Jessica Veltman
Dietitian
Jessica is a dietitian with special interest in paediatric nutrition and health. She is involved in both outpatient and inpatient nutrition with special interests in critical nutrition, allergies, paediatric feeding difficulties and nutritional management of paediatric neurological conditions. Jessica thoroughly enjoys working in both therapeutic environments, balancing intensive in hospital therapy and optimal home implementation with a focus on individual family environments.
She is devoted to nurturing a positive relationship with food and healthy eating habits from a young age and encouraging self-exploration and confidence in making food choices. Jessica has completed additional training in SOS feeding therapy and FARE allergy management, providing up to date scientific evidence to nutrition therapy.
Jessica believes the following: Food is life, and feeding is love. We can create and shape an enriching, healthy connection between mind, body and emotion and fuel a happy life.
Raeesa Bulbulia
Occupational Therapist
Raeesa is a paediatric Occupational Therapist with a passion for helping children develop the skills and confidence they need to thrive during mealtimes. She takes a child-centred, family-focused approach to feeding, recognising that every child’s journey is unique and that feeding difficulties can impact the whole family.
Her passion for feeding therapy is both professional and deeply personal. As a mother, Raeesa experienced the challenges of supporting her own child, who initially had no oral feeding and relied on a gastrostomy (G-tube) for nutrition. Through a gradual, patient and supportive journey using the SOS Approach to Feeding, her child progressed to becoming completely G-tube-free and receiving nutrition orally.
This experience has shaped her understanding of the emotional journey families face and strengthened her commitment to compassionate, evidence-informed feeding support. Raeesa is passionate about empowering parents, celebrating small steps forward and helping children build positive relationships with food at their own pace.
Maeve Richardson
Speech Therapist
Maeve Richardson is a caring and enthusiastic Speech & Feeding Therapist with a special interest in paediatric feeding and swallowing. She is passionate about helping infants and children develop positive, enjoyable relationships with food, while supporting families through the challenges that feeding difficulties can bring.
Maeve has a particular interest in supporting picky eaters, problem feeders and children with Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), as well as those experiencing behavioural feeding difficulties or navigating complex medical needs. She also enjoys supporting families through the introduction of solids and working with medically fragile infants, including those within and transitioning from the NICU.
With a compassionate, child-centred approach, Maeve recognises that every child’s feeding journey is unique. She strives to understand the individual needs of each child and family, working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team to support meaningful progress, build confidence and make mealtimes a more positive experience.
Maeve is trained in SOS Approach to Feeding, SOFFI (Supporting Oral Feeding in Fragile Infants) and Newborn Behavioural Observations (NBO), bringing evidence-informed strategies and a strong passion for helping little ones thrive.
Maeve believes that feeding is about more than just food- it’s about connection, confidence and helping every child thrive, one little step at a time.
Karin van der Walt
Speech Therapist
M.Sc. Clinical Speech & Language Studies (Dysphagia) | B.SLHT (Stellenbosch) | HPCSA Registered
Karin is a dedicated Speech-Language Therapist and Feeding Specialist with extensive postgraduate expertise in pediatric dysphagia, early intervention, and neonatal feeding care.
She completed her Bachelor’s degree in Speech-Language and Hearing Therapy at the University of Stellenbosch before pursuing advanced international clinical specialization, earning her Master’s degree in Clinical Speech and Language Studies (Dysphagia) from Trinity College Dublin in Ireland.
Karin’s clinical history spans a diverse range of settings. She began her career at Chris Hani-Baragwanath Academic Hospital, providing direct therapy for babies and young children. After returning from Ireland, she joined an Early Intervention Centre in Pretoria, where she specialized in early intervention assessment and deepened her focus as a feeding therapist. Most recently, Karin has worked in private practice in Johannesburg, conducting feeding and early intervention assessments across hospital settings, NICUs, and multidisciplinary clinics.
Karin is passionate about providing holistic, family-centered care. She works closely with infants, toddlers, and young children and their families experiencing a wide spectrum of feeding challenges—including fussy eating, sensory food aversion, neurological feeding difficulties, tube dependence, and neonatal swallowing concerns. She strongly values collaborative, interdisciplinary practice, frequently working alongside Occupational Therapists and Dietitians to ensure comprehensive support for every child.
