Faculty Members

Gabriel Mojay first studied natural medicine in 1978, when he began to train in Shiatsu Therapy. In 1984 he commenced a 4-year course in Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture, and became on completion a member of the British Acupuncture Council. Gabriel first trained in Aromatherapy and Medical Herbalism with Carlo De Paoli at the Institute of Traditional Herbal Medicine. He has also completed courses in Scientific Aromatherapy with L'Institut Des Sciences Biomedicales and the Natural Oils Research Association.

In 1990 Gabriel founded the Register of Qualified Aromatherapists (RQA), and was the first Chairperson of the British Aromatherapy Organisations Council (AOC). He has been instrumental in the formation of the world's largest professional association, the International Federation of Professional Aromatherapists (IFPA), and has served as IFPA's Vice-Chairman and Conference Chair. He was Founding Co-Editor of its professional journal, In Essence.

Gabriel is co-author of Shiatsu ~ the complete guide (published by Thorsons, 1991), and of Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit (Gaia, 1996). The latter book outlines a systematic way of applying the psychological benefits of essential oils according to the body-mind relationships of traditional Oriental medicine.

Gabriel is a very experienced Aromatherapy teacher and conveys his passion for this healing art and science to all who study with him.

Emma completed her Aromatherapy training at ITHMA in 2000. She went on to work at a busy multi-disciplinary therapy centre in Barnes, where she specialised in treating pregnant women. For several years her complementary therapy work was based partly in the corporate sector, where she provided work-place massage to large companies.

Since qualifying, Emma has developed her complementary therapy practise further through training in a variety of techniques including Pulsing, No-Hands Massage, Indian Head and pregnancy massage, and Reiki. She currently runs a successful aromatherapy and complementary therapy practise in Twickenham. Emma also teaches aromatherapy at the Raworth College in Dorking.

Rebecca Langford qualified as a Medical Herbalist in 2003 with a first class Bachelor of Science (BSc) Degree from Middlesex University, and has since undertaken further training in nutritional supplements as well as herbal medicine. She maintains a busy private practice in southwest London, and has a special interest in the treatment of pregnant women, babies and children. She also practices in a herbal apothecary, treating members of the public with acute and minor ailments.

Rebecca’s clinical experience has led her to a deeper appreciation of the importance of combining a holistic approach with modern medical knowledge. She also teaches Pathophysiology and Herbal Medicine at the Raworth College in Dorking.

Ian Cambray-Smith FIFPA,MSc,PGCE
Senior Tutor in Essential Oil Science

A one-time research chemist and materials scientist, Ian trained as an Aromatherapist in 1994, and has since established himself as one of the foremost teachers of essential oil science. He has taught at a number of aromatherapy schools and universities across the UK. He also provided a consultancy service to companies and organisations supplying and using essential oils. He is one of only twenty experts invited by the Under Secretary of State for Health to serve as members of the Independent Review Panel for the Classification of Borderline Products.

Ian was Chair of the International Society of Professional Aromatherapists and in 2002 became the first Chair of the International Federation of Professional Aromatherapists. He joined the Prince’s Foundation for Integrated Health as Programmes Manager in December 2006, where he oversaw the creation of the Complementary & Natural Healthcare Council.

Jeannie Dyer BA,MSc
Senior Tutor in Clinical Aromatherapy

Jeannie has a BA in Psychology, an MSc in Human Communication Studies, and previously worked as a speech and language therapist. She is the Clinical Lead for Complementary Therapies at the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust in London where she has worked as a clinical massage therapist since 1992.

Jeannie became an aromatherapist in 1993 and is a member of the International Federation of Professional Aromatherapists. She is a member of the editorial advisory committee of the International Journal of Clinical Aromatherapy, and completed the National Cancer Leadership Programme in 2008.

Jan McColm started her career as a teacher in 1977, later gaining a Masters Degree in Education. In 1983 she completed a Diploma Course in Counselling, going on to specialise in working with adolescents and families. She has also worked as a Staff Development and Training Advisor for a local education authority.

Jan has trained in Aromatherapy through both the Tisserand Institute and ITHMA, and has previously managed her own complementary health centre in Essex. She has also worked as an Aromatherapist and Counsellor at a day care centre for adults who have profound and multiple difficulties. Jan has had wide experience of teaching Counselling Skills, Practice Management and Aromatherapy.

Viv trained as a botanist and plant disease specialist, and has worked for over 20 years in Plant Science Research and Development for a major international agribusiness. Following her interest in the healing properties of plants, Viv qualified in Aromatherapy and Essential Oil Science at Neal’s Yard Remedies, London. For the last three years she has had an aromatherapy practice in Switzerland. She has also studied at the Institute of Stress Management. She now specialises in aromatherapy for stress management and is an advisor to industry on occupational health and wellness programmes.

Viv combines her work in aromatherapy with plant science consulting on plant biodiversity, and her interest in field botany, and alpine and medicinal plants. In summer months she is an alpine flower guide in the Swiss Alps and Italian Dolomites. Together with aromatherapist Harriet Robinson, Viv recently published four articles in IFPA’s professional journal, In Essence, on leading aromatherapy gardens, including An Aromatic Walk at Kew (Summer 2008 issue).

Anna Baldwin completed her training as Medical Doctor in 1978, and originally combined Medicine with Biochemistry and Endocrinology, treating patients, teaching and managing a large chemical pathology laboratory. In 1997 she re-trained in Palliative Medicine, working in hospice and hospital settings until 2003.

Anna qualified in Aromatherapy and Therapeutic Massage with ITHMA in 2006, and has additionally trained in Usui Reiki to Level II. Following four years’ training at the Centre for Counselling and Psychotherapy Education in London, she gained a diploma in Transpersonal Psychotherapy, and is a member of the UK Council for Psychotherapy. Anna is currently exploring aspects of energy medicine including the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). She works with these therapies in her professional practice based at Petersfield, Hampshire and London.

Originally a musician, Alan completed the Institute’s Aromatherapy Diploma Course in 1994. Together with working as a practitioner, Alan specialized in producing organic essential oil products for women in pregnancy, and held regular workshops in aromatherapy in pregnancy for couples and midwives. He played a leading role in teaching therapeutic massage to ITHMA Diploma students, and worked closely with Carola Beresford-Cooke and Gabriel Mojay in developing the Institute’s approach to Acupressure Massage.

Alan has gained wide experience in aromatic product design for both private clients and aromatherapy companies, and has been involved in all aspects of product creation — from formulation, design and materials sourcing to production, marketing and distribution. He is therefore ideally placed to offer sound advice and experience to those wishing to create their own aromatherapy product range. Alan is former Vice-Chairman of the Register of Qualified Aromatherapists (RQA) and has served as a Council member of the International Federation of Professional Aromatherapists (IFPA).

Jo qualified as an Aromatherapist through the Tisserand Institute in 1996. Following graduation, she went into partnership with a fellow graduate to develop a programme of aromatherapy and yoga, to increase women’s awareness of essential oils and their choice of care in pregnancy. She later returned to the Tisserand Institute to teach Essential Oil Therapeutics, and currently teaches on the diploma course at Neal’s Yard Remedies.

A qualified baby massage instructor, she offers Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses in aromatherapy for pregnancy, and workshops for the lay person on the use of essential oils in pregnancy, labour and postnatal care. Jo holds qualifications in advanced remedial massage, acupressure massage, Indian head massage and clinical aromatherapy and massage in obstetrics.

Lynda Pudney is a registered nurse with a broad experience of medical practice, counselling, occupational health, first aid training and complementary healthcare. While working as an Occupational Health Nurse for a major airline, she designed and implemented the company’s First Aid training programme, registered with the Health & Safety Executive. Since 1992 she has continued to train and examine for a number of organisations throughout the UK.

Lynda has a had a long-standing interest in complementary therapies, gaining professional qualifications in Systematic Kinesiology, Counselling, Light Touch Spinal Realignment, Reiki and Natural Lift Facial Massage. She continues to provide First Aid training for industry and other client groups and is the officially approved trainer for the Association of Systematic Kinesiology.