Despina Marselou, RD

Despina Marselou studied in the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at London Metropolitan University. Her clinical research, “Thermogenesis, Obesity and the Macro-metabolic Pathways: Relation to Obesity”, was published in 2004 in the journal of the British Dietetic Association as one of the best clinical trials among young graduates in the UK.

She received a Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition and Immunology from the University of Surrey focusing on dietary support and behaviour modification in patients with immune system disorders and autoimmunity.

Despina worked at Newcastle upon Tyne and North Tees (NHS) University Hospitals as a senior dietician at the Centre for Diabetes and Endocrinology and had responsibility for allergy and immunology clinics.

Currently living in Greece, Despina has a dietetic practice focusing on evidence-based plant-based diets. She holds two certificates in Plant-Based nutrition from eCornell University and Winchester University

Despina is co-author of “Plant-Based Nutrition in Clinical Practice”.

Dr Alan Desmond MB, BCh, BMedSc, FRCP.

Doctor Alan Desmond is a Consultant Gastroenterologist based in Devon.  Certified in both Gastroenterology and General Internal Medicine, Doctor Alan completed his medical training in Ireland and Oxford. He has a specialist interest in the role of diet in the prevention and treatment of Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis and makes evidence-based dietary advice an essential part of his medical practice He has presented at numerous international medical conferences on the benefits of this approach to food.

A fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, London, he has published influential research papers focused on Inflammatory Bowel Disease. He is an advocate for the gut health benefits, and overall health benefits, of a whole-food plant-based approach to nutrition and is an ambassador for PBHP. Alan has contributed to numerous best-selling publications and has his own best-seller ‘The Plant-Based Diet Revolution: 28 days to a happier gut and a healthier you’.

Dr Karen Maher, CPsychol, FHEA

Karen is a Chartered Psychologist and Associate Dean at Aston Business School whose work specialises in Occupational Health and Work Wellbeing. She completed her PhD in Work Psychology at Loughborough University in 2018. Prior to moving to Academia, Karen was a Health, Fitness, and Wellbeing practitioner with expertise in GP Exercise Referral, exercise rehabilitation, and weight management. Previous roles included Health and Wellbeing Advisor within the Fire Service responsible for behaviour change programmes for fitness, stress, and weight/disease management for operational and support staff using one-to-one coaching and group programmes. Her research is centred on behaviour change within the workplace to improve safety and health of workers with projects exploring maladaptive coping techniques in the workplace (substance use, counterproductive work behaviours), adherence to safety policies and procedures, and the design of interventions to improve worker health.

Dr Surabhika Lunawat MBChB MSc Dip IBLM/BSLM

Dr Surabhika Lunawat is a GP specialty registrar and chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners’ West Midlands Associates in Training committee. She studied medicine at the University of Liverpool and was awarded a distinction for her master’s degree in clinical neuroscience at University College London.

She pivoted to preventative and lifestyle medicine, has completed a plant-based nutrition course at the University of Winchester and is a certified lifestyle medicine physician with the International Board of Lifestyle Medicine.

A passionate advocate for health equity, Dr Lunawat helped organise the Midland Diversity Conference with the RCGP Midland Faculty and has created a successful local physician-led walking group of over two hundred members which includes giving health-related talks. She is currently doing research into the social determinants of health in the context of chronic diseases at the University of Keele.

Andy Ramage

Andy is a former professional footballer, who after injury, created two major financial brokerages. After taking a break from alcohol Andy’s mind life was transformed. 10 years later Andy is recognised as one of the world’s leading alcohol-free performance coaches or “the Godfather of the alcohol-free movement’ as called by the Happy Pear. Andy co-founded the OneYearNoBeer movement and co-created the Dryy app & alcohol-free community, which collectively have helped hundreds of thousands if not millions of middle-lane drinkers transform their health and happiness by taking a break from alcohol.

As a coach, Andy is in an elite group trained at Masters Degree level in coaching psychology & positive psychology and is currently coaching at every level, from everyday heroes to premiership footballers and CEO’s.

Andy also is a lead trainer at the Professional Footballers Association (PFA) Business School.

You can train with Andy or contact him at www.andyramage.com

TEDx talk
The Limitless Pill 

Books: 
The 28-day alcohol-free challenge
Let’s Do This! How to use motivational psychology to change your habits for life

The Dryy app
https://dryy.disciplemedia.com/signup/BEeW9R

Website
www.andyramage.com

Giuseppe Federici

Giuseppe is a plant-based cook and author of ‘Cooking with Nonna’ with over 800k followers across social media, where he shares uncomplicated plant-based dishes.

Through his viral recipe videos and work with household brands, Giuseppe has inspired people across the world to rethink their approach to plant-based food and made it his mission to breathe new life into humble ingredients that can create delicious recipes.

Sepps also creates content with his Nonna – who overnight became a social media sensation – where they captivate his audience by cooking Classic Italian dishes with a vegan twist, and they have since gone on to create a best selling cookbook together after winning Fortnum & Mason’s Content Creator of the Year award in 2023.

Soraya Pineda, RD

Soraya graduated as a registered dietitian in 2011 and has extensive experience in adult acute and community settings in the NHS. Over the past 10 years she has worked within diabetes, neurorehabilitation, oncology, gastroenterology, care homes and specialist weight management services.

She currently works in the NHS Tier 3 adult weight management service as well as running her own private practice. Sorayas private practice specialises in helping people lose weight on a plant predominant diet. She takes a holistic personal approach to help her clients lose weight with 12 week 1-1 programs which also focuses on improving their relationship with food.

Soraya is passionate about helping people transition to a plant-based diet and has raised her 4-year-old child on a vegan diet.

Dr Gemma Newman

Dr Gemma Newman is a medical doctor and Senior Partner at a family medical practice in West London. She studied at the University of Wales College of Medicine and has worked in many specialties as a doctor before becoming a family physician. Dr Newman has a specialist interest in holistic health, plant-based nutrition and lifestyle medicine. She is regularly invited to teach other doctors and the general public via training programmes, podcasts and conferences about the benefits of plant-based nutrition.

A best-selling author, she published ‘The Plant Powered Doctor’ in 2021, ‘Get Well, Stay Well’ in 2023 and has contributed to many other books. As a broadcaster she has been featured on ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Sky News Sunrise as well as BBC Radio. She has featured in magazines including Glamour, Zest and Health magazine, as well as The Daily Telegraph.

Dr Sunni Patel

Dr Sunni is a multi award winning lifestyle medicine and health coach supporting individuals with physical, mental, emotional and spiritual development. He holds a PhD in risk factors diabetes and heart disease and other qualifications in nutrition, lifestyle medicine, personal fitness, and eating addiction. His personal lived in experiences of recovering from bulimia and depression as well as facing a chronic diagnoses of Crohn’s and Colitis with IBS allows him to build personal strategies with people and is why he is often called as an expert for BBC Radio, The Express, and other media outlets. He supports in curating wellbeing events including catering, presenting and holding space for strategies that include sound healing, breathwork, fitness and health education. He is also expected to release his first book in 2025 about eating disorders in gay men with JKP.

Dr Matthew Nagra

Dr Matthew Nagra is a Naturopathic Doctor devoted to bringing the most up-to-date evidence-based nutrition information to his patients at his clinic in Vancouver and to the public via his online presence. In 2018 he graduated from the Boucher Institute after completing his Bachelor’s of Science in Microbiology at the University of Victoria. He has been a contributing author on multiple textbooks from Professional Health Systems, including their Nutrition textbook. He is also a public speaker, and is well-known for his content across multiple social media platforms, where he often tackles misinformation around diet and dives deep into the latest nutrition research.

Anita Bean

Anita Bean is an award-winning registered nutritionist, internationally published author, freelance health writer and former British bodybuilding champion. She specialises in sport and exercise nutrition and is passionate about helping athletes improve their performance in training and competition. She is the author of 30 books, including The Complete Guide to Sports Nutrition and The Vegan Athlete’s Cookbook, has written for Waitrose Food, Cycling Weekly and Good Housekeeping, and is also the official nutritionist for The London Marathon.

Jane Thurnell-Read

Jane Thurnell-Read is a vegan in her seventies and loves sharing her own experience that you can be strong, healthy and happy into old age. She shares research-based information and inspirational insights that move the audience to take action. She is a blogger, author and podcast guest. She uses social media – YouTube and Instagram (@thrivingjane) – to share her positive message. Jane focuses particularly on a vegan wholefood diet and the importance of strength training for older people.

Kate Strong

Kate Strong is a multiple world record cyclist, age-group World Champion triathlete, ex aerospace engineer and climate-activist adventurer.

Today, she is a Leadership Coach and works with companies, schools & governing bodies to integrate social and environmental sustainability. Having recently cycled 3,300 miles around Britain on a hand-made bamboo bike visiting 30+ sustainability projects, she’s preparing to travel the entire length of the River Taff to raise awareness about the importance of protecting our waterways from pollution.

Kate is Director of a green tech company as well as founder of a School Sustainability course, equipping future generations with the new and necessary skills required to reach our sustainability targets.

Website: katestrong.global
Instagram: katestrong01

Dr Michael Greger

Keynote speaker

A founding member and Fellow of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, Michael Greger, M.D., is a physician and internationally recognized speaker on nutrition. His science-based nonprofit, NutritionFacts.org, offers a free online portal hosting more than 2,000 videos and articles on myriad health topics. Dr. Greger is a sought-after lecturer and has presented at the Conference on World Affairs and the World Bank, testified before Congress, and was invited as an expert witness in Oprah Winfrey’s defense in the infamous “meat defamation” trial. A graduate of Cornell University School of Agriculture and Tufts University School of Medicine. Dr. Greger is also an acclaimed author. How Not to Die, The How Not to Die Cookbook, How Not to Diet, and How Not to Age became instant New York Times Best Sellers. More than a million copies of How Not to Die have been sold. All proceeds Dr. Greger receives from the sales of his books and speaking honoraria are donated directly to charity.

Dr Michael Greger

Keynote speaker

A founding member and Fellow of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, Michael Greger, M.D., is a physician and internationally recognized speaker on nutrition. His science-based nonprofit, NutritionFacts.org, offers a free online portal hosting more than 2,000 videos and articles on myriad health topics. Dr. Greger is a sought-after lecturer and has presented at the Conference on World Affairs and the World Bank, testified before Congress, and was invited as an expert witness in Oprah Winfrey’s defense in the infamous “meat defamation” trial. A graduate of Cornell University School of Agriculture and Tufts University School of Medicine. Dr. Greger is also an acclaimed author. How Not to Die, The How Not to Die Cookbook, How Not to Diet, and How Not to Age became instant New York Times Best Sellers. More than a million copies of How Not to Die have been sold. All proceeds Dr. Greger receives from the sales of his books and speaking honoraria are donated directly to charity.