Meet Kate.
Entrepreneur, Educator, Innovator, and Founder of The Dermal Academy® & Kumo®.
Kate’s journey in the beauty industry is deeply rooted in her passion for education and her drive to empower others. Kate honed her skills in London as a seasoned Head Educator at prestigious, Multi-Award winning Salons & Spas. Kate has trained countless beauty professionals, passing on her knowledge, skills, and philosophy to raise the standards of the industry.
Her "why" is simple yet powerful: she believes that through education, beauty professionals can transform their approach to skin health, offering more than just treatments but lasting impacts on their clients’ well-being.
As a mother to Juniper, Kate juggles the demands of motherhood with her thriving career. She admits that balancing both can be tricky at times, but her love for what she does powers her through, allowing her to maintain a beautiful balance between family and work.
Originally from South Africa, Kate has lived in London, Australia, and now New Zealand, experiences that have given her a profound understanding of the importance of community and connection. Her passion for educating others has taken her around the world, where she has trained in her trademarked technique, The Sculptural Buccal Technique®, which has gained international recognition.
Kate’s teaching philosophy is centred on helping others excel and evolve in their careers. Kate understands the value of personalized learning and the need for adaptable teaching methods that empower each student. This is reflected in her work at The Dermal Academy®, which is accredited in the UK and focuses on offering holistic, scientifically backed education that supports the development of future leaders in the beauty industry.
Her passion for cosmetic chemistry and how molecules interact with the skin's cellular systems plays a significant role in her approach to education. Kate’s deep curiosity about the science behind skincare fuels her dedication to both training and formulation. She has worked with several skincare brands, including Trilogy Skincare, as a lead expert, and her insights have been featured in multiple publications such as Denizen and Remix Magazine. As a Lead Formula Developer for established skincare brands, she created innovative products like a bi-phasic facial oil, which became a hero product in New Zealand. She also founded Kumo®, where her Phytodose Bi-phase Barrier Oil won Best Facial Oil in New Zealand just six months after launch and was featured in British Vogue and Tatler.
Kate’s entrepreneurial journey started with Skinography, which was nominated as the Best Holistic Beauty Destination in New Zealand. Her business grew from a single rented room to a recognized brand, driven by her commitment to excellence, her love for education, and her desire to empower others. Despite the challenges she faced, including managing everything from branding, marketing, and product formulation to PR, HR, and legal matters, Kate’s passion for learning and sharing knowledge has been the driving force behind her success.
BKate is proud to be a trailblazer in the beauty industry, turning challenges into opportunities and empowering other women to pursue their own paths to success. Through her work, she aims to elevate the industry and continue innovating with her passion for both skincare and education.
But beyond education and innovation, Kate’s true obsession lies in the altruistic nature of caring for the people she works with.