Amy Taylor KabbazKeynote |
Amy is one of the world's leading specialists in the field of matrescence.
As a former-journalist and award-winning producer for 15 years with the ABC, Amy brings a unique combination of research, story-telling and lived experience to her work. With an Honours Degree in International Politics and a post-graduate degree in International Development specialising in empowering women in developing countries, she is passionate about changing more than just the experience of the individual mother - but the culture and politics supporting mothers everywhere. 17 years after becoming a mother herself, Amy is the author of the global best-selling book ‘Mama Rising’ (Hay House), founder of the only ICF-recognised Matrescence-based coaching certification in the world, the host of the ‘The Happy Mama Movement’ podcast (with 600,000+ downloads), an internationally awarded Life Coach with more than 6000 mothers completing her online programs, and the creator of the #1 children’s podcast in Australia (with 30 million downloads!) ‘Bedtime Explorers’. In 2019, she launched her world first Matrescence Coaching Training and now has 300 coaches in 18 countries globally, and in 2023, established the Global Matrescence Foundation with the mission to change the way mothers are supported and valued in the world, whether in the boardroom, birthing suite or outback. Website - www.amytaylorkabbaz.com and mamarising.net
Instagram (personal) - https://www.instagram.com/amytaylorkabbaz/ Instagram (mama rising) - https://www.instagram.com/mamarisingmovement/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/amytaylorkabbaz/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/amytaylorkabbaz/ |
Andreina Innocenti Costa |
Andreina is a mum of two home birthed boys, a proud Latina, and happily calls Australia home for the past 12 years.
She is a doula and passionate movement teacher dedicated to helping people truly connect with and care for their bodies. For the past 12 years, she has specialised in Pilates, and for the last 3 years, she's brought this deep love of movement into my work as a doula. Andriena is a certified Body Ready Method® Pro, with additional training in Optimal Maternal Positioning (OMP) and Spinning Babies®. Her work is all about physiological breath, posture, and balancing the body and nervous system. She uses these principles throughout pregnancy to help create space for the baby, build suppleness, and set the stage for a smoother, more efficient birth and recovery. Andreina also relies on them for overall wellbeing and longevity—especially to rebalance herself after those not-so-straightforward births, so she can keep supporting families with a full heart and steady hands. |
Dr Andrew BisitsKeynote |
Dr. Andrew Bisits was the Medical Co Director of Maternity at the Royal Hospital for Women 2012-2025, Sydney, Australia- a tertiary academic hospital which oversees 3300-4000 births per year. He moved there from Newcastle, 150km north of Sydney, four years ago. In Newcastle he had been the director of Obstetrics for eight years. Currently he is having a break from active clinical practice and pursuing various teaching and research interests.
Dr Bisits has been in full time obstetrics for 40 years this time including the training and residency positions. He has had a long clinical and research interest in vaginal breech birth since the term breech trial was first planned. In the research arena he has a strong leaning towards epidemiology and biostatistics and preterm birth. In the clinical arena he has participated in several initiatives to promote and establish primary midwifery care programs for pregnant women. Dr Bisits has had conjoint associate professorial position with the UNSW and University of Newcastle. He was a previous chair of the Advanced Maternal and Reproductive Education group which runs maternity care courses on emergencies, maternity care basics and a breech course. |
Ashleigh Dodd |
I’m a devoted and deeply empathetic Doula, unapologetically passionate about walking alongside individuals and families through some of life’s most powerful and transformative moments.
I’ve been working as a Doula for over a decade, and my journey in Social Work began back in 2005. These experiences have shaped every part of who I am and how I authentically show up in this work. I’ve always felt a fierce responsibility to advocate for equalism, empowerment, education, and informed consent—through life’s beginnings, endings, and every transition in between. Now approaching 20 years in the field, I remain deeply humbled by the learning that happens every day. No two journeys are ever the same—and that’s what keeps my heart in it. I often say I’m just an “old gal” learning new tricks, and honestly, it’s what keeps the flame alive. Over the past decade, I’ve also had the privilege of working as a qualified Trainer & Assessor—supporting women in finding their path as Doulas. Mentoring, guiding, and reflecting with them has been one of the most meaningful parts of my career. Starting Mother Moon has allowed us to expand this support even further. We’ve stood beside many families offering holistic, heart-led care for babies who have died—supporting their loved ones through goodbyes filled with grace, dignity, and deep respect. I’m proud to offer a wide range of services to our Doula community—from mentoring, education, and trauma-informed care to end-of-life support, pregnancy, birth, postpartum, self-reflection, and personal growth. I’m wholeheartedly dedicated to this community and its future—and I’ve still got big dreams. We’re working tirelessly to bring them to life… and we’re not stopping anytime soon. |
Emma Burridge |
Emma Burridge is an Acupuncturist and birth worker with over 15 years of experience supporting women through fertility, pregnancy, and birth. She holds a Bachelor of Health Science in Acupuncture and is currently undertaking a Master’s in Women’s Health Medicine, she is also a Yoga, Pilates and breath work facilitator and integrates these modalities in her work.
Emma is deeply passionate about birth preparation and helping women feel calm, aligned and confident as they approach labour. She has a special love for teaching acupressure, a practical, hands-on technique that not only supports women during pregnancy and birth, but also empowers partners and doulas to feel confident in the ways they can bring comfort, connection, and relief. Her approach weaves together the wisdom of Chinese Medicine with modern, evidence-based knowledge, making the practices both grounded and accessible. Emma’s aim is to share tools that help create more positive, supported, and low-intervention birth experiences. |
Dr Hazel Keedle PhDKeynote |
Dr. Hazel Keedle is a Senior Lecturer of Midwifery and Director of Academic Midwifery Programs at the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University. Hazel has experience as a clinician in nursing and midwifery, and as an educator, and researcher. Her research interests are vaginal birth after caesarean, birth trauma, and maternity experiences. Hazel is the author of the book "Birth after Caesarean: Your Journey to a Better Birth" and “A Clinician’s Guide to Better Birth after Caesarean” which are based on her PhD findings. Hazel is also the lead researcher on the largest Australian maternity experiences survey, The Birth Experience Study (BESt) and the BESt International Collaboration.
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Jane Hardwicke Collings |
Jane Hardwicke Collings is a former midwife, teacher, writer and menstrual educator. She gives workshops in Australia and internationally on mother and daughter preparation for menstruation, the spiritual practice of menstruation, and the sacred dimensions of pregnancy and birth and menopause. Jane founded and runs The School of Shamanic Womancraft, an international Women’s Mysteries School.
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Katie RoseKeynote |
Katie Rose is a yoga teacher, ayurveda guide, doula and author with over 25 years of experience in the world of wellness. She holds accreditation with both Yoga Alliance and Yoga Australia as a registered experienced yoga teacher and teacher trainer with many thousands of teaching hours under her belt.
Katie was the manager of the prestigious TriYoga centre in London before moving to Sydney and opening Samadhi Yoga in 2004 followed by Jivamukti Yoga Sydney which at its peak was a four-studio business and is still a thriving community today. Her popular online courses have helped hundreds of women from all over the world in empower themselves. She is the founder and host of the annual Bhakti Women Online Yoga Summit and the author of several internationally available books including ‘Mindful Living’ (Rockpool Publishing) and ‘The Yoga of Birth’. Most recently she authored 'Trust Life, Trust Yourself, Find Peace' (published by Affirm Press).and new book Yoni Codes released in Aug 2025. Katie helps women go from feeling stuck and overwhelmed to living a life that is vibrant, creative and abundant. She lives in Sydney, Australia with her five children in a loud and busy household where her meditation practice keeps her sane! |
Kelli Zakharoff |
Kelli is a midwife, author, speaker, and advocate for the wellbeing of midwives. With over 25 years of experience in midwifery across hospitals, private practice, and homebirth, she has witnessed both the beauty and the heartbreak of the profession.
Kelli is the author of Midwife Crisis: From Trust to Trauma, a raw and powerful memoir exploring the hidden toll of caring for women and families through birth. Her work now focuses on creating safe spaces for midwives to share their stories, break the silence around trauma, and find sustainable ways to care for themselves as well as the women they serve. Through her book, podcast, and national Midwife Conversations tour, Kelli is igniting honest dialogue about vicarious trauma, resilience, and the urgent need for systemic change in maternity care. |
Melinda Cruz |
Melinda Cruz is mum to 3 boys born premature. She has been a lived-experience expert for 20 years and a consumer partner in neonatal research for more than 13 years, with a focus on improving outcomes for families of premature and sick babies.
She played a pivotal role in the Australian Placental Transfusion Study (APTS), which was recognised as Trial of the Year for its ground-breaking findings. Building on the success of APTS, Melinda was asked to be the Central Parent-Partner for the wamM (Wait a Minute or More) trial Bringing the parent and lived-experience perspective to the research process, Melinda helping to design, guide, and translate findings into real-world practice, and ensuring that the voices of families are central to neonatal care innovations. Through her work, she continues to champion research that bridges the gap between evidence and practice, demonstrating the powerful impact of involving lived experience in clinical trials to improve outcomes for babies and their families worldwide. She is the Founder of Miracle Babies Foundation, successfully leading the organisation for 17 years after starting it in 2005, following the premature births of her babies. Melinda continues to make an impact as a Senior Research Officer at the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Clinical Trials Centre, at the University of Sydney, with key roles with the Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand's (PSANZ) Lived Experience Advisory Network, Australian and New Zealand Neonatal Network (ANZNN) and the Australian Life Blood Milk Bank Advisory Board. She is co-author of 27 peer-reviewed publications, contributed to THRIVE Global and is co-host of the NICU Lived podcast, empowering families in research, advocacy, and improved clinical practices. She holds leading roles on a number of trials - PLATIPUS Lived Experience Committee Chair, wamM Central Parent-Partner, SurPre Working Group Co-Chair and APTvsCT consumer lead. Melinda is working to continue her impact through a new initiative, BarluMe, a brand focused on women's health to support healthier pregnancies and better baby outcomes |
Dr Namira Williams |
Dr Namira Williams is founder and a Director of Inclusive Parenting (formerly disAbility Maternity Care). She brings to her role a long career as clinician, researcher, innovator, and mother with lived experience of intellectual disability and autism.
Her career focus on working predominantly with vulnerable groups of women, including Indigenous women, young teen mothers, and women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds has contributed to her receiving several awards including ‘ACM Midwife of the Year 2013 (NSW)’. Key findings from Namira ‘s PhD on maternity care for women with intellectual disability have strongly influenced the vision, goals and direction of Inclusive Parenting, along with the more recent establishment of NDIS Registered organisation DMC Support. Her passion and commitment to changing the conversation and perceptions about parents with disabilities have seen her present at many conferences and provide evidence at the NSW Parliament Select Committee on Birth Trauma in 2024. |
Natalie Meade |
Natalie has run the Newcastle Birth Movement, a successful community project, for over seven years. Providing emotional support and holistic education approaches for pregnant women—filling the gap, so often left by hospitals. Natalie will share her hard learnt lessons and, the current sustainable model with you, plus, tips and ideas for how you might like to replicate it in your local area!
Birth Doula, Counsellor and Educator (GradDipC, GradDipPsyc, GradDipEd, BSc (Hons), CCB, CH, M.A.C.A Level 2) |
Dr Nicole Highet |
Founder and Executive Director
COPE: Centre of Perinatal Excellence Dr Nicole Highet is a Doctor of Psychology specialising in perinatal mental health and is the Founder and Executive Director of the Centre of Perinatal Excellence (COPE). COPE was established in 2013 in response to the growth and success of Australia’s National Perinatal Depression Initiative (NPDI) and the need to develop more sustainable and innovative approaches to implement best practice. COPE’s work includes National guideline development and world-leading innovative approaches to e-health promotion and stigma reduction, psycho-education, e-screening platforms, online training, research and e-referral pathways via the e-COPE Directory. |
Oceane Campbell |
Oceane Campbell is a proud and passionate midwife and writer working. In her latest book, “Labour of Love”, Oceane shares birth stories with illuminating insights into the issues of consent, risk and autonomy that exist in our maternity care system. Oceane’s first book The Silence Between Us: A Mother and Daughter’s Conversation Through Suicide and into Life (2021), is a raw and original double memoir tracing mother and daughter as they try to understand and rebuild their relationship after Oceane’s suicide attempt as a teenager.
Before becoming a midwife, Oceane completed a psychology degree with honours. In 2022, she was named Newcastle Woman of the Year for her advocacy work in mental health and improving LGBTQI+ families accessing maternity care |
Dr. Oscar Serrallach MBChB FRACGPKeynote |
Dr. Oscar Serrallach MBChB FRACGP is a dedicated practitioner in the field of Maternal Care, specialising in supporting Mothers in the months and years after giving birth.
His past medical training has incorporated various specialties, including Family Medicine, Indigenous Health, Addiction Medicine, Psychiatry, and General Practice, with extensive postgraduate studies in numerous aspects of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine. Since 2010, Oscar has dedicated his work to the condition he has identified as ‘Postnatal Depletion', and in 2018 his groundbreaking book The Postnatal Depletion Cure was published. He remains committed to advancing Mothercare research by integrating cutting-edge neurobiological studies of the maternal brain with diverse cultural perspectives on postpartum support. Oscar’s firmly held belief is that there is nothing more important than the health and wellbeing of Mothers - when Mothers are happy, health and rested, our families benefit, our communities benefit and society benefits. He has created The MotherCare Project to develop educational materials and online content aimed at both mothers and healthcare professionals involved in Mothercare. His work also includes numerous collaborations aimed at fostering a supportive network for mothers worldwide, helping to enhance maternal care and heal our society “one mother at a time.” He is also a well-regarded speaker on various topics related to maternal health. Oscar lives near Byron Bay, Australia with his wife and three children. |
Rhea Dempsey |
Rhea is a passionate woman of birth; she is an Educator, Trainer, Doula, Counsellor, Speaker, Activist and Author
Rhea’s understanding of birth has been gained over four decades. She has presented nationally and internationally and is recognized as an insightful commentator on the difficulties women, who have a yearning for normal physiological birth, face in navigating present birth culture. And is respected as one of Australia’s foremost thinkers on the topic of working with pain in childbirth and its connection to normal physiological birth. Her books, Birth with Confidence: savvy choices for normal birth and Beyond the Birth Plan: getting real about pain and power, as well as giving a clear account of the challenges faced by contemporary birthing women, also map out a path to powerful birthing experiences. Rhea is the mother of three adult daughters, and five delicious home born grandchildren. To find out more about Rhea’s books and work, visit her website www.rheadempsey.com.au FaceBook – Rhea Dempsey Birthing Wisdom Instagram – rheadempseybirth Twitter - @rheadempsey |
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