2023 Speakers
In Alphabetic Order:
Dr Sara Baldey (VIC)
BSc (Hons), BVMS, CVA, Cert IV TAE
Sara completed a Bachelor of Science (Chemistry and Biochemistry) in 1997 and Post Graduate Honours in Organic Chemistry in 1999 through the Northern Territory University, Darwin, Northern Territory. In 2004, she completed her veterinary qualifications through Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia.
Sara has worked in mixed practice, small animal practice and integrative veterinary practice. In 20011 Sara became certified in Veterinary Acupuncture (IVAS) and in 2012 she completed a Certificate IV TAE. This enabled her to be involved in educating Veterinary Nurses in Small Animal Surgery in the TAFE sector and educating Veterinarians training in veterinary acupuncture. Sara has operated her own small business providing acupuncture to companion animals along with select eastern and western herbs and supplements.
Sara currently works as part of the Student Services team at the College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies and provides veterinary acupuncture services at a canine rehabilitation clinic in Melbourne.
Dr Edward Bassingthwaighte (VIC)
BVSc(Hons)
The Healing Vet - Holistic Veterinarian and Founder of the Whole Energy Body Balance Method - Empowering profound healing for pets and people.
Dr Edward is known globally as The Healing Vet, passionately devoted to the best in holistic pet health care. Through his own recovery from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Lyme, Dr Edward explored holistic medicine and energy healing. He found that his animal patients responded well to this approach, which led to his creation of a world leading, profoundly healing bodywork modality for home and professional practitioners - the Whole Energy Body Balance (WEBB) Method.
Dr Edward is a registered Veterinarian, and practices integrative medicine in Vet hospitals while empowering pet parents and professionals all over the world to find and heal pets’ silent pain, anxiety, and trauma with WEBB online practitioner training.
Dr Edward also works with humans to help them connect with and resolve whatever is preventing living a happy, healthy, balanced, and connected life. He has a strong interest in healing the masculine. His mission is to eradicate silent physical, mental, and emotional pain for all animals on the planet.
Dr Garry Bright (QLD)
BVSc(PRET) Lic Ac
Originally from Zimbabwe, Garry qualified from Onderstepoort, South Africa. Travelled to the UK and held many small animal positions including at a referral hospital where a decision was made to either become a Medicine specialist or strike into the Equine field. An Equine only veterinary practice was embarked on, where a health plan type structured practice, led on to an IVAS congress 1999. Chinese Medicine was simply inspiring which led to a Licentiate in Acupuncture and Patent Herbal medicine qualifications in Humans. Allergies and Autoimmune disease have been his passion and after a seventeen years of study Chinese medicine – it was realised there was no resolution of these diseases with this system of medicine. Thus, so began the development of a new system and understanding in Physics and the development of the TC healer and the TC diagnostic device. People like labels but it is essentially a complete understanding of the energetic system: The Yang / The Yin equal and opposite circulating anticlockwise; The Inhibitory equal and opposite of the combined Yin and Yang circulating clockwise ; and the pièce de resistance Consciousness – the essence of the transforming healing process. In essence the Physics of healing was uncovered, and this process of healing can be replicated at will. The most powerful medical diagnostic and healing system has evolved. One that can resolve Allergies and Autoimmune disease. A subjective and objective diagnostic system is available for use and Training is available.
Dr Elaine Cebuliak (QLD)
BVSc MACVSc dentistry, Dip Ed, Dip Rem Massage,Cert Chinese Herbs, Cert IVAS Qual Acupuncture, CMAVA, Adv Dip Naturopathy, Adv Dip Herbal Med, Adv Dip nutrition
Elaine is a Veterinary surgeon, Physician, Veterinary Acupuncturist and Herbalist (Chinese and Western) with special interest and advanced training in Veterinary Dentistry.
She is also a qualified High school teacher, naturopath and remedial therapist. Elaine obtained her membership in Veterinary Dentistry and Oral Surgery in 2000. In 2006 she obtained a Diploma in Remedial Massage/Reflexology through the Australian Institute of Applied science, and became certified in Chinese veterinary and human Herbal Medicine. In 2013 she obtained an Advanced Diploma of naturopathy (ND) and an Advanced Diploma of Western Herbal Medicine, Adv Dip nut, Adv Dip.
In addition to running her integrative small animal vet clinic in suburban Brisbane - 1016 Stanley St, East Brisbane, she also performs referral dentistry.
She enjoys teaching and running various workshops throughout Australia and Internationally. Elaine is also currently involved in volunteer veterinary projects internationally
Dr Renee James (QLD)
BVSc (Hons) CVCHM (IVAS) GradDip VCHM (CIVT)
Dr Renee James attended the University of Queensland's vet school and graduated with Honours in 2003. She went on to study veterinary homeopathy and Chinese Veterinary Herbal Medicine, completing a Graduate Diploma in CVHM through CIVT.
Together with Dr Henry Stephenson, Dr Renee opened the doors to 'The Natural Vets' in 2015. A full-service integrative veterinary practice on the Sunshine Coast that has grown now to include 6 holistic vets on the team. Her veterinary passions include pulling grotty teeth, palliative care, integrative cancer treatments and client education.
Dr Renee has received two bursaries through the Integrative Vets Australia group, the first to present in 2021 on titre testing and minimal vaccine schedules for companion pets, and this year an outline of advances in integrative veterinary oncology.
Dr Rowan Kilmartin (QLD)
Rowan Kilmartin is a widely known veterinarian who practices Animal Biomechanical Medicine (ABM). He has been passionate about helping animals with over 40 years of clinical experience. ABM has provided a framework to this type work. By being able to think outside the box as well as conventional approaches with a sound perception of the emotional and physical aspects of disorders and diseases in the dog has led to numerous positive outcomes.
Rowan has lectured overseas including Europe and the USA as well as presenting at Australian Veterinary Conferences. He has been a lecturer at the Animal Chiropractic Course at RMIT University and at Box Hill Institute where the ABM course is held.
Rowan’s educational background is a veterinary degree from Queensland University. He studied Animal Chiropractic and has completed a Master of Chiropractic Science (Animal Chiropractic) degree as well as a Graduate Diploma in Animal Chiropractic at RMIT University. He has completed a Certificate in Veterinary Acupuncture (IVAS). He has studied Craniosacral therapy, Visceral therapy technique as well as Lymphatic drainage. He also experienced with Low level laser therapy, homotoxicology and Chinese Herbal medicine.
Dr Kim Lim (VIC)
BVSc. (Hons), Grad Dip Animal Chiropractic, M Chiro Science (Animal Chiropractic), Certification in Veterinary Acupuncture, Certificate 4 in Teaching and Assessment, Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist (CRI)
Dr Kim Lim graduated in Veterinary Science with honours from the University of Melbourne in 1990. She has worked in general practice in Melbourne, Portland, and Canberra.
Kim became a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist in 1992 and received her Master of Animal Chiropractic from RMIT in 2003. Kim is also a certified canine rehabilitation therapist (CCRT).
Since 1996 she has worked solely in integrative, complementary medicine including animal biomechanical medicine, rehabilitation, acupuncture, craniosacral therapy, and herbal supplements to treat her canine patients. Kim also treats cats and the odd llama or two. Most of her patients seek her help for musculoskeletal problems such as cruciate disease, back problems, and arthritis. Kim has a passion to discover new techniques to help her patients.
Her practice, Geelong Creatures’ Comfort in Geelong has been operating since 2003 and has clinics based in Belmont and Newcomb.
On completion of her Master’s degree, she became involved in the teaching of the RMIT Animal Chiropractic course from 2002 to 2009 and is currently an integral part of the team that delivers the Graduate Diploma in Animal Biomechanical Medicine course at Box Hill TAFE.
Kim is a past president of the Geelong Branch of the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) and the Australian Veterinary Acupuncture Group (AVAG). Kim has presented lectures and workshops at the AVA annual conferences as well as at veterinary meetings overseas.
Dr Donna McSweeney (QLD)
Donna Mcsweeney graduated with honours from University of Queensland in 2001. With prior qualifications in horticulture, and a life long interest in holistic therapies, it was a natural progression to incorporate alternative therapies into her practice. Donna studied the IVAS course in 2004, and began her studies in homeopathy the same year. Studies in Chinese herbal medicine commenced around the same time, and have continued until the current day.
Donna has also received qualifications in Emmett therapy and reiki. Donna runs a mixed practice in South East Queensland. Her practice combines large animal emergency medicine, and chronic disease treatment with holistic therapies.
Dr Natalie Noble & Adam Buchanan (QLD)
BVSc (hons)
Natalie and Adam create a yoga experience that is powerful, uplifting, and meditative. Their classes are filled with beautiful devotional music to open the heart and reach a place of bliss and elevation. Natalie trained as a kundalini yoga teacher with “Yoga is Unity” in Guatemala in 2015 and Pranayama breathwork at las Pyramides del ka. Natalie has travelled through Central and South America teaching yoga and breathwork at festivals and permaculture villages. She is a mother, musician, and is passionate about the body's ability to heal. Natalie is holistic veterinarian entrepreneur who graduated from University of Queensland in 2011. Adam is a multi-instrumentalist musician, composer, and therapeutic sound healer. As a songwriter he writes folk music, kirtan chants and electronic tribal dub. As a composer he scored film and gaming music. A music therapist, he has worked with intellectual and physically disabled people, providing music and art therapy in one and one and group settings. He performs live soundscapes and folk, heart song, and electronic music at events and festivals. All of Adam’s offerings are fused with his passion for healing, spirit, philosophy, community, and self expression.
Adam and Natalie are also kirtan facilitators, playing music under the band name Bhaktiful, and regularly perform kirtan around the Australian East Coast. They will tap into this experience to lead beautiful devotional music, allowing people to open their heart and voices via the power of music. They support people to push themselves through challenging kundalini kriyas to reach a place of bliss and elevation.
Dr Nichola Spooner (QLD)
BVSc(hons) MANZCVSc(EMCC) GDVWHM GDVA CertIV TAE
Originally from a cattle property in Central Queensland, Nichola graduated from the University of Queensland with first class honors in 2001. She completed a small animal rotating internship at Queensland Veterinary Specialists and Pet Emergency in 2004 and obtained her membership of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists in Small Animal Emergency Medicine and Critical Care in 2005. Over the past 21 years she has worked in mixed, small animal, emergency and referral practice. In 2018 she completed her Graduate Diplomas in Veterinary Western Herbal Medicine and Veterinary Acupuncture with CIVT. Nic now works part-time offering integrative medicine consultations for small animal patients combining a conventional approach to diagnosis and treatment with herbal medicine, acupuncture, natural nutrition and supplementation, physical therapies and environmental management. Nic also has her Cert IV TAE and has worked in the field of education for both veterinarians and veterinary nurses for 15 years. She is now the RTO Manager for CIVT. Nic lives in Yeppoon with her partner, four children, rescue dogs and cats, elderly horse and some pampered hens. In her spare time she enjoys competing in triathlons.
Dr Henry Stephenson (QLD)
BVSc (Hons) Vet M F Hom Dip Acup (IVAS)
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.
Dr David Ward (NSW)
BScAgr BVMS MScVS GDVA CCRP
Bachelor degree and Masters degree in Agriculture from University of Sydney. Graduated from the School of Veterinary Studies, Murdoch University, Western Australia in 1998 after studying the first 2 years of veterinary science (1994-1995) at University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa. While studying in South Africa, assisted wildlife veterinarians relocating and treating African wildlife including darting procedures. After graduation, first job at Canley Heights veterinary clinic, a specialist avian veterinary centre for 15 months prior to being employed at Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo, NSW as an associate veterinarian for four years. In 2003, I started working as a large animal vet in private practice in Dungog, lower Hunter Valley, NSW before moving to Newcastle in 2004 and worked at Merewether vet hospital, Newcastle Animal and Emergency Centre (NAEC), and also as a wildlife veterinarian at Blackbutt reserve. This local government reserve houses numerous native wildlife including wombats, koalas, kangaroos, quolls, emus and other bird species. In 2005, I was enticed to Sydney by my wife and joined Vetmed Northbridge for the next decade. Since this time, I have worked at many other practices across Sydney in small animal general practice and emergency departments. In 2021, after gaining a Graduate Diploma in Veterinary Acupuncture (2018) and Certificate in Canine Rehabilitation (2021), I became a Director of the only fully integrative Veterinary Clinic in Australia, All Natural Vet Care, where my interests are in acupuncture, sports rehabilitation and integrative dermatology
