THE WELLNESS MOVEMENT
Meet the Team
LEAH HILLARI
Leah is the Team Lead and creator of TWM. She is interested in nutrition, exercise, stress-related topics and planetary health.
Leah holds a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from the University of Aberdeen and is currently pursuing further studies in Health Psychology at UCL. She has a background as a personal trainer and nutritionist, and aspires to become a scientist in the field. Her mission is to investigate the biopsychosocial determinants of health and to use this knowledge to prevent disease and enhance human and environmental health.
She hopes that TWM will provide a platform to explore a holistic understanding of what it means to be healthy in today's world. She believes that having a happy gut, lifting heavy things, and meditating are key to well-being.
ANNA TSALIGOPOULOU
Anna designed TWM’s website and is part of the Communications & Marketing team. She also contributes articles about mental health from a multicultural perspective.
Anna graduated with a BA in Psychology, Sociology, and Education Studies from Skidmore College, New York, and is now pursuing an MRes in Developmental Neuroscience and Psychopathology at UCL and Yale University. She has worked as a research assistant in psychology research labs focusing on various mental health conditions.
Though she was born and raised in Thessaloniki, Greece, she has spent the last five years in the USA. Fun fact: she is a travel enthusiast who has been to 28 countries so far and spent a semester in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
AYISHA SHARMA
Ayisha is a contributor and editor for TWM who writes about the relationship between mental health and different cultural experiences and practices.
After completing her undergraduate degree in English and Philosophy at the University of Nottingham, Ayisha worked as researcher at a trade journal focused on the legal industry. A year later she ventured into the world of healthcare journalism, working as a reporter at pharmaceutical publication BioPharm Insight. Focusing on drug development within hematology, oncology and rare disorders, Ayisha wrote scientific news stories on diseases including leukemia and muscular dystrophy. She is now an MA Philosophy student at UCL.
In her free time, Ayisha enjoys Korean pop culture, baking, and reading about Eastern philosophy.
CATHERINE KEEGAN
Catherine is TWM’s Editor-in-Chief. She also contributes articles based on aspects of cognitive and psychodynamic psychology (namely the influence of thought processes, beliefs, and experiences on behaviour and wellbeing), as well as cyber psychology (online behaviours).
Catherine completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology and French at the University of Buckingham, and she now studies Global Governance and Ethics at UCL. In the future she hopes to bring a multidisciplinary approach to the study of digital ethics.
Outside of her studies, she has worked voluntarily as an EFL teacher, a translator for non-profit organisations, and a performer at an Improvised Comedy Theatre. In her free time, she enjoys literature, painting, and dabbling in languages.
ISABEL POWER
In addition to driving TWM’s strategic planning, Isabel contributes articles about nutrition and exercise. In particular, she explores the impact they have on our physical and mental wellbeing, and how we can use behavioural science to make positive lifestyle changes.
Since graduating from the University of Cambridge in 2016, Isabel has been working in behavioural science to tackle commercial and organisational challenges. During her professional career, she has written a number of articles and presented independent research on the use of behavioural insights to improve lives and human interactions. She is passionate about using her understanding of behavioural change and psychological insights to innovate multiple aspects of our lifestyles and is looking to build her knowledge as she completes her Psychological Sciences MSc at UCL.
In her free time, Isabel likes to put her insights into practice and live an active lifestyle from tennis to climbing and even stint in boxing.
ISHI JUTTLA
Ishi believes that the key to a healthy lifestyle is to understand the role that humans have within the environment, food systems, energy, and infrastructure. She seeks to share her knowledge with TWM.
After completing a degree in Biological Sciences at the University of Warwick, Ishi gained an in-depth view of entire biological systems, from molecules to ecosystems. She has been exposed to cutting-edge research whilst covering application of science to major global challenges, such as environmental management and food security. Having gained a thorough understanding of natural and managed environments and the pressures on the planet resulting from human activity, she is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Sustainable Urbanism at UCL.
In her free time, Ishi enjoys going to the gym, reading and spending a lot of time with her friends and family.
JEAN HEE
Jean is part of TWM’s Project Management and Editorial Team. She also designed this website and oversees the Communications & Marketing team. She became interested in nutrition and fitness after battling an eating disorder and is currently working on a health-focused recipe book.
Prior to joining the LLM programme at UCL, Jean completed her LLB and LPC at University of Leicester. She has extensive experience working with financial institutions and aspires to pursue a career in commercial law.
Of course, Jean is not just about all work and no fun! She enjoys travelling, working out (she won a swimming award!) and volunteers at a social enterprise in her free time.
LIYANN OOI
Liyann drives strategic planning and operations of TWM. She is passionate about the intersection between physical health and psychology (human behavior, emotions, and thoughts).
Since graduating with a Bachelor of Psychology from HELP University, Liyann has worked at research and non-profit organizations as a founding member of a revolutionary approach to cervical cancer screening in Malaysia. She is currently a Chevening scholar at UCL pursuing an MSc in Health Psychology.
Liyann hails from Malaysia where nasi lemak (directly translated as "fat rice", yum!) is among its national pride and asking "Have you eaten?" is the locals’ way of asking "How are you?". She believes that being healthy is a way of life and hopes that TWM will support people in their journey of being well.
NICK BRYSON
Nick is a contributor at TWM who writes on mental health and wellbeing. He mainly focuses on improving the relationship between one's work and overall wellness.
Nick holds a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology, as well as an Associate Degree in Business Administration from the Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. He is currently studying an MSc in Industrial/Organisational and Business Psychology at UCL, and plans to work in the field of management consulting.
In his free time, he enjoys mountaineering, having recently summited Mount Washington and Mount Mitchell, and traveling to new places.
VERONICA PECCI
Verónica is an Italian-Paraguayan architect who is passionate about all things health. Her goals are to spread awareness of the influence that living spaces have on our well-being, and to build spaces for people where everyone feels their best self whilst also impacting positively on the environment.
Verónica studied Architecture at the National University of Asunción in Paraguay and is currently pursuing a MSc in Health, Wellbeing, and Sustainable Buildings at UCL. She also runs her own architecture studio led by her values, and through TWM’s platform wants to increase her reach because only by knowing which aspects affect our health are we able to make positive changes.
Whenever she is not doing something related to architecture or interior design, she enjoys reading, healthy cooking, yoga, and traveling as much as she can.
KRISTINA ZHELCHESKA
In addition to being part of the Social Media Team, Kristina is a contributor for TWM, focusing on novel research encompassing health and wellness.
Having recently graduated with a BSc in Biochemistry from the University of Glasgow, Kristina is currently a MSc Clinical Neuroscience student at UCL. Her deep enthusiasm and curiosity for this field developed during her study year abroad at the University of British Columbia. Her research interest in neuroscience stems from her inquisitiveness into the intricacies of the molecular and biochemical mechanisms that shape the brain and nervous system, and how dysfunctions can result in neurological and psychiatric disorders.
Being multilingual, Kristina has a life-long passion for language learning, as well as an interest in music and theatre.
ALIYAH ALLI
Aliyah is contributor to TWB, she writes about wellness and focuses on the issues concerning people of African descent. Her goals are to spread awareness of the importance of considering the cultural nuances which make up the range of black experiences in the diaspora and also why black wellness spaces are so important and necessary. She always aims to highlight some of the interesting phenomena which occur when cultural and socioeconomic factors collide and intermingle. Aliyah holds a degree in Chinese and Global Communications from the University of Westminster and is currently pursuing a MA in Comparative Literature. She has founded her own lifestyle brand, Ayoka based in Lagos, Nigeria which focuses on fashion and lifestyle products which promote wellbeing as well as offline experiences such as yoga, dinners and talks. . She also works in the food industry supporting the logistic officers of an ethnic food company.
Whenever she is not doing something related to this, she enjoys dancing, shopping in thrift stores all over London, horse riding and looking into different visual aesthetics such as cottage core.