Kathy Tupper started her professional life as a Technical Officer in Pathology, but she quickly transitioned to her career as a therapist when she earned her Associate Diploma in Health Science (Massage Therapy) over 28 years ago.

Her friends and patients brought in their pets for treatment, and Kathy was amazed at how well they responded to a gentle, listening touch.

Kathy worked for 20 years in an Osteopathic clinic in Sydney, during which time she completed a 5-year degree and Masters of Osteopathy at the University of Western Sydney. Treating her friends' pets always gave her great joy - and was a welcome relief from all the study.

Osteopathy in the Cranial Field has always been Kathy's passion, and she has been fortunate to receive amazing mentoring while pursuing further education with many post graduate qualifications both in Australia and overseas.

Her graduate diploma in Animal Biomechanical Medicine was a gift to herself to be able to integrate something she genuinely loves with the delight of communicating with and and helping animals.

After moving to Queensland, Kathy opened Bribie Animal Osteopathy. After many years of treating humans, she looks forward to seeing more of her furry/scaly/feathered friends and their lovely owners.

Sam Sherrington is an osteopath with a lifelong passion for helping both people and animals move well, feel well and perform at their best. From an early age she was the kid who could always be found around horses, dogs and paddocks, and that love of animals never left her, with various disciplines with her own dogs and horses filling her spare time throughout the years. Although she originally dreamed of becoming a vet, osteopathy turned out to be the perfect pathway - allowing her to work hands-on with both humans and animals in a holistic, integrative way.

Sam graduated with a Master of Osteopathy from the University of Western Sydney in 2003 and spent six years in human practice, treating everyone from newborns through to older adults. Wanting to extend this care to animals, she went on to complete a Postgraduate Diploma in Animal Chiropractic with Distinction, now more broadly recognised in Australia as Animal Biomechanical Medicine (ABM) - a field drawing together the expertise of vets, osteopaths and chiropractors.

From 2010 to 2017, Sam ran Centaurus Equestrian Rehabilitation in County Kildare, Ireland, a mobile practice treating horses, dogs and the occasional farm animal. Alongside her clinical work, she also developed and trained her own horses, further deepening her understanding of biomechanics, rehabilitation and the demands of equestrian sport.

In 2017 she returned home to the Hawkesbury, NSW, where she re-established a thriving and varied practice, Centaurus Osteopathy, treating horses, dogs, cats and humans. She currently focuses primarily on the canine side of her practice, working from her property in Tennyson.

Her caseload has ranged from performance horses to beloved family pets, and from tiny toy breeds through to working dogs.

Away from the treatment room, Sam homeschools her two daughters, juggles family and farm life, and keeps learning and developing her knowledge and skills both in practice and in her care and involvement with her own animals in their sports of choice. For Sam, the real reward lies in helping both people and animals find their way to their best health, so they can enjoy every magical day together doing what they love.

Amy began her education by pursuing an Animal Health Technology Diploma at Olds College, Alberta, Canada in 2008. After working in general practice for a few years, she saw the struggles of old arthritic pets and wanted to learn what more she could do to help them. She began working at an assisted swimming pool for dogs and was inspired by the improvements her patients received in comfort and mobility. This lead her to completing the University of Tennessee CCRP (Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner) Program in 2017. Amy had the opportunity to practice rehabilitation as an additional service at various clinics, as well as a rehabilitation centre that had an underwater treadmill. Always wanting to find more ways to help, and concerned about the long term effects of NSAIDs, Amy completed a Graduate Diploma in Veterinary Acupuncture through CIVT (College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies). Amy’s unique certifications enabled her to move to Honolulu, where she works at VERC, a specialty referral centre. She sees in-house post surgical referrals from the Neurology and Surgery services, as well as referrals from other clinics and more chronic or conservative/non-surgical cases. She particularly enjoys teaching owners how to do home PT exercises so they can be an active participant in their pets' care.

Ruth Hatten is a qualified Animal Naturopath, Pet Nutritionist, and Energy Healer who brings a deeply holistic and compassionate approach to animal wellness. Specialising in integrating the wisdom of natural therapies, tailored nutrition, and energy healing modalities, Ruth supports animals in achieving vibrant health and wellbeing.

With over ten years of experience, Ruth creates personalised holistic wellness plans that encompass nutritional strategies, natural remedies, and energy balancing techniques, empowering pet parents to nurture their animals naturally. Her unique practice weaves together ancient healing wisdom with modern, evidence-based care, effectively addressing chronic health issues and promoting long-term vitality.

Recognising that the wellbeing of an animal is deeply connected to that of their human guardian, Ruth also provides heartfelt support and education to pet parents. She helps them understand their role in their animal's health journey, equips them with practical skills, and nurtures a deeper heart-soul connection between animals and their humans.

In addition to working closely with pet parents, Ruth collaborates with animal-loving businesses, guiding the formulation of natural foods and supplements. She also mentors and supports fellow practitioners by sharing effective techniques and protocols to holistically enhance the lives of animals and their human guardians.

Kathleen Crisley (CSMT, CTMT, SCMT, CCFT) is the founder of The Balanced Dog in Christchurch, New Zealand. She has been providing mobile dog massage, rehab and fitness services for dogs since 2009.

Kathleen holds certifications in canine therapeutic, sports and senior canine massage from the Rocky Mountain School of Animal Acupressure and Massage in Colorado. She recognised the connection between pain and behaviour early in her practice, undertaking canine behaviour courses at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah before becoming NZ’s first Fear-Free certified therapist in 2018.

Since injury prevention is a foundation to good health, she became a sponsor of the 4 Paws Marathon in Christchurch in 2018, which is now an annual event. In 2023, she gained her Certified Canine Fitness Trainer qualification from the University of Tennessee, study which had been interrupted by the Covid pandemic.

Kathleen describes her services as ‘wraparound care’ which integrates with the traditional care provided by veterinarians. Her starting point with any new client is a thorough review of the dog’s veterinary records.

As a fully mobile practice, she values the opportunity to work in the homes of her human clients, where dogs and their families are most comfortable. This helps to build trust and understanding whilst enabling Kathleen to design exercises using items in the home, making it easy to adhere to the exercise programme.

With a first career in Environmental Science which lasted 20 years, Kathleen is a self-confessed Science Geek who follows developments in medical research, cognition and behaviour. Her blog, DoggyMom.com, is updated regularly with updates from the canine world. She has been writing a monthly column, The Canine Corner, forthe NZ Kennel Club, for the last15 years.

A ‘dog person’ for all of her life, Kathleen currently shares her home with a rescue greyhound named Sox. Managing his inflammatory bowel disease inspired her to start a support group for other dog owners. She also takes in special needs dogs for foster care.

Natalie’s career in the veterinary industry began almost 35 years ago as a trainee nurse after she finished secondary school. As her career progressed, she developed a strong interest in surgical nursing, in particular Orthopaedics, Soft tissue surgery and Rehabilitation. This passion led her to complete her  Diploma of Surgical Veterinary Nursing and Qualifications as a Rehabilitation Therapist (Remedial Massage therapist & Hydro therapist).

 Natalie now works as a Practice manager and rehabilitation therapist for an Integrative Veterinary clinic on the beautiful Mornington Peninsula in Victoria Australia and she is completing the Advanced Certificate in Small Animal Naturopathy through CIVT.

 In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and being in the outdoors, in particular her garden, with the aim of being as self-sufficient as possible. She is also an avid Beekeeper.

Brooke is a Titled APA Animal Physiotherapist who graduated from University of Qld with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy in 1997 and a Masters in Animal Studies (Physiotherapy) in 2005. As a human physiotherapist she worked in private practice combining her skills in pilates and acupuncture. She now works in a purpose built small animal rehabilitation center and has worked in many Veterinary specialist centers in south east QLD. She rehabilitates a wide variety of acute and chronic conditions and enjoys providing holistic management to each of her clients, having recently completed CIVT's Graduate Diploma in Veterinary Acupuncture course. She has been involved passionately in Animal Physiotherapy since its inception in Australia and continues to develop awareness and mentor Physiotherapists as the canine clinical educator for the University of Liverpool Masters of Veterinary Physiotherapy programme.  She has presented as a guest lecturer at a number of international and national conferences for Veterinarians, Nurses and Physiotherapists. When she is not devoting her time full time to clinical work in this industry she is busy raising two children, 2 rescue dogs and 2 cats and enjoying the incredible lifestyle on the Sunshine Coast. 

Sharlene Goodworth is an experienced hyperbaric specialist and owner of Sydney Animal Hyperbaric, the only hyperbaric treatment facility in NSW, Australia dedicated to small animals. She's passionate about advocating for oxygen-based therapies and their incredible benefits by expanding education and practice in the Australian animal health sector.

Dr. Jane Clothier has been a bodyworker for nearly 20 years, first in England, then in Australia following her migration in 2007. Since 2012, she has written original articles for her blog, The Horse’s Back, which enjoys a consistent international readership (around 180k views per year). In 2019, she was awarded a PhD for her research into the ongoing issues caused by premature and dysmature birth in horses. She then went on to complete a Graduate Diploma in Veterinary Acupuncture with the College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies. Jane currently runs her practice Equine Healthworks in Tamworth, NSW, aiding horses, leading occasional workshops, and writing articles. She is committed to raising awareness of equine musculoskeletal issues, and is in the process of writing a handbook for owners of youngsters and foals with a history of gestational immaturity.

Swanie Simon, a renowned animal herbalist and naturopath, has dedicated over 35 years to the holistic treatment of animals. Born in Germany in 1962, Swanie spent her formative years in the United States, living in various locations including New York, North Carolina, Florida, and Texas before returning to Europe permanently in the early 1990s.

From a young age, Swanie's passion for animals and nature was evident. Inspired by the works of Juliette de Bairacli Levy, she pursued a career as a herbalist, TCVM practitioner, and animal naturopath (Tierheilpraktiker). Juliette de Bairacli Levy became not only a mentor but also a dear friend, residing on Swanie's farm in Germany for many years.

Specializing in the natural rearing and treatment of dogs and cats, Swanie has emerged as one of Europe's most esteemed authors, teachers, and herbalists. She is recognized for popularizing raw diets for pets in Europe and has authored several best-selling books on the subject.

Since 2004, Swanie has been actively sharing her wealth of knowledge through teaching herbalism, TCVM, and dog & cat nutrition and online classes since 2014. These online classes will be available in English beginning in November 2024, allowing her to share her many years of practical experience in holistic animal treatment with an even wider audience.

Currently, Swanie divides her time between her picturesque farm in Germany's high forest region and her home in the beautiful Provence region of southern France. Her five dogs accompany her everywhere.