invited INTERNATIONAL speakers

PROF LUCIA CEVIDANES (USA)

Dr. Lucia Cevidanes is the Thomas and Doris Graber Professor of Dentistry and Associate Professor in Orthodontics at the University of Michigan, and a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics. A practicing clinician and prolific researcher, she has published over 200 manuscripts on 3D imaging and AI, supported by grants from the AAOF and NIDCR. Her work has been recognized with the AAO Thomas M. Graber Award, B.F. Dewel Award, Milo Hellman Award, and AAOMR Wuehrmann Award. Her clinical and research interests focus on leveraging 3D imaging, AI, and additive manufacturing to solve complex orthodontic challenges, evaluate treatment outcomes, and innovate care for craniofacial anomalies.

DR RENATO COCCONI (ITALY)

Dr Renato Cocconi - MD, MS - obtained his postgraduate degree in orthodontics with full marks and honor in 1993 at the University of Milan.

In the last 30 years his practice has been exclusively dedicated to orthodontics.

He directs the Face Ortho-Surgical center in Parma together with his partner Silvia Rapa.

He is involved in an intense scientific and educational activity and he has been invited as keynote speaker by the most important international orthodontic societies ad universities in Europe and US.

He is the immediate Past President of the Angle Society of Europe and active member of the European Academy of Esthetic Dentistry.

In the recent years his attention has focused to the digital evolution of orthodontics, interdisciplinary treatments and ortho facial surgery together with Prof. Raffaini.

PROF AMA JOHAL (UK)

Ama Johal is Professor/Consultant Orthodontist, Academic Lead for Orthodontics at Bart's and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary College, University London [QMUL]. He qualified in dentistry at Sheffield University in 1989, with Honours and completed the Membership in Orthodontics (Royal College Surgeons England) and Masters Degree in Orthodontics at QMUL, graduating with distinction in 1996. He has completed a PhD in the use of mandibular advancement splints in sleep-related breathing disorders. Ama is past Vice-President of the British Society Dental Sleep Medicine, a full member of the Angle Society of Europe and appointed a Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy.

Both his clinical and research work has been rewarded with numerous National and International prizes and grants, including the Turpin Award [2021] from the American Association of Orthodontics [AAO] for Evidence-based Research, the Chapman Award [2022] for best published research from British Orthodontic Society and 2024 B.F. and AAO Helen E. Dewel Award for best Clinical Research publication. He is an invited lecturer, both nationally and internationally, with over 125 publications in peer-reviewed International journals and several book chapters. His research interests include the impact of quality of life in orthodontics and the management of patients with sleep-related breathing disorders. His specialist interests include multidisciplinary care of patients with orthodontic-restorative needs.

PROF Bernd LAPATKI (GERMANY)

Bernd Lapatki received the degree in dentistry from the University of Freiburg, Germany, in 1994. He defended his thesis leading to the Dr. med. dent. degree in 1998, and his Habilitation Thesis on the pathogenesis and treatment stability of cover-bite and Class II Division 2 malocclusion in 2007. He also received a Ph.D. degree in neurophysiology from Radboud University Nijmegen (NL) in 2010 for the electrophysiological characterization of the facial motor system at a motor unit level. His clinical career started in 1995 with practicing as a general dentist for two years before he began his postgraduate study at the Department of Orthodontics, Freiburg University Medical Center. During his clinical work at this department as Specialist in Orthodontics from 2000 to 2009 he was also a Research Fellow at the Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, The Netherlands. Since 2009 he is a Full Professor and Head of the Department of Orthodontics at the Ulm University Medical Center. From 2013 – 2019 he was the Director of the Centre of Dentistry, and since 2019 he is the Dean of Studies in Dentistry at this University. Bernd Lapatki was awarded in 1999 by the Faculties of Medicine and Applied Sciences of the University of Freiburg for the best dissertation in the ﬁeld of medicine/medicine technique. In 2004, he received the Alex Motsch Award by the German Society of Dentistry and Oral Medicine, and the Arnold Biber Award (the highest scientiﬁc award of Orthodontics in Germany) by the German Orthodontic Society in 2007. The research of this group focuses on the development of methods for clinical force-moment monitoring in orthodontics, mechanical evaluation of orthodontic treatment approaches including multi-bracket appliances and aligners, and the (patho-)physiology of the facial and masticatory motor systems. His clinical focus areas are skeletally-anchored treatment mechanics, segmented arch techniques and in-office aligner therapy.

PROF AMBrA MICHELOTTI (ITALY)

Professor Ambrosina Michelotti graduated in Dentistry (DDS) in 1984 and received the Honorary Degree in Dentistry at the University of Malmo (Sweden) in 2018. In 1991 she's got the degree of specialist in Orthodontics. She is full professor in Orthodontics and Clinical Gnathology. She is director of the post-graduated School in Orthodontics and responsible of the Master course on “Orofacial pain and Temporomandibular Disorders” at the University of Naples Federico II. She has authored or co-authored more than 200 papers published in Italian and international journals, and co-author of several book chapters. She also gave numerous lectures at international congresses. Her research interests are mainly focused on clinical orthodontic, the basic physiology of the jaw muscles, on the etiology, diagnosis and management of temporomandibular disorders and on the relationship between the jaw musculature and orthodontics.

She was the president of the European Academy of Craniomandibular Disorders (2010), President of the Neuroscience group of IADR (2011); President of SIDA (società italiana di disfunzioni ed algie temporomandibolari; 2012-2013); President of the RDC/TMD Consortium at the International Association od Dental Research (2013-2014); President of the Italian Board of Orthodontics (2020-2021), President of the European Society of Oral Physiology (2024), President elected of the SIG-Orofacial Pain di IASP (2026) and President elected of the Italian Society of Orthodontics (SIDO – 2028).

Editor in Chief of the Orthodontic and Craniofacial Research journal, Associate Editor of the European Journal of Oral Science, Associate Editor of the Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, member of the Editorial Board of the European Journal of Orthodontics and referee of several national and international journals.

PROF SABINE RUF (GERMANY)

Prof. Dr. Sabine Ruf completed her undergraduate dental education at Justus-Liebig-University Giessen from 1986 to 1991, followed by earning her Doctorate (Dr. med. dent.) in 1994. Dr. Ruf became a Certified Orthodontist in 1995 and later received her Habilitation (Dr. med. dent. Habil.) in 2001. Her academic journey includes notable positions such as Lecturer for Orthodontics at Justus-Liebig-University Giessen (2001-2005) and Professor and Chair for Orthodontics at the University of Bern, Switzerland (2002-2005).

Since 2005, Dr. Ruf has served as Professor, Chair, and Clinical Director for Orthodontics at Justus-Liebig-University Giessen. She has held significant leadership roles including Deputy Executive Director of the Dental School at Justus-Liebig-University Giessen and Meeting Chairman of the German Orthodontic Society in Berlin (2008). She is recognized internationally, having been an External examiner for Master and PhD programs at the University of Hong Kong and the recipient of numerous awards, including the W.J.B. Houston Research Award from the European Orthodontic Society (1997) and the Beni Solow Award from the European Orthodontic Society (2019).

Dr. Ruf's research interests are expansive, focusing on dentofacial orthopaedics, craniomandibular function and dysfunction, and the biological basis of orthodontics. She has authored over 180 publications in national and international journals and has been actively involved in various scientific societies, including her current role as President of the Angle Society of Europe since April 2025.

invited speakers

Grevis Beard

Grevis's career has been dedicated to fostering highly productive and ethical workplaces. He co-founded Worklogic in 2007, and was Executive Director of Worklogic until 2019. This successful consulting firm continues to help Australian workplaces minimise and manage behavioural risk, and build positive teams. He is an experienced trainer and facilitator, and a highly engaging, personable and educative speaker.

Grevis is a proud co-author of "Workplace Investigations" (2023; 4th edition), published by CCH Wolters Kluwer, and "Fix Your Team" (2018), published by Wiley.

A/PROF JASNEEK CHAWLA

A/Professor Jasneek Chawla is a Paediatric Respiratory and Sleep Medicine Specialist at Queensland Children’s Hospital, Brisbane and leads the Kids Sleep Research Group at the Child Health Research Centre, University of Queensland. Her research interests include sleep in children with complex disability conditions, and she is currently leading a multi-centre MRFF funded research focused on improving the diagnosis and management of sleep disorders in this population. She also has a specific interest in developing novel diagnostic tools within sleep medicine and is part of a collaborative sleep research group in Australia undertaking a MRFF funded study to compare level 1 vs level 3 sleep monitoring for OSA diagnosis.

Jas is currently president elect for the Australasian Sleep Association having previously held the roles of education chair and deputy conference chair. She is a strong advocate for children with disability and chronic illness, collaborating widely with many consumer representative organisations and individuals with lived experience through her research.

Dr Gerard Clausen

Dr Gerard Clausen is a specialist prosthodontist. He has been in specialist private practice in Melbourne and also involved in post-graduate prosthodontic training at the University of Melbourne. He has served on the ADA (Vic ) as a councillor and on several state branch committees, on the federal ADA DIME committee and the RACDS board of studies. Dr Clausen is a dental advisor to MIPS and had worked in the dentist-legal field for several decades. He is also a dental consultant to several state and commonwealth government bodies.

Associate Professor MANI EKAMBARAM

Mani Ekambaram is an Associate Professor, Head of Discipline and Postgraduate Program Director for Paediatric Dentistry at the University of Otago, New Zealand. He holds an Honorary Associate Professor appointment with the University of Hong Kong. He is an elected councillor for the Australia and New Zealand section of the International Association of Dental Research and a standing member of the International Association of Paediatric Dentistry.

Dr Anna Englin

MBBS (Hons), FANZCA, GradCertCouns, DipClinHyp

Dr Anna Englin is a specialist paediatric anaesthetist with over twenty years of experience caring for children and families. She has additional qualifications in counselling and medical hypnotherapy, and works with children and adults to address a wide range of emotional, behavioural, and somatic issues, including anxiety, phobias, and medical procedure-related fears, while also supporting them in achieving peak performance.

Dr Englin has a particular interest in the effective use of language in healthcare and is actively involved in teaching and research aimed at improving clinical communication.

After completing her medical degree with honours at Monash University, anaesthesia training at The Alfred Hospital and a paediatric anaesthesia fellowship at The Royal Children's Hospital, she held a staff anaesthetist role at Monash Health, specialising in paediatric anaesthesia.

Outside of medicine, she enjoys hiking, bike riding, running, weight lifting, surfing and camping with her family.

PROFESSOR MAURO FARELLA

Mauro Farella is Professor and Chair of Orthodontics, Head of the Postgraduate Programme in Orthodontics (Doctorate in Clinical Dentistry), and Director of the Research Programme “Craniofacial Research”, at the Faculty of Dentistry of the University of Otago, New Zealand.

His current main research interests include clinical orthodontics, biomechanics, craniofacial growth and imaging, jaw function, oral biology, translational research using animal models, and development of wearable devices in dentistry and orthodontics. In addition, Mauro Farella is a widely recognised expert in orofacial muscles, bruxism, and temporomandibular joint research. Internationally, his past research endeavours have been supported with research grants amounting to over one million Euros.

He is Associate Editor of the Journal “Orthodontics and Craniofacial Research”, of the “Korean Journal of Orthodontics”, and member of the Editorial Board of the “Journal of Oral Rehabilitation”.

He has lectured in 22 different countries and is the recipient of several national and international research prizes, such as the Alan Docking Award from the International Association for Dental Research, and the Sir John Walsh Award, and the Research Supervisor of the Year (2021) Award, to acknowledge the excellence achieved in dental research and postgraduate supervision. Mauro Farella is a specialist in Orthodontics registered in New Zealand and practises clinical orthodontics exclusively.

Dr Andrei Locke

BDSc(Hons), GDipCD, MDSc(Perio), FRACDS(Perio) FPFA

Andrei completed BDSc(Hons) in 1999 and MDSc(Perio) in 2004 at Melbourne Uni. He was an ITI Scholar in Bonn, Germany, returned to Melbourne in 2005 and works in private Specialist Periodontics rooms in Glen Iris. He has consulted rurally, been a clinical demonstrator and past examiner for the Post-Graduate Periodontics course at Melbourne University and past Senior Consultant at Monash Medical Centre. Andrei has particular interest in the influence of tissue biotype on bone and soft tissue physiology through the processes of dental implant surgery.

Associate Professor Roisin McGrath

DipDH DipDT GC-INTLHL GCertUniTeach MPH PhD

A/Prof McGrath has worked for over 30 years in the field of oral health and qualified as a dental assistant, dental hygienist and dental therapist in the UK. Roisin has practiced extensively in private and public dental settings and is an experienced oral health academic having worked in three universities. She has a Graduate Certificate in International Health, a Graduate Certificate in University teaching, a Master of Public health and a PhD in oral health promotion. She is also a licenced Mental Health First Aid Instructor.

Roisin is Associate Professor Oral Health at the University of Melbourne and the Director Bachelor of Oral Health Program and Divisional Lead of Population and Oral Health at the Melbourne Dental School. She is also Population Oral Health Consultant at Oral Health Victoria. Roisin is a director on the inaugural board of the Oral Health Association of Australia. She is a passionate advocate for improving access to oral health promotion and care, particularly for those in underserved communities, and for promoting wellbeing in dental practitioners.

SUSAN MCCLEAN

Susan McLean is Australia’s leading expert in the area of cyber safety and was a member of Victoria Police for 27 years. She was the first Victorian Police officer appointed to a position involving cybersafety and young people. She is unique in her expertise in this area and is the only person in Australia with her specific background, experience and qualifications. She has completed advanced training in the USA in both 2007 & 2012 including the Protecting Children Online Certificate from Fox Valley Technical College and has successfully completed the ‘University Certificate in Child Safety on the Internet’ from the University of Central Lancashire, United Kingdom.

Susan consults to a wide range of organisations including all levels of government, sporting organisations, both elite and grass roots, educational institutions including many international schools, medical practitioners, adolescent psychologists, large and small corporations and NGO’s, Her expertise is internationally recognised and she is highly sought after by all forms of media for expert comment. Susan is afforded expert status by the Safer Internet Programme Europe and is the author of the best-selling book Sexts Texts & Selfies (Penguin). Her most recent book is Growing Up Digital (Allen & Unwin) and is a definitive guide to online safety. She is an ambassador for Collective Shout and Positive Schools and a Board Member for Safe Teens Online and the Age Assurance Technology Trial that provided advice to the Australian Government in relation to new laws around young people accessing certain online platforms.

PROF MICHAEL MCCULLOUGH

BDSc MDSc FRACDS (Oral Med) PhD

FOMAA FPFA FICD

Michael McCullough is the Professor in Oral Medicine at the Melbourne Dental School, the University of Melbourne. He commenced at the University in 1978, completing his BDSc degree in 1982. After working in various private dental practices in rural and suburban Victoria he returned to the University in 1989 to undertake the three-year Oral Medicine Specialist Degree concurrent with his PhD, completing both in 1995. After a post-doctoral fellowship at Stanford University, California, and a Lecturer's position at the Eastman Dental Institute, University College London, Michael returned to the Melbourne Dental School in 2001. He has published over 230 articles in peer reviewed scientific journals and was on the Expert Panel for the first two editions of the Therapeutic Guidelines book titled “Oral and Dental”. He was an Editor on the recently published comprehensive textbook Contemporary Oral Medicine, authoring several chapters. Michael is an Oral Medicine Clinical Consultant to the Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne and the Royal Melbourne Hospital.

Associate Professor Maurice Meade

Dr Maurice Meade graduated as a dentist from University College Cork in Ireland where he also completed his Doctorate in Clinical Dentistry postgraduate orthodontic education. He obtained a master’s in dental public health and a master’s in medical law and ethics from the Universities of Manchester and Edinburgh respectively. More recently, he received his PhD from the University of Adelaide where he is currently PR Begg Chair in Orthodontics and Discipline lead for the postgraduate orthodontic specialist education program. Dr Meade is also a visiting consultant orthodontist at the Adelaide Dental Hospital.

He is the author or co-author of over 90 scientific articles in peer review journals, one of which was the recipient of the 2025 David L. Turpin Award for Evidence-based Research from the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. Research interests include orthodontic treatment outcomes, retention and social media and orthodontics.

Dr Desmond Ong

BDSc(Hons), MDSc(Ortho), MOrthRCS(Ed), MRACDS(Ortho)

Desmond Ong is currently a Clinical Academic in the Discipline of Orthodontics at the University of Queensland School of Dentistry, where he is involved in both the Undergraduate and Postgraduate Orthodontic Curriculum.

Desmond is also in full-time specialist orthodontic private practice in Townsville and a visiting specialist for Queensland Health in Brisbane (Metro North).

Desmond is a past recipient of the Raj Prasad Award from the Australian Society of Orthodontists (South Australia) and the Emerging Lecturer Award from the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons.

Dr Nimesh Piyatissa

Dr Nimesh Piyatissa is an Emergency Physician and the CEO and Co-founder of Akuru Pty Ltd, a Melbourne-based health technology company building AI-powered tools to transform clinical documentation and patient communication. Drawing on over a decade of frontline experience in emergency medicine and rural and regional health, Nimesh leads the development of i-Scribe, i-Consult and i-Review—a suite of technology-agnostic solutions that turn clinician–patient conversations and pre-visit histories into accurate, structured medical records and actionable insights. His work focuses on solving healthcare problems at a population level by improving workflow efficiency, reducing clinician burnout and enabling safer, more personalised care across specialist, hospital and virtual care settings. He collaborates widely with clinicians, health services and researchers across Australia to explore practical and responsible applications of AI in everyday clinical practice.

Dr ALAN TRAN

Dr Alan Tran graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Doctor of Dental Surgery. He worked as a general dentist in both public and private clinics, and worked as a clinical demonstrator to final year dental students during his time at Goulburn Valley Health in Shepparton.

In 2019, Alan commenced specialist orthodontic training at the University of Melbourne to obtain his Doctor of Clinical Dentistry. He is currently working full-time in private practice in Mornington.

Dianne Watt

Di Watt is the Director of Strive Practice Consulting, where she and her team help more than 25 orthodontic practice owners - known as “Strivers”- build, grow, and optimise their businesses across Australia and New Zealand. With a hands-on, strategic approach, Di supports clients through every phase of practice development - from scoping sites and planning staffing and expenses to recruitment, training, marketing, and long-term growth strategy.

Her impact goes far beyond start-ups. Di works with established practices to streamline operations, improve efficiency, and significantly boost profitability, all while reducing their Orthodontist's workweeks so they can enjoy more personal and holiday time.

A standout quality of Di’s work is her ability to engage with every personality on the team. Her empathetic yet direct approach allows her to connect with staff at all levels, unlock individual strengths, and cultivate a culture of accountability and trust, ensuring that everyone is pulling in the same direction.

Di’s insight is grounded in real-world orthodontic experience as a Practice Manager and Treatment Coordinator. She also brings fresh perspective from outside the industry, having taught Business and Culture at university, led marketing in the financial services sector, and managed projects in a digital marketing agency.

Known for her deep commitment to her clients’ success, Di empowers practice owners to build thriving, values-led businesses. Her work consistently enhances financial results, team culture, patient experience, and leadership confidence.

As a speaker, Di delivers warmth, clarity, and practical strategies that resonate. Audiences walk away with fresh insights, renewed confidence, and a clear path forward.

Dr Alex YUSUPOV

Dr Alex Yusupov completed his dental undergraduate studies at the University of Melbourne in 1989 and his specialty training in 1992, also at University of Melbourne.

In 1993 Alex has set up his private practice. In 2013, Alex moved into his new, state of the art, custom built multi chair practice, and in the same year enrolled in SureSmile Advanced training.

In 2014, Alex was invited to become part of the teaching faculty of Suresmile Advanced. In 2020, , Alex was presented with a “Visionary Among Us” award from SureSmile.

Starting his SureSmile journey has catapulted Alex into 3D technology, with one of the early practices in Melbourne to use intra-oral scanners, becoming alginate free, using 3D printing to manufacture retainers, aligners and more recently, 3D printed metal appliances.

Alex has always had an interest in managing complex, inter-disciplinary patients, with emphasis on treatment for adults utilising restorative and surgical 3D planning. Alex enjoys pushing the limits of technology, and often resorts to the use of skeletal anchorage and 3D printed appliances to simplify restorative and surgical treatments and deliver planned results. One the most requested presentation themes titled “Hamburger with the lot”, where Alex, with the aid of a treated complex case, illustrates his workflows, decisions and treatment steps.

Alex has lectured nationally and inter-nationally on 3D technology and surgical treatments. Alex runs Clinical Photography Courses for general dentists and specialists, as well as being a Visiting Fellow at the University of Melbourne Orthodontic Program.

In his spare time, Alex enjoys cooking, travel, drone flying and photography. Alex is married with 2 adult children.

Dr PRASHANT ZAVERI

Prashant completed his master’s degree in Periodontics (1986) and Orthodontics (1989) from University of Bombay. Currently, he is an Honorary Clinical Lecturer at University of Otago and has a Specialist Orthodontic & Periodontic private practice in Auckland, New Zealand. He has worked as a Senior Consultant and a Certified Trainer and Facilitator for Quality improvement in Health care at Qimpro Institute, an affiliate of Juran International Inc. USA. Currently, Prashant is the president of the New Association of Orthodontists and an Honorary Fellow of the Asia Pacific Orthodontic Society.

He is an astute clinician and his unique dual qualification generates interest in his presentations around the world. Prashant has keen interest in Sanskrit language, Vedic Scriptures, and Meditation.