About Mikibo
At Mikibo we want to help you to get active and regain control of your health. We provide tools to help you improve your diet and fitness. We aim to help people who are motivated to get fit and healthy. We do not have any magic or "quick fix" solutions.
Mikibo does not charge for membership because we want everyone to be able to get fit and healthy. We use advertising to fund the running and continual improvement of the site.
The Mikibo Team
Mikibo has assembled a team of health and fitness experts who have a wealth of industry and academic experience to share with our members. Our experts come from a range of fields and each week answer a number of questions posted by members in the 'ask an expert' section.
Dr Toby Heap
Toby founded Mikibo in 2005 in response to increasing worldwide health concerns related to poor nutrition and inactivity. While completing his Doctoral Degree in 2003 Toby wondered what could be done about the growing rates of obesity around the world. He realized that a large part of the problem was that people did not understand the basic principles of balancing energy intake with energy expenditure.
Toby is a technology and internet enthusiast and after hearing media reports relating the growing use of technology with the rise in obesity he set about designing a system that would make use of technology to help people to improve their own health and fitness. Through 2004 and 2005 Toby planned and developed Mikibo making use of his research background in using artificial intelligence techniques to model human physiological systems.
Toby received his PhD in Exercise Physiology from the University of Sydney in 2005 after completing a Bachelor of Applied Science in Exercise and Sport Science. He has coached rowing and is a level 4 middle and long distance running coach with the Australian Track and Field Coaches Association.
Tony Boutagy
Tony is a strength coach and a doctoral student at the Australian Catholic University. He is the director of the Sydney Sports & Athletic Performance Centre. For many years Tony has been a lecturer at the Australian Fitness Network (AIF NSW) until his retirement in 2006. He has recently commenced a lecturing position in the Exercise Science Department at the Australian Catholic University and continues to deliver the Strength & Sports Conditioning Course for NetFit, New Zealand.
Tony is actively involved in strength & conditioning and providing educational seminars and resources for personal trainers and strength coaches. He is the co-author of two books, System 3: The Complete Guide to Fitness & Wellbeing and Weight Loss: An 8 Week Plan for Losing Weight & Staying Healthy (Funtastic, 2004). Tony was the recipient of the 2004 Australian Fitness Industry's Author of the Year award.
Education: Bachelor of Human Movement Studies (ACU), Cert IV in Fitness (AIF), Cert IV Work Place Assessor (AIF), Level 1 Poliquin Certified Strength Coach, Level 1 Strength & Conditioning Coach (ASCA). Current postgraduate education: Department of Exercise Science at the Australian Catholic University. Professional memberships: The American College of Sports Medicine, National Strength & Conditioning Association and the Australian Strength & Conditioning Association.
Phil Chapman
Phil is an Exercise and Sport Scientist who works at the University of Sydney, School of Exercise and Sport Science. He received his degree in Exercise and Sport Science with honours in 1999 at the University of Sydney and won the Gatorade Prize for Exercise Physiology. He is currently finishing his PhD studying the limitations to endurance exercise in hot environments.
Phil has a keen interest in endurance sports. He competed for NSW and Australia in rowing in the junior and U23 levels before switching to cycling. He then competed on the European cycling circuit for some years as a semi-professional. His main interests include ultra-endurance cycling, dietary manipulations and performance, the effect of the environment on performance and the biomechanics of cycling.
Currently, Phil works at the University of Sydney as an associate lecturer teaching subjects such as exercise physiology, exercise testing and prescription and anatomy. He still competes on a regular basis for his club team Northern Sydney Cycling Club, racing in A grade events around Sydney and NSW.
Dr Nicki Brake
Nicki is a lecturer and course coordinator in the Faculty of Education at the Australian Catholic University in Sydney. Nicki lectures in Personal Development, Health, Physical Education, Dance and Child Protection.
Nicki completed her PhD in Medicine (Public Health) at the University of Sydney in 2006, investigating physical self-concepts in children, adolescents and young adults. She also has a Bachelor of Education (Physical Education) and a Bachelor of Dance Education. Nicki has taught Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE) and Dance in primary and secondary schools in NSW and overseas and has been lecturing at tertiary institutions for the past six years. She has also worked in gyms as an aerobics instructor and personal trainer. Nicki has competed in downhill skiing and aerobics but now maintains fitness with regular swimming, jogging, weight training and yoga.
Nicki regularly presents at international and national health and education conferences and it the author of the monthly health column for the quality4life website. Her research interests include physical self-concepts and body image and Nicki is currently involved in projects about drug education, eating disorder prevention, child protection, and self-esteem education. Nicki's aim is for people of any age to feel good about themselves through the holistic attainment of social, emotional, intellectual, physical, and spiritual well-being.
How can you help?
If you like what we are doing you can help us spread the word about Mikibo by telling your friends and family about us. If you Twitter or you have a blog then give us a mention, or put the following text in your email signature: "Mikibo.com - Making the World a Fitter Place".