Crowne Plaza Gold Coast

29th & 30th May 2026

Meet Your Presenters

The Healthy Ageing Summit 2026 brings together a world-class lineup of thought leaders, innovators and frontline practitioners who are shaping the future of longevity, preventive health and age-positive wellbeing.

This year’s presenters are renowned for their deep expertise across physiology, neuroscience, sleep, movement, menopause, audiology, behavioural change, integrative health and performance. Their collective work spans decades of research, clinical application and real-world coaching—delivering evidence-based strategies that uplift the wellbeing of ageing adults and support the professionals who work with them.

From groundbreaking new science to practical frameworks you can implement immediately, every speaker brings all-new content, updated research, and future-focused insights tailored specifically for 2026. You’ll hear from leading academics, seasoned clinicians, elite coaches and transformational educators—Together, these presenters will unpack the most important trends shaping the longevity space—from metabolic health and mobility restoration, to the psychology of behaviour change, sleep optimisation, hearing health, and the role of environment, purpose, connection, and nervous system regulation as we age.

Every session is designed to inspire, challenge, and elevate your practice—giving you tools, frameworks, and confidence to support ageing adults with clarity and evidence-based care.

Ian O'Dwyer

Foundation Movement Specialist & Co Founder FeelSOMA

Ian O’Dwyer is a globally respected movement specialist, educator, and co-founder of Feel SOMA, a practical self-care system that enhances movement, recovery, tissue health, and performance through accessible fascia and myofascial techniques. With nearly four decades in the health, fitness, and wellbeing space, his diverse career spans movement coaching, bodywork, sports conditioning, mentorship, and global presenting. Ian also co-founded PTA Global and led OD on Movement for over 20 years, shaping the next generation of movement professionals.

Known affectionately as “OD,” he brings an inclusive, insightful, and transformative approach that blends biomechanics with emotional and physical wellbeing. His ability to connect with audiences, simplify complex principles, and inspire action makes him a standout keynote speaker for the 2026 Healthy Ageing Summit.

Dr Wendy Sweet

Menopause Secialist & Pioneer

Dr Wendy Sweet (PhD) is a global menopause education and healthy ageing expert with more than four decades in the health and exercise industry. Originally an ICU nurse and later a pioneer of New Zealand’s personal training sector, she became a university lecturer before completing a PhD focused on women’s healthy ageing and the menopause transition.

Her lived experience with menopause symptoms inspired her to found My Menopause Transformation™ (MyMT™)—a science-based online programme and professional training platform that helps thousands of women and health practitioners understand and manage sleep, weight, joint health, energy and hormonal change through lifestyle-centred strategies. mymenopausetransformation.com

Dr Sweet’s work bridges research and real-world outcomes, empowering women to thrive through midlife and beyond with evidence-informed, holistic solutions.

Dr Paul Taylor

Psychophysiologist & Neuroscientist

Dr. Paul Taylor is a distinguished stress resilience and human performance expert whose work bridges neuroscience, physiology, psychology, and nutrition. A former British Royal Navy Aircrew Officer with high-pressure combat and search-and-rescue experience, he transitioned into academia and applied science, now completing a PhD in Applied Psychology focused on developing and testing resilience strategies with leading research partners.

As Director of Paul Taylor Consulting, he delivers keynote talks, leadership workshops, and resilience programs to organisations including Oracle, SAP, PwC and the Australian Defence Force, all grounded in evidence-based research showing measurable improvements in hardiness, cognitive function and wellbeing.

Paul is an award-winning author of Death By Comfort and The Hardiness Effect, host of a top-ranked podcast, and highly sought-after for translating complex science into practical tools for thriving through stress and ageing well.

Angela Lee Jenkins

Performance & Lifestyle Speaker

Angela Lee Jenkins is a leadership and wellbeing consultant, keynote speaker, and coach with more than 30 years’ experience helping individuals, teams, and organisations build cultures where purpose, wellbeing, and humanity sit at the centre of work and life. With a background in exercise physiology and postgraduate studies in mental health and wellbeing leadership, Angela brings a whole-person, whole-system approach to healthy ageing. She is a leading advocate for Wellbeing Intelligence as a core capability across all life stages.

A former Australian Touch Football Representative, Angela blends performance insight with compassion and lived experience. She is the founder of Wellbeing Changemakers and creator of the Will to Liv movement, inspiring people to cultivate vitality, connection, and meaning—daily, at every age.

Dave Liow

Functional Health & Longevity Expert

Dave Liow is a seasoned holistic movement coach, exercise physiologist, and founder of the Holistic Movement Coach Programme. With over 30 years of experience in health, exercise, and human movement, Dave’s work is driven by a deep passion for helping people move well, age well, and live better. Based on the Sunshine Coast, Australia, he also co-owns and directs Kaizen Exercise Physiologists, where he blends evidence-based practice with a holistic perspective to support functional strength, mobility, and lifelong resilience.

Dave’s lifelong commitment to movement education and client-centred care has made him a respected voice in the health and longevity space. His engaging approach empowers professionals and individuals alike to optimise performance, reduce pain, and enhance quality of life as they age

Shena Dale

Physiotherapist Movement Rx

Shena Dale is an experienced, musculoskeletal physiotherapist based in Redcliffe, passionate about helping people move with confidence and live pain-free lives. With a strong foundation in evidence-based assessment and treatment, she specialises in rehabilitation, movement optimisation, injury prevention, and improving functional performance across all ages. Shena combines clinical expertise with a personalised, patient-centred approach, empowering individuals to understand their bodies and achieve long-term wellness goals. As a trusted health professional, she works collaboratively with clients and allied practitioners to support recovery, promote resilience and enhance quality of life.

Known for her practical insights and commitment to ongoing professional development, Shena brings both depth of experience and relatable communication to her work—making her a valuable contributor to conversations on movement, ageing and holistic health.

Reece Cooper

Clinical Audiologist

We’re currently awaiting the presenter’s official biography. This will be updated shortly to reflect their background, expertise, and contribution to the Healthy Ageing Summit.

Please check back soon for more details on this session and the presenter’s professional journey.

Robyn Walker

Transformational Growth Specialist

Robyn Walker is a transformational growth specialist, speaker, and author with more than three decades of experience working at the intersection of leadership, human behaviour, and personal development. Her career has spanned corporate boardrooms, community settings, and correctional environments, giving her a rare and deeply human perspective on what drives behaviour, connection, and change.

Robyn’s work challenges traditional, hierarchical leadership models, instead prioritising empathy, self-awareness, and authentic connection as the foundations of sustainable leadership and wellbeing. Known for her powerful presence and ability to connect deeply with audiences, she blends lived experience with practical insight, offering real-world lessons that inspire reflection and action. Through her work with individuals, teams, and organisations, Robyn equips people to lead—and live—with greater clarity, compassion, and purpose.

Dr Cam McDonald

Dietition in Epigenetics

Dr. Cam McDonald is a PhD scholar, Accredited Exercise Physiologist, and Practising Dietitian specialising in personalised nutrition, circadian biology, and healthy ageing. As CEO of the Precision Health Alliance and a Fellow of the Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine, his work focuses on reducing inflammation, enhancing recovery, and extending healthspan through biology-led lifestyle strategies.

Dr. Cam integrates precision health, epigenetics, and AI to help trainers and health professionals move beyond one-size-fits-all advice and achieve more meaningful client outcomes. A regular media commentator on ABC Radio and Channel 7 News, he is widely recognised for translating complex scientific concepts into practical, performance-focused insights that can be confidently applied in real-world health and fitness settings.

Richard Boyd

Director of Global Wellness Designs

Richard Boyd is a seasoned health and wellness innovator with over 30 years’ experience shaping the fitness, coaching and recovery landscape. He is the creator of influential brands including PT on the Net and PTA Global, and has held senior executive roles driving education, strategy and industry growth across Australasia and beyond.

Richard is passionate about future-focused coaching, recovery science and sustainable wellbeing, blending practical insights with emerging trends in digital coaching, wellness tech and personalised practice. His contributions to industry thought leadership have made him a respected voice among trainers, club leaders and allied health professionals.

A regular presenter at the Healthy Ageing Summit, Richard engages audiences with actionable strategies to elevate practice, embrace innovation and support ageing populations with meaningful, evidence-informed solutions.

Fiona Cosgrove

Wellness Coaching Australia

Fiona Cosgrove is a pioneer in health and wellness coaching with a career spanning fitness, education, and behaviour change. Beginning in the fitness industry, she owned and managed multiple successful health clubs in Sydney, lectured at universities, and studied exercise science for many years. Since 2007, Fiona has been a leading force in Health and Wellness Coaching (HWC), self-publishing a best-selling book on lifestyle behaviour change and educating thousands of professionals across Australia.

She is the founder of Wellness Coaching Australia (WCA), through which more than 4,000 coaches have been trained, and played a key role in achieving international certification recognition outside the US. Fiona has spoken at major health conferences, co-authored academic research and global white papers, and was awarded HCANZA’s inaugural Hall of Fame honour. Holding multiple Master’s degrees and international coaching credentials, Fiona is deeply passionate about healthy ageing, purpose, and empowering people to thrive across life’s later decades.

Laraine Dunn

Movement, Longevity & the Art of Ageing Well

A highly respected national and international presenter, Laraine is a rare and inspiring force in the fitness and wellbeing industry, embodying successful, joyful, and fearless ageing. Her career spans decades of leadership, service, and innovation, recognised through numerous accolades including the Australian Fitness Industry Lifetime Achievement Award and Australian Fitness Professional of the Year.

A long-standing business owner and mentor, Laraine’s expertise ranges from keynote conference presentations to grassroots delivery of senior exercise classes. Her professional background includes roles as an accredited sports coach, fitness educator, masseur, kinesiologist, reflexologist, and fitness instructor, supported by two research-based Master’s degrees.

The true highlight of her career is her clients—many aged 60 to 90—some of whom have trained with her for over 30 years, reflecting her enduring impact and trusted presence in healthy ageing.

Chris Barnes

Genetic Health Strategist

Chris Barnes is a Genetic Health Strategist who bridges the worlds of fitness, functional health and longevity. With over 13 years’ experience as a personal trainer, gym owner and semi-professional rugby player, Chris built his career on doing everything “right”—yet struggled with anxiety, poor recovery and burnout. The turning point came when genetic testing revealed key variants, including MTHFR and COMT, reshaping his understanding of health and performance.

Today, Chris specialises in how genetics influence stress resilience, mental health, recovery and biological ageing. He has analysed more than 500 DNA reports, identifying patterns that impact training outcomes and long-term wellbeing. A featured expert in Men’s Health Magazine and keynote speaker alongside global leaders in health and biohacking, Chris is known for translating complex genetic science into clear, practical strategies for professionals and the clients they serve.

Christian Mason

Director of BIOAGE

Christian Mason is a health and fitness leader with deep experience driving growth, innovation and strategic expansion in the global wellness industry. He served as Managing Director for Virgin Active South East Asia, where he led the launch and development of multiple health clubs in Singapore and Thailand, shaping culture, member experience and performance-driven fitness programming across diverse markets.

Christian is passionate about sustainable wellbeing, community-centred activity, and the future of movement as a lifelong pursuit. His work emphasises evidence-based approaches, operational excellence, and empowering individuals and professionals to embrace active ageing with confidence. As a leader and speaker, Christian brings strategic insight and practical wisdom to discussions about fitness, resilience and longevity across the lifespan.

Dr Giselle Withers

Clinical Psychologist

Dr Giselle Withers is a Senior Clinical Psychologist and mindfulness teacher with more than 20 years’ experience supporting individuals with chronic sleep disturbance, long-term illness, trauma, anxiety, and depression. She is the founder of A Mindful Way, an evidence-based online sleep improvement program that combines mindfulness meditation training with cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I).

Dr Withers holds a Doctor of Psychology (Clinical) from La Trobe University, is registered with AHPRA, a Fellow of the College of Clinical Psychologists with the Australian Psychological Society, and a member of the Australasian Sleep Association. Her current research explores the effectiveness of digital sleep interventions for older adults, with a focus on improving sleep quality, resilience, and overall wellbeing.

coming soon

To Be Confirmed

This session will explore one of the most important and evolving conversations in healthy ageing and longevity. Designed for professionals working with adults 45+, it will challenge conventional thinking, connect evidence with real-world application, and highlight practical insights that can be applied across movement, lifestyle, and wellbeing contexts.

More details about the presenter and session focus will be announced shortly. Expect a thought-provoking presentation that aligns with the Healthy Ageing Institute’s whole-person framework and supports confident, informed decision-making when working with ageing individuals.