Senior academic team

Principal & CEO

Valerie Bullen MSc, BSc, MIBiol, CBiol, PGCE, FHEA
Valerie came to ION from the University of Westminster, where she was the Principal Lecturer in Biomedicine and Complementary Therapies within the School of Integrated Health. She has been lecturing in health sciences for over 20 years, specialising in Immunology and Cancer Biology.

An inspirational and entertaining lecturer, Valerie became a University Teaching Fellow for her excellence in teaching and learning. She has designed many courses, including the degrees in complementary therapies at the University of Westminster where, as the Associate Head of the School of Biosciences, she was responsible for the quality of their course provision.

Valerie is also a practicing complementary therapist and she brings to ION her extensive experience of course design and quality assurance processes to ensure ION remains at the forefront of the education training of nutritional therapists.
 

Courses Manager

Nigel Hinchliffe BSc, DipION
As a biochemist, Nigel followed his degree with research into antioxidant enzymes before taking time out to travel. Inspired by Eastern approaches to health and medicine, he was drawn to Nutritional Therapy as it combined his interests in science, food and health.

Since graduating from ION in 2000, he has worked as a tutor, programme leader and now Courses Manager at the Institute, and trained as a yoga teacher and therapist. Nigel is currently completing a Masters degree in Nutrition and Public Health. As Courses Manager, he is responsible for developing and enhancing the range of courses offered at ION, and works closely with the NTDC Course Leaders to ensure the curriculum and teaching are of the highest standard.
 

Learner Support Manager

Jane Henson BA Hons, PGCE English MA (Education)
Jane works within the education team to support students when their needs fall outside the normal roles and responsibilities of the Seminar and Year tutor. These might include learning difficulties, language difficulties, extenuating personal circumstances and the need for the extension of a coursework deadline.

The Learner Support Manager is the only member of staff who can agree a deadline extension and it must be applied for in writing. Jane will also arrange appropriate support for students who are struggling with specific modules or areas of the curriculum.
 

Clinical Development Manager

Carmel Buckley BSc

Carmel trained full-time for three years at the University of Westminster, graduating with a degree in Nutritional Therapy in 2004. She joined ION’s Teaching Clinic in 2005 and in 2007 assumed overall responsibility for developing clinical training. Carmel leads the teaching and assessment of clinical practice modules in Years 2 and 3, and the ongoing professional development and support of our clinic tutors.  In addition to her role at ION, Carmel also sees clients in her private practice.