Presenters

Merv Neal

Merv has owned and operated his own businesses for more than 51 years. Following a work related life threatening health issue in 2002, Merv found out first hand that “Laughter is the Best Medicine”. Check out You Tube The Laughing Man for his full story.
Merv is a Laughter Yoga Master Trainer, Researcher, Medically Published Author, Author of the book The Business of Laughter, and runs the Southbank Laughter Club.

Bianca Spears

Bianca’s work (and play) help people who are ready to step up and create their lives to embrace more ease, fun and flow. In 2013, she shifted from the corporate world into entrepreneurship, meeting anxiety, fatigue and chronic stress along the way, and using laughter as a key tool in her recovery.
A certified Life Coach and trained in Laughter Wellness, Laughnosis and Laughter Yoga, Bianca enjoys bringing her understanding of laughter, play, applied neuroscience, positive psychology and somatic healing to her work – whether it’s with entrepreneurs, work teams or children. .

Bianca will be presenting: How to create a successful online presence.

Freda Gonot-Schopinsky

Freda is a health psychologist who created the Laughie. So, what exactly is a laughie? It’s like a selfie, but instead of a photo, you create a one-minute video (or sound recording) of yourself laughing, using your smart phone. Then you watch and listen to it whenever you feel the need. Hopefully you’ll find yourself laughing along. Freda sought a quick, cheap, easy tool for the medical sector to “prescribe” for people needing to laugh more and here it is.

FREDA will be presenting:The Laughie: Academic Papers, Mixed Methods Ethnographic Interventions, and Apps

Braith Bampkin

Braith Bamkin is an expert in connecting people to themselves and others.
As the franchise owner for BNI Melbourne, Braith has worked with thousands of business people, helping them to grow their businesses. But it was when he contracted Bell’s Palsy that he began to explore therapies to aid in his recovery which is where Braith came across Laughter Yoga and Breathwork. Initially using it as a therapeutic tool, Braith quickly saw the benefits of Laughter Yoga and Breathwork in the workplace.
Braith now combines his business skills, Laughter Yoga and Breathwork in the wider business community and has a particular interest in working with Associations, Franchise groups and SME’s. He is a much sought-after post lunch conference speaker, bringing light and laughter to food hazed conference attendees.
Braith knows that business doesn’t have to be serious and by using the tools and skills developed as a Certified Laughter Yoga leader and Breathwork Coach as well as author of BREATHE EASY – SIMPLE WAYS TO BE WELL CONNECTED”, his message connects people to themselves and others around them. With a holistic approach to business, Braith has helped organisations create vibrant and connected cultures..

• 22nd Oct – Conference and Joy Festival: Developing a Laughing Business