Saturday was the Sydney leg of the Low Carb Down Under seminar series, that has been touring Australia.
What a fantastic day it was! There were twelve speakers from diverse backgrounds covering a range of topics. I was honoured to be one of the speakers and thoroughly enjoyed the day. Almost 300 people attended the event and everyone seemed really keen to learn and soak up the atmosphere. There seemed to be a significant number of medical and healthcare providers in the audience, which is a great sign that the message is being spread to the right people.
So, here is my brief summary of the day.
Dr Ron Ehrlich—“Lessons from the Past”
Dr Ron Ehrlich is a holistic Sydney dentist who started the day with a great overview of where we are – and where we’ve come from. I found it interesting to hear Ron talking about how he looks for underlying causes – rather than treating symptoms, which seems to be the typical modern method.
Dr Simon Thornley—“Has Dietary Research Helped Us With Our Food Choices
New Zealand Public Health Physician Dr Simon Thornley has written a paper on sugar with Dr Rod Taylor and Dr Ken Sikaris (“Sugar restriction: the evidence for a drug-free intervention to reduce cardiovascular disease risk”). Simon is an academic who has conducted extensive research on sugar, scientifically coming to many of the same conclusions as those of us in the paleo community.
Jimmy Moore—Update on low carb around the world
An update on the remarkable progress Jimmy is making with his N=1 experiment on Nutritional Ketotis. Interestingly a number of people I spoke to in the audience are conducting similar experiments of their own. It’s going to be extremely interesting to examine how this has gone in a few months time.
David Gillespie—“Sweet Poison and Big Fat Lies”
Author and Lawyer David Gillespie took us through his extensive sugar research – and findings. Many people in Australia were first introduced to the concept of giving up sugar through David’s books, so it was great to hear from him.
Sarah Wilson—“I Quit Sugar”
Sarah is the journalist who wrote the popular I Quit Sugar program. I was very interesting to hear her speak about her poor health, and how quitting sugar changed things for her.
Costa Georgiadis—“Product Not Produce”
Costa has the most incredible energy! He bought along soil and compost and demonstrated to us the importance of understanding exactly where your food comes from.
Christine Cronau—”The Fat Revolution!”
Christine is author of the Fat Revolution. Her talk clearly spelt out exactly why we need to have fat in our diets and must not be scared of it.
Dr Rod Tayler—“Doctors, Health, Weight and Carbohydrates”
Anesthesiologist and giveupsugar.com founder Rod Taylor explained how damaging sugar is – and just how much of a problem it is.
Aaron McKenzie from Origin of Energy—”Combining Fitness and Nutrition”
Aaron spoke about fitness, from an evolutionary perspective
Suzanne Crawt – Paleo in Australia
My talk started with my story explaining how I found Paleo and the huge difference it made to me. I then spoke about the growing, thriving Paleo community in Australia and how people can get involved.
Rob Blomfield—”A farmer’s journey to primal health”
Rob is an Australian farmer who, on finding this lifestyle, made remarkable health improvements. It was great to hear from someone with an insider knowledge on farming.
Vicki Poulter – “Why grass fed animal foods are good for the planet”
Vicki, from Nourishing Australia, gave a wonderful talk in linking the land, animals, soil and our food. This really made clear the importance of eating good quality grass-fed meat.
We finished with a panel question and answer section. With so many diverse speakers, a great wealth of questions were answered.
The whole event was filmed, so hopefully those of you who missed out will be able to watch the talks soon.
It was wonderful to meet so many people interested in, and concerned about their health. It’s clear that the message is spreading and increasing numbers of people are finding out about this lifestyle. I wonder how many people will attend the next seminar series?
The seminar was in Adelaide last night and has one more date left. The final conference is in Brisbane this Saturday. There is still time (just) to buy your ticket at the Low Carb Down Under site. I’m heading to Brisbane this weekend, so if you’re there please come and say hi!
Why Events Like This Matter
Attending events like the Low Carb Down Under seminar reminds me just how powerful it is to step outside of online echo chambers and connect with people in real life. It's one thing to follow a Paleo lifestyle behind a screen, but when you're surrounded by hundreds of people on the same journey—asking similar questions, swapping tips, and sharing stories—it all becomes so much more tangible.
These seminars are about more than the science. They’re about inspiration, encouragement, and accountability. Seeing such a large turnout in Sydney gave me hope that real change is happening—quietly, steadily, and driven by everyday people taking charge of their health.
Conversations Between Sessions
One of the best parts of the day wasn’t even on the stage—it was the conversations in between. In the tea breaks and over lunch, I chatted with GPs, nutritionists, personal trainers, and curious newcomers. Some had just started experimenting with ditching grains or sugar. Others had been low-carb or Paleo for years and were refining their approach.
I spoke to a woman who had reversed her type 2 diabetes after her son urged her to cut out processed carbs. I met a nurse who’s now recommending her patients look at food as their first line of defence—not medication. These conversations often don’t make it onto the speaker schedule, but they’re just as important.
Spotlight on Community Growth
What stood out to me most was the sheer number of people looking to connect locally. So many attendees asked how they could find like-minded people in their area to talk to, share meals with, or start walking groups. I always encourage people to start small. Post in a local Facebook group, suggest a real food picnic, or start a monthly dinner club. Community doesn’t have to be formal—it just has to be consistent.
Building support systems in real life is often what helps people move beyond the short-term excitement of dietary change and into long-term sustainable living. That’s when the real magic happens.
Reflections on Speaker Themes
While every speaker brought something different to the table, several themes clearly emerged across the day:
- Fat is no longer the villain. Over and over again, we heard that fat—particularly from clean, traditional sources—is essential to human health and satiety.
- Sugar is everywhere—and it’s a serious problem. It’s in nearly every processed food on the shelf, and still many people don’t know how damaging it can be to their metabolism and mental health.
- Real food is the answer. Whether Paleo, Primal, or low carb, all paths lead back to one thing: eating food in its most natural, unprocessed state.
This message may sound simple, but its power lies in repetition—and in evidence. More and more healthcare professionals are seeing the benefits of food-based interventions, and I left feeling reassured that the tide is slowly turning.
Looking Ahead to Brisbane
With Brisbane next on the seminar tour, I can’t wait to see how the final leg of the journey unfolds. I suspect the energy and enthusiasm will be just as high, if not higher, as word has spread from the earlier events. For those who haven't yet bought tickets—go! You won’t regret it.
Brisbane also presents a new opportunity for local community members to step up. If you’re attending, consider introducing yourself to someone new. Start a conversation. Ask a speaker a question. Share your story—it might be just what someone else needs to hear.
Online Resources for Those Who Missed Out
If you couldn’t attend one of the Low Carb Down Under events this year, don't worry. The team are fantastic at filming the presentations, and the talks are usually uploaded online in the weeks following. These videos are a great way to stay connected to the movement and continue learning.
Watching a speaker online might not be quite the same as sitting in the room, but it’s still a powerful resource—and one I encourage you to share with friends and family who are curious but not quite ready to jump in.
Final Thoughts
Leaving the Sydney seminar, I felt recharged. More than anything, I felt validated that this way of living and eating isn’t just a passing trend—it’s a powerful, science-backed movement with the potential to change lives.
Thank you to the organisers, the volunteers, the speakers, and every single person who showed up with an open mind. I’ll see some of you in Brisbane—and if not, I’ll keep sharing updates right here.
Let me know in the comments if you attended any of this year's events. What was your biggest takeaway? And who would you love to hear speak at a future event?
