Speaker Announcement: Doctors For Nutrition Lifestyle Medicine Conference, Sydney
Doctors For Nutrition
Doctors For Nutrition is proud to announce the incredible lineup of speakers for the highly anticipated Doctors For Nutrition Lifestyle Medicine Conference 2026 (DFN LM26), set to take place in Sydney this year. This landmark event brings together leading medical experts, healthcare professionals, and the wider community to explore the transformative impact of nutrition and lifestyle medicine on population health and wellbeing.
Meet our speakers:
Keynote: Dr Christopher Gardner
PhD, nutrition scientist and professor of medicine at the Stanford Prevention Research Center
For more than 30 years, Christopher Gardner, PhD, Rehnborg Farquhar Professor of Medicine at Stanford and nutrition scientist, has been a key faculty member at the Stanford Prevention Research Center where he leads the Stanford Nutrition Studies Research Group. With a PhD in Nutrition Science from UC Berkeley, he has led over 25 human nutrition intervention studies, including trials of Mediterranean, Ketogenic, Vegan, Low-Fat and Low-Carb diets and their effects on cardiometabolic outcomes such as blood lipids, glucose, and inflammation.
He is recognised as a leading expert, both nationally and internationally, on what to consume and avoid for optimal health, and how to best motivate individuals to achieve healthy dietary behaviours. He recently completed a two-year term serving on the 2025 US Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee and is the past chair of the American Heart Association’s Nutrition Committee.
Some of his current interests include stealth nutrition, unapologetic deliciousness, and institutional food settings. He is currently working on personalised nutrition explorations with several colleagues, with particular focus on the gut microbiome. He is frequently consulted by major outlets like The New York Times, CNN, and MSNBC for his expertise. His work was recently featured in the Emmy-awarded docuseries (January 2024) - You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment.
Dr Juliette Roex
Dr Juliette Roex (MBBS, BMedSc(Hons), FRACGP, DipIBLM) is a member of the DFN Advisory Council, and an Adelaide-based GP practising exclusively in Lifestyle Medicine at InHealth North Adelaide, and delivering Exercise Medicine to people with cancer at LIFT Cancer Care Services.
Having witnessed the power of whole food plant-based nutrition in her own life, and inspired by life-changing patient transformations during a clinical rotation at True North Health Center in Santa Rosa, California, Juliette made it her mission to help people get truly well - not just treat their symptoms. She holds a Diploma from the International Board of Lifestyle Medicine and a Certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition through eCornell University. A passionate educator, she regularly speaks at conferences and events for both healthcare professionals and the general public.
Dr Chris Davis BSc MBChB MRCGP FRACGP FAChAM is a GP and Addiction Medicine Specialist with over 15 years' clinical experience in alcohol and drug dependence across the UK and Australia. He is the clinical co-founder of Clean Slate Clinic, a social enterprise offering telehealth-based alcohol withdrawal and recovery support. Chris practises across hospital-based withdrawal units, community addiction services, and Clean Slate's telehealth platform. He is an advocate for reducing the barriers to accessing alcohol and other drug care, including the stigma that prevents many people from seeking treatment.
Dr Megan Lee is an Assistant Professor at Bond University, specialising in Nutritional and Lifestyle Psychiatry, with a PhD focused on whole‑of‑diet approaches to mood and mental health. As Secretary of the International Society of Nutritional Psychiatry Research (ISNPR), Dr Lee contributes significantly to the global advancement of this field. She has contributed to a recent NHMRC tender informing the update of the Australian Dietary Guidelines, with a specific focus on ultra‑processed foods (UPFs). Dr Lee’s research portfolio spans health promotion, lifestyle medicine, diet and mental health. Her work is dedicated to understanding and improving mental health outcomes through nutrition and other lifestyle factors, with a strong emphasis on translating research into practical, evidence‑based strategies for public health.
Rebecca Deutsch is the Certification Manager for the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine (ABLM), the Maintenance of Certification Manager for the International Board of Lifestyle Medicine (IBLM) as well as an IBLM exam proctor. She holds a Master of Science in Exercise Science and Health Promotion and a Bachelor of Science in K-12 Health and Physical Education. After five years of personal training and instructing fitness classes for the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh, she worked in corporate wellness in the healthcare industry for seven years before discovering lifestyle medicine. She is a fitness enthusiast and has been a DipIBLM and LM speaker since 2021. In addition to finding joy through fitness, she loves volunteering at her local children’s hospital and a local library reading with kids.
Doctors For Nutrition Board Director Dr Luke Wilson is a General Practitioner from Wellington, New Zealand, and is Board Certified by the International Board of Lifestyle Medicine. In addition to his medical degree (MBChB, Otago University), Luke holds a bachelors and a masters in psychology. In his final year of medical school, Luke studied and worked in Santa Rosa, California, as an intern for Dr John McDougall at the McDougall Health and Medical Center and also alongside Dr Michael Klaper and Dr Alan Goldhamer at the True North Health Center. After graduation, he worked at Gisborne Hospital and subsequently was co-lead researcher and creator of a community-based lifestyle intervention using whole food plant-based nutrition.
Luke founded Two Zesty Bananas with colleague Dr Matthew Hobbs in 2014. Since then he has co-authored The 21st Century Food Course, completed the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies Certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition, worked part-time as a general practitioner, and spoken at events in New Zealand, Australia and the USA. He has experience helping hundreds of people transform their lives by adopting a whole foods plant-based lifestyle, particularly through his work on the BROAD Study.
Luke is also a co-founder of Rourou Kai Ora, a Wellington-based charitable initiative that brings young people into the kitchen to prepare whole food plant-based, medically tailored meals for people in the community facing health challenges. Through this work, he brings together his interests in nutrition, lifestyle medicine, youth development, and community-based care.
Clint Paddison is an international speaker on plant-based lifestyle strategies for inflammatory arthritis recovery. After rheumatoid arthritis rapidly progressed to affect more than 20 joints and threatened his mobility, Clint rebuilt his health using a targeted plant-based nutrition approach combined with progressive exercise and lifestyle medicine principles.
Clint is the founder and CEO of Rheumatoid Solutions, a global virtual program helping people with rheumatoid arthritis improve function, reduce symptoms, and pursue long-term remission-level outcomes. His TEDx talk, podcast, and educational work have supported hundreds of thousands of people exploring evidence-based plant-forward approaches to autoimmune disease.
More speakers to be announced!
Stay tuned for updates of more speakers. Subscribe to stay in the loop.
Conference at a glance:
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DFN LM26 will take place in Sydney on 28 November 2026, offering a unique learning opportunity for both medical professionals and the public.
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Australasia’s only lifestyle medicine conference with a focus on whole food plant-based nutrition, featuring the latest research and practical strategies across the six pillars of lifestyle medicine to prevent and manage chronic diseases.
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For healthcare professionals registered to sit the lifestyle medicine certification exam, this is held on the following morning, 29 November 2026.
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Healthcare professionals attending the conference can earn 6 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hours, however everyone is welcome as all attendees will benefit from evidence-based sessions.
The Doctors For Nutrition Lifestyle Medicine Conference 2026 is a truly unique, world-class event. Hosted by Doctors For Nutrition, this event brings a truly unique learning opportunity to Sydney and is Australasia’s only nutrition-led lifestyle medicine conference focused on addressing the root causes of disease.
The Conference promises a dynamic program featuring internationally renowned speakers, panel discussions, and the latest evidence-based research on plant-based nutrition and lifestyle interventions. Attendees will gain practical insights into preventing, managing, and even reversing chronic diseases through accessible, science-backed strategies.
Benefits for Medical Professionals:
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Cutting-edge education: Stay ahead with the latest clinical research and guidelines in nutrition and lifestyle medicine, designed to enhance patient outcomes and professional expertise.
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Networking opportunities: Connect with a multidisciplinary network of clinicians, researchers, and thought leaders passionate about preventative health.
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Practical tools: Access resources and case studies to integrate nutrition and lifestyle medicine into daily practice, supporting sustainable, patient-centred care.
- CPD hours: Approved for 6 hours of CPD from RACGP and ACRRM.
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Lifestyle medicine certification: Opportunity to become a certified lifestyle medicine practitioner by sitting the exam following the conference.
Benefits for the General Public:
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Empowering knowledge: Learn how everyday choices can dramatically improve health, vitality, and longevity.
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Community engagement: Join a supportive community committed to building a healthier future for all Australians.
With chronic disease rates on the rise, DFN LM 26 offers a timely and vital platform for education, collaboration, and action. Whether you are a healthcare provider seeking to expand your toolkit or become certified in lifestyle medicine, or a member of the public eager to take charge of your wellbeing, this event is not to be missed.
Event Details:
Conference:
Date: 28th November
Location: Sydney Masonic Centre, 66 Goulburn Street, Sydney NSW
Lifestyle Medicine Exam (for registrants)
Date: Sunday 29th November
Location: The Oval Classroom, University of Technology, Sydney
Registration and Program Information: Visit the Doctors For Nutrition website for full registration details and to secure your place.
Join us in Sydney to unlock the power of food and lifestyle for a healthier tomorrow!
About us:
Doctors For Nutrition is an independent, registered charity founded in 2018 with the mission to inspire the healthcare sector, policymakers, and society at large to adopt nutrition-led lifestyle medicine as a powerful tool in disease prevention and care. With a team of medical and dietetic practitioners across Australia, New Zealand, and globally, Doctors For Nutrition works to equip clinicians, institutions, and communities with evidence-based education and resources on optimal human nutrition. The organisation advocates for the integration of whole food plant-based nutrition into mainstream healthcare to prevent, alleviate, and even reverse chronic diseases, aiming to create a world free from preventable disease where everyone can thrive and live to their full potential.
Contact details:
Rebecca Stonor, CEO
Doctors For Nutrition
[email protected]
0413309944
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DFN LM26 Speakers
