Our Team

Michele Michel - Co-Founder & Coach

Hi, I’m Michele...Owner and Adventure Fitness Coach.

As owner and coach of DITRA, I’m passionate about creating a space where women can reconnect with themselves through adventure, nature and community. Life often sees us filling many roles — daughter, partner, parent, employee — so having a place where you can simply be you is something truly special. Helping you get hiking fit, step out of your comfort zone and feel supported along the way is the icing on the (banana) cake!

Based in the Sutherland Shire with my husband, I’m a mum of three adult children and a proud grandma of two. Weekends usually see me hiking, kayaking, or escaping to our bush property in Nimmitabel — with a bit of baking and reading in between.

Adventure has always been part of who I am. From a childhood spent outdoors to years of travel — trekking the Himalayas, rafting in Nepal, exploring Australia and beyond — I’ve always chased new experiences. Like many women though, I lost that sense of self for a while in the busyness of life.

A milestone birthday and completing the Kokoda Track changed everything. It reignited my love of challenge and adventure, and reminded me of who I am. From there, I gained my fitness qualifications, Wilderness First Aid, and became a coach, helping women achieve incredible goals on trails across Australia and overseas.

In 2018, I co-founded Diamonds in the Rough Adventures to bring that experience into a supportive, empowering community for women.

I believe you never know what you’re capable of until you try. My goal is to help you rediscover your strength, confidence and sense of adventure — all while having a lot of fun along the way (and yes, there’s usually something baked at the end!).

Whether it’s training, a trip or a social event, I’m here to support you, challenge you and help you find your version of adventure.

“Michele is a ‘glass overflowing’ kind of person, exuberant, fun and has an uncanny ability to make us go hard at training even if we are unaware of our energy output.” Ali

Clare O’Brien - Coach

Clare is a Sutherland Shire girl who has always lived an active life playing sport and adventuring in the great outdoors. She has worked in coaching and the fitness industry for many years and is a certified Personal Trainer who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our team. Clare truly believes that once exercise is established as a habit it brings so much more than just fitness to your world. She understands that it is not always easy to start, but that it is totally worth the journey. 

Her love of outdoor adventure has seen her “have a go” at rock climbing, abseiling, kayaking, surfing and paddleboarding. A willingness to get out of her comfort zone has seen her try many new things including the Nevis Swing in New Zealand, one of the biggest swings in the world at 300m. (So scary that she did it twice!). Most recently, Clare has found a love of running and trail running, completing the Melbourne Marathon and various trail runs including the 30km Coastal Classic in the Royal National Park.

Clare is also an accomplished Softball player, having competed around the world. In recent years she has led her Sutherland District representative team to win two State Championships, inspiring women over 35 to strive for positive ways to keep exercising and achieve healthy goals.

As a busy working mum of two kids, Clare is a shining example of how to prioritise health and well-being on a daily basis. Her other passions include gender equality and caring for the environment. She is often seen picking up debris at the beach or in the park and encouraging people to reconsider their everyday habits, to act local and think global.

When you join one of Clare’s training sessions, you know it will be fun and motivating and she will bring out the best in you, always with great care and personal attention. You will share in her love of nature as she helps you explore and appreciate the many hidden trails in your local area.

“I loved it when Clare became a Coach with Diamonds. She supports and challenges us to do more than we ever imagined we could, whilst always having a smile on her face!” Lauren

Jacq Conway - Coach

Jacq (aka Jacqueline) brings a wealth of experience and infectious energy to the DITRA coaching team. She’s passionate about training outdoors in Sydney’s stunning locations, helping everyday women set big, exciting trekking goals — and supporting them to achieve more than they ever thought possible.

She’s continually inspired by the women she trains: “Nothing beats seeing someone go from doubting themselves to achieving something truly incredible.”

Jacq’s love of hiking began at 20 when she boldly said “why not?” to the 4-day Inca Trail in Peru — very underprepared, carrying a 20kg pack (including 23 boiled eggs!). Despite the challenges of altitude, weather and a sore back, reaching Machu Picchu sparked a lifelong passion for adventure.

After further trekking in Nepal (this time better prepared!), and later returning to hiking post-children, Jacq joined a women’s training group in 2006 — and never looked back. Just a year later, she completed her first 100km Oxfam Trailwalker, a tough 31-hour journey that remains one of her proudest achievements.

Now with over a decade of coaching experience, Jacq has led women on incredible adventures across Australia and overseas — from Tasmania, the NT and WA to Vietnam and Indonesia — as well as training teams for endurance events like Coastrek, Wild Endurance and Oxfam Trailwalker.

Based in Ryde and a mum to two young adult sons, Jacq understands how busy life can be. She’s a big advocate for “micro-adventures” — encouraging women to make movement and time in nature a regular part of life, not just something saved for big trips.

Known for her love of stair training (“make stairs your friend!”), Jacq delivers sessions that combine strength, cardio, teamwork and plenty of laughs. She’ll challenge you, support you and help you push beyond your comfort zone — all while building confidence, resilience and strong connections with an amazing community of women.

“Hi Jacq, just wanted to let you know I am totally loving trek training! As a mum of 3 young boys, it is so good getting out in the bush to exercise with a great bunch of fun women. Thanks so much for the encouragement...you make it fun which helps keep me going! Think you are a fantastic coach too. I really look forward to coming each week!” – Jackie

“Thank you to Coach Jacq who gave me an extra push when I most needed it and for all of the beautiful photos that she took to remember our great DITRA adventure!”  - Annette

Kalina Christova - Coach

Kalina’s life changed a few years ago when she decided that she would stop waiting for others and started doing what she loved, reconnecting with her passion for the outdoors and her adventurous spirit. Since that time she has completed a number of long-distance endurance events including Oxfam 100, Oxfam 50 and Coastrek 60. These are all team-based events developing her leadership and team-building skills. She is also an experienced long-distance hiker who loves a challenge having completed Tasmania’s stunning and notoriously difficult South Coast track and NT’s Jatbula. She has trekked in SA’s Flinders Ranges with camels and trudged through snow and ice-covered peaks in the Snowy Mountains. While she valued the peace and the solitude of exploring ACT’s Namadgi National Park on her own, one of her favourite things is sitting by the campfire at the end of a day of hiking and sharing stories and laughs with friends. She is also passionate about Indigenous rights and firmly believes that if we want to fully engage with our beautiful outdoors we need to engage with and learn about the local indigenous culture wherever we are.  

Kalina is a Sydney local and mum who, when not fighting for social justice in her professional life, can be found on the trails, training with the Diamonds or nurturing a love of adventure in her young family. 

As a qualified Personal Trainer with extensive outdoor leadership experience. her Trek Training sessions combine goal-specific training, team building and, most importantly, fun. She firmly believes that we need to build each other up and that with the right support and training you can achieve so much more than you think you can.

“Kalina is an incredibly supportive coach — calm, confident, and full of experience. Her professional yet friendly approach makes you feel prepared for any Diamond adventure you take on. I’ll never forget the 40-degree day during the ‘Welcome to Country’ weekend when she surprised us with ice blocks — such a thoughtful gesture. When I set my sights on completing the 55km Oxfam trek, Kalina made sure we were ready. Her diligent training program, which included strength work and nutrition guidance, equipped us to tackle the challenges of a long, non-stop trek — and we all made it!” - Nerida

Lis Akhurst - Coach

Lis’ coaching approach blends strength and conditioning techniques with mindfulness practice.  As well as being a fully qualified nurse, Lis’ love of fitness led her to become a certified personal trainer after spending many years training in the gym. Lis’ training sessions are built on developing the foundations of strength, muscle building, mobility, flexibility, and stability required for hitting those trails.

Lis is a firm believer in the importance of women’s health particularly in ageing.  Her passion for holistic wellness was sparked by her own journey overcoming serious health challenges. These challenges taught her to build resilience and the importance of keeping our bodies strong to move freely, our minds engaged, and our spirits uplifted to savour every single moment.

Lis grew up on the NSW North Coast and has always felt the pull of the natural world—it’s her sanctuary, the place she feels truly alive and at home.

In her downtime, she finds peace riding the waves surfing or hiking to hidden waterholes, always ready to be the first to jump in. A former avid snowboarder, she still loves to hit the slopes once a year to feel the sting of fresh mountain air and immerse herself in breathtaking landscapes.

Lis loves to read, is endlessly curious about the world, and loves trying her hand at new experiences. Passionate about conservation, she has a deep connection to animals and is a fierce advocate for wildlife protection.

Her lifelong pursuit of adrenaline-fueled experiences has taken her on incredible journeys overseas—from bungee jumping in New Zealand to hiking the Lake District in the UK.

Lis’s career began in nursing, working in a frontline emergency department in London’s East End. This role exposed her to the most challenging aspects of human experience and taught her to think on her feet and quickly adapt. These days, she calls the Sutherland Shire home, managing a nursing team dedicated to improving patient outcomes. Lis is also deeply committed to Indigenous rights and works in partnership with Deadly Choices and the Central and Eastern Sydney Primary Health Network to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health in the local area.

Lis joined the DITRA community in 2020, drawn to its camaraderie and teamwork. She quickly fell in love with the program, and her first ‘fantastically treacherous’ Diamonds trip to the Snowy Mountains inspired her to become a coach. Watching the coaches remain calm and capable in such challenging conditions showed her she had found her place.

Lis’s impressive qualifications include Registered Nurse, Personal Trainer (Cert 3 and 4), Level 1 and 2 Wellness Coaching, Level 1 Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Teacher, Brain Science and Wellness Education Program graduate, and Rebirthing Breathwork Practitioner.

We are thrilled to welcome Lis Akhurst to our coaching team in 2025! With her boundless energy and expertise, Lis guides her clients to improve mobility, strength, and hiking preparedness. Always looking for ways to help women achieve their goals, she often ends training sessions with a bonus breathwork session—helping to calm the mind, lower the heart rate, and promote deep relaxation.

“I feel privileged to be part of DITRA and a group of amazing women who show me every day that ability has nothing to do with age – the important thing to remember is just to get out there! DITRA brings together like-minded individuals to create memories together, motivate and encourage each other, socialise and get the endorphins racing.” Lis

Suz Blake – Adventure Guide

Suzanne (aka Suz) lives and breathes adventure. A proud Diamond for over five years, Suz has trained for her own epic adventures—including Diamond trekking in Nepal in 2024—while also sharing many unforgettable journeys with others. For more than three decades, she’s explored far and wide, from extensive overlanding across Africa’s East and West Coasts to immersing herself in the cultures and landscapes of the Middle East, always choosing the road less travelled and camping under the stars.

Her travels have also taken her through New Zealand, Europe, Asia, and a period living in London, each experience shaping her understanding of both the world and herself. Adventure, after all, has a way of pushing you out of your comfort zone and showing you who you really are.

In the past 15 years, Suz has turned her focus closer to home, discovering the beauty and diversity of Australia’s wild places. Whether through work, family life, or her own drive to explore, adventure has always been a central thread in her life. From hiking and camping trips around Tasmania, Kakadu, Litchfield, and Uluru and surrounds, to stepping across the ocean to Borneo to experience its wildlife, culture, and history, Suz has created countless memories, often around a campfire, marshmallows toasted and shared with her son.

After a long corporate career in marketing, years managing her son’s sporting teams, and countless weekends spent riding bikes, playing sport, pitching tents, and lacing up her hiking boots, Suz has fully embraced the adventures that bring her the most joy. She has planned and led treks across some of Australia’s most iconic landscapes, including Larapinta, Green Gully, Murramarang, Kosciuszko Huts and back country, the Blue Mountains (with Mt Solitary and Kedumba among her favourites), Cradle Mountain, the Budawangs, and the Warrumbungles, where she returns year after year to discover new trails. Every adventure leaves her with fresh lessons, lasting memories… and an ever-growing ‘to-do’ list.

You’ll often find Suz solo adventuring, hiking remote trails, camping, or kayaking—always seeking out new challenges to share. She has a deep love for Tasmania’s wilderness and regularly returns to explore it, while Kosciuszko and the Blue Mountains feel like her second homes.

As a Diamond Adventure Guide and having completed the 50km Coastrek and many Sutherland to Surf events as part of a Diamond crew, Suz is passionate about connecting women with the outdoors, fostering confidence and camaraderie through shared experiences. With a lifetime of outdoor knowledge (and an impressive gear collection, you can never have too many tents, just ask her!), she’s often our go-to for trail tips, prep advice, and gear recommendations. You’ll also find her leading trek training sessions across the Sutherland Shire and Inner West, where you’ll discover her fondness for hills, stairs, and endurance… sometimes all at once!

For Suz, “adventure is about more than just the destination. It’s about the growth that happens along the way—the quiet moments, the tough climbs, the shared laughs, and the strength we discover in ourselves and each other. That’s what being a Diamond is all about: community, consistency, challenge, and experience”.

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Jo Vartanian-Coach and Co-founder

Hi, I’m Jo — co-founder and coach at Diamonds in the Rough Adventures (DITRA).

I’m passionate about helping women build the confidence and support they need to take on challenges they may not believe are possible. I’ve seen firsthand how powerful it is when women step outside their comfort zones in a positive, encouraging environment — and that’s exactly what we’ve created at DITRA.

I live in the Royal National Park with my husband and have raised two boys (now young adults). You’ll usually find me exploring local trails, kayaking, playing soccer, or enjoying any chance to be outdoors.

My background is in teaching, where I spent 15 years inspiring teenage girls to believe in themselves — particularly in areas where confidence often holds them back. That passion for helping women grow continued through my time as Head Coach of the Australian Women’s Canoe Polo team, where I spent 8 years supporting athletes to achieve at the highest level.

Later, I returned to my love of hiking and adventure, gaining fitness qualifications and Wilderness First Aid, and coaching women through challenging treks and endurance events across Australia and overseas, including Peru, Bhutan, New Zealand and remote parts of Australia.

In 2018, Michele and I founded DITRA to create a supportive, down-to-earth community where women can build fitness, skills and confidence — and realise just how capable they really are.

We believe that with the right support, every woman can achieve more than she thinks. I’d love to help you take that next step.

“At 60 years of age, I came to the group with lots of fear and trepidation, unfit and unused to an active lifestyle. Jo’s training was brilliant giving me confidence, skills and courage to tackle new and exciting adventures. She inspired me to believe in my own abilities. A life-changing experience.” Mary