2026 Speakers
Fresh Perspective (New Speakers):
Keynote Speaker: Dr Judy Morgan (USA)
Dr. Judy Morgan (USA)
DVM, CVA, CVCP, CVFT
Dr Judy has over 40-years-experience as an integrative veterinarian, acupuncturist, chiropractor, food therapist, best-selling author, international speaker, podcast host and owner of Dr. Judy Morgan’s Naturally Healthy Pets. Her goal is to change the lives of pets by educating and empowering pet parents worldwide in the use of natural healing therapies, and minimizing the use of chemicals, vaccinations, and poor-quality processed food.
• 2018 Woman of the Year in the Pet Industry
• 2019 Pet Age Woman of Influence
• 2019 IAOTP Veterinarian of the Year
• 2019 Veterinarian Hero Award Nominee
• 2021 IAOTP Empowered Woman of the Year
• 2022 Game Changer Award Winner and
• 2023 People's Choice Award Winner
• 2024 IAOTP Holistic Veterinarian of the Decade
• 2024 Inc. Magazine Regionals: Mid-Atlantic #48 with growth of 201% over a
Two-Year Period
• 2024 Inc 5000 America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies with 991% Three
Year Growth
• Holistic Pet Care Pioneer Merit for 2024-2025
Check out Dr. Judy’s most recent best-selling books, Yin & Yang 2.0 Nutrition for Dogs:
Maximizing Health with Whole Foods, Not Drugs, Raising Naturally Healthy Pets: A Guide to Helping Your Pets Live Longer and Keeping Your Pets Naturally Healthy: Holistic Care and Nutrition for Dogs and Cats available on DrJudyMorgan.com or on Amazon.
Website: NaturallyHealthyPets.com
FB: https://www.facebook.com/JudyMorganDVM
IG: @drjudymorgan
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrJudyMorgan
Then in alphabetical order:
Dr Charissa Smith (QLD)
Charissa has a veterinary degree from Sydney University (1969), an M Phil
in Animal Science and Homeopathy UQ (2013) and diplomas in Veterinary
Acupuncture, Veterinary Kinesiology, Structural Balancing and Chinese herbal
medicine. She also has a Certificate in Veterinary Homeopathy. Charissa is a Reiki master and is semi-retired, working at home on her farm at Adare.
Charissa is a life member of the AVA, a member of IVA, which she helped found and the International Veterinary Botanical Medicine Association. She has completed a Master of Philosophy at UQ Gatton, researching the effects of homeopathic medicines on poultry immunology and production. She particularly promotes the research in animal herbal medicine, gut bacteria, and wildlife understanding and cattle production.
Charissa followed a life in beef cattle production and water monitoring at Barraba, Forbes, and Grafton with new land development in Esperance WA in the 1970s and 80s, she then had 15 years in small animal practice, with another 20 years in nonsurgical integrated veterinary practice in Brisbane.
Jacqui Snell (New Zealand)
Dr Snell was born and raised in Wellington, New Zealand. Veterinary medicine was a career aspiration from childhood. She earned her veterinary degree from Massey University in 1988. Afterwards, she worked in a small animal practice in Wellington before spending a year doing locum work in London, England.
Aftern returning to New Zealand, Dr Snell worked at Taradale Veterinary Hospital in Hawkes Bay for 21 years, spending 16 years as an owner of the practice. She started her holistic practice, Veterinary Holistic Healthcare, in 2018, after earning a Western Herbal Certification. She completed a Graduate Diploma in Veterinary Western Herbal Medicine through CIVT in 2019.
She worked part time in a holistic practice as well as a companion animal practice. She also worked part time for the Raw Essentials company, providing nutritional advice to pet parents who were transitioning their pets with health issues onto a raw food diet.
Currently, Dr Snell focuses completely on her holistic practice, seeing patients in person and via telemedicine. In addition to her clinical practice, she has lectured at the New Zealand Veterinary Association conferences and is the current newsletter editor for the Complementary Branch of the NZVA.
Dr Frank Stadler (NSW)
Dr Stadler is the director and founder of Similitude Pty Ltd trading as MedMagLabs, a for-purpose biotechnology business producing medicinal maggots for chronic wound care in human and veterinary medicine. In 2018 he was awarded his doctorate in the supply chain management of maggot therapy in compromised healthcare settings. Shortly thereafter, he received a grant from Grand Challenges Canada and Hope in Conflict: A Humanitarian Grand Challenge to develop medicinal maggot production and maggot therapy solutions for conflict-affected communities. In 2021, at the end of the grant period, he spun out MedMagLabs as an independent company.
Dr Kathryn Stalder (NSW)
Kathryn graduated with First Class Honours from the University of Sydney in 2005, and since graduation has pursued additional study and attained membership by examination to the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in the fields of small animal and wildlife medicine. In 2013 Kathryn completed a Master's degree by research at the University of Melbourne, investigating the prevalence and significance herpesvirus infections in Australian marsupials. She has worked in a variety of different veterinary practices both here in Australia and also overseas. Kathryn has a special interest in small animal medicine, wildlife and exotic animal medicine, pathology and more recently has become interested in integrative or complementary therapies (including whole-food diets, herbs, nutritional support and laser therapy) to assist with management of challenging or chronic cases. She is passionate about partnering with pet-owners to maintain their pet's wellbeing throughout all stages of life, seeking to find and address the root cause of illness where possible, and optimising therapy based on the individual animal's needs. Kathryn is Fear-Free certified, and seeks to ensure every vet visit is as positive and stress-free as possible. Kathryn has two retired racing greyhounds (Ebony and Cookie), two crazy cats (Rajah and Phoenix) and a bearded dragon (Flame) to keep her occupied at home!
Familiar Faces (Returning Speakers):
Dr Kathy Cornack (NSW)
Kathy Cornack hails from Queensland, graduate of UQ in 1985 and has worked in many places and in many iterations throughout her 40 year career in veterinary medicine. She currently lives and works in beautiful Newcastle, NSW and is the founder of “Holistic Vets Newcastle” since moving here in 2012.
Kathy first trained in acupuncture, nutrition and behavioural medicine in the 1990’s, she has since developed a clinical and personal interest in many aspects of holistic medicine. She is fascinated by the interconnectedness of all things and the longer she spends on the planet the harder it to understand and experience life and medicine in knowledge “silos”. Outside of work she enjoys being in nature, gardening, cooking, hiking, swimming, dancing and singing and generally enjoying the gift of life. In this experiential workshop you will gain a deeper understanding about our innate ability for intuitive interspecies communication and be able to begin applying it in your clinical practice.
Dr Viv Harris (New Zealand)
Dr Viv Harris graduated from Massey University (New Zealand) in 1986 with a Bachelor degree in Zoology and a Bachelor of Veterinary Science. For the past 38 years she has had a deep interest in the use of combining Complementary Therapies with Conventional Therapies and has studied widely. She obtained the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS) degree, Natural Allergy Treatment (NAET) Certificate as well as completing courses in Trigger Point therapy, Flower Essences, Homeopathy, Herbal medicine and Neutriceuticals. She ran her own Veterinary practice in Wellington for 10 years and was able to combine this extra training with her conventional training with great success. Viv lectures annually at the Massey Veterinary school and at Veterinary Conferences and now locums and works from her own rooms in Wellington. She also successfully runs Organic Vegetable growing classes from her organic rural property which focuses on soil microbiome health, design, and health of the plants and soil and how it impacts on us as the consumers.
Vonnie Ma – QiGong With Vonnie (NSW)
Vonnie is a Certified Level 3 Qigong instructor currently pursuing my Level 4 certification with Master Simon Blow Qigong. Certified yoga teacher, graduated in March 2025 with Nin Yoga's 200-hour YTT in Vinyasa. My style focuses on a gentle vinyasa practice. Currently undergoing "5 Element Nutrition Training" with Qi Food Therapy, and taking online courses with Michael Bijker through Yogalap, including "Breath of Life" and "Ocean of Energy."
My focus is Qigong which began in November 2014. I completed level 1 teacher training and continued my Level 2 teacher training in June 2021. I have completed my Level 3, April 2022 including a certified unit in ‘Understanding the Theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine’ through the Australian College of Eastern Medicine. I have completed four modules for level 4 in March 2024 receiving certification for Liu He Gong (6 unities) & Liu Zi Jue (6 healing sounds). In March 2025 receiving certification in the Longevity and Sitting Ba Duan Jin practice.
My classes include grounding, connecting in with self and nature, gentle warmups, stretching of the joints and ligaments, bringing your awareness inward, a flow practice, breathwork and meditation. I like to work in connection with nature, the seasons and with the 5 elements of Earth, Metal, Water, Wood, and Fire and have a holistic approach to bring health and happiness to the whole body, mind, and spirit. I run regular Qigong classes and workshops, and I am available for retreats, groups, corporate & private lessons ☯️
Dr. Matthew J. Muir (NSW)
BVSc/BVetBiol (Hons) MRCVS
Integrative Veterinarian Dr. Matthew J. Muir is a leading integrative veterinarian with expertise in functional medicine, nutraceuticals, and whole food nutrition. He has a particular focus on the gut-brain axis, microbiome modulation, and the role of diet in optimizing pet health and longevity. Passionate about applying One Health principles, Dr. Muir combines cutting-edge research with practical, evidence-based care to address chronic diseases at their root cause.
As a sought-after international speaker, he regularly presents on topics such as dysbiosis, microbiome-driven therapies, and the intersection of nutrition and behavioural health, helping both veterinary professionals and pet guardians better understand the power of food as medicine.
Dr Saranyu Pearson (VIC)
BVSc(Hons), VetMFHom
I have been practicing as an integrative veterinarian since 2005 when Paws to Heal was established to cater for those looking for alternative animal health that aligns with the natural laws.
I graduated from Melbourne University in 1987 in a time when the profession was still enjoying the freedom of general practice and the experience you could gain by doing a lot of things that are now considered specialisations. A broad overarching approach to health is the essence of integrative medicine and this has largely been lost over the past forty years through an over emphasis on reductionism both in thinking and practice…for better and worse.
Over the past twenty years I have enjoyed rediscovering ways to augment natural healing and restore health without the reliance on mechanisms and materials provided through corporate interests that often do not align with the interests of the animals or the people seeking support for their animals.
During these years I studied and obtained further qualifications that strengthened my ability to provide these services to the animal world. I was awarded membership of the Faculty of Homeopathy London through examination in 2015 amongst other courses and certificates over many years to expand and consolidate my services.
As a core principle integrative medicine affords the overview of all options and choosing to implement the appropriate method at the appropriate time for each individual case.
My dedication to the Integrative Veterinarians arises from my passion for homeopathy and advocating for more Veterinarians to have knowledge and understanding of this system of medicine to mitigate many of the threats arising from such things as antibiotic resistance, increasing rates of cancer and autoimmune diseases amidst a poor understanding of the role of food as medicine.
We still have much to discover and share about how to be well in the world.
Dr Henry Stephenson (QLD)
Raised in rural Queensland and graduated from Queensland University Vet School in 1979. Worked in mixed practice in Ipswich Queensland and here he began using some alternative medicines in some small animal cases. Passed the IVAS Acupuncture degree in 1995 and then the British HPTG homeopathic diploma in 2008.
Apart from continual homeopathic studies and bushwalking, he still works in a large alternative practice on the Sunshine Coast where he helps the other 5 vets in their homeopathic learning.
