The ZAR Team
Every coach at ZAR is on the floor for one reason: they're qualified to be.
Exercise physiologists, exercise scientists, physiotherapists, and coaches working under direct EP supervision, each one with their own focus, all working to the same programming standards.
The room runs on their judgment. Read their bios below, then come in and meet them.
Coach standards
Every coach on the floor at ZAR:
Holds a degree in exercise science, physiology, or a related discipline
Maintains current CPR and first aid certification
Programmes under the supervision of the ZAR exercise physiology team
Is deeply invested in every member and their training, and continually looks for ways to make that training as individualised as possible.
Many also hold post-graduate qualifications, sport-specific coaching credentials, and registered practitioner status with ESSA.
“I hired everyone in this room because I’d want them programming my own training. That’s the filter. Every coach here is someone whose judgement I trust on a session-by-session basis and someone I’d send my own family to train with. That’s why the team looks the way it does.”
SVET BOROJEVIC
Director & Exercise Physiologist
Qualifications
Bachelor of Applied Science (Human Movement Studies), 2011.
Years in industry: 19 years
Started at ZAR in: 2019 (Founded ZAR)
Area of focus/specialisation: Fat loss and metabolic disease management for high-performing professionals using strength training as the clinical lever.
"Overfat and undermuscled is the root cause of most chronic disease in Australia. Almost no one in healthcare is connecting that dot."
What do you do at ZAR on a day-to-day basis?
I lead the EP team, profile new members during onboarding, and ensure the room delivers on its promises to every member, every block.
What kind of member do you work best with?
High-performing professionals, executives, doctors, and founders who understand that health is the highest-ROI investment they'll ever make. People who are training for the next two decades, not the next twelve weeks.
What makes ZAR different from a regular gym?
Every member at ZAR is supported by a team of university-qualified exercise physiologists whose only job is your outcome. We go all in with every member because the room is built to let us do so. We know your name, your goals, and your story.
That's the standard, and it's why we're not a gym for everyone.
ARIEF HUNTER
Exercise Physiologist & Exercise Scientist
Qualifications
AEP, AES, ESSAM
Exercise Physiologist and Exercise Scientist
CPR + First aid
Years in the industry: 13 years
Started at ZAR: 2019
Area of focus/specialisation: Introduction to the fundamentals of the rehab and strength world.
“I love to keep training simple and effective. I also like to keep people accountable.”
What do you actually do at ZAR day-to-day?
I introduce people to our philosophy, I help design and maintain our program, and I have tons of fun.
What kind of member do you work best with?
Members who are willing and want to achieve their goals.
If a prospective member asked you what makes ZAR different from a regular gym, what would you say?
If you want proper training that isn’t impossible to complete and is something you can incorporate into your life long-term, we are the right fit for you.
PREDRAG BOROJEVIC
ZAR Manager & Barista
“Coffee connects people & calms the mind.”
What do you want someone walking into ZAR Café for the first time to notice?
That they've arrived at the right place. Before anyone speaks, the room does the work, and the right people feel it inside five seconds.
What's the difference between a café inside a gym and a café that happens to be inside a gym?
A takeaway coffee is a stimulant. The dose lands, the day continues, the cup ends up in a bin. That's it.
Sitting down with the same coffee in a ceramic cup is a different thing entirely. The caffeine is identical, but you actually taste it. The shoulders drop. The conversation at the next table happens. The fifteen minutes belong to you, not to the next meeting.
In Europe, if you ask for a takeaway, they politely tell you they don't stock takeaway cups. That answer is the difference.
A gym café hands you the cup and waves you out. A café that takes itself seriously, and happens to share an address with a gym, asks you to stay.
LIAM ZAMEL-PAEZ
Exercise Physiologist
Qualifications
Bachelor of Clinical Exercise Physiology (hons), UQ, 2021 - AEP, AES, ESSAM
Certificate III and IV in fitness (FitEducation, 2019)
ASCA Level 1 S&C Coach Accreditation (ASCA, 2016)
CPR + First Aid
Blue Card
Years in the industry: 20 Years
Joined ZAR in: 2021
Area of focus & specialisation:
Using Olympic-level training principles to make strength and conditioning more accessible for everyday people dealing with injuries and chronic health conditions.
“I spent years training Olympic and Paralympic athletes, where I learned how to adapt high-level performance principles into practical strategies for everyone, not just athletes. Now I bring that same approach to everyday people dealing with pain, injury, and chronic conditions.”
What do you actually do at ZAR day-to-day?
I use my background in elite sport to help everyday people train smarter, taking those principles that work at the highest level and adapting them for everyday life.
What kind of member do you work best with?
I work best with everyday people managing an injury or health condition who are willing to be consistent and trust the process.
People who understand that progress comes from doing the small things well over time, focusing on what they can control, and using setbacks as feedback to keep moving forward.
If a prospective member asked you what makes ZAR different from a regular gym, what would you say?
ZAR takes the guesswork out of training. Instead of generic programs and fitness trends, everything is tailored to the individual, with close attention to how your body moves, training that actually fits your needs, and a focus on staying strong and active in the long term.
JACK DEWAR
Recomp Coach
Qualifications
Cert III & Cert IV Fitness, 2015
Recomp Coach Level 6, 2018
ISSN Sports Nutritionist, 2018
Physique Coaching Academy, 2025
Boxing for Fitness, 2016 & 2023 certified.
Years in the industry: 11 years
Joined the ZAR team in: 2020
Area of focus/specialisation:
Taking on clients who have previously tried to transform their physique with little to no success and refining their systems actually to get results.
“People just need to realise that the road to success is repeating the most mundane tasks over and over again until they simply get good at them.”
In one sentence, what do you actually do at ZAR day-to-day?
Coach clients in strength training and nutrition and perform body composition analyses.
What kind of member do you work best with?
I work best with people who are actively trying to get results but feel stuck and don’t know how. The drive is there, but the skill is not. That’s who I work best with.
What makes ZAR different from a regular gym?
ZAR has very personalised coaching systems for strength and conditioning in class environments that you don’t see every day. With a host of EP’s, Pilates instructors, physios and Nutritionists, ZAR is your one-stop shop for getting results.
MITCH CASEY
Exercise Physiologist
Qualifications
Bachelor of Sports and Exercise Physiology majoring in Clinical Exercise Physiology, UQ, 2016
Australian Strength and Conditioning Level 1 Accreditation, 2025
Accredited Pilates Instructor, 2017
Years in the industry: 10 years
Joined the ZAR team in: 2021
Area of focus/specialisation:
First-time and inexperienced lifters
“Most people overestimate what they can do in a week, but underestimate what they can do in a year.”
In one sentence, what do you actually do at ZAR day-to-day?
My role consists of running Zar strength classes, small-group sessions, and individual one-on-one personal training sessions to work towards each and every member’s health goals.
What kind of member do you work best with?
I’m the everyday man, so I work best with someone who’s not necessarily trying to win a powerlifting comp or compete on the bodybuilding stage, but who wants to improve their overall well-being and live a healthier lifestyle.
If a prospective member asked you what makes ZAR different from a regular gym, what would you say?
ZAR is a gym actively involved in each member’s health journey from start to finish. Most gyms don’t really care once you sign up and hand over your credit card details; ZAR is focused on creating an environment full of coaches and members who are health-focused and enjoy seeing everyone's success. Once you’re a member at ZAR, you’ll learn lifelong skills that will help you live a healthier and happier life.
SASKIA DMITRIJEV
Gym and Pilates Instructor
Qualifications:
Certification III and IV in Fitness
IEFP (Institute of Elite Fitness Professionals), 2026
First aid and CPR, 2026
Years in the industry: 1 year
Joined the ZAR team in: 2026
Area of focus/specialisation:
Strength training for busy beginners who want structure and confidence in the gym.
“I think the gym is one of the best places to learn that if you trust the process and follow good coaching, results will come. It is so empowering.”
In one sentence, what do you actually do at ZAR day-to-day?
I give Friday morning strength, cardio class, and Pilates.
What kind of member do you work best with?
People who may have trained before but never really took structured strength training seriously, and are now ready to do it properly with a clear plan and consistency.
What makes ZAR different from a regular gym?
At ZAR, you will feel cared for, like a developing athlete, not just a gym member.
ALEX FORSTER
Exercise Physiologist
Qualifications:
Bachelor of Clinical Exercise Physiology, 2025
Fitness Expert/Personal Trainer, 2023
Reformer Pilates instructor, 2024
Years in the industry: 3 years
Joined ZAR in: 2021
Area of focus/specialisation:
Under 60s Chronic Pain Specialist
“You don't stop walking because you stub your toe; you don't need to miss out on the benefits of exercising because your back or knees hurt.”
In one sentence, what do you actually do at ZAR day-to-day?
I take care of the Afternoon & Saturday morning classes.
What kind of member do you work best with?
Under 60s Neurodiverse clients living with chronic pain who want to look & feel like Goku. If you play video games or watch Anime, we’ll get along famously!
If a prospective member asked you what makes ZAR different from a regular gym, what would you say?
Group training run by AEPs creates a unique environment where we maintain the best perks of group training, such as community, without losing a crumb of knowledge/expertise.
WENDY HUNTER
Personal Trainer & Pilates Instructor
Qualifications
Bachelor of Education (Primary), 2015
APPI - Pilates instructor, 2021
Pilates and small equipment, 2022
Pilates All the small balls, 2024
GGS: Certified women’s coaching specialist, 2023
Pre & Postnatal Coach, 2024
Years in the industry: 3 years
Joined the ZAR team in: 2022
Area of focus/specialisation:
Prehab and post-injury functional strength
“I used to think of strength training as a hobby, but now it's a lifestyle; without strength training, my body and mind would be fragile and weak”
In one sentence, what do you actually do at ZAR day-to-day?
I check in with clients and help maintain programming.
What kind of member do you work best with?
Members who have a goal and want to find out how hard they can work.
What makes ZAR different from a regular gym?
ZAR is unlike a regular gym because once you walk through the doors, you are treated as part of our community. We endeavour not just to train our members but to educate them to become lifelong athletes.
STEVEN GIRGIS
Physiotherapist
Qualifications
Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours), Griffith University, 2022
AHPRA Registered Physiotherapist
Dry Needling Certified
Clinical Pilates, Mat and Reformer Rehabilitation, Level 1
ASCA Level 1 Strength and Conditioning Coach
Level 1 Sports Trainer
Years in the Industry
4+ years
Year Joined ZAR
2024
Area of Focus
Sports injury rehabilitation, strength-based recovery, combat sports athletes, and return-to-sport.
“Getting injured doesn't mean you stop training. It usually means the plan needs to change.”
What do you actually do at ZAR day-to-day?
I work with members carrying injuries, pain, or movement limitations. The job is to get them back to training and back to what they enjoy outside of it.
What kind of member do you work best with?
Members who know what they want to get back to, and who are willing to do the work that rehab actually requires.
If a prospective member asked you what makes ZAR different from a regular gym, what would you say?
The people. ZAR is staffed with coaches and practitioners who actually want every member to improve, and who have the craft to deliver on that. The gym isn't a backdrop for the work; it's the result of it.
Train with this room.
Membership starts with a free 30-minute consult. Your chance to meet the EP who'd be designing your programme.