Craig Baron
AdvDipNat, Nut
With over 10 years of experience working in the natural health and complementary medicines field, Craig’s clinical practice is based in Brisbane, Australia, and has a special interest in the neuro-immune-endocrine system and the influence biorhythms have in complex mood, sleep, behaviour, energy, hormonal and digestive challenges.
As a naturopath and clinical nutrition lecturer with an extensive and unique background in the research and development of natural medicines and supplements in Australia, Craig is passionate about complementary and natural medicine education and is dedicated to engaging, empowering and educating his patients as well as developing post-graduate education and mentoring programmes for students and clinicians across Australia and internationally.
Well-known for his engaging, practical and relatable style of conceptualised health seminars, webinars and workshops, and his ability to translate and bring to life complex nutritional biochemistry, herbal pharmacology and pathophysiology of disease into tangible, easy-to-understand health concepts with memorable analogies and case studies, Craig’s personalised, holistic, results-driven approach is focused on delivering effective patient and clinical management strategies that can be implemented directly into your practice.
Craig's presentation topics are:
- Saturday 8th Sept, 09.05 - 10.05 Figuring out A “F”-ed Headspace
- Saturday 8th Sept, 6.30 Conference Dinner Guest Speaker
Renee Kucyk
BHSc (Nat)
Renee holds a Bachelor of Health Science (Naturopathy) and has 7 year's experience in retail and clinical settings, including mentoring students in clinical practice at the Southern School of Natural Therapies. Renee's key interests are aligned with her experience in integrated sports performance (and as a former professional athlete), as well as mental and female health solutions.
Renee is a senior member of the Metagenics technical support team providing a high standard of clinical and technical advice to natural medicine and Integrative Practitioners throughout Australia and New Zealand.
Renee's presentation topic is:
- Saturday 8th Sept, 11.00 - 11.30
Depression & Inflammation
David Casteleijn
RN, BNat, MHSc, PhD Candidate
Originally trained as a registered nurse, David has been in private practice as a naturopath since 1992, developing a passion for herbs and their healing and regenerative qualities, particularly in relation to anxiety and depression.
In 2002 David started teaching herbal medicine at the Australian College of Natural Medicine ACNM (now the Endeavour College of Natural Health ECNH) and in 2006 completed a Masters Health Science (Herbal Medicine) through the University of New England (UNE). Currently a PhD candidate at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) investigating the whole of practice treatment of anxiety and depression with individualised Western herbal medicine.
In 2011 David established Herbs on the Hill with co-founder Dr Jon Wardle, this is a naturopathic general practice with 10 naturopaths in a medical specialist’s building adjacent to a major teaching hospital. Recently elected as a director of the Naturopaths and Herbalists Association of Australia (NHAA) David is passionate about the profession and its place in the healthcare system.
David's presentation topic is:
- Saturday 8th Sept, 11.30 - 12.30 Providing herbal medicine treatment for anxiety and depression in a contemporary health system
Prof Zoltan Sarnyai
M.D., Ph.D. (Neuroscience)
Dr. Sarnyai is Professor and Head of the Laboratory of Psychiatric Neuroscience at James Cook University, Townsville, Australia. He was previously University Lecturer in the Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge and a Fellow of Pembroke College, Cambridge where he served as Director of Studies for Medicine. He trained at the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and at The Rockefeller University.
He currently conducts research on major psychiatric disorders, such as depression and schizophrenia and studies the contribution of systemic factor such as stress, metabolic changes, gut microbiota and immune activation to brain health.
Dr. Sarnyai has published close to a hundred original scientific papers, review articles and book chapters in the field of psychiatric neuroscience and has received numerous awards for his work. He currently serves on the executive committee of the International Society for Nutritional Psychiatry Research and is the secretary of Biological Psychiatry Australia and on the editorial board of the journals Stress and Nutritional Neuroscience.
Zoltan's presentation topic is:
- Saturday 8th Sept, 1.30 - 2.30
Effects of stress and trauma on the brain: the hormonal link.
Dr David Codyre
Consultant Psychiatrist MBChB, FRANZCP
David is a psychiatrist with 28 years experience working in the community mental health sector in New Zealand, in a range of clinical and leadership roles. He co-hosted the mental health promotion radio/TV show “The Nutter’s Club” with NZ comedian Mike King, from 2006-2012. David is a member of the board of Key to Life trust and chairs Safe Man, Safe Family trust.
He has spent the past 14 years leading development of primary mental health programmes and advocating at regional and national levels for strengthening of primary mental health capacity, along with better support for primary care from secondary mental health services.
He is a member of the advisory board to the NZ Depression Awareness Campaign, the Mental Health and Addictions Integration Leadership Group for Counties Manukau DHB, the National Mental Health and Addiction Workforce Plan sector expert group, the “Mental Health – Fit for the Future” working group to the Ministry of Health and the sector leaders group developing the Mental Health and Addictions Improvement Programme with the Health Quality and Safety Commission.
David is the Clinical Lead Mental Health of the Nirvana Health Group
David's presentation topic is:
- Saturday 8th Sept, 2.30 - 3.30
Taking an Integrative Clinical Approach to Common Mental Health Conditions in a Primary Care Setting.
Hope Foley
BHSc (Nat)(Hons), PhD Candidate
A practising naturopath, academic and early career researcher, Hope has a passion for holism and plant-based medicine. She is a strong advocate for patient-centred care and for the role of natural medicine in the wider field of public health. Hope is currently undertaking her PhD at the University of Technology Sydney, investigating the role and experience of complementary medicine for individuals with chronic conditions.
Hope's presentation topic is:
- Saturday 8th Sept, 4.15 - 4.45
A potential role for herbal medicine in supporting recovery from methamphetamine abuse.
Liz Lalor
Dip Hom, Somatic Psychotherapist
Liz Lalor is a very experienced practitioner with a very successful clinic. Liz has presented at numerous conferences and has authored three books: "A Homeopathic Guide to Partnership and Compatibility", "A Psychological Analysis of the Delusion Rubrics" and "Homeopathic Psychiatry", as well as contributing to many journals.
Liz has trained many practitioners using her very successful "Liz Lalor Fertility System"
Liz's presentation topic is:
- Sunday 9th Sept, 9.00 - 10.00
Understanding sensitivity & susceptibility of your patients and yourself to PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder).
Dr Pooja Maddela
MHS ( Research), BNat & YogicSci, PGDip Yoga & Nat, DipAyurveda
Dr Pooja Maddela is a highly accomplished international speaker, master yoga teacher/mentor, yoga therapist, yoga teacher trainer and clinician. She is well known for her ability to apply philosophy into practice.
A registered medical practitioner from the Department of India Systems of Medicine, Pooja worked for many years as Assistant Physician and Senior Lecturer; Dept of Yoga and Naturopathy, Gujarat Ayurvedic University, (India) and as Assistant HOF Yoga and senior tutor for over 12 years at Wellpark College of Natural Therapies. Pooja has received several awards for teaching and her contributions to yoga both in NZ and internationally.
She currently teaches yoga at the facilities of the Ministry of Education and Auckland Council and initiated and been actively involved with many community health programs in Yoga with the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education. She is the founding director of ‘Dr Pooja's Yoga & Integrated Mind-Body Therapies’, offering integrative therapies including Yoga Alliance-registered Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training. She runs a successful clinical practice in Auckland with an emphasis on Yoga therapy, Ayurveda and Eastern naturopathy.
Pooja's presentation topic is:
- Sunday 9th Sept, 10.00 - 10.30
Therapeutic applications of yoga for brain health and mental wellbeing.
Prof Yoram Barak
MD MHA
Dr Yoram Barak is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the Otago School of Medicine, Dunedin and consultant psychogeriatrician at the SDHB. He is the convenor for 4th year students for the department of psychological medicine. Trained in medicine and psychiatry at the Sackler School of Medicine, in 1993 he became an Israel Medical Scientific Council Specialist in Psychiatry, and in 2004 was awarded a Master in Health Administration from Ben-Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
Dr Barak was the medical director of Israel’s inpatient psychiatric services for Holocaust survivors for 25 years.
A consultant for the National Multiple Sclerosis Centre in Israel, he is also a special consultant on positive psychology for the Israel Defense Forces. He is a past president of the Israeli Association of Old-Age Psychiatry and is on the editorial board of both the Israel Journal of Psychiatry and the Open Psychiatry Journal.
Research interests include multiple sclerosis, cancer, a wide range of psychiatric conditions with special emphasis on old-age psychiatry, and suicide. He has published extensively in these areas and is author or co-author of over 175 peer-reviewed journal articles.
His book "Preventing Alzheimer's Disease" has recently been published in the USA.
Professor Barak's presentation topic is:
- Sunday 9th Sept, 11.00 - 12.00 What do Older Adults know about Brain Health?
Jill Dunn
PhD Candidate, MHSc (CompMed), BHSc (CompMed), DipNat, DipMedHerb, RGON (Non-practising)
Jill has been an advocate for integration of naturopathic and herbal medicine throughout her 33 year naturopathic career that has encompassed clinical practice, commercial product development, teaching, NZQA advisory and governance groups for development and evaluation of national education standards, academic leadership and management, degree programme development, professional association representation, government application for herbal medicine regulation and national and international research studies. She is currently the NZ representative on the World Naturopathic Federation (WNF) and Chair of the WNF Professional Mapping Committee. Jill is a PhD candidate with UTS.
Jill's presentation topic is:
- Sunday 9th Sept, 12.00 - 12.30 Mapping the naturopathic landscape: Global examination of regulatory, education and policy frameworks and infrastructure.
Vanessa Hitch
B.Sc.(CompMed), DipNat
Vanessa Hitch is a naturopath with over two decades experience as a highly regarded clinician, speaker, educator and supplement formulator. In her clinical practice, Vanessa assists a wide variety of patients and concerns. Her focus is on improving health and wellbeing through effective detoxification, digestive and hormonal support, and the use of genetic and functional testing.
Vanessa’s passion for supporting and empowering practitioners and her dynamic speaking style will make this an interesting and informative presentation.
Vanessa's presentation topic is:
- Sunday 9th Sept, 1.30 - 2.30
The link between adrenal function, pH and brain health
Sam McSorley
MHSc, BHSc, Dip ClinHerbMed
Sam was born and raised in Inverness, Scotland and moved to NZ in 1999. She is a degree qualified Naturopath with a Master’s Degree in Health Science and 16 years clinical experience. Sam has worked in various capacities including nationwide consultation with allied health professionals, conference presentations at health seminars as well as lecturing at the University of Canterbury and working in clinical practice.
With interests in inflammatory bowel disease, infertility and mental health, Sam brings a wealth of knowledge to the naturopathic table and is committed to the success of naturopathy in clinical practice.
Sam's presentation topic is:
- Sunday 9th Sept, 2.30 - 3.30
Psychobiotics
Phil Rasmussen
M.Pharm., M.P.S., DipHerbMed
Phil is one of New Zealand’s most experienced phytotherapists with a clinic in Auckland where he has practiced for 24 years. He is also the founder and Technical Director of Phytomed Medicinal Herbs Ltd, a New Zealand-based manufacturer and exporter of herbal medicines for both practitioners and consumers.
Before pursuing herbal medicine Phil worked for more than 10 years as a pharmacist, and undertook research on antidepressant drugs and serotonin.
He has lectured at naturopathic and herbal colleges, presented at conferences in New Zealand, Australia, and the UK, and written extensively on herbal subjects for both practitioner and consumer publications, for many years. He is also actively involved in the NZ Association of Medical Herbalists, is a founding board member of the national industry body Natural Health Products NZ, and has sat on, as well as chaired, various government advisory boards in relation to complementary medicine regulations.
Phil's presentation topic is:
- Sunday 9th Sept, 4.00 - 4.45
Herbal medicines and their interactions with Psychiatric Drugs.