Speakers 2017

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Speakers 2017 (archive)

Here they are! Our incredible speakers and workshop presenters for Lifestyle Medicine 2017. Not all speakers are shown in the montage so scroll down for all the details.  Looking for the final program?

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from some of the leading researchers and clinicians in the field and engage with like-minded peers at this international, multidisciplinary CPD event.

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Masters of Ceremonies

With not one, but three leading lights of Lifestyle Medicine to guide you through the feast of options, our Masters of Ceremonies Dr Caroline West, Dr Darren Morton and Dr Joanna McMillan will keep you moving, laughing, singing and dancing! Darren and Joanna will also be speaking during the program.

carolinewest150x200Dr Caroline West, MBBS

Dr Caroline West specialises in Lifestyle Medicine and is well known for her appearances on Guide to the Good Life, Beyond Tomorrow, Good Medicine, Beyond 2000, 60 minutes and George Negus Tonight.

As a medical practitioner she has extensive clinical experience helping clients make healthy changes for life. Her philosophy is simple: a healthy lifestyle anchors wellness, boosts energy, longevity and peak performance.

She has been described as a “medico who brings solutions to the real health issues of real people”. As a leader in the field of healthy lifestyle and preventative medicine Dr West communicates the latest in medical advances not only to her clients but also to a broader audience through her work as a media doctor.

As Director of the healthy consultancy group Healthy Difference, Dr Caroline West also provides advice, coaching, seminars, strategic health planning and workshops and keynotes for corporate and community based groups. Dr West is also a lecturer with Southern Cross University in the school of Lifestyle Medicine and Health Promotion.

Dr Darren Morton, BEd (Hons), MAppSc, PhD, FASLM

Darren Morton is a sought after speaker, having delivered hundreds of lifestyle-related presentations to corporate, education and community groups throughout Australia and internationally. He is a key developer of (and presenter in) the Complete Health Improvement Program (CHIP), which is a leading Lifestyle Medicine intervention now used in over 10 countries.

Darren has authored numerous academic and popular publications centred around optimising the effectiveness of Lifestyle Medicine interventions. He has written several books, published articles in leading medical and scientific journals and contributes regularly to popular magazines. His contributions to the Australian Health and Fitness industry earned him the Australian Fitness Network Author of the Year award.

Darren is a recipient of an Australian Learning and Teaching Council award for outstanding contributions to student learning in the University sector. Darren is a lead researcher and the Course Coordinator for Postgraduate Studies in Lifestyle Medicine within the Lifestyle Research Centre at Avondale College of Higher Education (NSW).

Dr Joanna McMillan, BScNutr &Diet (Hons), PhD

Dr Joanna McMillan’s ever-growing following is the result of her high profile within the media, health and fitness industries.

Having completed a Bachelor Degree in Science with First Class Honours in Nutrition and Dietetics in Scotland, Joanna moved to Australia and won a scholarship to complete her PhD with The University of Sydney.

Today, Joanna is the founder of Get Lean and a regular on Australian television and radio. She has authored 6 books with the latest being Get Lean Stay Lean. She has a weekly column in Sunday Life and writes for several magazines and online blogs. She is also a proud ambassador for Diabetes Australia, The Skin & Cancer Foundation and FoodBank NSW/ACT.

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Special guests

Prof Tim Flannery

Professor Tim Flannery is one of Australia’s leading voices on climate change. An internationally acclaimed scientist, explorer, conservationist and inspiring community leader, Professor Flannery was named Australian of the Year in 2007.

A well known media personality, he has hosted numerous TV series, including The Future Eaters, Wild Australasia, Islands in the Sky and Bushfire, ABC’s Two in a Tinnie, and Foxtel’s Coast Australia. His books include the global best seller The Weather Makers.

Professor Flannery has held various academic positions including director of the South Australian Museum in Adelaide, Principal Research Scientist at the Australian Museum and Visiting Chair in Australian Studies at Harvard University in the Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology.

Tim is a founding member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, a director of the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, and has served on the International Board of WWF. He co-founded and was appointed Chair of the Copenhagen Climate Council in 2007, became Australia’s Chief Climate Commissioner in 2011, and founded the Australian Climate Council in 2013.

Tim Flannery is an inspiring and motivating leader, with a proven track record for engaging people around critical issues, and creating community groups that can effectively respond.

Tim will be speaking in the Saturday morning plenary session.

Dr David Katz, MD, MPH, FACPM, FACP, FACLM

Dr David Katz is the immediate past President of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. He is a two-time diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine, and a board-certified specialist in Preventive Medicine/Public Health. He has received two Honorary Doctorates.

Dr Katz has published roughly 200 scientific articles and textbook chapters, and 15 books to date, including multiple editions of leading textbooks in both Preventive Medicine, and nutrition. He is recognised globally for his expertise in nutrition, weight management and the prevention of chronic disease, and has a social media following of well over half a million.

In 2015, Dr. Katz established the True Health Initiative to help convert what we know about lifestyle as medicine into what we do about it, in the service of adding years to lives and life to years around the globe. He was the founding director of Yale University’s Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center.

David will be speaking in the Sunday morning plenary session live by video link from the US.

Robyn Williams AM

Robyn Williams AM is a Science journalist and broadcaster. Robyn Williams presents RN’s The Science Show and Ockham’s Razor. He has conducted countless interviews with scientists on ABC TV on programs such as Quantum and Catalyst, narrated the Nature of Australia series and appeared in World Safari with David Attenborough.

Outside the ABC, Robyn has served in various capacities, including president of the Australian Museum Trust, chairman of the Commission for the Future, and president of the Australian Science Communicators. In 1987, he was proclaimed a National Living Treasure.

Robyn will be speaking and facilitating the forum and panel discussion on Saturday afternoon at 5pm.

Michael Moore AM, Post GradDipEd, MPopHealth

Michael Moore AM is the CEO of the Public Health Association of Australia and is the President of the World Federation of Public Health Associations. He is the chair of a number of health networks. Michael is a former Minister of Health and Community Care and was an Independent member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly for four terms from 1989 to 2001. He was Australia’s first independent Minister when he was appointed as Minister of Health and Community Care. In 2017 he was honoured by being made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM).

Michael is a former teacher, small business owner and consultant who holds a post-graduate diploma in education, a master’s degree in population health from the ANU, is a Visiting Professor at the University of Technology Sydney, and an adjunct professor with the University of Canberra where he is a PhD Scholar examining a framework for planning or evaluating health advocacy. He is widely published. He is also a political and social columnist who has served on a range of academic and community Boards.

Michael will be speaking in the opening plenary session on Friday night.

Helena Norberg-Hodge

Helena Norberg-Hodge is a pioneer of the new economy movement and recipient of both the Alternative Nobel Prize and the Goi Peace Prize. She is the producer of the award-winning The Economics of Happiness and author of Ancient Futures. Helena is the founder and director of Local Futures and The International Alliance for Localisation, and a founding member of the International Commission on the Future of Food and Agriculture, the International Forum on Globalization and the Global Ecovillage Network.

Helena has filmed a short pre-recorded message for our conference delegates which you can see in the Sunday afternoon session.

Mandy Nolan

Mandy Nolan is a true renaissance woman. Comedian, Author, Journalist, Humour Therapist & Comedy Coach: Nolan is as at home on the stage as she is on the page. Able to captivate audiences from a diverse socio economic, age and gender demographic: from the rough and tumble of a late night comedy clubs across the country to the considered and measured corporate performances for VIEW Club, or Sydney’s Parliament House or Olivia Newton John’s Invitation Only Private Party.

Mandy will be our special guest at the Gala Conference Dinner on Saturday night, and has promised an encore performance on Sunday afternoon.

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Invited speakers

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Dr Sujata Allan, MBBS, DCH

Dr Sujata Allan is a GP registrar and is on the national management committee of Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA). She has spoken at community events and conferences around NSW and interstate about the impact of air pollution, fossil fuels and climate change on health, and has organized several educational events for health professionals on climate change and health. She completed the Australian Community Organising Fellowship in 2016. Doctors for the Environment Australia is a non profit organization of doctors and medical students, dedicated to raising awareness of the health impacts of environmental degradation and climate change, and advocating to promote public health.

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Rachel Arthur, BHSc, BNat (Hons)

Rachel Arthur is a respected and widely published Australian naturopath specialising in integrative nutrition. With over 20 years’ experience in both the clinic and the classroom, Rachel has become one of Australia’s leading nutritional educators, delivering post-graduate training & mentoring to allied health care professionals and doctors alike. Regularly asked to speak at key conferences & contribute work to authoritative texts including all 4 editions of the award-winning Herbs & Natural Supplements – An Evidence Based Guide (Elsevier), while still maintaining a very busy private practice. Rachel’s ongoing enthusiasm for the field and for education make her presentations both inspiring and empowering experiences for attendees.

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David Beard, BPE, GradDipBus, MSc, FASLM

David Beard is an Exercise Physiologist with over 35 years’ experience. He has spent the last three decades helping individuals optimise their health and live long healthy lives. As well as providing health education sessions and coaching programs for companies and individuals he is now running a metabolic health clinic in Nedlands, Western Australia.

Over the past 5 years David has been helping a WA company, Metabolic Health Solutions, develop the technology and programs to measure metabolism and apply it to weight management, metabolic health and performance.

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A/Prof Renee Bittoun

Renee Bittoun has over 30 years experience within the smoking cessation field. Renee has been invited to be a keynote speaker at many international conferences and also to conduct ‘Master-classes’ in Smoking Cessation around the world. She was awarded the prestigious Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand President’s Award in 2009 for her contribution to tobacco control.

Renee is the author of numerous books on smoking and quitting both for the public and for practitioners, and has published many research articles on tobacco dependence and cessation. She has conducted clinical trials of many treatments for tobacco dependence, including both pharmacotherapies and behavioural interventions.

Renee’s initiatives include starting one of the world’s first Smokers’ Clinics at St. Vincent’s Hospital (Sydney), founding the Journal of Smoking Cessation (where she is the Editor-in-Chief) and establishing the first Australian University course on Nicotine Addiction and Smoking Cessation at the University of Sydney (which she continues to teach). She is Director of the Smokers’ Clinics in the SW Sydney Area Health Service, President of the Australian Association of Smoking Cessation Professionals, Head of the Smoking Research Program at the Brain and Mind Centre (University of Sydney) and an inaugural member of the international Society for Research in Nicotine and Tobacco.

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Prof Jennie Brand-Miller AM, PhD, FAIST, FNSA

Jennie Brand-Miller holds a Personal Chair in Human Nutrition in the Charles Perkins Centre at the University of Sydney. Professor Brand-Miller is recognised around the world for her work on carbohydrates and the glycemic index of foods. Her research interests focus on diet and diabetes, weight loss, insulin resistance, and carbohydrate intake throughout human evolution. She was appointed a member of the Order of Australia for her services to education and hearing health, in 2011. She is the proud recipient of two Nucleus cochlear implants and chairs the University of Sydney’s Disability Action Plan.

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A/Prof Colin Butler, BMedSc (Hons), BMed, DTM&H, DipEpi, MSc(Epi), PhD

Adjunct Professor Colin Butler has honorary positions at the Australian National University and the University of Canberra. He worked as a GP in Tasmania full time from 1988-96 before focussing mostly on academic public health. In 2009 the French Environmental Health Association named him as one of “a hundred doctors for the planet”. In 2014 he became the first contributor to the health section of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report to be arrested for civil disobedience, protesting the Maules Creek coal mine. He is editor of the book “Climate Change and Global Health” and senior editor of “Health of People, Places and Planet: Reflections Based on Tony McMichael’s Four Decades of Contribution to Epidemiological Understanding”. He has published over 200 articles, chapters and letters in scholarly journals, since 1991, the first of which was a letter to the Medical Journal of Australia about ecological loss, climate change and the risk to our species. In 2001 he helped to found Doctors for the Environment, Australia.

In 1989 Colin co-founded the NGOs BODHI and BODHI Australia. These NGOs today with partners in India and Bangladesh to promote health and development. A website with some of his publications is here.

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Prof David Cameron-Smith, PhD

Professor David Cameron-Smith is the Chair in Nutrition, Liggins Institute and University of Auckland. David is a biochemist specialising in the analysis of how adipose tissue and skeletal muscles respond to diet and exercise. His work spans from the molecular mechanisms through to the clinical consequences of alterations in lipid and protein metabolism from athletes to the aged.

David obtained his PhD in nutritional biochemistry from Deakin University, Australia. He undertook postdoctoral training at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, investigating endocrine disturbances and lipid metabolism in obesity. Returning to Deakin University, he established a clinical research programme focusing on the dynamic gene and signalling responses to nutrition and exercise.

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Mary Cavanagh, MA(Psych) (Hons)

Mary Cavanagh has a passion for health and well-being and supporting people to make positive lifestyle behaviour changes. She has a masters degree in psychology and over 15 years of experience in various research, change and quality improvement roles in the health sector. Together with Susan Miller, Mary delivers New Zealand’s Healthy Start Workforce project which supports health practitioners as agents of change. Healthy Start helps practitioners take a more empowering and effective approach to supporting lifestyle behaviour change for their patients or clients. Mary and Susan have delivered this training to over one thousand practitioners in New Zealand so far and are now offering this in Australia.

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Dr Terence Chong, MBA, MBBS, CertOld AgePsych, MPsychiatry, FRANZCP

Dr Terence Chong is a Research Fellow at the Academic Unit of Psychiatry of Old Age, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne. This unit is part of the NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence in Cognitive Health. He is also a consultant psychiatrist at Epworth Healthcare and St Vincent’s Health.

He has an interest in dementia risk reduction and optimising cognitive health, particularly through lifestyle interventions such as physical activity. In 2016, he co-authored an editorial in the Medical Journal of Australia about therapeutic advances and risk factor management in dementia and is keen to raise public awareness in this area.

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Ven Tenzin Chönyi, BSc, MEd, PhD

As Dr Diana Taylor, Ven Tenzin Chönyi was a psychologist at Monash University Counseling Service and later in private practice in Australia. She has a PhD in Psychology from Monash University, when while working on her doctorate she was also studying Buddhism and bringing up her three children. She ran workshops with Community Communication and Kagyu Evam Buddhist Institute on self-expression and self-awareness, and taught meditation at Tara Institute, Melbourne.

After ordination by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, she became the resident nun at Atisha Centre and was active in the palliative care group and Karuna Hospice, Bendigo and on the Atisha committee. She spent four years studying the Basic Program at Chenrezig Nuns Community with Geshe Tashi Tsering, and was later appointed a “disciplinarian” at the Chenrezig Nuns Community.

In her three years at Vajrayana Institute, Sydney, she has taught Buddhism from simple to advanced levels. Her workshops for the general public have been well received, and likewise her participation in interfaith conferences and workshops for psychologists and health professionals.

Ven Chönyi is currently a lecturer and supervisor for the Australian Association of Buddhist Counselors and Psychotherapists, is an honorary lecturer in Psychological Medicine at Sydney University, and recently gave a keynote address at the biannual conference of the Royal Australian and New Zealand Congress of Psychiatry. She writes a regular column for Mandala magazine and is working on a book on addiction. She works from home as a tutor and elder for the Discovering Buddhism at Home program.

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Prof Marc Cohen, MBBS (Hons), PhD(TCM), PhD(ElecEng), BMedSc (Hons)

Professor Cohen is a registered medical practitioner with degrees in western medicine, physiology, psychological medicine and biomedical engineering. He is currently Chair of the Australasian Spa and Wellness Association, a Board Member and Past-President (from 2000-2007) of the Australasian Integrative Medicine Association (AIMA), a member of the RACGP-AIMA Joint Working party on Integrative Medicine and a Board Member of the Global Wellness Summit as well as sitting on the Editorial Board of a number of international journals.

Prof Cohen is extremely active in organising conferences on holistic and integrative medicine. He is also a sought after conference presenter and has been an invited speaker at more than 40 international and 60 national conferences in more than a dozen countries. He is a regular media contributor. This includes articles in major Australian newspapers, appearances on ABC Radio National and many regional stations Australia-wide, and television appearances on ABC, SBS, Channel 7 and Channel 9 news, current affairs and lifestyle programs.

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Fiona Cosgrove, MScExSc, MScCouns

Heading up one of Australia’s leading Health and Wellness Coach Training organisations, Wellness Coaching Australia, Fiona Cosgrove is a leader in the emerging field of coaching for positive lifestyle behaviour change. Combining theories from Coaching Psychology, Behaviour Change and Positive Psychology, Wellness Coaching helps individuals overcome resistance to change using a supportive, and not prescriptive, coaching model approach.

Fiona brings over 25 years of experience in the health, fitness and wellness industries, bringing a vast depth of experience ranging from health club owner, university lecturer, keynote speaker, wellness coach trainer, counsellor, author and National General Manager of The Golden Door group of health retreats and spas.

She holds Masters Degrees in Exercise Science and in Counselling and is a certified and licensed Wellness Coach. Fiona is passionate about helping individuals and organisations be the best they can be by using coaching to empower people to take responsibility for their own change process. She has trained over 2000 health professionals in coaching skills and is currently heading up a Consortium to move towards credentialing of this new and important field.

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Dr Samantha Coulson, PhD (Medicine), GradCertResComm, BHlthSc, AdvDipNut, AdvDipHerbMed

Samantha has been researching and educating practitioners about the human microbiome and end-organ function in states of health and disease for the last 8 years and has been in the field of Integrative Medicine for 12 years.  Samantha currently holds the position of Probiotics R&D Business Manager with Nutrition Care Pharmaceuticals and was recently elected onto the Board of Directors for the International Probiotics Association (IPA). She is also currently an Adjunct Senior Research Fellow with both the University of the Sunshine Coast and the University of Sydney supervising postgraduate students in various projects associated with the human microbiome. Samantha received her PhD from the University of Queensland, School of Medicine investigating the role of the gastrointestinal microbiota in the pathophysiology and symptomology of osteoarthritis with a focus on the ‘prebiotic’ type effect of green-lipped mussel and glucosamine. This has led to her interest in exploring the more accurate mechanisms of action for nutraceutical ingredients by incorporating the metabolic potential of the gastrointestinal microbiome and resultant metabolites that may explain the true therapeutic effects observed.

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Dr Karen Counter, MBBS

Karen Counter is a GP and Tobacco Treatment Specialist. Dr Counter currently concentrates on smoking cessation, chronic disease and preventative medicine. She has over 30 years experience, which includes working at the University of Sydney’s Brain and Mind Research Institute smoker’s clinic with Professor Renee Bittoun, at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in respiratory medicine conducting research trials with the late Professor Ann Woolcock (including the first long-acting bronchodilator), the Sydney Square Breast Clinic, headspace, and her own solo general practices (including over 10 years at Wooli). Karen is a member of the Australian Association of Smoking Cessation Professionals.

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Prof Robin Daly, PhD, FSMA

Professor Robin Daly holds the position of Chair in Exercise and Ageing within the Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition at Deakin University in Melbourne. Robin is recognised as a world leader in the area of exercise and nutrition to prevent and manage diseases such as osteoporosis, sarcopenia, falls and fractures. His research also focuses on health issues related to vitamin D and dietary protein, chronic inflammation and the management of type 2 diabetes, certain cancers and cognitive related disorders. He has designed and completed many human clinical intervention trials, and his work has contributed to national and international exercise and nutrition consensus guidelines and the implementation of ‘real-world’ evidence-based exercise programs for older adults and those with chronic diseases.

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Dr Tim Denton, MBBS

Tim Denton was born in Melbourne in 1953, relocating to Geelong in 1979 after graduating in Medicine from Monash University. At Geelong Hospital he completed 3 years of residency before travelling through northern India, after which he worked for a year with the Pitjantjatjarra and Ngatatjarra people in Central Australia, learning the value of primary health teams in a remote setting.

Returning to Geelong in 1983 he established his own general practice in North Geelong where Tim worked until in 1998 when he and his family relocated to Maningrida in Central Arnhem Land for 2 ½ years. Tim qualified as a GP radiologist and set up a radiology service in Maningrida. From 2002 Tim has work at Surfcoast Medical Centre’s Anglesea Practice.

He has chaired the boards of GP Association of Geelong (2008-2009); Kardinia Health Board (2009-2016); Barwon Medicare Local (2011-2015) & West Victoria Primary Health Network (2015). Tim also worked for 5 years as a GP at Headspace Geelong, from 2009. Tim is a fellow of the Australian Medical Acupuncture College, graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is shortly to commence as medical director at Kardinia Health, the Geelong Superclinic.

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garry150Prof Garry Egger AM, PhD, MPH, MAPS

Prof Garry Egger is known around the world as one of the pioneers of Lifestyle Medicine. He is a Professor of Health and Human Sciences at Southern Cross University and an Advisor to the World Health Organisation and several Government and corporate bodies in chronic disease prevention. He has qualifications in behavioural biology and epidemiology. He has worked in public, corporate and clinical health for over 4 decades. He is the author of 30 books (including five texts) over 160 peer-reviewed scientific and research articles and numerous popular media articles on health and fitness.

In the 1990s Dr Egger initiated the GutBusters, men’s waist loss program, the first of its kind in the world. He started training programs for Fitness Leaders in Australia in 1982, was one of the initiators of the Australian Lifestyle Medicine Association (ALMA) in 2008 and runs training programs in Lifestyle Medicine for doctors and allied health professionals around Australia and the Pacific. He recently received an Australia Medal for his services to medical education and health promotion. His recent interests and publications concern the link between obesity, climate change and economic growth.[/fusion_text][fusion_text]

Dr Mary Emeleus, MBBS, BSc(Med), FRACGP, MMH, FASPM

Mary completed Medicine at UNSW, and completed her internship in the Illawarra, NSW. She gained her Fellowship in General Practice in 2001 and completed a Masters’ Degree in Mental Health (Psychotherapy) in 2004, having always had a particular interest in mental health and counselling. She worked at headspace Townsville for four years from its inception and continues to work at headspace Cairns where she sees young people aged 12-25 for holistic health care with a focus on mental health. She also works in a private general practice and has been involved in Medical Education in various capacities since 2005.

Having previously worked in the School of Medicine at JCU, Mary returned in 2016 as a part time Medical Educator for Generalist Medical Training (who train General Practitioners), and it is in this capacity that she is involved at MICRRH. She is also involved in a number of national mental health organisations and enjoys teaching counselling skills to medical students and doctors.

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Danielle Fairbrother, BHSc(Nat)

Danielle Fairbrother is the Head of Clinical Education and Services at Metagenics, Health World Ltd, where she oversees the delivery of technical education, seminars and clinical support to natural healthcare practitioners, doctors and pharmacists throughout Australia and New Zealand. Having worked in the natural medicine industry for over 15 years, Danielle has developed a strong passion for sharing the science on nutritional herbal and lifestyle interventions known to optimise clinical outcomes and improve patient’s quality of life.

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Dr Steve Fraser, PhD, AEP, ESSAM

Dr Steve Fraser is Discipline Leader: Clinical Exercise in the School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences at Deakin University, the Director of Deakin’s Masters of Clinical Exercise Physiology, and a member of Deakin’s Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition. He is passionate about exercise for the prevention and management of common chronic diseases, with a particular focus on cancer, as well as chronic kidney disease, diabetes, and obesity. He has considerable experience in the development and implementation of clinical exercise intervention trials, with a focus on integrating AEPs in clinical settings to improve health outcomes in individuals with chronic disease. Dr Fraser has published >40 manuscripts in relation to clinical exercise. He is currently Vice President of the Council for Heads of Exercise Sport and Movement Science as well as a member of the Exercise and Sport Science Australia Accreditation Council.

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Prof Tim Gill, BSc (Hons), GradDipDiet, PhD

Tim Gill is an academic, researcher and public health policy advisor on nutrition, obesity, and chronic disease prevention. Professor Gill works at the Boden Institute and the Prevention Research Collaboration within Sydney Medical School and is Public Health Nutrition Coordinator at the Charles Perkins Centre.

Tim’s research centers around translating evidence in the fields of nutrition and obesity, into a format that is meaningful for policy makers and the wider community, with the overall objective of promoting good health and preventing chronic disease.

Professor Gill is past Scientific Secretary for the International Obesity Taskforce. He has helped develop polices and guidelines on obesity and public health nutrition-related issues for the EU and the UK Government, and authored key reports on obesity for Australian Federal and State government departments.

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Dr Robert Graham, MBBS, FAChAM(RACP)

Robert Graham is a specialist in Addiction medicine and has worked in this field since 2000, starting in Clinical Pharmacology and then the Alcohol and Drug Service at St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney. He has been working in Western Sydney primarily in Blacktown and Mt Druitt hospitals since 2009. He has been involved in setting up and providing clinical services in a wide variety of outpatient, consult/liaison and inpatient care settings.

He has interests in a number of areas: advocacy for the most marginalised and poorly serviced people in Western Sydney who suffer from drug and alcohol dependencies, promoting effective Harm Reduction policies and practice, research into new therapeutic approaches to challenging areas such as methamphetamine use, and collaborating with colleagues in health and other fields in a Human Rights-based approach to improve the Public Health status of drug users and their families.

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Dr Jason Hawrelak, BNat (Hons), PhD, MNHAA, MASN, FACN

Jason Hawrelak is a researcher, lecturer, naturopath and nutritionist with more than 17 years clinical experience. Jason practices at Goulds Natural Medicine, a natural medicine apothecary and clinic in Hobart. He is also a visiting Research Fellow within the Australian Research Centre for Complementary & Integrative Medicine at the University of Technology Sydney.

Jason is the Senior Lecturer in Complementary and Alternative Medicines at the University of Tasmania’s School of Medicine, where he coordinates the Evidence-based Complementary Medicine programs. Jason also teaches within the Master of Science in Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine program at the University of Western States (Portland, Oregon).

He is a Fellow of the American College of Nutrition, on the Medical Nutrition Council of the American Society for Nutrition, and a Fellow of the Naturopaths & Herbalists Association of Australia. Jason completed his PhD examining the capacity of probiotics, prebiotics and herbal medicines to modify the gastrointestinal tract microbiota. He has written and lectured widely on these topics over the past decade.

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Liz Hing, BHlth

Liz Hing has a passion for health and well-being and supporting people to make positive lifestyle behaviour changes. Liz works on the Healthy Living after Cancer program at Cancer Council NSW. In her role as Healthy Living after Cancer Consultant, she works as a health coach, supporting people who have finished their treatment for cancer, to make healthy lifestyle changes. Liz has worked at Cancer Council for over 5 years, in a variety of roles, including Nutrition projects and the 131120 service, before moving into her current role as the Healthy Living after Cancer Consultant. Liz has a Bachelor of Health, and has also fulfilled Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the Health & Wellness Coaching Professional Certificate through Wellness Coaching Australia. Additionally, Liz volunteers at Cancer Council in cancer advocacy.

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Prof Felice Jacka, BA, PostGrad DipMedSc, PhD

Professor Felice Jacka is an NHMRC Career Development Fellow at Deakin University where she is director of the new Food and Mood Centre. She is founder and president of the International Society for Nutritional Psychiatry Research (ISNPR) and the Australian Alliance for the Prevention of Mental Disorders (APMD). Professor Jacka has pioneered and led a highly innovative program of research that examines how individuals’ diets, and other lifestyle behaviours, interact with the risk for mental health problems. Her current work focuses closely on the links between diet, gut health and mental and brain health. This research is being carried out with the ultimate goal of developing new, evidence-based prevention and treatment strategies for mental disorders.

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Dr Nirala Jacobi, BHSc, ND

Dr. Nirala Jacobi graduated from Bastyr University in 1998 with a doctorate in naturopathic medicine. She practised as a primary care physician in Montana for 7 years before arriving in Australia.

Nirala is considered one of Australia’s leading expert in the treatment of small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), a common cause of IBS. In 2016, she presented her Bi-phasic Diet Protocol at the SIBO Symposium in Portland, Oregon. In 2017 she presented at the Integrative SIBO conference in Chicago. She was also the main organizer of the first Australian SIBO Summit held in Melbourne and Sydney in October 2016.

Nirala is the medical director for SIBOtest, an online testing and educational service for practitioners. She is passionate about educating practitioners and lectures nationally and internationally about the assessment and treatment of SIBO.

When she is not actively researching or lecturing, Dr Jacobi can be found in her busy practice in the Northern Rivers.

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Dr Jason Kaplan, BSc(Med), MBBS (Hons), FRACP, FCSANZ

Dr Jason Kaplan is a specialist adult cardiologist and physician. Dr Kaplan is practitioner of Integrative Cardiology incorporating principles of cardiovascular, nutritional, functional and Mind – Body Medicine in the care of his patients. Over the last 7 years he has lectured widely to primary care practitioners on prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Dr Kaplan is currently Clinical Lead of Cardiovascular and Respiratory Medicine at Macquarie University and is a clinical lecturer in Medicine and Cardiology in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences teaching undergraduate and postgraduate students.

He also has a strong interest in Sports Cardiology – an emerging subspecialty within cardiology providing cardiac care to elite athletes and exercising individuals and has worked with the NSW Institute of Sport, Olympic athletes and the National Rugby League.

Dr Kaplan studied Medicine at UNSW and graduated with Honours then completed his Internal Medicine Training at St George and Prince of Wales hospitals and Adult Cardiology training at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. He has completed additional training in cardiac imaging (echocardiography and cardiac CT) in Australia and overseas.

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Dr George Klein OAM

George Klein started his working life in addictions treatment as a graduate counselor in a specialist drug treatment community health centre in inner Sydney in 1981. He spent 12 years there including 6 years as the manager of the service. He then worked for 5 years in the Department of Behavioural Sciences in Medicine at Sydney University, where he undertook research on the cognitive and functional impact of opiate dependence on self-care among heroin users.

He moved to the Centre for Addiction Medicine, Nepean hospital in outer western Sydney in 1998 and spent 13 years there as a senior clinician. For part of that time he also worked part-time at the Transcultural Mental Health Centre NSW, first as the evaluation researcher and then setting up a service for people jointly afflicted by mental illness and substance abuse.

He retired in 2011 but returned to clinical work in 2012 as a counselor in the Department of Hepatology at Nepean hospital where he works with people affected by viral hepatitis and liver disease.

As a hobby, he tutors for the Sydney University Medical School in the respiratory, cardiovascular, neurosciences, endocrinology, renal and gastroenterology blocks. He also lectures in the Tobacco Dependence and Treatment program at the Brain and Mind Institute NSW.

In 2013 he was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for his work in substance abuse treatment.

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Dr Helen Macpherson, BA(Psych& Psycho physiology), PhD

Dr Helen Macpherson is a 2016 NHMRC-ARC Dementia Research Development Fellow in the Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University. Her research focuses on healthy cognitive ageing, ways to enhance cognition in older people and dementia prevention. Dr Macpherson has conducted numerous randomised controlled trials to investigate the cognitive effects of nutritional interventions including multivitamins, glucose, cocoa, and whole diet change. Her research investigates mechanisms of action including cardiovascular changes and direct effects on brain function using a range of neuroimaging modalities including EEG and MRI.  Dr Macpherson is currently researching the effects of dietary supplementation combined with physical activity on brain health and cognitive function in older people with Type 2 Diabetes.

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Warren Maginn, BHSc(NutrMed), GradCertHumNutr

Warren Maginn is a Clinical Nutritionist, College Lecturer and Speaker, specialising in the personalised and functional management of chronic immune and metabolic dysfunction through principles of Nutritional Medicine and a highly individualised approach to patient care. Serving as the National Chair of Nutrition for the Australian Natural Therapists Association, and acting as Scientific Advisor to practitioner resource companies within the healthcare industry, Warren is passionate about assisting practitioners and students to gain greater technical insights from current Functional Medicine understanding and how to apply this knowledge in clinical practice, for greater patient outcomes.

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Prof Robyn McDermott MBBS, PhD, MPH, FAFPHM

Robyn McDermott is Professor of Public Health Medicine at the Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention James Cook University, Senior Clinical Research Fellow (Queensland),  NHMRC Practitioner Fellow and Professor of Public Health in the School of Population Health (UniSA) and the Sansom Institute for Health Research (South Australia).

Her research includes the prevention and management of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, especially in indigenous people in Australia, and the social, nutritional and evolutionary determinants of health and disease.

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Tabitha McIntosh, DipNutr, AdvDip Naturop, BMedSc, PostGradDipNutrEnvMed

Tabitha McIntosh is an experienced and respected Naturopath, clinical Nutritionist and educator. After attaining her Bachelor of Medical Science (UNSW 2001), she went on to pursue her passion for Integrative healthcare by completing an Advanced Diploma Naturopathy & Diploma Nutrition (2005), and Postgraduate Diploma in Nutritional & Environmental Medicine (Swinburne, 2006).

Tabitha has run her own private clinical practice in Woollahra, Sydney for over a decade. A focus of her practice is working with women, couples, families and infants, educating around the hidden dangers of environmental chemicals. Tabitha is proud to have published her first book, co-authored with Dr Sarah Lantz, on nutritional and environmental health solutions, called One Bite at a Time: Reduce Toxic Exposure and Eat the World you Want. The book outlines practical strategies, effective solutions for protecting the next generation, and concrete steps that can be taken each day to both reduce chemical exposures, and to live happier, heartier lives.

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Susan Miller, LLB

Susan Miller has a passion for health and well-being and supporting people to make positive lifestyle behaviour changes. She has a law degree and 20 years of experience working in various leadership roles in womens-based community work and public health. Together with Mary Cavanagh, Susan delivers New Zealand’s Healthy Start Workforce project which supports health practitioners as agents of change. Healthy Start helps practitioners take a more empowering and effective approach to supporting lifestyle behaviour change for their patients or clients. Susan and Mary have delivered this training to over one thousand practitioners in New Zealand so far and are now offering this in Australia.

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Dr Monica Moore, MBBS

Dr Monica Moore graduated in 1983 and undertook initial training in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Motivational Interviewing in 1996. As well as further training in CBT and ACT, Dr Monica Moore has completed the Advanced Certificate of IPT, Diploma of Clinical Hypnosis, Certificate of EFT, and EMDR.

Dr Moore has coordinated the Sutherland MHPN since its inception in 2009, and is a founding member of the Australian Society for Psychological Medicine. She has been involved in training GPs and allied health clinicians since 2002, with RACGP, PDP Seminars, GP Synergy, CESPHN, Australian Society of Hypnosis, Black Dog Institute, GPCE, NSW Institute of Psychiatry, Rural Doctors Association, Sphere, and the Sutherland Division of General Practice.

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Prof R. V. (Bob) Morgan, EdD

Professor Morgan is a Gumilaroi man from Walgett western NSW. He is a highly respected and acknowledged Aboriginal educator/researcher who has worked extensively throughout Australia and internationally in the field of Aboriginal knowledge and learning for over 30 years.

Professor Morgan has an indivisible commitment to the principles of Aboriginal self-determination and social and restorative justice. He is a regular contributing speaker and facilitator to workshops and conferences on Aboriginal/Indigenous education and training, reconciliation and other social justice matters including Aboriginal youth suicide, community capacity strengthening and Aboriginal men’s health and Indigenous health and wellbeing.

Professor Morgan is particularly interested in and advocates the need for the design and development of culturally safe, contextual and affirming environments to better accommodate and respond to the socioeconomic and cultural needs and aspirations of Aboriginal peoples. His involvement and experience with Aboriginal education and training is shaped and influenced by his many years of senior leadership at the state, national and international levels of Aboriginal education policy and programming development.

In recognition of his commitment and contributions to international Indigenous education rights and freedoms Professor Morgan has served on numerous Government Commissions and Community Boards and Committees. In 2007 Professor Morgan was invited to be a keynote speaker to the National Indian Education Association hosted in Hawaii in October 2007. He has also presented at numerous other international Aboriginal/Indigenous education seminars and conferences.

Professor Morgan is currently Chair of the Board of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, Education and Training (BATSIET) with Newcastle University. Professor Morgan also serves as Conjoint Professor with the Wollotuka Institute at Newcastle University.

In 2014, during the World Indigenous People’s Conference: Education (WIPCE) Professor Morgan was unanimously elected to the position of inaugural Chair of the International Council of the World Indigenous Peoples Conference on Education (WIPCE).

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Danielle Pere, MPM

Danielle Pere is the Associate Executive Director at the American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM) and has over the 15 years of health care policy experience relating to Medicare, Medicaid, long-term care, and the Affordable Care Act. At ACPM she is responsible for providing oversight, management, and program development for federal grants, leads ACPM’s strategic initiatives around Lifestyle Medicine and health systems transformation, and develops and advances ACPM’s strategic business lines relating to certification. Prior to her current role, Ms. Pere was the Director of Field Mobilization for the Alliance for Retired Americans, AFL-CIO. In that role, she developed and managed the organizations legislative and political campaigns related to health care and retirement security.

Ms Pere holds a BA in Biology and Political Science from Whittier College, a Certificate in Project Management & Development from the University of Delaware, a Certificate in Program Design and Assessment form the University of Pennsylvania and Masters Degree in Public Policy Management from Georgetown University.

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A/Prof Joel Porter, BS, MA, PsyD

Dr Joel Porter is a Clinical Psychologist and an internationally sought after trainer in Motivational Interviewing (MI). Dr Porter is the Program Director of Gunnebah, a private residential addiction centre in Murrwillumbah, NSW. Joel is an Adjunct Associate Professor with University of Canberra, Centre for Applied Psychology and expert consultant to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

Dr Porter is a long standing member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers and has provided MI training throughout Australia and New Zealand, as well as South East Asia, China, Europe and North America. Dr Porter has held various academic and professional positions including Associate Clinical Director of Lives Lived Well, Principal Advisor of Programmes & Interventions, New Zealand Department of Corrections and Director of Centre for Gambling Studies, University of Auckland.

Joel is an engaging and inspiring trainer well known for providing MI workshops that translate in to daily practice in a safe relaxed environment.

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kim-poyner-200Kim Poyner, RN, Practice Nurse, Health Coach

Kim, is the Founder of MediCoach, winner of the 2015 APNA Best Practice Award in Nursing for Chronic Disease Management, and now nominee for Hesta Nurse of the Year. Kim has been invited to work with the World Health Organisation on obesity prevention workshops. She presents at national conferences, currently tours with APNA as a keynote presenter on enhanced nurse led clinics, Pilot to Practice program and Chronic disease and Healthy ageing workshops. Consultant to PHNs, Health Insurances and Medical centres developing sustainable frameworks to decrease financial health burdens.

Kim is a Level 3 graduate of Wellness Coaching Australia, mentor’s graduating nurses, a consulting health & wellness coach, and draws on 11 years as an Intensive Care Nurse. During the past nine years as Team Care Coordinator at a large medical centre on Victoria’s Surf Coast Kim has implemented a framework that’s seen care planning revenue increase ten-fold.

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Nicole SeniorNicole Senior, BSc(Nutr), MSc(Nutr &Diet), APD

Nicole Senior is a well respected Accredited Practising Dietitian and Nutritionist, freelance consultant, writer and speaker with over 20 years experience.  She has a special interest in dietary fats and heart health and has written four books: Eat to Beat Cholesterol, Food Myths, Belly Busting for Blokes and Heart Food.  She is a regular nutrition commentator in the mainstream and social media and strives to make sense of the evidence and translate it into practical, enjoyable food advice. She loves talking about food, cooking it and eating it, and is also an enthusiastic scooter rider.

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Dr Oscar Spalter, MD, CARDIOLOGY MSc/PGDipPGCert

Oscar Spalter is a Physician Cardiologist. Oscar has from the very beginning focused on preventive medicine as the most important aspect not only in cardiology but also in medicine. He sees the patient in a holistic way by trying to understand what has led the person to have such illness.

Oscar has been successful due to his optimism and perseverance. He has managed to develop a close and friendly relationship with his patients in which his empathy encourages them to follow his suggestions. Oscar believes he should not just give orders to his patients but also accompany them throughout the process. For example, when he prescribes physical activity, which is the basis for a change in lifestyle, not only does he tell them what to do but he also goes with them to do it. The success he has achieved with each of his patients is what motivates Oscar to continue with this approach.

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A/Prof Peta Stapleton, BA, PostGrad DipProfPsych, PhD

Associate Professor Peta Stapleton is a registered Clinical and Health Psychologist. Peta is a world leader and researcher in Emotional Freedom Techniques (‘psychological acupuncture’). She was awarded the greatest contribution to the field of Energy Psychology by the Association of Comprehensive Energy Psychology in 2016.

Peta has numerous other awards including the American Harvey Baker Research Award for meticulous research by the Association of Comprehensive Energy Psychology in 2014. Peta received the Global Weight Management Congress Industry Professional Award of Excellence in 2015, and was also named the Gold Coast Woman in Business in the same year.

Peta is Program Director of the Masters of Clinical Psychology program at Bond University (Queensland).

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John150A/Prof John Stevens, BA, RN, PhD, FACN

John Stevens is a health scientist and Associate Professor (Adj.) with Southern Cross University’s School of Health and Human Sciences in Australia. He is also the Director of a number of companies engaged in the Health Education and Research.

In the past John has been Head of the School of Nursing and Health Practices (SCU), the Director of Post Graduate studies (which included convening and teaching the first ever Master’s Award in Lifestyle Medicine – and which he continues to teach) and Director of Professional Development and Enterprise.

He has over 60 peer reviewed publications including books on dementia and obesity management. In 2008 John co-founded the Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine and remains an executive member of the Board.

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A/Prof David Sullivan, MBBS, FRACP, FRCPA, FCSANZ

Dr David Sullivan is a physician and chemical pathologist in the Department of Clinical Biochemistry at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. This includes conjoint appointment as Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine at the University of Sydney Central Clinical School.

David has a long-term interest in lipid metabolism with particular emphasis on the environmental component (especially dietary) of gene – environment interactions contributing to cardiovascular disease. He has been involved in the early use of many forms of lipid-lowering intervention and has a particular interest in interventions arising from nutritional principles, such as the cholesterol-lowering effect of plant sterols. His other main interest is the improvement of detection and management of severe inherited dyslipidaemia, such as that seen in Familial Hypercholesterolaemia.

David has experience in several international clinical posts, including registrarship at the MRC Lipoprotein Unit, Royal Postgraduate School of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital, London and co-ordination of international clinical studies from the World Health Organization reference lipid laboratory in Wageningen, Netherlands.

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Paul Taylor, GradCert (Neuroscience of Leadership), MScExSc, MScHumNutr

A former British Royal Navy Aircrew Officer, Paul is an Exercise Physiologist, Nutritionist, Neuroscientist and Affiliate Faculty at The University of San Francisco. He is the Director of The Body-Brain Performance Institute, where he delivers Executive Performance, Resilience and Leadership workshops to large companies such as Medibank, NAB, Johnson & Johnson, Oracle, SAP and Woolworths. He is also the founder and former owner of The Personal Training Academy and his BioAge software is used by many health clubs, including a global roll-out with Fitness First.

In 2010 Paul created and co-hosted the Channel ONE HD TV series Body and Brain Overhaul, and has appeared regularly on The Biggest Loser TV series as a consultant. In 2010 and 2015, he was voted Australian Fitness Industry presenter of the year. His latest venture is Ritualize, a wellbeing website and program that is currently being rolled out to a number of Corporations following a successful clinical trial.

In addition to an extensive background in health and fitness, Paul has a proven track record in leadership, management and dealing in high-pressure situations, through his former roles as an Airborne Anti-submarine Warfare Officer and a Helicopter Search-And-Rescue Crew Member with the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm, and has undergone rigorous Combat Survival and Resistance-to-Interrogation Training. In 2012, he practiced what he preaches about resilience training and became a professional boxer, and he is currently undertaking a PhD in Medical studies with the University of Tasmania.

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Dr Wei-Peng Teo, PhD

Dr Teo is Alfred Deakin Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the School of Exercise & Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University. He is an early-career researcher with a research focus on developing novel rehabilitation strategies to optimising neuromuscular function and brain health. Dr Teo graduated with a PhD in 2013 from the University of Western Australia under the supervision of Professors Gary Thickbroom and Frank Mastaglia. Currently, Dr Teo’s research focus includes the use of non-invasive brain stimulation, exercise and virtual reality therapy to improve motor and cognitive function in people with neurological disorders (i.e. Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease) and stroke.

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Dr Marlene Tham, MBBS, FRACGP

Dr Marlene Tham is a weight loss clinician and obesity researcher. She runs Melbourne Weight Loss providing a medical weight loss service and co-ordinates multi-disciplinary weight management programs for people with mental illness and those with significant co-morbidities.

She has recently launched Medical & Mind Weight Loss – an online CBT Weight Loss program for those who live remotely or want to address their weight online.

Dr Tham’s academic work includes investigating the impact of psychotropic weight gain and evaluating Primary Care weight management at the University of Melbourne where she is a Honorary Research Fellow at the Department of Psychiatry.

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Dr Michelle Thunders, BSc (Hons), PhD

Michelle Thunders is a Senior Lecturer (Health and Life sciences). She is a Human Geneticist, with a broad range of teaching and research experience within the human health and molecular biology domain. Genetics, molecular systems and epigenetics are just a few of many important factors crucial to understanding and enhancing human health and her research focus is in enabling precision health advice and treatment based on genomic data, an approach to health and disease that understands, and is informed by, a multitude of interdisciplinary determinants. Her main focus lies with trying to identify lifestyle responsive therapeutic targets as well as using genomic data as early warning indicators in health risk assessment. Outside of work she enjoys yoga, soccer, cooking and keeping up with her children.

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Prof Anna Timperio, BAppSc (HlthProm), BAppSc (Hons), PhD

Anna Timperio is Alfred Deakin Professor and NHF Future Leader Fellow in the Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University. Prof Timperio’s research is focused on understanding the range of influences on physical activity, sedentary behaviour and eating behaviours, particularly among children and adolescents, and over critical life transition periods (e.g., childhood to adolescence, adolescence to young adulthood). She is involved in several longitudinal studies that examine individual, social and environmental influences on behaviour. A major focus of her recent work has been understanding and measuring neighbourhood food and physical activity environments. Prof Timperio’s other research interests include: physical activity measurement; and evaluation of health promotion and public health interventions.

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Prof Tim Usherwood, BSc, MD, MBBS, FRACGP, FRCGP, FRCP, FAICD

Professor Tim Usherwood’s research is concerned primarily with the development and evaluation of strategies to improve health outcomes in chronic disease (with a particular focus on vascular disease) and on access to care by marginalised communities.

Tim is Professor of General Practice at the University of Sydney; Honorary Professorial Fellow at the George Institute for Global Health; Deputy Head, Sydney Medical School Westmead; and Deputy Chair of Western Sydney PHN. He is Chair of the General Practice and Primary Care Clinical Committee of the MBS Review.

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Dr John Van Der Kallen, MBBS, BSc(Med), FRACP

John Van Der Kallen is a Rheumatologist in Newcastle. John graduated from the University of NSW and spent time training in many rural areas of NSW. He completed his Physicians training in the Hunter and completed his rheumatology training in Leiden in the Netherlands. He subsequently set up the Fracture Liaison Service in the Hunter New England Area Health Service. He now works as a Rheumatologist in private practice in Georgetown. John is the chair of NSW Doctors for the Environment which is focused on the health impacts of climate change as well as other environmental influences on our health.

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Robert-Verkerk-200Dr Robert Verkerk, BSc, MSc, DIC, PhD, FACN

Robert Verkerk is an internationally acclaimed scientist with over 30 years experience in sustainability, specifically in the fields of agriculture, food production and healthcare. He has Masters and Doctorate degrees from Imperial College London, where he continued his research for a further 7 years as a postdoctoral research fellow.

In 2002, he founded the Alliance for Natural Health International (ANH-Intl), an independent non-profit organisation established in 2002 that promotes natural, sustainable and bio-compatible approaches to healthcare – using ‘good science’ and ‘good law’. Its four core activities are education and awareness-raising, research, legal and advocacy. ANH-Intl’s mission of ‘love nature, live naturally’ covers a wide range of issues related to natural health.

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Prof Luis Vitetta, BSc (Hons), PhD, GradDip IntgrMed, GradDip Nutr& EnviroMed

Luis Vitetta is Director of Medical Research at Medlab Clinical and Professor with University of Sydney, Sydney Medical School. Between the years 2007 – 2013 Luis Vitetta was the Director and Professor of the Centre for Integrative Clinical and Molecular Medicine at the University of Queensland, School of Medicine. Luis has an interest in nutrition, probiotics and immune function, as well as Mind Body Medicine.

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Di Westaway, BEdPE &Dance, PostGrad DipJrnlsm

Di Westaway is the Chief Adventure Chick (CEO) and Founder of Wild Women On Top and Coastrek, and author of Natural Exhilaration: Lead An Adventurous Life You Love. 

Di is a global leader & 2016 AFR/Westpac Top 100 Woman of Influence in Business Enterprise. She has inspired nearly 20,000 people to get off the couch and into adventure and raised almost $20 million for charity while leading an adventurous life she loves.

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Simon Willcox, MPH (Hons), BCom

Simon Willcox is an epidemiologist. Simon is the President of the NSW Branch of the Public Health Association of Australia. He has spent about 10 years working in public health. Simon’s main focus has been on promoting and enabling healthy lifestyles. He has worked on developing programs and policy at local, state and national levels. He is also a surfer.

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Fiona Willer, BA, BHlthSc (Nutr&Diet) (Hons), APD, AIDN

Fiona is an accomplished Accredited Practising Dietitian and long-term pracademic, combining PhD research, academic teaching in nutrition and dietetics and providing professional development workshops and training for health professionals through her business, Health, Not Diets. Her academic research areas are dietetic private practice benchmarking, inter-professional learning and the integration of weight neutral lifestyle approaches (including Health at Every Size® and the Non-Diet Approach) into the practice of health professionals, particularly dietitians. Fiona has close to a decade of experience in academia across multiple universities, has authored two Non-Diet Approach guidebooks for health professionals and developed materials for the private and public sector. In 2016 she developed the Non-Diet Approach Model, which operationalizes the Health at Every Size® principles for clinical practice.

Fiona currently serves as Vice President International for the Association for Size Diversity and Health, is past-President and current Secretary of HAES Australia and founder of the Society for Australian Independent Dietitian-Nutritionists.

Fiona has great enthusiasm for both demolishing weight biased research and overusing food and eating metaphors in everyday life.

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Dr Conrad Winer, LLB, FACLM, MBBS, DRCOG, LLCOM, DPRM, FAFRM (RACP)

Dr Winer is currently Hon. Consultant Physician in Rehabilitation Medicine, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, involved in clinical practice in Musculoskeletal Medicine, Rehabilitation, assessments of permanent impairment, and medico-legal opinions.

Over his long career he has achieved qualified in Law, Medicine and Osteopathy, and has applied his skill in many areas of medicine, education and medico-legal work.

His former appointments include director of the Department of Rehabilitation & Physical Medicine, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, past president of Australian Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine (RACP) and of Australian Association of Musculo-skeletal Medicine (AAMM), a member of Medical Appeals Panel of the Workers Compensation Court of N.S.W., and of Physiotherapy Registration Board. He also lectured at University of Sydney, and was a visiting professor at the University of Kazan, Russia. He was also an examiner at University of Western Sydney, School of Osteopathy. Dr Winer has received numerous awards including College Medal by RACP, 2004, Honorary Life Member of AAMM, the Osteopathic Research Society, UK, and of Childbirth Education Association, NSW.

His publications include papers in medical journals, chapters in 2 books (on Manual Medicine), editor of AMA book “Home Medical Guide to Back Pain” and co-author of MAA “Guidelines for the Management of Injury from Whiplash Associated Disorders”.

His current research is the use of inversion traction treatment at home for back pain due to disc protrusion. He completed his first half marathon aged 84.

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