Charles Sturt University Distinguished Alumnus of the Year – Innovation, Entrepreneurship Creativity
This award recognises alumni who have made an extraordinary impact through innovation in their industry or profession. This encompasses all industry sectors, for example, agriculture, technology, allied health, the arts, culture, and/or creative sectors.
Winner: Dr Matthew Muir
Career: Co-founder and Head Veterinarian, Lyka Pet Food; Clinical Director, All Natural Vet Care; Technical Lead, VetFX
Course: Bachelor of Veterinary Science / Bachelor of Veterinary Biology (Honours), 2010
Dr Matthew Muir is an internationally recognised veterinarian, entrepreneur and researcher whose work is reshaping companion-animal healthcare through preventive medicine, nutrition and sustainability. Over the past 15 years, he has built a career that bridges clinical excellence, scientific innovation and business leadership, championing a model of care that focuses on healthspan, wellbeing and disease prevention rather than treatment alone.
As Clinical Director of All Natural Vet Care and co-founder of Lyka Pet Food, Matthew has been at the forefront of integrating evidence-based nutrition into veterinary medicine. His expertise spans companion-animal nutrition, the microbiome, preventative medicine, surgery, acupuncture and integrative healthcare, combining conventional veterinary practice with complementary approaches to improve long-term health outcomes. Under his leadership, Lyka has become one of Australia's leading pet-health companies, helping transform how pet owners think about nutrition, chronic disease prevention and quality of life.
A published researcher in canine nutrition and microbiome science, Matthew continues to advance the evidence base for preventative veterinary medicine as founder and Scientific Advisory Board member of the Pet Longevity Institute. He is also founder of Planet Decent, a social enterprise supporting animal conservation and community-building projects through sustainable tourism and animal-health initiatives. His broader commitment to One Health is reflected in volunteer work with Taronga Wildlife Hospital and wildlife conservation programs in Australia and Kenya.
Matthew's influence extends globally through conference presentations, industry leadership and public education. Recognised for his innovative approach to animal health and sustainability, he exemplifies how entrepreneurship, research and clinical expertise can work together to create healthier lives for animals while contributing to a more sustainable future.
