Prof. David H. Barlow
David H. Barlow is an internationally recognised expert and leader in clinical psychology who has pioneered many treatments and investigations in anxiety and mood disorders. He is professor emeritus of psychology and psychiatry at Boston University as well as the founder and director emeritus of the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders, one of the largest research clinics of its kind in the world. Previously, Dr Barlow was a distinguished professor at State University of New York at Albany. From 1975 to 1979, he was professor of psychiatry and psychology at Brown University, where he also founded the clinical psychology internship program. From 1969 to 1975, he was professor of psychiatry at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, where he founded the Medical School psychology residency program. Dr Barlow is the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Psychological Association as well as the James McKeen Cattell Fellow Award from the Association for Psychological Science, which honours individuals for their lifetime of significant intellectual achievements in applied psychological research. An American Psychological Association Presidential Citation noted: "He has had a far-reaching impact on many psychologists of colour and has shaped the future of the discipline in valuing and supporting the potential of all students." Dr Barlow received his B.A. from the University of Notre Dame, his M.A. from Boston College and his PhD from the University of Vermont.
Prof. V. Mark Durand
V. Mark Durand is known worldwide as an authority in the area of autism spectrum disorders. He is a professor of psychology at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg, where he was the founding dean of arts and sciences and vice chancellor for academic affairs. A fellow of the American Psychological Association, Dr Durand has received over $4 million in federal funding to study the behaviour problems in children with disabilities. Previously he served in a variety of leadership positions at the University at Albany, including founder of the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities. He received the University Award for Excellence in Teaching at SUNY Albany in 1991, followed by the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Research and Creative Scholarship at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg in 2007. Currently a member of the Professional Advisory Board for the Autism Society of America, Dr Durand is co-editor of the JOURNAL OF POSITIVE BEHAVIOR INTERVENTIONS and has written 10 books and over 100 publications on functional communication, educational programming and behaviour therapy. He developed a unique treatment for severe behaviour problems that is used worldwide. Most recently he developed an innovative approach (Optimistic Parenting) to help families work with their challenging children. Dr Durand was named a 2014 Princeton Lecture Series Fellow and received the 2015 Jacobson Award for Critical Thinking from the American Psychological Association for his body of work in the field of autism spectrum disorder. He received his B.A., M.A. and PhD (all in psychology) at the State University of New York (SUNY) Stony Brook.
Stefan G. Hofmann
Stefan G. Hofmann is the Alexander von Humboldt Professor for Translational Clinical Psychology at the Philipps-University Marburg, Germany, and professor of psychology in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Boston University. He has an actively funded research program studying various aspects of emotional disorders with a particular emphasis on anxiety disorders and cognitive behavioural therapy. His many prestigious professional honours include the Alexander von Humboldt Research Award, the Humboldt Professorship (the highest German research award) and the Aaron T. Beck Award for Significant and Enduring Contributions to the Field of Cognitive Therapy by the Academy of Cognitive Therapy. Dr Hofmann is a fellow of the AAAS, APA, APS and ABCT and served as president of various national and international professional societies, including the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies and the International Association for Cognitive Psychotherapy. He was also an adviser to the DSM-5 Development Process and a member of the DSM-5 Anxiety Disorder Sub-Work Group. For the past six years, Dr Hofmann has been named a Highly Cited Researcher by Thomson Reuters. He is editor of COGNITIVE THERAPY AND RESEARCH and has published more than 400 peer-reviewed journal articles and 20 books, including AN INTRODUCTION TO MODERN CBT (Wiley-Blackwell) and EMOTION IN THERAPY (Guilford Press).
Larise M. Du Plessis
Larise du Plessis is currently a clinical psychologist in private practice. She has also lectured in the Department of Psychology at the University of Johannesburg, teaching undergraduate and postgraduate psychopathology for ten years. Her research interests include the training of psychotherapists and posttraumatic growth.
Prof. Conrad Visser
Conrad Visser is a psychiatrist, formerly head of the forensic unit at Sterkfontein Hospital and head of the National Maximum Security Unit at Fort England Hospital, Grahamstown. Before he started private practice in Johannesburg after 15 years in public service, Conrad was honorary associate professor of psychiatry at Rhodes University. His work currently focuses on medico-legal assessments, general psychiatry, consultation and occasional teaching.
