Board of Trustees
The trustees role as a collective is to set the charity’s strategic direction, monitor the delivery of the charity’s objects, uphold its values and guide, advise and support the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), who leads the team towards achieving the charity’s vision and objects. Each trustee heads or is part of a subcommittee with clearly defined aims and reports back the activities of the committee to the full board of trustees to inform their decision making processes.
Anne Andenaes
Education

Anne qualified as an aromatherapist in 1988 with Margaret Bonner-Walter. Previously she certified as a teacher at Chelsea College in Physical Education. She went onto train in reflexology, beauty therapy and body control pilates teacher. Anne has a long history in the fitness and health industry. As a teacher i enjoyed introducing aromatherapy into Norway in the late 80's, early 90's - it has since flourished there, having been an IFA Member since it began. Anne has had many article published in the field in Norway and author.
×Rui Parkinson
Public Relations

Rui qualified as an aromatherapist in 2004. After qualifying she used her skills predominately for her own self-care and the care of her family with a small client base. Previously she has worked in perfumery and handmade cosmetic companies in sales and as a team coordinator, as well being a part time teaching assistant. Since the pandemic and its wide-reaching affects, it became clear to Rui that aromatherapy was needed to enhance and balance the psychological and physical wellbeing of clients and has since created her own a bespoke aromatherapy service. Rui is Japanese and wants to support our Japanese members and assist with new projects in Japan.
×Josie Donaldson
Research (Chair)

Josie qualified in 1992 at the London School of Aromatherapy, and successfully set up and run her own clinic ever since. She is also a fully qualified Kinesiologist, Counsellor and Nutritionist. She has worked within the NHS - with Cerebral Palsy, MS and Head injured patients within several hospitals. Having researched biochemicals and oils when working at the Head injury Unit at the local cottage hospital this research was utilise with great success. She has run her own college in Morpeth and has experience in teaching, lecturing, staff management, quality assurance in her capacity as an internal verifier and also external examiner.
×Jon Tay
Membership

Jon quailed as an aromatherapist in 1998 at the Joanna Hoare Institute of Aromatherapy. He is an international aromatherapist, spa and wellness advisor; consultant; educator; entrepreneur with background in psychology, aromatherapy, spa management and complementary therapies. With vast experience in the spa and wellness industry, Jon inspires collaboration within the industry; namely he has collaborated with Spa and Wellness Association Singapore (SWAS), Asia Pacific Spa & Wellness Coalition (APSWC), Asia Spa & Wellness Promotion Council (ASWPC). Even during the pandemic period, Jon together with the Union continue to assist the industry by forming a Professional Group for freelancers and self-employed in the beauty, therapy & wellness industry in Singapore. Jon advises the spa and wellness industry as well as the public. In Singapore he had been appointed Lifeskills & Lifestyle Star Trainer by the People’s Association (Singapore). Since 2004 he has designed workshops and seminars to educate the public, which is has delivered locally as well as in surrounding countries. Jon believes that ethical, quality and professional education and training comes with good quality and ethically-sourced essential oils. He has worked with farmers and distillers and also organised study tours to such places. Besides this industry, he has been assisting SME from other industries in business matching, linking and connecting businesses. Moving ahead, Jon wishes to continue to inspire, connect, engage more people all over the world into the aromatherapy community and experience natural scent and therapeutic touch through many projects and initiatives of IFA.
×Trevor Dwyer
Information Technology

Trevor is a SQL Server Database Architect dedicated to providing strategic and technical leadership to technical teams. Skilled in troubleshooting and resolving complex information technology problems by performing technical root cause analysis and providing viable solutions. For 6 years Trevor received a Microsoft MVP award in SQL Server, which is given by Microsoft to outstanding members of a Microsoft online community. Trevor has provided chapter contributions and has been a technical editor for several SQL Server books, in addition to presenting on various topics at SQL Server conferences worldwide. Having chaired. Trevor was also the Chairman of a London Tennis and Sports Club.
×Kyoko Wood
Education

Kyoko qualified in 2003 with Vivat Holistic Training School in Tokyo. In 2003 she came to the UK for additional training in reflexology, reiki and M technique before moving to Germany and Switzerland, where she worked as a self-employed massage therapist and infant massage instructor from 2004 to 2006. When Kyoko returned to Japan in 2007, she had the opportunity to work as an aromatherapist and infant massage instructor at an acupuncture clinic and paediatric clinic in Hakodate from 2007 to 2010. Since returning to the UK in 2011 she has been exploring her direction as a complementary therapist. In 2015 she volunteered at Longfield Hospice in the Cotswold, which inspired her to pursue a career in palliative care as a complementary therapist. Currently she is enrolled in the diploma course ITTU at the Christie NHS Foundation providing a unique perspective on the needs of patients with cancer. As an aromatherapist and Japanese language speaker, she intends to use her skills to contribute to the growth and development of IFA organisations in Japan and also other Asian countries.
×Catherine Jacobs
Public Relations

Catherine qualified as an aromatherapist in 2004 previously obtaining a SVQ3 in Health & Social Care and a BA in Communication Studies. Prior to becoming an Aromatherapist she worked in the music business for 10 years in PR, promotions and management, developing two businesses. She has practiced as an Aromatherapist for 18 years and with a busy clinical practice working with people of all ages, backgrounds, young and old alike. During lockdown she delivered an online zoom session to the staff at the NHS as part of their Well-Being Day. She is also a workshop facilitator for VOCAL, the carers charity and part of a new project for the charity ‘What? Why? Children In Hospital’ to deliver aromatherapy sessions to parents of children with disabilities who are in hospital. I have worked as part of the complementary therapy team for the charity Saheliya, a Scottish mental health charity specifically for vulnerable ethic women.
×Interested in becoming an IFA Trustee?
Being a trustee is immensely rewarding, providing both expected and unexpected opportunities for personal development and while you bring your skills and energy to the running of the charity, you will also find you are gaining new experience and knowledge. Below you can read more about what the role entails: