Jef Baker

This presentation will explore the unique features of Changa, its advantages as a method of DMT consumption and its justified moniker as ‘smokeable ayahuasca’. Utilising what existing academic literature there is, recent books, online articles and anecdotal reports from internet forums, the aim here is to present the multifaceted nature of Changa. I intend to draw on evidence to highlight the versatility, integrate-ability, navigate ability and experiential qualities of Changa that make it uniquely suited for entheogenic exploration and a novel development in the pantheon of ethnobotanical techniques.

Martin Williams and Rich Haridy

A scientist and a journalist sit down for an informal chat about psychedelics, science, modern medicine and everything in between. Martin Williams has been immersed in the world of pharmacological research for decades, working most recently on several psychedelic clinical trials in Australia. Rich Haridy has been reporting on the world of psychedelic science for nearly ten years.

This presentation reflects on Fahim’s journeys through Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina in search of new and exceptional Trichocereus varieties, particularly T. peruvianus, T. pachanoi, T. bridgesii, and T. terscheckii. Trekking across the Andes Mountains, Fahim documented striking wild specimens growing in their native habitats, capturing their ecological diversity, form, and resilience in situ.

Nick Sun

As you may have noticed, reality has become an exponential shitshow in the last five years with all manner of destabilising events and influences that have made many of us question the very fabric of a once shared consensus reality. Never before have we faced such a number of varied and largely man-made existential threats to our survival as a species. Climate change, AI, political corruption,  economic instability, pandemics, the sixth mass extinction, social media, information warfare, nuclear arms threat, the list goes on.

Snu Voogelbreinder

The region known today as the Middle East has a rich history, birthing streams of culture, religion and civilization that have helped form the modern world, and psychoactive plants have played a large role in the background.

Discussions around the use of psychoactive plants in the region are usually historical and focused mainly on their relation to Judaeo-Christian scriptures and traditions. In this presentation we will go further and explore other uses of plants and fungi amongst the diverse cultures of the region, both historic and contemporary.

As psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) moves from the fringes to the centre of clinical practice, we find ourselves at a pivotal moment in shaping the future of this field. While the adoption of PAT into conventional healthcare settings brings welcome legitimacy, it also raises important questions about how we measure outcomes and define therapeutic success.

Prashanth Puspanathan

Despite promising evidence for psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) in treating mental health conditions, its accessibility remains severely limited. Current delivery models are constrained by high costs, siloed clinics, and inefficiencies that limit scalability. This talk will outline the evolution of psychedelic therapy to date, its current limitations, and present a possible solution that is currently being explored in a clinical trial at Monash University.

We take a closer look at one key barrier: cost. Delivering PAT in specialist clinics with intensive therapist time results in a prohibitive cost structure, often overlooked in discussions about feasibility. Through financial analysis, we will highlight why addressing this structural inefficiency is critical for making PAT accessible.

Thomas Forrest

An overview of the current medicinal cannabis agricultural landscape, covering nursery (propagation) through to patient access. This talk will explore my experiences setting up a legal farm, developing our own genetics and supplying cannabis medicines into the worldwide market.

This talk will explore the different approaches to cannabis agricultural science, regulations, environmental impact and potential evolution in the AU/NZ cannabis sector.

Tobias Penno

Tobias Penno’s doctoral thesis developed a somatic psychotherapeutic framework for psychedelic-assisted therapy. During this talk, Tobias will walk you through the findings of his PhD. Starting with his own experiences of embodiment in psychedelic healing, this project represents more than a topic of inquiry, but a deeply personal story of integrating his own experiences and learning to be a psychedelic practitioner. Tobias will walk you through two core aspects of the findings of his phd, 1) somatic capacities - Do you have what it takes to be a psychedelic guide? 2) Somatic Practices - the somatic arc of psychedelic healing. As the psychedelic field charges ahead in the aboveground, we will reflect on the wisdom of older traditions and how that might be translated into legal, aboveground settings.