When Greek Australian entrepreneur Jono Petrohilos first started out as a personal trainer, he didn’t lead Australia’s top bootcamp – he led the worst. Ranked 75th out of 75 locations in a national franchise, he had every reason to quit. Instead, he decided to learn, grow, and ultimately transform failure into fuel.
“I loved the model,” Jono tells The Greek Herald. “So I committed to making it work. I read every book, listened to every podcast, went to every seminar I could find. Within a year, I went from last place to number one in the country – with a 100% client retention rate.”
That turnaround sparked more than just a successful bootcamp. Other trainers began asking how he did it – and rather than send them off to read a hundred books, Jono built a simple online course showing them step-by-step how to replicate his success.
That course became the foundation of Fitness Education Online, now one of the largest providers of continuing education for fitness professionals in Australia – and quite possibly, the world.
“At first, I thought I’d make one course,” he laughs. “But the demand just kept growing. Over time, it turned into something much bigger than I ever imagined.”
From bedroom startup to award-winning leader
What began as a side project built from his parents’ home has evolved into a global success story. Fitness Education Online has been named CEC Provider of the Year at the Australian Fitness Industry Awards in both 2022 and 2024, and is a finalist for the same title in the UK Fitness Awards this year.
For Jono, these accolades represent more than trophies on a shelf – they’re a testament to persistence, innovation, and belief.
“It means a lot, because this business really started from scratch – just myself and a business partner,” Jono says.
“At the time, I was still living at home with my parents, typical Greek guy in his 20s. So, to go from building something out of my bedroom to winning awards against huge organisations – major colleges, TAFEs, even universities with hundreds of staff and massive budgets – is incredible.’
And it’s not just the company that’s being recognised. Jono himself has twice been named Fitness Educator of the Year — first in 2020, and again in 2025.
Redefining how fitness professionals learn
Ask Jono what makes his courses stand out, and his answer is refreshingly simple: relevance and engagement.
“The fitness industry is always changing. What was in demand 10 years ago isn’t what’s selling now. My very first course was about running a bootcamp – at the time, no one really knew how to do it. Fast forward to today, and bootcamp-style gyms like F45, CrossFit, Fitstop, BFT, and others are everywhere,” he says.
“The key is picking topics that are relevant right now. I can do that because I’m still so deeply connected to the industry. I run the world’s largest Facebook group for fitness professionals, so I see the conversations happening every day.”
Each new course is built around direct feedback from that community. “I’ll literally ask my students, ‘Would this be useful to you?’” he says. “That way, every course is built around real demand.”
Equally important is the way he teaches.
“No one wants to sit through an hour-long lecture anymore. With TikTok and short-form video, if you don’t capture attention in 15 seconds, you lose it,” Jono explains.
“So, I focus on keeping things short, sharp, and entertaining. I use humour, I cut out the fluff, and I work hard to explain concepts quickly and clearly. I think that combination of fresh topics plus an engaging teaching style is what’s helped me stand out as an educator.”
Adapting to the future of fitness
From AI-powered coaching tools to social media-driven marketing, the fitness industry is evolving rapidly – and Fitness Education Online is evolving with it.
Jono’s approach extends well beyond fitness itself. He regularly attends marketing, business, and technology conferences, drawing inspiration from innovations in those fields to develop fresh and effective ways of teaching fitness.
That cross-industry mindset, combined with the company’s flexible course design, keeps Fitness Education Online agile and globally competitive.
“Our courses are designed to be flexible and adaptable. They’re not locked into one clunky system that’s hard to change. If the industry shifts and we need to update or even completely restructure a course, we can do it quickly. That adaptability makes it much easier for us to stay current with global trends while still maintaining high educational standards,” he says.
A Greek Australian work ethic
Jono credits much of his drive to his Greek Australian upbringing – and to parents who instilled in him the value of education and hard work.
“Both my parents were very well educated. My dad was a high school head of mathematics, my mum was a psychologist, and both of them were first-generation university graduates – which was huge for their migrant parents,” he says.
While his siblings pursued traditional academic careers, Jono charted his own path in the fitness industry. Early on, he met a franchise owner managing 75 bootcamps without a university degree – a moment that shifted his perspective and taught him that success can come not only through education but also through initiative, risk-taking, and creating one’s own opportunities.
That mindset continues to define his career today, strengthened by the discipline and commitment to excellence instilled by his cultural background – qualities that guide both his leadership and his teaching.
Inspiring the next generation
Asked what advice he’d give to young Greek Australians – or anyone looking to break into the fitness or education industries – Jono doesn’t sugarcoat it.
“Both fitness and education are incredibly competitive industries,” he says. “I was fortunate to get into fitness twenty years ago and education ten years ago – back then, it wasn’t quite as crowded. I wouldn’t want to give anyone the false impression that it’s easy.”
He believes success comes down to three key lessons.
“First, get really good at one thing,” Jono explains. “Before I ever taught other trainers, I became excellent at running my own bootcamp. Too many young people are chasing the ‘get rich quick’ dream they see online, but people will only seek you out if you’re genuinely skilled.”
The second, he says, is to make what you do engaging. “Being good isn’t enough – there are plenty of smart people out there, but if you can’t keep people’s attention, you’ll lose them. Education should be entertaining as well as informative.”
Finally, he stresses the importance of building an audience. “Even the best product or service won’t succeed if no one knows about it. An audience gives you reach and influence – and that’s what turns good ideas into impact.”
Above all, he reminds aspiring entrepreneurs that education should be a launchpad, not a limit.
From local trainer to global educator
From a bootcamp in suburban Australia to global recognition, Jono’s story is a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and relentless drive.
He’s not just shaping better trainers – he’s helping redefine what fitness education looks like in a digital, fast-changing world.
Explore Fitness Education Online:
- Homepage: fitnesseducationonline.com.au
- CPD Courses: Personal Trainer CEC Courses
- Certificates III & IV in Fitness: Certificate III & IV in Fitness
