Our Team Senior management The senior management team are responsible for leading the corporate and academic staff who are dedicated to the day to day running of the organisation. Senior management team members Chris Mansi BA (Hons) PGDip Chief Executive Officer Chris brings a wealth of experience leading, building, and developing charitable organisations. Her more than 30 years in the charity sector has spanned working in international health care, criminal justice review, mental health and higher education. As a member of and Ambassador for London, her goal was and continues to be to improve organisational effectiveness. Chris has led organisations to achieve awards for people involvement and development (IiP Silver, London Excellence), leadership (London Excellence) and achieving 33 in the Sunday Times 100 Best Not for Profit organisations to work for. Through ION, Chris is a member of Independent HE (IHE) and attends a range of events including presentations to governmental departments, promoting benefits of the independent higher education sector to the UK higher education sector and wider economy. Heather Rosa DipION fBANT fHEA Dean in Academic Faculty Heather Rosa became Dean of the Institute for Optimum Nutrition in October 2014. She is passionate about standards of education in nutritional therapy. With her she brings 15 years of experience as a Course Leader and Principal Lecturer in higher education. At the University of Westminster lead the first degree in Nutritional Therapy. Key additional roles included research supervision, working to embed academic integrity, leading learning and teaching, and quality enhancement. Heather is also a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Heather has a thirty year association with ION as it is where she trained as a nutritional therapist. At that time the ION diploma was revolutionary… the first course of its kind in a Complementary Medicine approach to nutrition. Now this approach is quite familiar to the public, in newspapers, magazines and on television. Heather was involved in the setting of National Occupational Standards, the Nutritional Therapy Core Curriculum and its review. For services to nutritional therapy education and standards she was awarded Fellowship of the professional body BANT. Heather is also an external examiner, accreditation officer, and education advisor to the professional body and other education organisations. Paula Werrett MProf, BA Hons, DipION, mBANT, CNHC, Registered NT Head of Undergraduate Courses in Academic Faculty Paula has been working as part of the academic team at ION since 2005. Initially employed as a lecturer, tutor and clinical supervisor, she became Head of Diploma Courses in 2013 and is now Head of Undergraduate Provision. Paula is passionate about educating nutritional therapists and providing first class education. An ION trained Nutritional Therapist with over 10 years' clinical experience. Paula has a special interest in digestive health and autoimmunity and runs workshops and corporate sessions in addition to working one to one. Paula has previously worked as a BANT accredited clinical supervisor and is also an assessor for the Nutritional Therapy Education Commission ensuring that educational standards are upheld within the Nutritional Therapy sector. Charlton Berthoud BSc (Hons), ACA Head of Finance in Corporate Services Charlton has 30 years’ experience as a finance professional after qualifying as an ACA with Ernst & Young in London. Until joining ION as Head of Finance in January 2023, he worked in senior financial roles within commercial organisations, both listed and PE backed, in a diverse range of sectors, including automobile imports, telecommunications, recruitment and office space, more recently as Group Financial Controller at the FTSE 250 company Safestore Holdings Plc. Karin Briant MBA, BSc (Hons) Social Work Head of Corporate Services Business Manager with 10+ years of experience in the corporate services, Higher Education and charity industries. Having first worked in the voluntary sector in South Africa for 9 years, leaving as Chief Operations Officer after managing and developing multiple teams; driving innovation, planning, implementation and evaluation of projects; launching two new successful projects, namely a community system strengthening project and a Literacy Centre. Still remains responsible for the highest profit fundraiser to date. After 2 years of working in Mental Health in the United Kingdom, Karin joined ION in 2022 to lead the corporate services department and assisted with launching the new courses in September 2022. Proven ability to lead, develop, and manage teams; deliver strategic and operational plans; and manage budgets. Expertise in HR, procurement, IT, premises management, and team building. Academic faculty Our passionate, highly experienced academic team provide an exceptional student learning experience, and ongoing course support. Academic faculty team members Emma Ellenn MProf, BA Hons, FdSc, DipION, mBANT, CNHCreg, Registered NT Assistant Head of Undergraduate Provision in Academic Faculty Emma is a qualified nutritional therapist with more than 10 years clinical and teaching experience. She also has a Master's degree in reflective practice. As well as overseeing level five of the BSc program, she currently leads Training Clinic and the associated clinical practice module. Emma runs a private practice for clients with a wide range of health conditions, and most commonly works with weight loss and digestive issues. Emma served as a Profession Specific Board Member of the CNHC for six years and currently is an accreditation assessor for NTEC. Kelly L Hopley BA Hons, BANT, CNHC, IFM, QTS Assistant Head of Undergraduate Courses, Level 4 Leader in Academic facultyLecturer, Module Coordinator for Modulation of Cardiometabolic Function With a focus on integrative medicine and a passion for functional approaches to health, Kelly's role as Assistant Head encapsulates a commitment to advancing wellness through education and practice. She is particularly passionate about the Humanistic approach to education allowing education to be accessible and achievable; having worked in the majority of educational sectors, it is clear this is an area which can always be improved. At Incorporating Wellness, her expertise in gut health and sports nutrition has been pivotal in establishing a reputable brand delivering excellent results over the last twenty years. The business has developed into the Colon Hydrotherapy Academy brand which now has training sites across the world. Her practice is anchored in the belief that tailored nutritional therapy can be transformative as can education, she is fortunate to deliver this message to the wider audience contributing to publications, radio and TV in the areas of nutrition and education. Sally Lawson BSc (Hons), DPM, MSc, MSc, PGCertHE Head of Academic Support in Academic Faculty Sally joined ION in 2017 after a varied career within government, charity, business and education sectors. The consistent theme across careers in business psychology, mental health and as a Senior University Lecturer is facilitating adults to learn and grow. Sally’s role with ION draws on her academic and research experience, both as a student at Masters level in three London Universities, and as a Senior Lecturer supervising Masters students. Supporting students and staff also draws on her counselling and coaching experience and qualifications. Sally is keen to ensure students maximise their learning, combining academic and research rigour with discovering a joy for learning. Sally completed a Post Graduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education in 2017 and now enjoys mentoring ION staff pursuing Higher Education qualifications. Tamal Barman PhD, MSc in Adv Materials, MSc in Inorganic Chemistry, BSc (Hons) Chemistry, PTLLS Lecturer, Module Coordinator for Chemistry Tamal is the Head of Higher Education and International Partnerships at a college based in Southwest of England. He has a PhD degree in Materials Science and double master's in Advanced Materials as well as Inorganic Chemistry. At ION, Tamal attends Chemistry module in Science Access Course, providing students with the required knowledge to progress into Biology and Anatomy and physiology modules. Tamal has 8 years of experience in teaching Chemistry and related engineering subject. He has worked both in FE and HE institutions in his career. During his PhD at University of Nottingham he has published several papers in the field of materials chemistry/engineering and has practical experience of synthesis and modelling chemistry. The first module of your Science Access Course you will have the opportunity to meet with Tamal as the first module is Chemistry and also get guidance about progressing into higher education. Katie Clare BSc Hons, DipCNM, mBANT CNHCreg Lecturer, Module Coordinator for Modulation of Detoxification and Gastrointestinal Function & Modulation of Neuroendocrine Function Katie Clare has been a Registered Nutrition Practitioner since 2012. She is currently completing an MSc in Nutritional Medicine at the University of Surrey. At ION, Katie attends to two of the four ‘matrix’ modules structured into level 4, providing students with the required knowledge in nutritional physiology and pathophysiology, biochemistry, nutritional compounds and foods. The module ‘modulation of detoxification and gastrointestinal function (Detox & GI)’ covers digestion, elimination, liver health, microbiota, mucosal immunity, gut-brain axis and more. The module ‘modulation of neuroendocrine function (Neuroendocrine)’ covers endocrinology, neurology, cell communication, stress and sleep, thyroid and female health. Katie accompanies new students right through the first year and works closely with academic support and academic administration to tend to the induction process. Katie ran her own clinical nutritional therapy practice in Islington, London N1, for several years. Prior to ION, she worked in communications for a health foods start-up company, ‘inSpiral’, the original UK manufacturer of organic air-dried kale crisps, raw chocolate avocado mousse and dried nut & seed crackers. She also supported inSpiral to launch their plant-based London café, in 2007 before the healthy fast-food scene had fully emerged in the city. At this time, ‘live’ fermented vegetables were not available to purchase in stores and Katie ran workshops on ‘food fermentation and digestive health’ for the College of Naturopathic Medicine (CNM), another nutritional therapy education provider. Katie worked as a healthy living advisor in supported housing with young vulnerable-housed people, offering one-to-one and hosting group support sessions. While studying nutrition, Katie worked for the NHS: Blood and Transport in the clinical role of a Blood Donor Carer and appreciates the insights into the NHS the role provided. Charlotte Dowling M.Ost Lecturer, Module Coordinator for Biology and Anatomy and Physiology Charlotte is a GOsC registered Osteopath with a special interest in management of persistent pain conditions. She works in an outpatient clinic as an Osteopath and is Module Coordinator for Biology and Anatomy and Physiology on the Science Access Course here at ION. Charlotte previously taught at the British College of Naturopathy and Osteopathy group, involved in Anatomy, Physiology, and Clinical Methods modules. Charlotte also teaches Pilates and rows regularly on the rivers in Kent. She enjoys sharing her knowledge about the human body with students on the Science Access Course before they progress on to further education with ION. Evonne Ginman MSc, BSc (Hons), DipION, mBANT, CNHCreg Lecturer, Module Coordinator for Nutrition and Lifestyle Modulation of Immune Function & Functional Nutrition 1 Evonne is a past student at ION, graduating in 2015. Since then, she has run her own clinical nutritional therapy practice, with a focus on energy, digestive and hormonal wellbeing. She also runs nutrition workshops and talks for businesses and special interest groups. Her own passion for nutrition was ignited after suffering from a variety of health issues including IBS, low mood and ovarian cysts in her 20s and early 30s. Evonne has been a Module Coordinator at ION since 2021, and an Assessment Marker since 2018. She currently runs two modules at ION – Nutrition and Lifestyle Modulation of Immune Function, and Functional Nutrition 1. Prior to retraining in nutrition, Evonne obtained a BSc (Hons) in Environmental Science and an MSc in Biological Diversity, and worked as a project manager and bid writer for a variety of environmental and socioeconomic development projects. Evonne lives in Devon and loves long walks along the South West Coast Path with her dog, stand-up paddling and yoga. She also enjoys weight training, having previously competed in bodybuilding competitions. She also plays the piano, saxophone and has just started learning the ukelele! Amani Kaite Lecturer, Module Coordinator for Principles of Functional Nutrition Amani is a Nutritional Therapist & Functional Medicine Practitioner with a passion for gut and cardiometabolic health. She helps her clients better manage or reverse their chronic conditions by getting to the root causes of their symptoms. Her passion for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine started in her twenties when she suffered from asthma and Candida overgrowth and was able to reverse both conditions with nutrition, targeted supplements and lifestyle changes. She runs a virtual health clinic and has successfully helped hundreds of clients in 11 countries. She also hosts corporate wellness workshops for Tech companies like Amazon, TikTok and LinkedIn. Her favourite quote is: ”Listen to your body when it whispers so you won’t have to hear it scream”. Dr Kirstie Lawton DipION, BSc Hons, PGCE HE, PhD, ANutr, mBANT, mCNHC Lecturer, Module Coordinator Dr Kirstie Lawton is an Association for Nutrition (AfN) registered Public Health Nutritionist (ANutr) and CNHC registered Nutritional Therapist (mBANT). In addition to her DipION, she has a PhD in nutrition and BSc in public health nutrition from Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh, and a PGCE in Higher Education from the University of London. She is currently completing a master’s degree in Neuroscience and Neurodegeneration at the University of Sheffield. Kirstie has over 20 years of experience in developing and delivering a wide range of nutrition and lifestyle interventions, both in the UK and internationally. She has been a paediatric nutritionist for the majority of her career, with a current focus on adolescent and young adult health, focusing predominantly on gastrointestinal, immune and neurological health. In addition to her role as a Health Coach at Second Nature, she is a module coordinator for 3 of the modules on the Graduate Diploma in Functional Nutrition and also teaches on the degree course. She is a member of the Editorial Board for the Nutritional Medicine Institute (NMI) and journal. Samantha Lewis MSc, BSc, DipNT Lecturer, Module Coordinator for Functional Nutrition II, Research and Clinic Supervisor Sam has a diploma in Nutritional Therapy from IINH and a MSc in Personalised Nutrition from CNELM. Prior to training in Nutrition Sam worked for almost 20 years in Phase 3 pharmaceutical drug research. Sam has lectured on a consultancy basis for Nutritional Therapy MSc, Degree and Diploma courses in the UK and Ireland since 2008, is a registered member of the CNHC/BANT and works voluntarily for the BANT CPD committee. Areas of clinical interest are digestive problems, thyroid and female hormone imbalances. Sam utilises coaching skills in her practice and completed the NLP Coaching for NTs in 2016. Debbie Pyke BSc(Hons), Dip ION, GradDip, mBANT, CNHCreg Lecturer, Module Coordinator for Behaviour Change Debbie is a past student at ION, graduating in 2003 (DipION) and 2022 (GradDip). Since then, she has run her own clinical nutritional therapy practice focusing initially on fertility and is now more focused on, women’s health, stress management, nutrigenomics and longevity. Her passion for nutrition was ignited due to her passion for food and her own health issues including symptoms of severe stress including digestive issues, resolved with changes in diet and lifestyle. Debbie has been Module Coordinator at ION since January 2024, running the Behaviour Change Module across multiple cohorts including the Degree and GradDip. Alongside this she has recently completed the nutrigenomics practitioner programme with Lifecode Gx. Prior to retraining in Nutrition, Debbie obtained a number of qualifications including Graduate of the Royal Society of Chemistry, BSc (Hons) in applied Chemistry, management qualifications and became a qualified NLP practitioner. She spent over 30 years working for global chemical companies in research, sales and marketing and business. She lives in rural Lancashire, enjoys, walking, Pilates reading and is currently trying to finish a book on how to supercharge your diet. Joanna Ratcliffe MSc, PGCert HE, BSc (Hons), mBANT, CNHCreg, FHEA Lecturer, Module Coordinator for Diagnosis & Treatment in Nutrition & Lifestyle Practice Joanna is a Registered Nutritional Therapist whose nutrition career began in the 1990s with a joint Honours degree in Food Science & Nutrition and Exercise & Health. Since qualifying as a Nutritional Therapist in 2014 with a Masters degree from the University of Worcester, she ran a private practice but soon discovered a love of teaching, starting as an Associate Lecturer at the University of Worcester in 2016 and obtaining a permanent Lecturer role in 2019. She completed a Post Graduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education in 2018. She has worked at ION since 2021 and is currently Module Co-ordinator for the Diagnosis & Treatment in Nutrition & Lifestyle Practice module in Level 5. She also supervises research dissertations at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, and is External Examiner for the Personalised Nutrition Practice Diploma at CNELM, another NT training provider. Ruth Shattock MSc, MA, BSc Hons, PGCert HE, FHEA Academic Support Ruth joined ION in 2021 as an Academic support lecturer. Before this, she worked for 14 years as an academic skills lecturer at one of the Birmingham universities. This involved delivering academic skills sessions to groups of higher education students, along with providing one-to-one academic support sessions that were tailored to the student's needs. Ruth has also worked as a disability advisor and has been a member of Patoss (professional association of teachers of students with specific learning difficulties) since 2013. Ruth enjoys encouraging students to develop their metacognition and personalise study strategies to support their learning. Nicole Taylor Lecturer, Module Coordinator Nicole Taylor, is a holistic nutritionist and esteemed instructor at the Institute of Holistic Nutrition in Toronto and Module Coordinator at The Institute for Functional Medicine. She leverages her seven years of clinical practice to mentor future nutritionists with a special focus on fertility health and neuroendocrine modulation. Drawing from her expertise in Botanical Medicine and ancestral culinary practices like "cucina povera", Nicole emphasises the importance of nutrient-dense foods for homeostasis. She has developed the Flowly Method, an innovative online program addressing stress by fostering "flow states," integrating her knowledge of nutrition with mental well-being. Flow states, characterised by heightened focus and creativity, aid in hormonal health by helping individuals exit survival mode and regulate the nervous system. Her lifelong passions for therapeutic nutrition, botanical medicine, and art therapy converge in her creation of bespoke health plans to optimise fertility and hormonal balance. Sally Temple BA, ILM, DipION, FdSc, mBANT, CNHC Lecturer, Module Coordinator for Foundations of Clinical Practice and Clinical Practice 2 Sally is a Nutritional Therapist, Wellbeing coach, Specialist ME/CFS Recovery practitioner and Nutrigenomics testing practitioner with Lifecode GX. She graduated from ION in 2011. Sally has worked as a Nutritional Therapist at Nuffield Health in St, Albans, Letchworth and Tesco Head Office before joining ION in 2020. Sally has worked as a Training Clinic Supervisor, Assessment Marker and Personal Tutor. She is now a Module Co-ordinator for Foundations of Clinical Practice and Clinical Practice 2 and enjoys combining this alongside her own private practice. Joe Whittaker BA, MSc Lecturer, Module Coordinator Joe Whittaker has an MSc in Nutritional Therapy from the University of Worcester, and is currently conducting research to submit for a PhD by publication award. He has published several works in academic journals, which are predominantly focused on the effects of diet on men's fertility, testosterone, and cortisol levels. Moreover, he has appeared on several podcasts to discuss his research. Joe also 'practices what he preaches' and engages in a variety of health promoting activities including fasting, ketogenic dieting, cold exposure, and Wim-Hof breathing. Beth Raven BSc (Hons) DipCNM (Nutritional Therapy) Online Support Coordinator and CPD Support Coordinator As an Online Support Coordinator, Beth supports Module Coordinators and Visiting Lecturers during live sessions to ensure the technological aspects run smoothly. She manages student admittance, recordings, breakout rooms and adding supporting documents/links in the chat. As a CPD Support Coordinator, Beth works alongside her colleagues to ensure that the CPD course days run smoothly. She supports them with any technology queries. Corporate Services Our corporate services team are responsible for the smooth running of the organisation in regards to administration, finances, admissions and marketing and communications activities. Corporate services team members Sue Evans DipION, mBANT, CNHC Head of CPD in Corporate Services Sue joined ION in 2020 and is a qualified nutritional therapy practitioner that having had her own health challenges experienced the benefit of Nutritional therapy first hand. She is the Head of the CPD department and creates and presents CPD courses alongside so many gifted specialists within the Nutritional world which are then available to varied allied healthcare professionals. Sue runs a private practice for clients offering support for a wide number of health concerns, including hormonal, gut and children’s health. She also has a general interest in cancer, pyroluria and endometriosis. Salman Anjum MSc Design and Transport, BSc Mech. Eng. Design Visual Designer Salman joined ION as a junior graphic designer and now works as a visual designer. With over a decade of design experience Salman has been instrumental in shaping the visual identity of ION, both digitally and in print, and is entrusted with our customer-facing design, systems, and platforms. Alongside his work Salman has freelanced on a variety of projects with various clients all around the world. Amélie Cozzarolo BSc Business Administration, ACCA in progress Finance and Academic Administration Officer Amélie brings a wealth of administrative expertise, having accumulated a decade of experience within the education and healthcare sectors. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the School of Management Fribourg in Switzerland and is currently working towards her ACCA qualification. Amélie joined ION in 2020 in the academic administration department and was then offered a place in our finance team. She is committed to providing outstanding support to our students and is proactive in developing efficient processes to enhance our corporate service. Anne Daly PGDip Marketing, BSc (Hons) Nutritional Therapy in progress Marketing Officer Anne brings nearly 25 years of marketing experience from professional bodies and training organisations. At ION, she focuses on researching and managing the institute's presence at external events and collaborating with Carolina across the marketing mix. Anne is currently a student of ION’s BSc (Hons) Nutritional Therapy programme and is thoroughly enjoying the experience. She holds a BSc (Hons) in English Language and Literature from York St John University and a Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing. Outside of work and study, Anne practices yoga as much as possible and has recently started weight training – she’s hoping her Chaturanga pose will finally improve! Carolina Geana BSc (Eng) (Hons) Creative Computing Marketing Officer Carolina is one of the Marketing Officers at ION, bringing expertise in Digital Marketing and Social Media to the team. Her focus lays on managing ION's social media channels and community, content creation, communications with external companies regarding marketing partnerships and email marketing activities. She also supports events organisation. Carolina completed her BSc (Eng) Creative Computing in 2021 at Queen Mary, University of London and has worked for a Digital Marketing agency and a PR agency before joining ION. She has a passion for education and continues to pursue training in her field with different marketing education providers. Amy Gilham BSc Human Resource Management 2025 Acting Facilities, Reception and Clinic Coordinator Amy joined ION in 2018 on a Business apprenticeship program, upon successful completion she joined ION in a permanent position as a General Administrator. In 2022 Amy moved into an Acting Facilities, Reception and Clinic Coordinator role, she is the first point of contact with people from both inside and outside the organisation, providing an efficient and effective front desk and general administration service for all departments and teams. As well as coordinating the Facilities, Reception and Clinic at ION, Amy is a student member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and is also completing the final year of a BSc in Human Resource Management. Milena Mastroianni MSc, DipION CPD Coordinator & Online Support Coordinator Milena discovered Nutritional Therapy and decided to study at ION at a time in her life when she was ready to start a family and understand her own hormonal health more deeply. She’s passionate about continuing to learn as a nutrition professional and supports ION’s CPD team in the role of CPD Coordinator, which combines her love for nutrition with her past background in IT. She runs a private nutrition practice focusing on supporting fertility, pregnancy and women’s hormonal health through all life stages, whilst being super interested and fascinated by all the different microbiome(s) in our body. Shahel Miah Admissions Officer Shahel is a dedicated Admissions Officer with a passion for helping prospective students navigate the exciting journey of higher education in nutrition. With over nine years of experience in the field, Shahel has developed a keen understanding of admissions processes and requirements across a variety of academic programs. In his current role, Shahel is responsible for handling applications, providing guidance on course selection, and addressing inquiries from prospective students. He takes pride in ensuring a seamless and supportive experience for all applicants, from initial interest to enrolment. Shahel has a passion for assisting students in finding the right educational path tailored to their aspirations and career goals. His approachability, attention to detail, and commitment to student success have earned him a reputation for being a trusted advisor among applicants. Shahel is excited to continue his journey in admissions, empowering students to pursue their passions and unlock their full potential through education in personalised nutrition. Daniela Pop Senior Instructional Designer Graduated from University of Art and Design with a bachelor’s degree in graphic design, she has been hooked on designing ever since. Her areas of expertise include branding, print design, pre-press, web design and instructional design. She has a strong passion for design and print, has always loved photography and believed that nutrition has a great impact on health and wellbeing. Daniela has more than 17 years of experience in the industry, and she joined ION in 2012 as a Digital Designer after working in creative agencies with clients from various sectors, such as fashion, food, hospitality, technology, and education. She became Instructional Designer in 2023, being responsible for effectively providing the academic team with course design support in creating engaging learning environments informed by desired learning outcomes. She is working closely with the academic team, designers, business manager, and department heads to develop and execute plans to support product and course development on a daily basis using a variety of tools and methods to make the greatest impact. Diana Rugge Admissions Officer Diana is a dynamic and innovative individual who joins the ION admissions team with over 15 years of sales and customer service experience. With a solid background in property and recruitment, she brings over many valuable and transferrable skills. Driven by fostering genuine relationships with people; Diana thrives in social settings where her interpersonal skills flourish. Diana prides herself on delivering exceptional customer service, therefore ensuring that all prospective students have the best experience when enquiring about our courses and going through the application process. Hatty Willmoth BA (Hons) History, NCTJ Communications Officer Hatty writes for ION’s website and newsletter, hosts the Optimum Nutrition podcast, and carries out communications work, having previously been staff writer for Optimum Nutrition magazine. She is a journalist with an NCTJ Gold Standard qualification, and she freelances alongside her position at ION, having written for Fit&Well, Time & Leisure, The Kingston Magazine, The Elmbridge Magazine, South West Londoner, Sussex Bylines, and more. Hatty has a self-titled YouTube channel, and a First-Class BA degree in history from the University of Cambridge. Manage Cookie Preferences