ASF’s conference brings together thinkers and community leaders to share learnings, formulate plans and help establish new and emerging networks and organisations to restore a thriving Australian society founded on science and freedom.
Join our exciting line-up of health professionals, scientists, economists, lawyers, journalists, and community leaders to discuss a range of hot issues including healthcare policy, democracy and human rights, education, the media, and the role of grassroots organisations.
Julie Sladden is a medical doctor (retired) and freelance writer with over 25 years of clinical experience in Australia and the UK. She is a passionate advocate for professionalism, ethics and transparency in healthcare.
When the Government imposed mandates in 2021, Sladden started writing and speaking against the Government overreach, censorship in medicine, and calling for a return of the foundational principle of informed consent in medicine.
Her articles have been published in The Spectator Australia, Brownstone, Epoch Times, The Light, and The Daily Declaration. In 2022 she was elected to Local Government as a Councillor for West Tamar in Tasmania.
Nick is Professor in the School of Property, Construction and Project Management at RMIT University in Melbourne. He joined RMIT from Loughborough University (UK) in 2004 after several years of post-doctoral work. He worked as a project manager in housing and corporate re-imaging prior to commencing an academic career. He has had a productive research career which has included numerous competitive grants, industry funding and over 70 academic publications. His main research fields over the years have included design for construction safety, off-site manufacturing, and housing production.
Following the ‘pandemic’, he has dedicated much of his time to restoring freedom through his work with ASF. As home-educators, Nick and his wife have practiced medical and educational freedom for over 20 years.
Jason has taught for nearly two decades and is the Head of Mathematics. During this time, he established accelerated programs and introduced Cost Benefit Analysis inclusive of wellbeing.
Jason has a background in Computer Science and extensive experience in the IT industry in private and government ventures, where he managed the largest enterprise management environment in the country.
He is a member of Australians for Science and Freedom (ASF) and has presented at the national conference. Jason has authored articles on the effects of government policy, the impact of cultural change and the response of institutions, including the church. He is a contributor to the Spectator magazine and Brownstone Institute.
Jason was a member of ASF and People’s submissions to the Australian senate covid inquiry, preparing sections on the impact of school closures on young people and their education.
Jason can be contacted on X @JasonStrecker
Gigi Foster (Professor, UNSW School of Economics; BA Ethics, Politics and Economics, PhD Economics) works in diverse fields including education, social influence, time use, lab experiments, behavioural economics, and Australian policy. Named 2019 Young Economist of the Year by the Economic Society of Australia, she publishes in both specialised and cross-disciplinary outlets, and her innovative teaching was awarded a 2017 Australian Awards for University Teaching (AAUT) Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning. She has filled numerous roles of service to the profession and engages heavily in economic matters with the Australian community, as one of Australia’s leading economics communicators, in the media and at live events. She co-founded Australians for Science and Freedom in 2023 and is an author most recently of The Great Covid Panic (Brownstone Institute 2021, with Paul Frijters and Michael Baker) and Do Lockdowns and Border Closures Serve the “Greater Good”? (Connor Court 2022, with Sanjeev Sabhlok).
Peter Ridd Adjunct Fellow, Institute of Public Affairs
Peter Ridd is a geophysicist with over 100 publications and 40 years’ experience working on the Great Barrier Reef and developed a wide range of world-first optical and electronic instruments for measuring environmental conditions near corals and other ecosystems. He was head of Physics at James Cook University for over a decade before being fired, in 2018, for questioning the quality assurance systems used by reef science institutions. Some of the poor-quality work relates to the effect, or lack of effect, of climate change, and agriculture, on the reef. Ridd now works, unpaid, with agricultural organisations, and the Institute of Public Affairs to improve quality assurance systems of “science” used by Australian governments to make environmental laws and regulations. He is also Chairman of the Australian Environment Foundation.
James L. Nuzzo, PhD is an independent exercise science and men’s health researcher. Dr. Nuzzo has published over 80 articles in peer-reviewed journals, and he writes regularly about exercise, health, and higher education at The Nuzzo Letter on Substack.
Since first warning about the dangers of politically correct language control and groupthink in the mid-1990s Dr Kevin Donnelly has established himself, in the words of Sky News’ Peta Credlin, as “one of Australia’s foremost culture war warriors”. In 2014 Kevin co-chaired the review of the Australian national curriculum and in 2016 was made a Member of the Order of Australia for services to education.
Kevin is a vocal defender of Western civilisation and Judeo-Christianity against the destructive and nihilistic impact of neo-Marxist inspired woke ideology. He writes regularly for the print and digital media, including: The Australian, The Daily Telegraph, The Catholic Weekly, Quadrant, the Australian Spectator and the London based Conservative Woman.
Kevin also appears regularly on Sky News and books published include The Dictionary Of Woke, Cancel Culture and the Left’s Long March, Christianity Matters In These Troubled Times and How Political Correctness Is Destroying Australia. Kevin’s website is kevindonnelly.com.au
Augusto Zimmermann PhD, LLM, LLB, CIArb, DipEd is the Foundation Dean of Law and Professor at Alphacrucis University College. He is also a former Law Reform Commissioner with the Law Reform Commission of Western Australia (2012-2017) and a former Associate Dean (Research) and Postgraduate Research Director at Murdoch University’s School of Law. He is also the Founder and President of the Western Australian Legal Theory Association (WALTA), a former Vice-President of the Australasian Society of Legal Philosophy (ASLP), an Elected Fellow at the International Academy for the Study of the Jurisprudence of the Family (IASJF), and Editor-in-Chief of the Western Australian Jurist law journal. A prolific writer and the author of numerous articles and academic books, Professor Zimmermann was awarded at Murdoch University the 2012 Vice Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Research, and two School Dean’s Research Awards, in 2010 and 2011. He is broadly recognised as a fierce advocate for free speech and the Rule of Law, contributing with numerous articles on the subject, including for The Legal Doctrines of the Rule of Law and the Legal State (Rechtsstaat) (Springer, 2014), a book edited by the President of the American Bar Association (ABA). Professor Zimmermann is the author/co-author/editor/co-editor of numerous academic articles and books, and he has been included, together with only twelve other Australian academics and policy experts, in ‘Policy Experts’ – the Washington DC-based Heritage Foundation’s directory for locating leading authorities actively involved in a broad range of public policy issues, both in the United States and worldwide
Martin Lally is a former Associate Professor in Economics at Victoria University of Wellington and Director of Capital Financial Economics, which provides consulting services to clients in New Zealand and Australia.
Dr. Alexander Hatzikalimnios is a legal academic whose current research focuses on the intersection of human rights and contemporary legal issues. His PhD analysed the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic response on human rights, with specific reference to employment laws.
James Jackson is a retired finance executive turned relentless reformer, taking aim at the perverse incentives hard‑wired into Australian Family Law and mirrored across the West. He argues that in civil justice today, the process is a punishment—stripping parents of property, years, and children while enriching industry rent‑seekers at the expense to society of the two parent nuclear family. Guided by libertarian principles and the creed ‘no morality without reciprocity’, James fights for strict equality, property rights, and a system that serves families, not itself.
Andrew Logan is a Systems Engineering and Safety Assurance Manager with experience in design, construction and operation for rail and defence projects. Prior to working in engineering consulting, he was a high school science and mathematics teacher. Prior to teaching he served as a Weapons Engineering Officer in the Royal Australian Navy after graduating from the Australian Defence Force Academy with a degree in Electrical Engineering.
Kesten Green has a PhD in Management Science and is a teaching and research academic at the University of South Australia (UniSA Business and Ehrenberg-Bass Institute). Unusually, perhaps uniquely, Kesten’s PhD is his only university degree. Kesten has taught masters-level economics, finance, research, and analytics courses, and conducts research on forecasting and the scientific method. Before joining UniSA, Kesten was an entrepreneur, having been a founder of, inter alia, an economic forecasting and consulting firm and a market and social research firm. Kesten has been consulted by the Pentagon on forecasting methods, and has provided expert testimony to a Select Committee of the New Zealand Parliament, the U.S. Congressional Subcommittee of Energy and Environment, and to various Australian Senate select committees. In 2022 with long-time colleague Scott Armstrong, Kesten published his book The Scientific Method: A Guide to Finding Useful Knowledge with Cambridge University Press. The book identifies morbidities in the current practice of science and proposes an agenda for reform that would see a revival of science’s search for truth.
Adam Creighton is Senior Fellow and Chief Economist at the Institute of Public Affairs, which he joined in 2025 after 13 years as a journalist at The Australian, including as Economics Editor and finally as Washington Correspondent, where he covered the Biden presidency and the comeback of Donald Trump. He was a Journalist in Residence at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business in 2019. He’s written for The Economist and The Wall Street Journal from London and Washington DC, and authored book chapters on superannuation for Oxford University Press. He started his career at the Reserve Bank of Australia and the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority. He holds a Bachelor of Economics with First Class Honours from the University of New South Wales, and Master of Philosophy in Economics from Balliol College, Oxford, where he was a Commonwealth Scholar.
Chris Kenny hosts The Kenny Report on Sky News and is an Associate Editor at The Australian, writing columns and commentary. He has hosted talk radio for the Macquarie Radio network, appeared on the ABC’s Insiders and Q&A and been published in Adelaide’s Sunday Mail, The Spectator Australia and Quadrant, among others.
In 2019 Chris was one of a handful of non-Indigenous appointees to the federal government’s co-design process for an Indigenous voice. He contributed on the Senior Advisory Group which reported to government in December last year.
He holds a BA (Journalism) from the University of South Australia and began in journalism at The Murray Pioneer in Renmark, South Australia, before joining The News in Adelaide, and moving on to television at the ABC’s 7.30 Report. He later covered state and federal politics for the Ten Network and Channel Nine Adelaide.
Chris was a political adviser to SA Liberal Premier John Olsen in 2000 and chief of staff to his successor, Rob Kerin. In 2002 he joined the staff of then foreign minister Alexander Downer as media adviser and was promoted to chief of staff, dealing with issues such as the Iraq war, Bali bombings and Boxing Day tsunami. He visited more than 50 countries, including Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and North Korea, joining top level meetings in The White House, Number 10 Downing Street and United Nations HQ in New York. In 2009 he was chief of staff to Malcolm Turnbull as federal opposition leader.
Chris has published two books, State of Denial (1993) about the downfall of the Bannon Government and Women’s Business (1996), the inside story of the Hindmarsh Island bridge saga. He contributed chapters to two books published in 2016: “The Forgotten People – Liberal and conservative approaches to recognising Indigenous peoples” (MUP) and “Heartfelt Moments in Australian Rules Football” (ConnorCourt).
Alison Bevege is a Sydney journalist who writes Letters From Australia on Substack. She most recently contributed to the book Covid Through Our Eyes, an exploration of the pandemic panic response in Australia, edited by Professor Robert Clancy and Dr Melissa McCann. She has a BA (Hons) degree in English Literature from Sydney University, and also drives buses.
Jeremy Bell is Associate Dean and Senior Lecturer in history and philosophy at Campion College Australia. He completed his B.A. (2004) and M.Phil. (2007) at the University of Sydney, and his Ph.D. in philosophy and social thought at the University of Chicago (2015). His main research interests are in ethics and political philosophy.
Damian is an Australian with 35+ years’ experience in media and corporate public relations in Asia Pacific.
Damian is the former Managing Director of the Hong Kong and Taiwan offices of Edelman Public Relations, one of the world’s largest PR consultancies. He is also the former Head of Corporate, Asia Pacific, for Edelman, and Deputy Head of the Training, Crisis Communications & Issues Management Practice, Asia Pacific, for the global PR firm Hill & Knowlton. Before entering PR, Damian spent 13 years as a senior radio and TV journalist and presenter in Australia, working for the ABC, Network 10, 3AW, 4BC and Triple M networks. He holds an MBA from the AGSM (UNSW/USyd) and lectured and developed courses in PR and crisis communications for Masters’ degree students at Hong Kong Baptist university. Damian returned to Australia in 2020 and was so appalled by governmental and political mishandling of the Covid crisis, and the irresponsible media reporting of health data, he founded a weekly news vodcast The Other Side, to which he presently donates his writing and presenting time. The Other Side has subsequently grown to become one of the top independent political news shows in Australia. It can be found on YouTube @OtherSideAus.
Kelli Wilkins is the founder of My Self Reliance Australia, a growing movement helping Australians live more prepared, purposeful, and connected lives.
A passionate mother of four and former teacher, Kelli brings over 20 years of experience in business, mindset coaching, and holistic living. Her work blends practical preparedness with personal growth, faith, and community connection — empowering people to take responsibility for their wellbeing and future.
Through retreats, workshops, and the Freedom Summit Live, Kelli continues to inspire everyday Australians to embrace a more self-reliant and sustainable way of life.
Writer, media commentator, event speaker, highly respected and influential businessman, political strategist and advocate for Australian economic reform and growth, empowering Aboriginal Australians to build businesses and sustainable economies. Warren’s life and career have been shaped by a personal commitment to regional and Indigenous economic development. He has over 40 years experience working in the public, business, policy, arts and community sectors.
Anthony is an Honorary Fellow at Australian Catholic University and has a PhD in the behaviorual sciences. His research focus is on alternative conceptualisations of mental health, applied psychology, and Indigenous wellbeing. He is prominent in the media appearing on multiple outlets including the ABC, Sky News, The Spectator magazine and The Australian newspaper.
Gary was a minister in the Keating Labor government, Associate Commissioner of the Productivity Commission, and Commissioner of the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission. Dr Johns has an extensive career playing a pivotal role in shaping government policy and addressing pressing social issues. He is also the author of Burden of Culture which provides a new perspective on one of the most divisive political issue in Australia today.
Peter Fam is a human rights specialist lawyer and the Principal lawyer at Maat’s Method, the only non-government-funded human rights law firm in Australia. Peter also serves as a Director of Children’s Health Defense Australia. Peter has a background in human rights-focused civil litigation in both the private and government sectors, having worked on large-scale cases in Australia’s highest courts and in most jurisdictions. Peter focuses primarily on tort law, administrative law, privacy law, discrimination law, and other areas of civil litigation with a human rights focus. Peter also has particular expertise regarding the international human rights framework that Australia is a signatory to. Peter’s goal is to defend and advocate for the inherent dignity and rights every man and woman holds by virtue of their humanity.
Professor Ian Brighthope is qualified in Agricultural Science, Medicine, Surgery, Nutritional and Environmental Medicine and Plant Medicine. He has lectured globally on the translation of science into the best of clinical practice and health optimisation.
As founding president of Australasian College of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine (ACNEM) and president for over 26 years, Professor Brighthope pioneered the first post-graduate medical course in nutrition and nutritional and environmental medicine and its related fellowship in Australia. He is now the official ambassador of ACNEM and continues to lecture in NEM.
Professor Brighthope has acted as an advocate for doctors practicing Integrative Medicine for over 42 years. He has had training and extensive experience in Crisis Management, Risk Management and Public/Government Relations. He has also had extensive experience in the pharmaceutical manufacturing and exporting industry as the managing director of a TGA licensed natural products manufacturing facility. He is no longer directly involved in the industry.
In the early 1980s he wrote a book titled ‘The AIDS Fighters’ in which he detailed the most important approach to fighting infections with immunity enhancing nutrients, food and lifestyle. He was maintaining HIV/AIDS patient’s health and lives at a time when those treated with AZT, the NIAID’s protocol, were dying.
He has consistently spoken about how seriously unprepared and uninformed we are regarding epidemics and pandemics. In late February 2020, Professor Brighthope realised that there would be a need for people to improve their state of health in response to the pandemic. From previous experiences with SARS, Bird Flu and Swine Flu, and based on the scientific literature, he initiated a previously proven prophylactic and treatment protocol titled “The CD Zinc Campaign”. It consist-ed of the use of vitamin C, vitamin D and Zinc as oral supplements and the use of high dose vita-min D for deficiency states and high dose intravenous vitamin C for acutely and severely ill patients including outpatients, inpatients and the ventilated.
This campaign was taken to the Prime Minister, Health Minister, Chief Medical Officer, the AMA, the RACGP and many other authorities including the media. For the next 6 months, the recommendations were publicised in the media and at various webinars. However, there was no recognition given to the protocols by government or the mainstream medical profession. Practitioners of nutritional and integrative medicine were and still are extremely supportive of this campaign. The treatment is now incorporated in many centres around the world. Additional treatments now include repurposed medicines.
Professor Brighthope is currently the Director of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine at the National Institute of Integrative Medicine in Melbourne , Australia. In August, 2022, frustrated with the damage being done by the mainstream medical authorities and politicians of all persuasions , he formed The WOW, The World Of Wellness International Limited. He is also very active with the World Council for Health and the health spokesman for the Aligned Council of Australia.
David Maywald is a proud father to a son and a daughter, a board member for non-profit organisations, an ex-fund manager, and a passionate advocate for boys and men. His calling is to uplift males who are struggling or disadvantaged, with positive spillovers for females and our whole society. He used a career in finance and investment to hone skills in research, analysis and marketing. This experience is being put to good use in the governance of several charities and in his writing. David’s first book to be published is called The Relentless War on Masculinity with a launch on the 19th of November (which is International Men’s Day).
ASF’s second conference again brings together thinkers and community leaders to share learnings, formulate plans and help establish new and emerging networks and organisations to restore a thriving Australian society founded on science and freedom.
Friday 15 November 6:00PM – 8:00PM – Social drinks
Saturday 16 November 8:30AM – 5:30PM – Conference – panel discussions
Saturday 16 November 7:00 PM to Late – Conference Dinner
Sunday 17 November 8:30AM – 3:00PM – Conference – discussion, news updates and workshops
