Speaker Announcement: Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine Symposium, Adelaide
Doctors For Nutrition
Doctors For Nutrition is proud to announce the highly anticipated Nutrition & Lifestyle Medicine Symposium 2025 (NLMS25), set to take place in Adelaide 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.
Tickets selling fast! Grab yours today.
Meet our speakers:
Exercise physiologist, sports scientist, diabetes educator (Drew's Daily Dose)
After being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 22, Drew made it his mission to regain control of his health by making positive changes to the way that he lives, eats, moves, and the mindset with which he approaches life. Drew has not only accepted living with diabetes but has also learned to manage it so that it doesn’t manage him.
Drew’s media appearances include his inspirational TEDx talk which has been well-received by thousands of people living with diabetes worldwide. He has appeared on popular podcasts such as The Rich Roll Podcast and is a frequent guest on Simon Hill’s ‘The Proof Podcast’. He also has numerous TV appearances. Drew has been featured in many print/online publications such as Men’s Health and Women’s Health.
He is also an ambassador for notable diabetes organisations such as Diabetes Australia, The DANII Foundation, and Breakthrough T1D.
Drew is the co-founder of Drew’s Daily Dose Insulin Pen Needles, a government-subsidised pharmaceutical product on the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS).
Dr Heleen Haitjema
Co-Founder & Chair of Board
Dr Heleen Haitjema is a retired paediatrician, educated in the Netherlands (Doctor of Medicine, Cum Laude, University of Utrecht; Medical Specialist, Paediatrician, Free University Amsterdam). She holds a Certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition through eCornell University and has qualified as a Food For Life instructor with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine in Washington DC. She conducts community courses in her hometown of Adelaide in this capacity.
Heleen has co-organised, presented at and attended numerous Australian, North American and European plant-based nutrition conferences, symposia, grand rounds and community events. She co-founded Doctors For Nutrition in 2018, and is chair of the Board of Directors.
General Practitioner
Dr Juliette Roex (MBBS, Hons (BMedSc)) is a member of the DFN Advisory Council, and a GP registrar in Adelaide, South Australia, soon to be Fellow of the RACGP. In 2017, she completed a rotation at True North in Santa Rosa, California, under the guidance of Dr Alan Goldhamer, Dr Michael Klaper and Dr Doug Lisle. She holds a Certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition through eCornell University and has enjoyed attending and speaking at numerous national and international symposia and conferences.
Dr Roex will be presenting on ‘Why restorative sleep is vital to health’, one of the core pillars of a Lifestyle Medicine practice.
Internal Medicine Physician
Dr Lisa Kennedy is an internal medicine physician with a special interest in metabolic health, women’s hormonal health, and the management of complex chronic syndromes including long COVID, ME/CFS, POTS, and MCAS. Her clinical practice blends rigorous, evidence-based medicine with a deeply human, non-judgmental approach—rooted in her strong belief in patient autonomy, self-determination, and non-patriarchal care.
Dr Kennedy will be sharing insights as to how to navigate perimenopause and menopause using evidence based lifestyle interventions.
Symposium Mindfulness Meditation Facilitator
Dr Kaitlin Harkess is a clinical psychologist, senior yoga instructor, meditation teacher, speaker and podcaster. Her passion is integrating modern psychology, lifestyle medicine, and mindfulness-based tools to support people thriving in their highest potential.
Dr Harkess will lead our free mindfulness meditation session on Saturday 8 November at 7.30am prior to the commencement of the symposium program. Tickets are limited so get in quick to avoid disappointment. You can secure your spot when you purchase your symposium ticket.
Executive Director | ABLM & IBLM
Stephan is a business professional who was born and raised in Switzerland and spent most of his professional career working for large multi-nationals in Australia, Europe and the US. He established the American and International Boards of Lifestyle Medicine, helping to bring standardised lifestyle medicine certification to all corners of the globe.
Stephan will be presenting on ‘How diet and lifestyle can help you THRIVE’, outlining the importance of the six core pillars of Lifestyle Medicine.
CEO | Hello Sunday Morning
Dr Nicole Lee is the CEO at Hello Sunday Morning, the world’s largest digital peer support program for alcohol. She is a globally recognised leader in alcohol and other drug treatment and policy. With over 35 years in the sector she has worked in treatment, academia, evaluation, policy development and training. Nicole is also Adjunct Professor at the National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University, and CEO at 360Edge.
Dr Lee will be presenting on ‘Changing Australians’ relationship with alcohol’, outlining the importance of the core Lifestyle Medicine pillar: Avoidance of risky substances.
GP | Life Medical Mullumbimby
Dr Sam Gartland is a UK-trained General Practitioner whose practice of medicine has been profoundly influenced by his own recovery from multiple sclerosis (MS). His area of interest is Lifestyle Medicine, an evidence-based approach for the prevention and reversal of chronic and lifestyle-related conditions. He is the founder of a GP clinic, Life Medical Mullumbimby, informed by evidence-based Lifestyle Medicine.
Dr Gartland will be presenting on ‘Lifestyle medicine in clinical practice’, sharing his advice on incorporating the core principles of Lifestyle Medicine into patient care.
Dietitian | Cor Dietitian
Nina Trinquet is an Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) and PhD candidate at Monash University, where she is researching the effects of dietary patterns, specifically dietary fibre, on endothelial function (an early indicator of cardiovascular disease).
Plant-based since 2017, Nina runs a private practice, Cor Dietitian, specialising in the prevention and treatment of chronic disease, particularly cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. She also provides nutrition support within the youth justice system, aiming to improve health outcomes for young people in contact with the justice system.
Nina advocates for a whole food plant-based diet and has a strong interest in working towards a food system that is health-promoting, environmentally sustainable, and ethically responsible.
More speakers to be announced!
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Symposium at a glance:
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The symposium will take place in Adelaide on 8 November 2025, offering a unique learning opportunity for both medical professionals and the public.
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An optional ‘Culinary Medicine workshop’ to be held on 9 November 2025, along with the exam for Lifestyle Medicine certification registrants.
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Australasia’s only lifestyle medicine symposium 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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Healthcare professionals attending the symposium can earn Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hours, however everyone is welcome and attendees will benefit from evidence-based sessions.
The Nutrition & Lifestyle Medicine Symposium 2025 is a two-part event held across two locations in Adelaide on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 November 2025. Hosted by Doctors For Nutrition, this event brings a truly unique learning opportunity to Adelaide. The Symposium promises a dynamic program featuring internationally renowned speakers, interactive workshops, 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.
With chronic disease rates on the rise, the Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine Symposium 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:
Symposium:
Date: 8th November
Location: University of Adelaide, Adelaide Health & Medical Sciences building, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA
Culinary Medicine Workshop (optional)
Date: Sunday 9th November
Location: Inparrila @ Wyatt Trust, 161 Frome Street, Adelaide
Lifestyle Medicine Exam (for registrants)
Date: Sunday 9th November
Location: Inparrila @ Wyatt Trust, 161 Frome Street, Adelaide
Registration and Program Information: Visit the Doctors For Nutrition website for full registration details and to secure your place.
Join us in Adelaide 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 whole food plant-based nutrition 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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Speaker Announcement
