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Meet the Team
Director of Savvy Dietetics
Accredited Practicing Dietitian
Certified Patient Advocate
(she/her)
Accredited Practicing Dietitian
Certified Health Coach
ANZED Eating Disorder Credential
(she/her)
Accredited Practicing Dietitian
PhD Candidate
Books open in late January!
(she/her)
Tahlia
About Savvy
Hi, I'm Savvy
I'm a patient-practitioner, Accredited Practicing Dietitian, board member for Connected Health Alliance (Registered Charity & NFP) and Certified Patient Advocate.
My passion for food began as a child playing in my family's vegetable garden in England, and with both of my parents being hospital-based health professionals, health and the role of healthcare have always been on my radar. As a child I had no energy, perpetual sniffles and multiple food intolerances. After seeking nutrition advice, my health improved dramatically; sparking my fascination with food, diet and the body. This led me to begin studying a Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics (Honours) at the Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia. However, while attempting to juggle full time study and multiple jobs I became burnt out, which heralded the onset of chronic pain & fatigue, and what I later discovered was postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, mast cell activation syndrome and hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. This began the search for answers from a myriad of specialists, GPs and google sessions. Needless to say, I didn’t have much success. There were too many try-this-it-might-work-for-you tablets that made me so nauseated I was unable keep food down, or utterly-out-of-my-uni-student-budget treatment recommendations which felt like a stab in the dark for a miracle cure. Or even worse, the well-maybe-it’s-just-anxiety card – urgh! Ultimately, I was floundering with no real direction, or sense in which direction I was heading. If I continued on this path, I’m not sure how I would have been able to finish my degree, hold down a job or look after the relationships in my life – let alone walk 100 metres some days! It took time to build the right healthcare team and start piecing together parts of my story. But through this I was able to find clarity and ease in a seemingly unconnected puzzle of symptoms, and make a clear roadmap for the path ahead. Restoring joy, autonomy and spontaneity to my life. Now, as a practitioner I have a unique respect for the struggles which patients may encounter on their journey, along with the skills necessary to provide support. I uphold a scientific evidence-based and holistic approach; meaning that I am informed by current nutrition and medical research while also taking into account the unique situation of each person I work with. This is the approach I hope to bring to you with our team at Savvy Dietetics. If you're ready to take the next step or have any questions, head to the bookings tab below. Wishing you the best on your journey, Savvy
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About Romy
Romy O'Brien is an Accredited Practicing Dietitian based in New South Wales with a special interest in endocrine and metabolic health, especially in the context of invisible illnesses. She joined the Savvy Dietetics team in late 2024.
Romy is also a clinician at Connected Health Alliance - a Registered Charity, Not for Profit Organisation and Australia's first medial and allied health interdisciplinary clinic focussing on Hypermobility conditions like HSD & EDS. She provides in-person Dietetic consults here, participates in weekly IDT case conferencing and works alongside and learns from some of the leading Hypermobility & Co clinicians in Australia.
Romy is an exceptional dietitian, and we are working closely to develop her knowledge in the EDS & Co space behind the scenes to ensure you receive high quality care.
Hi, I'm Romy
I am an Accredited Practising Dietitian, a lover of all things food and cooking and I live with Type 1 diabetes and coeliac disease.
I received my diagnosis in 2017, and began my journey into nutrition and dietetics to try and make sense of how I should manage my health going forward. I was overwhelmed with my new way of living, attending all my appointments with new health professionals and specialists, understanding the technology and medicine that keeps me alive, learning how my favourite foods impacted my blood sugar levels and how I felt, what to cook and how to somehow always remember to have a hypo snack on hand. Not to mention a spare insulin cartridge, test strips, glucometer, lancet, needle, CGM sensor…..the list goes on!
I understand firsthand the challenges of living with chronic disease, the burnout of managing day to day tasks, the disruption of attending regular health appointments while trying to also just enjoy life and not let your illness consume you. Healthy looks different to everyone, and my goal as a dietitian is to support individuals who are navigating chronic health conditions to find balance and their version of healthy. I value a supportive and inclusive environment where every client feels validated and thought of holistically as opposed to being identified by their diagnosis.
I believe in the power of food, to nourish the body and mind, but also believe in the joy, pleasure and connection that food brings to many aspects of life. My goal is to help patients reconnect with the joy of eating, to manage symptoms in a way that feels sustainable and achievable, and to help create a balanced, healthy lifestyle.
About Aleisha
Aleisha Adams is an Accredited Practicing Dietitian and Qualified Health Coach with a special interest in relationship with food, complex gastroenterology & women's health.
She has a range of experience in both hospital and outpatient dietetics - holding senior roles, as well as being a volunteer Dietitian for AusHEAL, where she has provides hands-on assistance at hospitals in the Congo.
Gut health has always been a focus in Aleisha's practice. She has completed additional training with multiple organisations, and co-developed Miyagi's Healthy Gut Program. She has worked with clients with gastrointestinal symptoms and conditions to uncover factors contributing to symptoms - and loves digging into the research to find microbiome factors that can be optimised through diet, lifestyle and tailored pre & probiotics.
Aleisha has a passion for recipe development & food photography, and loves helping clients she works with find creative ways to nourish themselves which meet both their dietary and sensory needs. You can find her project The Hummus Hub here (download her free gut microbiome diversity recipe book while you're at it, too!).
Aleisha joined Savvy Dietetics in early 2024 and has worked with 350+ clients with Hypermobility & Co, including complex cases.
Hi, I'm Aleisha
As a dietitian, I take an evidence-based and holistic approach when working with clients, considering all aspects of health, both physical and mental, when finding accessible solutions.
I struggled with my relationship with food as a teenager. Over time and with an increasingly challenging relationship with food and exercise, conditions slowly appeared including IBS, amennhorea, low hormone levels and low bone density. I sought help from a number of health professionals, but the solutions they suggested were just a band-aid fixes.
In the 5 years that I worked to regain my period and my health, not a single health professional identified the underlying cause of my symptoms: the eating disorder. Instead all came back as 'normal' and I was repeatedly told that my hormones were 'just not working properly'.
Sick of going back and forth to appointments that didn't seem to be making any progress, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I took a deep dive into some research reached the heavy and humbling realisation that my own eating habits were the cause of my symptoms. After around 6 months of regaining weight, fixing my iron deficiency, challenging my relationship with food and learning to rest my nervous system, I regained my period and my energy! I only wished that my eating disorder was diagnosed earlier and that I had been given the appropriate support.
I understand how easy it can be to develop a 'fear of food,' particularly when navigating other health conditions such as food allergies, intolerances, autoimmunity and IBS.
Food can be overwhelming, and that is why I love working with clients to improve their relationship with food and learn how to nourish their bodies in a way that feels safe and that suits their personal needs.
Interest areas: relationship with food, Hypermobility & Co, meal planning for complex dietary requirements, Women's & AFAB Health.
About Katherine
Katherine Barlow is an Accredited Practicing Dietitian and PhD Candidate with a special interest in microbiome health, functional gut conditions, menopause and interstitial cystitis.
Lived-experience of complex chronic health issues including multiple food sensitivities drew Katherine to working with us at Savvy Dietetics.
She is currently finalising her PhD exploring the interplay of oral and gut microbiome health and mental health. Her skillset and knowlege will be invaluable to her work at Savvy Dietetics, especially as we are learning more about the role of the gut microbiome in motility disorders, neuro-immune dysfunction, dietary histamine sensitivity and MCAS, and similar.
Grounded in practicality and lived experience, Katherine also takes a neurodivergent-affirming and trauma-informed approach.
Katherine is joining Savvy Dietetics in February 2026 as an emerging dietitian, and will be supported by our team as she up-skills in the special interest areas of our clinic.
Hi, I'm Katherine
I’ve always loved food. Growing up with a mum who was a home economics teacher, I was often in the kitchen from a young age, learning not just how to cook, but the importance and pleasure of fresh, nutritious food.
But my relationship with food hasn’t been straightforward. At various points in my life, I’ve faced chronic health issues that impact my ability to eat freely, including a particularly severe case of post-infectious IBS in my 20s, multiple food intolerances, and other ongoing health challenges. These types of conditions aren’t well understood medically and can be difficult to manage, as there’s no “one-size-fits-all” solution. Being a foodie while managing this has often felt like a constant balancing act.
When my daughter was born and faced her own food allergies and intolerances, it cemented my desire to understand more about how diet can influence and shape health, and I was fascinated by the potential of the emerging gut microbiome science. I left my corporate career and returned to university to study dietetics, determined to better understand my own health challenges and to turn my personal experience into knowledge and support for others.
I’m now in the final stages of a PhD exploring how the oral and gut microbiomes influence mental health and cognition. Through my research and lived experience navigating complex gut challenges, I’ve come to appreciate how interconnected the gut is with almost every aspect of our health, including immunity, hormones, metabolism, and mood. Understanding these connections has deepened my passion for helping people with complex gut issues, and for translating microbiome science into practical strategies that work for each individual’s body.
I know firsthand how stressful food can feel when every choice comes with a “what if?” and understand the frustration of loving food but feeling limited by your own body. I also appreciate the practical challenges we often face juggling work, family, a busy life, and a budget, as well as the fatigue that comes with chronic health issues. All of these things can make healthy eating feel even more complicated. That’s why my approach is practical, compassionate, and evidence-based. I aim to help people find answers and strategies that help them optimise their health but also work with their lifestyle, so they can nourish their bodies, enjoy food, and live without constant anxiety.
Pups of Savvy Dietetics
Cami is a tiny Maltese - Shih Tzu - Poodle cross, born in 2021, and is a qualified therapy dog. You may see her in the background of telehealth consults on Savita's work from home days.
Cami
Kimchi is Aleisha's collie, born in 2024. You may see her in telehealth sessions with Aleisha.
Kimichi
Florence, or Flossie, is Romy's toy poodle - she'll be turning 15 this year! :)