Plenary speakers

Robyn Alders 

AO, bsc(vet) Hons I, BVSc Hons I, DipVetClinStud., PhD

Robyn Alders AO focuses on the development of sustainable infectious disease control in animals in resource-limited areas in support of food and nutrition security, income generation, wildlife conservation and public health. She holds honorary affiliations with the Australian National University, the Royal Veterinary College in London and Tufts University, Boston and is a Senior Consulting Fellow with the Chatham House Global Health Programme. Robyn is a Commissioner with the Lancet–PPATS Commission on Prevention of Viral Spillover: reducing the risk of pandemics through primary prevention.

Rebecca Ray 

Dr Rebecca Ray is a clinical psychologist, author and speaker who helps big-picture-thinking people master their psychology. Over the course of two decades of consultations, speaking events, books, and audio, she has encouraged thousands of humans making an impact on the world to live a life that's fulfilling, unapologetic, and free. Beck’s expertise as a professional zig-zagger sets her apart as one of Australia’s most in-demand and authoritative voices in the personal development space. Her science-backed, hard and heart truth approach is uniquely informed by her pivots from pilot to psychologist, from dating men to marrying a woman, and from being burnt out to bestselling author. Beck is the author of six books, including Be Happy, The Art of Self-Kindness, The Universe Listens to Brave, Setting Boundaries, Small Habits for a Big Life, and Difficult People (released in May 2023). She lives in the soul-fed hills of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland with the great loves of her life: her wife Nyssa, son Bennett, two rescue Irish Setters and one gangly Weimaraner.

Keynote speakers

Sheilah Robertson BVMS (Hons), CertVA, PhD, DACVAA, DECVAA, DACAW, DECAWBM (AWSEL), FRCVS.

Senior Medical Director - Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice and Courtesy professor, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida. 

Dr. Robertson grew up in Scotland and graduated from Glasgow University. Her career in veterinary medicine has included time as a general practitioner, surgery intern, anesthesia trainee, PhD student, clinician, and teacher in university veterinary schools in the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States. She is board certified in anesthesia and in animal welfare by the respective American and European Colleges and holds a certificate in small animal acupuncture. In 2014 she completed her graduate certificate in Shelter Medicine at the University of Florida. She is also a certified Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine Palliative and End-of-Life practitioner.
Dr. Robertson has published numerous peer reviewed papers related to anesthesia and analgesia in dogs, cats, horses and even iguanas. She has been a member of many committees that have produce practical guidelines for clinicians, including the 2022 WSAVA guidelines for the recognition, assessment and treatment of pain, the 2022 ISFM Consensus Guidelines on the Management of Acute Pain in Cats, the 2021 AAFP Feline Senior Care Guidelines and the 2018 AAFP Feline Anesthesia Guidelines. She has a special interest in sedation, anesthesia, and analgesia of older pets and in helping them enjoy life to the fullest.
Dr. Robertson joined Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice as their Senior Medical Director in 2017. In this role, she supports over 300 veterinarians throughout the US by providing the latest information on pain management, geriatric and end of life care and presenting continuing education at national conferences and local veterinary medical association meetings.

Heidi Lobprise

Dr. Heidi Lobprise received her DVM from Texas A & M University in 1983 and became a Diplomate of the American Veterinary Dental College in 1993. After 20 years of practice, she worked in industry for 11 years, then returned to private specialty practice becoming “semi-retired” in 2021. She is the author/co-author of three dental texts, including the third edition of Five-Minute Veterinary Consult – Clinical Companion Small Animal Dentistry, has written many chapters and articles on dentistry and senior care and has lectured internationally. She helped organize the SPA (Senior Pet Advocates) Initiative. She also serves on the Fear Free Advisory Board and the Grey Muzzle Advisory Board.