Dr Tom Mitchell is a world-renowned veterinarian and dog behaviourist and founder of concept training with over a decade’s worth of experience transforming canine behaviour struggles to help people (and their pets!) achieve their dog-owning dreams.

As part of his mission to “help as many dogs and owners as possible”, Tom revolutionised the practice of veterinary behaviour by establishing the trailblazing online canine behaviour clinic, Behavet, making consultations with certified veterinary behaviour professionals accessible to pet parents worldwide over Zoom. As the largest online pet behaviour clinic in the world, every month, Tom and his team of 20+ veterinarian behaviourists help over 700 dog (and cat) owners combat even the most challenging, “no hope” cases by creating transformational plans for the full spectrum of canine behaviour struggles, achieving unbelievable reward-based results where others have failed.

Dr Tom has recently founded Help! My Dog, an online community for dog owners and professionals alongside its #1 dog podcast, empowering dog parents with the knowledge they need to get to the root of their dogs’ behaviour struggles.

He is also currently involved in the development of a new professional behaviour training and education initiative, The Canine Behaviour College, aimed at advancing standards in canine behaviour practice for aspiring and current professionals.

Conference Topics

Simone Mueller is a certified dog trainer and dog behaviour consultant, author (Hunting Together, Rocket Recall, Walking Together and Don't Eat That) and founder of Predation Substitute Training, a modern, force-free approach that focuses on fun & team building to eliminate the unwanted chase.

Simone's ah-ha moment came when her first dog, an Aussie Shepherd mix named Malinka, demonstrated a passion for chasing wildlife on walks.  The conventional training options focused on punishment and left the human as the the annoying factor that ruins the fun.  Simone began playing games with Malinka that mimicked the predatory behaviour she loved to perform. Playing Predation Substitute Games stopped Malinka from running off and searching for wildlife to chase. She focused on Simone during their walks, always eagerly waiting the call to play her beloved Predation Substitute Games.

Over the years, Simone developed Predation Substitute Training (PST) into a holistic, force-free training system for dogs with predatory behaviour. While hunting games and substitute activities are one important aspect, PST is built around four core pillars: emotional regulation, cooperation and connection with the guardian, safe outlets for predatory needs, and practical real-life skills such as recall, impulse control, and behavioural interruption around wildlife.

Simone is proud to be an Associate Trainer at the Scotland-based Lothlorien Dog Training Club (AT-LDTC) and a member of the Pet Professional Guild (PPG), the Pet Dog Trainers of Europe (PDTE) and the Initiative of Force Free Dog Training.

Conference Topics

Dr Dennis Wormald is a veterinarian with a PhD in canine anxiety. He studied at the University of Melbourne, completing degrees in behavioural neuroscience, veterinary science, and his doctorate in dog behaviour, during which he led and published several scientific studies on anxiety in dogs.

Dennis is a practising behaviour veterinarian in Melbourne, and he serves on the Expert Advisory Committee of Delta Institute. For over a decade he has enjoyed teaching, having lectured veterinary students at the University of Melbourne and mentoring trainers and veterinarians in the practical application of behavioural science.

He is also veterinary technical advisor of CompaniCalm (the makers of AC for Pets, a nutraceutical supporting dogs and cats with anxiety) and ABAdog (an online platform linking trainers, owners and vets in behaviour care). Both ventures reflect his passion for bridging science, clinical practice, and real-world solutions for pets and their people.

Lee Stone is the Operations Manager and Avian Behaviour and Training consultant for Parrot Life Behaviour and Training, a parrot-specific behaviour consultancy based in Australia and New Zealand.

Lee comes from a background in dog training and behaviour consulting. She started her behaviour journey in 2010, working with her mentors for 4 years before moving to the Pilbara region of Western Australia and starting her own small dog training business offering group classes, behaviour consults and educational programs.

In 2016 Lee added an Eclectus parrot to her growing menagerie of animals, and quickly became hooked. This naturally led her down a path to researching and learning all she could about parrot behaviour, training and enrichment. During this time, nerding out on all things parrot, she met the team at Parrot Life and has not looked back since!

In 2018 Lee packed up and left Western Australia and moved home to Brisbane where she continues to work with both parrots and dogs through her business Animal Haus Behaviour and Training.

In the past 4 years, Lee’s flock has grown from 1 to 6 parrots (2 long term fosters), her flock now includes her Eclectus, four Macaws and one Caique (Ky-eek). She also shares her home with her 5yo dog Eevee who she adopted from the RSPCA 3 years ago.

Andrea Carne is a Feline Professional Member of PPGA and a Certified Cat Behaviour Consultant through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC).

After changing careers later in life and becoming a qualified veterinary nurse, Andrea delved into the behaviour world by gaining her Certificate IV in Companion Animals through the Delta Institute. Seeing a gap in the behaviour field for professional help for troubled felines, it wasn’t long before she followed her dreams and focused her attentions on the fabulous world of cats.

Andrea has since gone on to complete various certification programs including the Advanced Certificate in Feline Behaviour through the International Society of Feline Medicine, and the rigorous examination process of the IAABC program.

Her business “Cattitude” was established in 2018, initially focused on in-home consultations with cat guardians in Hobart and surrounds. She has since expanded the business to include online consultations with clients across Australia and overseas.

From house-soiling and conflict in multi-cat households, to solving the problem of a cat who was stealing basket-loads of shoes from the neighbours, Andrea has helped clients from all walks of life to manage their feline’s problematic behaviours and build a better bond in the process.

And she still helps clients with their canine friends as well – by helping introduce them to, and forge harmonious relationships with, their feline companions.

Andrea’s greatest joy is hearing how much happier her client’s cats are after her visits and following the implementation of targeted strategies. 

Happier cats lead to less behavioural problems and happier humans.

Dr Diana Rayment brings more than 20 years of experience across companion animal behaviour, welfare research, and applied practice. She holds a PhD in canine behaviour, with research focused on combining physiological and behavioural measures to improve how sheltered dogs are assessed, and a Bachelor of Animal Science.

Her career spans academia, applied science, and hands-on practice. During a decade in higher education, Diana taught animal health, welfare, and management at undergraduate level and co-supervised more than 30 Honours students. She has worked as a dog trainer and behaviour consultant for over 15 years, from basic and puppy training through to complex aggression cases. Other roles have included leading the behaviour team at Greyhound Adoption Program Victoria and managing operations at an animal shelter.

Diana currently holds several roles: Program Specialist at PetRescue, Director of the Australian Institute of Animal Management, and principal of her own behaviour consulting and training practice. Her consulting work spans private complex behaviour cases, dog behaviour assessments, and supporting shelters and animal management teams to develop their in-house care and behaviour programs.