We take pride in the fact that a majority of our team members have contributed to 10,000 Steps for many years, a collective of 74 years as of 2023, contributing to our extensive knowledge base and fostering a collaborative and positive workplace culture.

Our Expertise

This team is essential to the success of 10,000 Steps and they cover a range of aspects of the program including: Research Management, Project Management, Program implementation, Stakeholder engagement, Customer relations support, Platform and resource delivery, Media, marketing and communications, Website and app development and maintenance.

Our team at 10,000 Steps is more than just a group of professionals: it’s a community of dedicated experts shaping the success of our Program. This commitment translates into a cohesive team that consistently delivers outstanding results for 10,000 Steps.

Embedded within the fabric of 10,000 Steps is the invaluable guidance and expertise provided by physical activity researchers across Australia. This network of esteemed researchers ensures that 10,000 Steps remains at the forefront of evidence-based practices in health promotion and behaviour change techniques, solidifying our commitment to making a lasting impact on physical activity and wellbeing across Australia.

Meet Our Team

Prof Corneel Vandelanotte

Chief Investigator & Project Lead

Professor Corneel Vandelanotte leads the Physical Activity Research Group and the 10,000 Steps program at CQUniversity. He obtained his PhD in Physical Education at the Ghent University in Belgium. He began working at the University of Queensland in 2005 before moving to CQUniversity in 2009. His research takes a population-based approach to health behaviour change and is focused on the development and evaluation of innovative and web, app, tracker, computer-tailored and machine learning based physical activity interventions. He has published 275 peer-reviewed journal articles in international scientific journals, and was named a ‘Highly Cited Researcher’ by Clarivate in 2022 and 2023. He is a Founding Executive Committee member for the Asia-Pacific Society for Physical Activity, and the Founding Editor-in-Chief for the Journal of Activity, Sedentary and Sleep Behaviours.

Anetta Van Itallie

Program Manager

Anetta is an experienced senior research officer and project manager, working in physical activity research program delivery and evaluation at CQUniversity since 2004. Anetta values working within a team who strive to bring together research, evaluation and the latest evidence with real world program application to innovate and achieve impactful outcomes. Anetta has been inspired by the stories from members and organisations using the 10,000 Steps Program since she began working on the Program in 2004 and uses this passion to lead the team in excelling in their deliverables. As Program Manager, Anetta actively partners with external agencies, industry, programs and communities to deliver the Program, upholding her beliefs as a relentless advocate for improving systems, environments, culture and technology that support people to be active in their everyday lives.

Cindy Hooker

Research Worker

In 2004, Cindy relocated to Rockhampton to pursue a Bachelor of Human Movement Science. During her university years, she incorporated aspects of the 10,000 Steps initiative into her assessments. Subsequently, in 2008, Cindy briefly worked with 10,000 Steps before securing full-time employment with the project in July 2010.

Cindy holds various responsibilities, including overseeing Health Challenges, particularly the long-standing Australasian University Health Challenge, now in its fifth year. She actively engages with the 10,000 Steps Super Engaged Users, manages Human Research Ethics requirements, develops and coordinates social media content, and analyzes survey data. Cindy derives satisfaction from delving into extensive statistical data accumulated over the years and meticulously examining feedback, highlighting numerous positive comments received by the project.

Nina Gill

Project Officer

Nina is a long-term project officer based in Yeppoon, Queensland who has started on the 10,000 Steps Project in 2015 after completing a Bachelor of Medical Science (Nutrition). Over this time Nina has provided day-to-day support for members and organisations implementing the program, as well as contributing to website and app redevelopments and continuous feature upgrades. More recently, Nina has been supporting the delivery of the 10,000 Steps Program in South Australia, particularly during the past three annual state-wide Billion Steps Challenges. Nina plays a key role in reporting to funding bodies and has supported the development of email series and campaigns using ActiveCampaign. Nina actively works towards the continuous development and enhancement of the program, fueled by her passion for promoting sustainable, healthy lifestyle habits.

Melissa Erbacher

Project Officer

Melissa is a Project Officer for the 10,000 Steps team and has played an active role in the health and wellbeing space since 2013.

With strong focus on helping people to lead healthier lives, Melissa thrives on community engagement and creating meaningful connections within those communities. Throughout her career, she has worked with numerous organisations and government bodies to assist in delivering health and wellbeing initiatives, contributing to positive change in communities across the country.

Felix Parker

Member Support Officer

Felix has lead the 10,000 Steps support team since 2021, working closely with our project officers, technology lead, and collaborators to assist our members and organisations in achieving their physical activity goals through our program. With over ten years’ experience in customer service across hospitality, retail, and finance, Felix brings a positive attitude to meeting our member's needs, and a passion for flexible and innovative solutions. Felix graduated with a first-class honours degree in psychological science from CQ University in 2020, and is currently working towards a PHD in behavioural science. Felix hails from the Central Highlands and Coalfields in Queensland, and currently lives in the Rockahmpton region with his lovely wife, two dogs, and a lively worm farm.

Nick Lo

Technology Lead

As the Technology Lead, Nick is responsible for building and maintaining the online infrastructure for the 10,000 Steps Program. His journey with the program began in 2011, after his involvement in creating health and physical activity initiatives for CQUniversity research teams. Although he’s essentially the “tech guy” of the program, his motivation comes from using his expertise to promote active and healthy lifestyles. His time with the exceptional 10,000 Steps team has offered numerous challenging opportunities to do so, ranging from the statewide annual Billion Steps Challenges and Health Challenges to the seamless integration of the 10,000 Steps mobile app, activity trackers, surveys, and more. Working remotely from the Gold Coast, Nick has been known to participate in online meetings from his home-based gym.