| Speakers
Keynotes
Herta Flor - brain plasticity
Professor of Neuropsychology & Clinical Psychology, University of Heidelburg, Germany.
After a post-doc position at Yale, visiting Professorship at Pittsburgh, and Professorship at Humboldt, Herta is now Professor and Scientific Director of the Department of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience at the Central Institute for Mental Health in Mannheim, Germany. She is world famous for her investigations into neuroplasticity, learning and memory in chronic pain. She has won numerous prestigious prizes, millions in competitive grants and has over 350 publications, including Nature and Lancet. She is a Superstar.
Elspeth McLachlan - peripheral nerve plasticity and immunology
Co-Director, Spinal Injuries Research Centre, Emeritus Professor, University of New South Wales an Senior Principal Research Fellow.
Elspeth has a ridiculously long list of awards, achievements and appointments, including the Max Planck Prize and the Ramaciotti, Orbell and Centenary Medals. Elspeth is world famous for her investigations into the neurobiology of synaptic transmission, excitability in the sympathetic nervous system, and the consequences of chronic inflammation. She has won millions in competitive grants, has published over 150 papers including Nature and Lancet, and is an unofficial Australian National Treasure.
Michel Coppieters - neurodynamics
Senior lecturer in the Department of Physiotherapy of The University of Queensland, Australia.
Michel has combined his strong clinical background with the scientific rigour of a post-doc under the Walking Cortex, Professor Paul Hodges. Now a Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy at UQ, Michel has a growing reputation as a key thinker on neurodynamics, which he investigates using robust methods and ‘good science’, including a particular interest in carpal tunnel syndrome and peripheral nerve stuff. Michel has published widely and presented on every continent.
Lorimer Moseley - body awareness, imaging
NHMRC Senior Research Fellow at Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, Sydney, Australia.
Lorimer is a clinician and a researcher with a particular interest in brain contributions to chronic pain and how they can be modified for clinical benefit. After post-docs at University of Queensland & University of Sydney, he was appointed Nuffield Fellow at Oxford University, UK. He is co-author of Explain Pain, has also authored Painful Yarns, and has published over 65 articles including PNAS and Current Biology. He won the 2007 IASP Ulf Lindblom Award, given to the top clinical scientist under 40 working in a pain related field.
Mick Thacker - immune system pain
Program Director, Pain Science & Society, King’s College London, UK.
Widely voted 'The nicest living clever man', Mick began his doctorate under the great Patrick Wall and finished it under the great Steve McMahon. Over that time he has established a world-leading interdisciplinary Masters-level Pain Science course that consistently scores top marks in external peer review and is a flagship of the Faculty. Mick is part physiotherapist, part molecular biologist and knows more about both than most people know about one.
David Butler - education
Director, Neuro Orthopaedic Institute & Clinical Educator
Arguably one of the most influential Physiotherapists on the planet, David has an international reputation for innovative clinical thinking, translation of basic science findings into real world applications, and being able to communicate both like no-one else. He is author of several books, including Mobilisation of the Nervous System, The Sensitive Nervous System and Explain Pain. David has recently completed a doctorate exploring a health literacy model of pain-related conceptual change. His passion for improving the life of those affected by pain is evidenced by the mere existence of this truly innovative conference.
