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Hormones Under Siege: Endocrine Disruption in a Toxic World Roundtable

Access

12 months

Format

Online Roundtable

Duration

3.5 hours

Presenters


Dr. Giselle Cooke, Dr. Nicole Bijlsma, Rhiannon Hardingham & Dr. Nick Morgan

Hormonal health has never been more challenged. In today’s environment, the human endocrine system is under constant pressure from an unprecedented array of chemical exposures that were virtually nonexistent a century ago.

Practitioners are now seeing a sharp rise in thyroid dysfunction, adrenal stress, metabolic instability, fertility challenges, autoimmune thyroiditis, PCOS and hormone-related cancers across all ages. The question is no longer whether environmental toxins affect hormones, but how deeply and how early these disruptions occur.

This 90-minute expert roundtable brings together leading voices in integrative medicine Dr. Giselle Cooke, Dr. Nicole Bijlsma, Rhiannon Hardingham and Dr. Nick Morgan to unpack one of the most urgent health issues of our time: endocrine disruption in a toxic world.

Everyday chemicals found in plastics, pesticides, personal care products, industrial pollutants, pharmaceuticals, heavy metals and household items can interfere with hormonal signalling at incredibly low doses. These endocrine-disrupting compounds may mimic hormones, block receptors, alter hormone production, shift metabolism, influence epigenetic expression and trigger immune dysregulation. Their effects are often subtle, cumulative and amplified by stress, nutrient deficiencies, sleep disruption, microbiome imbalance and overall toxic load.

During this dynamic and clinically focused session, our panel will explore:

  • The major classes of endocrine disruptors and where patients encounter them
  • How these chemicals interact with thyroid, adrenal, reproductive and metabolic pathways
  • Why the rise in hormonal disorders reflects an environmental and lifestyle crisis
  • The intersection of toxicity, chronic stress, inflammation and immune activation
  • Real clinical patterns that practitioners are seeing in practice every day
  • The latest research linking endocrine disruption with infertility, autoimmunity and cancer
  • Practical assessment tools and red flags clinicians should be aware of
  • Evidence-informed strategies for detoxification, nutrient support and environmental minimisation
  • How to guide patients in reducing exposure without overwhelm


This session offers a powerful blend of science, clinical insight and real-world application. Whether you support patients with chronic health conditions, reproductive concerns, metabolic disorders or complex hormonal presentations, this roundtable will expand your understanding of endocrine disruption and strengthen your approach to restoring hormone balance.

Join us to deepen your knowledge, sharpen your clinical skills and gain practical tools to navigate hormonal health in a world that is increasingly working against it.

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MEET THE PRESENTERS

Dr. Giselle Cooke

MBBS, DBM, PhD 
Giselle has practised holistic & integrative medicine in Australia since graduating from the University of NSW in Medicine and Surgery in 1979. Over the next 20 years she expanded upon her medical training with postgraduate studies and qualifications in Traditional Chinese, Western Herbal, Nutritional, Ayurvedic and Psychosomatic Medicines. Giselle founded the multidisciplinary clinic, Pymble Grove Health Centre, in 1989, which became a centre of excellence for integrative medicine. She transitioned to operating a hybrid retail/clinic in 2003 when she created The Modern Apothecary herbal dispensary & teahouse alongside her Health Alchemy practice. Having taught at universities and colleges since 1983, Giselle has also presented extensively at integrative and natural medicine conferences in Australia, America, Singapore and Malaysia. She is the author of two books, six research publications and has written extensively for magazines and newspapers over 4 decades. She has 15 years’ experience in talk back national radio and made many television appearances as an industry expert.

Dr. Nicole Bijlsma

PhD, ND, BHScAc(Hons), GradDipOHS, DipBuildingBio, Certified Mould Remediator, Ct IV Feng Shui, Ct IV TAE
Nicole is a researcher, bestselling author (Healthy Home Healthy Family) and founder of the Healthy Home (Building Biology) movement in Australia. She established the Australian College of Environmental Studies in 1999 to educate people about the health hazards in the built environment. Nicole has lectured at tertiary institutions for over 30 years, has published in peer reviewed journals and is regularly consulted by the media to discuss mould, electromagnetic fields and toxic chemicals, and lectures in Australia and abroad about environmental health issues. Her PhD research explored the impact of environmental exposures on human health and their ramifications for general medical practice.

Rhiannon Hardingham

BHSc(Nat) 
Rhiannon is an experienced fertility naturopath, presenter, practitioner educator and author. Rhiannon is committed to the successful integration of natural and conventional medicine, regularly working alongside Melbourne’s top fertility doctors to achieve the best outcomes for her patients. As testament to this, Rhiannon is routinely invited to present on the topic of collaborative patient care to medical specialists and naturopaths alike. With over 20 years of clinical experience in the area of hormonal and reproductive health, Rhiannon provides professional mentoring and education for functional medicine practitioners in both group and individual settings. This highly specialised area is outside the scope of standard naturopathic education and as such, her reproduction and hormonal masterclasses mentoring programs are a rare opportunity for practitioners to further their skills.

Dr. Nick Morgan

BMed, FRACGP, FACNEM, DipTM&H 
Dr. Nick is an Integrative Medical Practitioner committed to the ever-evolving study of environmental drivers to inflammatory illness. After graduating medical school in 2014, he went on to obtain a Diploma of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene in Liverpool, UK in 2018, then a RACGP GP Fellowship. Following this, personal health circumstances motivated him to delve into the multiple imbalances that can ensue in the setting of myalgic encephalomyelitis / chronic fatigue syndrome. Further study in mast cell immunology, chronic infections, gut microbiome, and bioidentical hormones all proved essential in providing the tools necessary to address the chronic inflammatory effects of ME/CFS and other chronic inflammatory illnesses.
Special Interests:
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Long COVID CIRS Fibromyalgia Autoimmune diseases Gut health (including Dysbiosis, SIBO, IBS, Dysmotility, Intestinal Hyperpermeability) Chronic infections Mast Cell Activation Syndrome
Qualifications
Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Fellow of the Australasian College of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine Awarded Distinction in the Diploma of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, UK