About Us

Karen Slater is a seasoned travel and tourism professional with over 25 years of leadership experience across the aviation, hospitality, and luxury travel industries. Fluent in French, with conversational skills in Spanish and German, she combines linguistic versatility with exceptional organisational, planning, and interpersonal skills. Karen has a proven track record of building client relationships, negotiating high-value contracts, and leading teams to consistently exceed sales and service targets. Her career spans both entrepreneurial leadership and senior corporate roles, equipping her with a unique ability to bridge strategic vision with operational execution. As the former CEO of Inspire Me Travel Ltd, Karen has shaped and delivered bespoke experiential travel products that resonate with high-value clients, making her an invaluable asset to Because YOLO Travel’s mission of redefining wellness and luxury travel.

Sabrina is a results-driven, energetic individual with vast experience in marketing, management, publishing & PR.

She has a proven track record of implementing successful business development strategies in the highly competitive markets of technology, media and online marketing. She possesses a multi-dimensional skillset and has deployed these talents in launching and scaling new ventures. A true trailblazer, she was one of the first individuals to co-ordinate the mass advertising of bitcoin to the UK market.

After successfully selling her media company in 2016 Sabrina took a sabbatical where she focussed on various philanthropic projects around the globe. She also participated in a book writing project. This culminated in being featured as an Amazon Best Seller. Additionally, she is actively involved in teaching on topics such as self-development, consciousness, and hosting wellness workshops.

Sabrina is now combining her marketing and publishing background with her passion for travel and wellness into developing Live Once Group’s various of brands.

Jeremy has spent over 25 years in the luxury travel industry, building a reputation for innovation, excellence, and a deep understanding of the high-end traveller. In 2008, he founded Quintessentially Travel, establishing offices in the UK, New York, Hong Kong, and Dubai. Each location operated as a local, bespoke luxury tour operator, seamlessly integrated within the global Quintessentially Group. His vision and leadership helped shape Quintessentially Travel into a trusted name for curated, high-touch travel experiences around the world.

Building on his extensive experience, Jeremy launched Jeremy Sutton Private Travel Limited (JSPT) in January 2014. Designed as an exclusive, invitation-only private members’ travel club, JSPT specialised in curating bespoke luxury holidays and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. With a focus on personal service, discretion, and meticulous attention to detail, the brand quickly became synonymous with high-end, tailor-made travel for a select global clientele.

A seasoned travel enthusiast, Jeremy has a passion for discovering the world’s finest luxury hotels and resorts. Yet, his all-time favourite experience is a safari. For him, nothing compares to being immersed in the African bush—surrounded by the sights and sounds of the wild, tracking the Big Five, and witnessing nature’s most majestic landscapes up close. It’s the kind of adventure that stirs the soul and stays with you forever.

A long-standing 35+ year career history in the financial services sector encompassing futures & options trading, fixed-income derivatives, equities, private funds, alternative assets and direct private equity with firms such as Dean Witter Morgan Stanley, Tullett Prebon, Geni Capital, Meyler Capital and Tradetech Alpha Limited (Finalto Financial Services). Other industry experience includes the technology, media & telecoms (TMT) sector with industry2industry, Inc, Portum AG and CMG Plc, as well as in the energy sector.

As a seasoned professional, highlights include several CEO roles in FCA authorised investment firms, where he oversaw four company sales & divestments, and two acquisitions.

Joshua Loock is a business strategist and successful entrepreneur known for his ability to engineer brands and companies and steer them toward rapid growth and market success. In 2019, he founded a contract manufacturing business, which he adeptly sold just eight months later to a NASDAQ-listed corporation, yielding investors an extraordinary 50x ROI. His experience extends beyond this with successful turnaround projects in mining, manufacturing, and telecommunications, where he has cultivated a specialised skill set for consistent commercial achievements. Josh leverages methodical process and project management tools to optimise resource use, significantly enhancing productivity and efficiency within the organisations he leads. His leadership is distinguished by a blend of strong vision and practical execution, attracting international recognition.

At the core of Josh’s strategic approach lies a commitment to innovation and sustainability, perfectly in sync with LIVE ONCE GROUP’s mission to enhance well-being and health through travel. His leadership philosophy harmonises empathy with business acumen, ensuring that our operations not only achieve financial targets but also enrich the lives of our clients. Josh envisions travel as an essential element for personal growth, striving to make it accessible, educational, and a source of rejuvenation and joy. His personal commitment to wellness is reflected in his daily routine, which includes resistance training, meditation, and a disciplined approach to healthy eating. He has personally travelled to various global destinations and enjoyed a variety of wellness retreats and experiences.

Under Joshua Loock’s stewardship, LIVE ONCE GROUP is on the brink of transformative growth. His proven record in brand building and scaling businesses positions us uniquely in the market, not just for financial returns but for pioneering a new era in wellness travel.

Megan Theunissen, a BA Language graduate from the University of Pretoria (2022), became a part of the PureLife.travel team in March 2023. Specialising in content creation and SEO, Megan conducts in-depth keyword research and crafts tailored, high-quality articles with a flair that resonates with the wellness travel audience. Her role extends to editing, writing newsletters, and producing various forms of content for LIVE ONCE GROUP. Megan has also earned a certificate in Advanced Copywriting, enhancing her ability to create impactful, conversion-driven content. Additionally, she is spearheading the launch of PureLife.travel’s YouTube channel to further strengthen the brand’s digital presence.

Etienne de Villiers is the visionary founder and owner of a leading digital marketing agency specialising in search engine optimisation (SEO) and online strategy. With a deep passion for digital innovation and a keen understanding of the ever-evolving online landscape, Etienne has successfully positioned himself as a trusted partner for businesses seeking to enhance their online presence and drive sustainable growth.

His expertise in SEO and a strong background in web development and digital marketing have enabled him to develop cutting-edge strategies that consistently deliver top-ranking results for his clients. Etienne’s entrepreneurial spirit, coupled with his dedication to staying ahead of industry trends, has made him a respected figure in the digital marketing community. His passion for helping businesses succeed online continues to fuel his drive to innovate success.

Brandon started his career in the financial services sector with the main goals of improving the financial situation of every client he took on as well as promoting change in what he believed to be an aged system.

It is with no surprise that he then ventured into what became known as the leaders of change in the financial services sector, one of the first risk companies to bring drastic changes to this sector.

Brandon specialised in the business development of this company, running operations alongside a team of dynamic and well-known senior individuals in the industry, ultimately spearheading change in the financial services sector.

Brandon has also been involved in various other start-up companies on an operational level.

His dedication to excellence and change will serve as a crucial component of the success of LIVE ONCE GROUP.

Susan is a passionate and experienced travel agent dedicated to crafting unforgettable journeys for her clients. With 26 years of industry expertise and a love for exploring new destinations, Susan takes pride in providing personalised travel recommendations and exceptional customer service.

Specialising in bespoke luxury travel, family & adventure travel, corporate travel, incentive travel and, of course, the niche market of wellness travel, Susan has extensive knowledge of the world. Her expertise has been recognised through a diploma in Travel & Tourism, and she is committed to staying up to date on the latest travel trends and industry developments.

“After obtaining my Diploma in Travel, I worked for an agency for 10 years, during which time I obtained a great deal of knowledge of the industry. I then opened my own travel agency, which I had run for 9 years. I later went into the cruising side of travel, where I gained knowledge on luxury cruise liners, the more upmarket side to cruising.”

Susan loves to package and tailor-make her clients’ dreams into memories.

Selycia is ambitious and proactive and is always problem-solving or learning something new. Her experience and interests span numerous sectors and disciplines, which she used in her role as Vice-Chairperson in two student-led societies and Model United Nations Mentor at her university. As she had qualified for the Golden Key International Honours Society four years in a row and received the Top-of-Class Academic Achievement Award for her degree twice, she received a bursary awarded through recommendation and is completing her master’s degree in public management.

Although a novice in the tech startup space, her philosophy, “everything is figure-out-able”, combined with her unique insights and perspectives gained from travelling and living overseas, makes her an adaptable and versatile individual.

Aidan Burley is a public affairs professional, entrepreneur and former Conservative Member of Parliament for Cannock Chase. He graduated from St John’s College, Oxford in 2001 and worked at Accenture and later Mouchel on large-scale Department of Health and Home Office procurement projects. In 2010, aged 31, he stood for election to the House of Commons and secured the largest swing in any constituency in Britain, which the BBC described as a “a staggering result”. After leaving politics, he co-founded a successful e-commerce subscription business which he grew to over 100,000 subscribers and £5m+ annual revenues, securing VC investment before exiting via an MBO in 2023.

Ian is a trained chartered accountant with a strong entrepreneurial drive and an engineering background. After gaining a First-Class BSC Hons degree in Building Services Engineering at the University of Bath, Ian qualified as a chartered accountant at KPMG in Birmingham, coming first in the UK in the Final level exams.

This led to a role as financial analyst and fund manager at Singer & Friedlander Investment Management, a position with considerable fiduciary responsibility.

Ian then left to pursue an opportunity to launch the first of his own businesses, resulting in an award-winning landscape gardening business. This was followed by a specialist travel agency; an online wedding gift list business which he sold to AIM-listed Park Group PLC in 2015; and then created the Walk Run Cycle App.

After a successful career at Lloyds TSB, Simon has held director level positions at various Corporate Finance houses.

Simon is a highly experienced small cap markets specialist, having run an international stock exchange.

As a FCA regulated corporate advisor, Simon has secured listings of securities on several different exchanges, as well as advised numerous successful fundraisings, both public and private. Simon is currently the Head of Markets at Tokenise and is responsible for overseeing and delivering the Tokenise stock exchange market offering. Simon has a detailed understanding of listing procedures, corporate governance as well as clearing and settlement provisions.

Riaan is an experienced financial controller.

He started his career in 1985 as an operations Manager at one of the largest private security companies in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Throughout his career Riaan has been a “steady hand on deck” as his calm demeanour has been the mainstay of support for many successful businesses and their respective CEOs. He has served in a Senior Managerial role at numerous companies with his portfolio of responsibilities focused on management and financial accounting.

His experience is wide ranging, and he has worked in logistics, IT, marketing, financial management and the support services sectors.

Riaan has a passion for new ventures and his ability to interpret and manage numbers will serve as a crucial component of the success of PureLife Technologies.

Sam is an entrepreneur with experience in ambitiously growing and expanding new businesses and product lines.

After studying music technology, Sam started his career in Sales & Marketing. Since his career launch, he quickly pivoted to the Private Equity sector.

Initially, as a sector-agnostic private equity consultant, he played a crucial role in funding numerous projects in waste disposal, fintech and real estate. As his career developed, Sam joined a boutique FCA-registered firm and specialized in funding renewable energy projects in the Waste-to-Energy and Solar industries.

A people’s person at heart, Sam moved into the healthcare recruitment sector in 2017. He quickly developed a reputation as a skilled operator in this space and launched his own healthcare recruitment business in the UK in 2020. This business has seen exponential year-on-year growth since inception. He also owns and manages a successful media & marketing company in the UK.

Sam’s ability to access, retain and motivate talent, combined with his laser focus on organization & profit growth is an invaluable asset to PureLife Technologies Ltd.