Dr Richard Schloeffel OAMgraduated from the University of NSW and St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney. Over 46 years he worked across rural general practice, HIV/AIDS medicine and for the past 30 years, based in Sydney, in chronic and complex disorders inclusive of ME/CFS, tick-borne illnesses and eventually Long COVID, seeing over 6000 patients.
In 2017 he received the Order of Australia Medal for services to Medicine in the Field of Chronic and Infectious Diseases. Dr Schloeffel has been an educator for the RACGP and other groups for over 30 years.
In November 2024 he retired from general practice to continue research and education in these fields and is currently a Clinical Senior Lecturer in the School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, undertaking fundamental research into ME/CFS and tick-borne diseases.

Prof Charlotte Hespe AM is a GP, Clinical Lead, and Co-Practice Owner at Glebe Family Medical Practice in Sydney.
Since 1996, Prof Charlotte Hespe has been a dedicated GP at Glebe Family Medical Practice (GFMP). She has led the clinic as Clinical Lead and Co-Practice Owner since 1999, combining her expertise in clinical care with a steadfast commitment to medical education and research.
In addition to her clinical work, Prof Hespe serves as Professor of General Practice and Primary Care Research at the University of Notre Dame, Australia (Sydney School of Medicine). Her dual roles enable her to seamlessly blend hands-on patient care with academic excellence, driving innovation in evidence-based healthcare.
Prof Hespe’s career is defined by her passion for General Practice as the foundation of high-quality, patient-centred healthcare. With over 23 years of leadership at a national level, she is a prominent figure in medical education, research, governance, policy, and health systems.