About Us

Find us in the heart of Chatswood - Shop 2/7 Help St

 

Robert Chen — Co-Founder and Trainer

Robert Chen, known affectionately by clients as Rob, is the founder and driving force behind APEX Athletiq — a premium fitness and longevity coaching brand based in Sydney. With a reputation built on trust, results, and relentless curiosity, Rob has guided hundreds of clients toward transformative body composition, performance, and lifestyle outcomes over the past eleven years.

Rob’s journey into health and performance wasn't born in a gym — it began in an auto smash repair shop. While running a successful business, he found himself asking a deeper question: “How can I help people in a more meaningful, lasting way?” That question sparked a career change — and the start of a mission that would eventually become APEX Athletiq.

Today, Rob brings a science-backed, results-driven, and human-centered approach to personal training. His coaching seamlessly integrates advanced strength training, hypertrophy programming, metabolic conditioning, and nutritional science, tailored to each individual's unique physiology and lifestyle.

Rob holds advanced expertise in:

Longevity-based training protocols

Hypertrophy and advanced strength systems

Nutritional periodisation for fat loss and performance

Exercise prescription for metabolic syndromes (including PCOS, insulin resistance, and hormonal imbalances)

Injury rehabilitation and prevention

Pre- and post-natal fitness

Lifestyle and performance optimization for high achievers

He also provides consulting and mentorship for emerging personal trainers, helping them refine their business models and elevate their coaching standards.

With APEX Athletiq, Rob's vision is clear:

To help people move better, live longer, and perform at their peak — for life.

Certifications & Continuing Education
Rob is a firm believer in lifelong learning. He has completed extensive professional development under thought leaders in:

Applied muscle physiology

Nutrition and supplementation

Functional movement screening

Biomechanics and load management

Longevity medicine and recovery science

Whether you're a high-performing executive, a new parent, an elite athlete, or someone simply looking to reclaim your health — Rob's method meets you where you are and takes you further than you thought possible.

Charise Villareal — Co Founder and Physiotherapist/Movement Specialist

Charise Villareal is a physiotherapist and movement expert at APEX Athletiq, known for her rare ability to combine clinical precision with long-term vitality coaching. With over 20 years immersed in human movement — and a Master of Physiotherapy from the University of Sydney — Charise helps people not only recover from injury, but move into the future with strength, mobility, and confidence.

After beginning her career in finance, Charise made a decisive shift to pursue her deeper calling: empowering people to move well, live pain-free, and extend their healthspan. Her practice reflects a holistic understanding of how mobility, strength, and nervous system health play critical roles in lifelong performance and vitality.

Her work is grounded in both evidence-based physiotherapy and the latest in longevity science. Through advanced certifications in:

Athletic and chronic injury rehabilitation

Clinical Pilates and neuromuscular control

Women’s health (pre/post-natal + pelvic floor therapy)

Dry needling and integrated manual therapy

Functional mobility and return-to-performance protocols

Charise guides clients through personalised programs that enhance joint health, restore posture and core integrity, and most importantly — prevent breakdowns before they occur.

She’s worked across the full spectrum of life: from elite athletes and high-performers to growing teens, new mothers, and active older adults. What unites them is a desire to feel capable, resilient, and physically independent — not just today, but decades from now.

“Longevity isn’t just the absence of pain. It’s the presence of vitality — the ability to move with purpose, strength, and joy across every chapter of your life.” — Charise Villareal

Areas of Specialisation

Injury prevention & rehabilitation (shoulder, knee, spine)

Longevity-focused mobility and stability training

Core and pelvic floor health for women across life stages

Return-to-sport & return-to-life performance mapping

Integrated rehab and performance collaboration with strength coaches

Charise also plays a key role in bridging the gap between rehabilitation and performance at APEX Athletiq, ensuring clients have not just a path out of pain — but a clear roadmap toward vitality and movement longevity.

Move well. Stay strong. Age powerfully.
That’s the foundation of Charise’s work — and a core pillar of the APEX Athletiq philosophy.

 

Join APEX Athletiq and discover what your peak looks like.