate about is understanding the key health benefits of various foods for our Health and Wellbeing. 

Somerset

Angus MacLennan

Health and Wellbeing Coach

Experience and Focus: I have a degree in human nutrition and recently completed a two year apprenticeship in personal training. My focus as holistic health educator has always been the reversal of serious chronic disease conditions, I have over a decade of experience in naturopathic nutrition and holistic health.

Sharla Davey

Health and Wellbeing Coach

I have been working in the health and wellbeing industry for 5 years as a Personal Trainer and Exercise Referral Instructor teaching a wide range of fitness classes and 1-2-1 sessions. 

My favourite part of my job is debunking myths around nutrition and exercise to help people move towards a healthier lifestyle.

Sussex

Abby Taylor

Associate Registered Nutritionist  

I have a bachelor’s degree in human nutrition which I studied at Bath Spa University and graduated in 2022. I have been working with Xyla as a health coach and diabetes practitioner since August 2023, mostly surrounding Type 2 Diabetes, Pre Diabetes and general wellbeing. 

Elena Lopez La Rosa

Health and Wellbeing Coach  

I have a degree in psychology, a master’s in sport psychology, and a Level 2 certificate in personal training and nutrition. I’ve worked for 2 years as a health coach specialising in diabetes prevention. I’m passionate about combining psychological principles with fitness and nutrition to support sustainable, healthy lifestyle changes 

Hannah Pratt

Health & Wellbeing Coach

I have a degree in Dance and have been a fitness instructor and franchise owner of three mini trampoline fitness studios in Sussex for the past 7 years. I’m passionate about motivating people and helping them become the best versions of themselves through fun, effective fitness, and sustainable lifestyle changes. 

Sasha Malham-Anderson

Health and Wellbeing Coach

My background is in sports massage therapy and personal training, with further qualifications in Strength & Conditioning, Obesity and Weight Management, and Lower Back Pain Management. I first got into health through athletics — I competed in 100m sprint and triple jump at Junior National level, which gave me a strong foundation in performance and discipline from an early age. 

Shirley Ward

Health and Wellbeing Coach

I am a BANT Registered Nutritionist (BANT RN) having been in practice since 2008.  I am also a qualified Gym Instructor and a certified Health Coach. 

I have worked as a Health Coach for over 3 years focusing on diabetes prevention, remission and overall wellbeing.

I really enjoy seeing patients becoming more confident in taking back control of their health and moving out of prediabetes

Traci Vine

Health and Wellbeing Coach

I’m a Level 3 Personal Trainer with over 12 years’ experience helping people make small changes that lead to meaningful improvements in health, wellbeing, and quality of life. I’m passionate about working with individuals and groups, understanding what motivates them, and supporting lasting, healthy lifestyle changes.