ION Team Page quick-linksBoard of Trustees | Senior management | Academic faculty | Optimum Nutrition clinic Board of Trustees The board of trustees are responsible for the governance and strategic direction of ION and upholding its value and ethos. Rachel Hampson MA (Cantab) Medicine, MSc Personalised Nutrition, mBANT, CNHC Chair of the Board of Trustees Rachel is a Registered Nutritional Therapist with a practice called Rachel Hampson Nutrition based in London. She has a Masters degree in Personalised Nutrition and a background in Medicine. Prior to qualifying as a nutritional therapist, Rachel was a Business Strategy Consultant with Bain & Company, working both from London and from San Francisco, in a variety of business sectors from food retailing, venture capital to utilities. She has also been involved in the charitable sector for 20 years in various voluntary roles, originally for CHASE hospice care for children, which, following a successful merger, is now Shooting Star CHASE. She also set up and ran a successful restaurant in Central London for 11 years, which was sold in 2014. Rachel joined the ION Board as Trustee and Vice-Chair in July 2016 and was elevated to Chair in January 2022. Anita Wyles BA (Hons), FCMA Treasurer Anita is an Accountant with over 20 years experience working primarily within the media industry. She started her career at Channel 4 while it was still in its infancy and left BBC Worldwide 8 years ago to pursue a lifelong ambition to paint. During her time at BBC Worldwide, Anita worked within the finance function for 10 years before making the successful transition to general management becoming Commercial Director of Europe, Middle East, India & Africa. She managed a large team responsible for exploiting the commercial potential of cross media product produced both in house and by Independents. As well as painting and providing local accounting services, Anita is a regular coach and mentor in her neighbourhood schools & colleges. Anita joined the ION Board of Trustees in February 2014. Dian Shepperson Mills CertEd, BSc, BA, DipION, MA Health Education Trustee Dian is the Director of The Endometriosis and Fertility Clinic and author of the book "Endometriosis: a key to Healing and Fertility through Nutrition" published by Thorsons. She has lectured worldwide to health professionals and the public about the role of sound nutrition in the treatment of endometriosis and infertility. Dian is a Member of BANT (British Association of Applied Nutrition and Nutritional Therapy); CNHC (Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council); Member of the Royal Society of Medicine; Member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and Chairs their Nutrition Special Interest Group; Member of ESHRE (European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology); A Trustee of Endometriosis SHE Trust UK, the leading Charity working with Integrated Functional Medicine, encouraging hospitals to work towards the ESHRE guidelines for the specialist treatment of endometriosis, and is a Trsutee of ION. She authored the ION Home Study Course. Dian has spent her life teaching nutrition and researching the various aspects of endometriosis and the effects of nutrition on fertility and has presented research at world conferences. Dian joined the ION Board of Trustees in 1999. Sue Hillman BA (Hons), DipCG, DipHR Management Trustee Sue spent 18 years at the BBC in the HR function, starting as a trainee and leaving in 2008 as Head of HR for Production. She has extensive experience of working with senior managers and advising on the change processes for setting up new areas and reducing existing ones, as well as the effective management of large departments. She worked across many areas of the BBC from News to World Service to Post Production, working mostly with creative staff. Prior to this she worked in the Essex Careers Service which provided support for school leavers as an Adviser, Service Manager and latterly as the County Trainer. Currently she is working in tourism having set up her own company ‘It’s Your London’ which designs and organises tailor made tours of London for small private groups. She is also involved in charity work, abroad and in the UK. This includes building schools in the rural areas across a wide variety of countries in Africa and volunteering at Citizens Advice in Westminster. Sue joined the ION Board of Trustees in January 2012 to bring external expertise in the field of HR and an interest in the field of nutrition. Jo Bridger BSc (Hons), PgDip Marketing, DipION Trustee Before qualifying as a Nutritional Therapist, Jo spent 15 years as Head of Marketing, responsible for marketing and communications within a niche financial services company, a legal services firm and then latterly for an IT services provider to the Higher and Further Education sector. She came to marketing via international sales, graduating top of her year from the Chartered Instituted of Marketing with a post-graduate diploma in Marketing. This achievement was recognised by a medal award by the Worshipful Company of Marketers. Jo became interested in nutrition after successful breast cancer treatment aged 40. She studied at ION, graduating in 2018 and is now a Registered Nutritional Therapist running her own clinic in Bath, providing health and wellness training for corporates and developing nutrition content for a project at the Royal United Hospital in Bath. She also helps to run We Get It, the cancer support charity for Bath and has a special interest in cancer and nutrition. Jo joined the board of ION in February 2019. Laksh Ranganathan BEngg (Electronics), BTech (Computer Systems), MBA Trustee A technology professional with over 19 years specializing in the development of IT products, Laksh has supported global organizations in industries like financial services, retail, automotive, health and education. Laksh's particular focus has been to utilize insights from data to develop customer-centric products and regularly writes about and speaks at conferences on leveraging metrics to bridge the gap between IT and business. Currently, Laksh leads the product operations function within Tasktop facilitating decisions and operations around governance, compliance, product program management and product analytics. Laksh briefly worked at ION in 2010 through a partnership with the LSBU with specific responsibilities to drive ION's digital transformation. The tenure at ION made a significant impression on Laksh; she continued to follow ION's progress over the years and was thrilled at the opportunity to support ION's board in 2019. Laksh joined ION's board in Jan 2019 as an advisor and in Jan 2020 as a Trustee. Senior management The executive team are responsible for leading the operational and academic staff who are dedicated to the day to day running of the organisation. Chris Mansi BA (Hons) PGDip Chief Executive Officer Chris has over 25 years experience of working in the voluntary sector. Chris brings a wealth of experience of building and developing organisations. As an Ambassador for Excellence her goal is to improve organisational effectiveness. In her previous role as CEO of Community Options (mental health charity), Chris lead the organisation to achieve a number of awards for people involvement and development (IiP Silver, London Excellence), leadership (London Excellence) and Sunday Times 100 Best Not for Profit organisations to work for (33). Heather Rosa DipION fBANT fHEA Dean 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. Rowena Wells BA (Hons) ACA Finance Manager Rowena is a Chartered Accountant with over 20 years experience of financial management within the not-for-profit sector. Having qualified in 1987, she worked as an auditor at Stoy Hayward before moving to the not-for-profit sector. She was Director of Finance and Administration at the Chartered Institute for Library and Information Professionals for 11 years. Rowena joined ION as Finance Manager in 2014. Gareth Pritchard BSc (Hons) PGDip FRSA Business Manager Gareth joined ION as Business Manager in 2015 and is responsible for leading the corporate services department which delivers the shared services to support ION's academic delivery. He has a background in management consulting, beginning his career with global consultancy Turner & Townsend LLP and has since gone on to deliver strategic and operational direction across SME, large, and international organisations, including delivering change management programmes for NHS England. Gareth is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. The Fellowship of the Royal Society of Arts is an award granted to individuals whom the RSA judges deem to have made outstanding achievements for social progress and development. The Fellowship is a network of people across the globe working together to resolve some of society’s most pressing issues. The RSA’s mission is to enrich society through ideas and action. Fellows must have demonstrated a high level of achievement related to the arts, manufactures and commerce. Gareth is a trained business enterprise mentor, and was until recently a member and trained benchmark assessor for London Excellence, a not-for-profit organisation that delivered the EFQM Levels of Excellence programme in partnership with the British Quality Foundation. Academic faculty Our passionate, highly experienced academic team provide an exceptional student learning experience, and ongoing course support. Heather Rosa DipION, fBANT, fHEA Dean 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 she led 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 Provision 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 ten year's 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. Natascha Van Zyl MSc, BA (Hons) PGCE. PGDip, rCNHC, CThA, RSM, MBPsS Head of Course (Science Access) & Year 1 Leader Natascha is Course leader of ION's Science Access Course and Level 4 Leader and Joint Course Leader of ION’s new Graduate Diploma Integrative Functional Nutrition. She also delivers short courses on Behaviour Change and has been in clinical practice, as a naturopath, since 1995. Natascha’s passion to practice CAM was driven by personal experience of managing her own health and working with acute/chronic illness. Natascha met her first mentor, Swami Mataji Narayani (Guru and Homeopath) at Sohum Sanctuary in South Africa, aged ten. During the years which followed, she received training, both traditionally and non-traditionally, in the Eastern and Western Healing Arts. Natascha gained a Degree in Social and Biological Sciences and undertook training in Therapeutic Massage, Reflexology, Aromatherapy, Counselling and Herbalism. She set up her CAM practice and worked in the community, doing teaching and outreach work in women’s empowerment, sexual health awareness and health promotion. During this time, Natascha actively worked with various institutions (educational and clinical) in South Africa, to broaden the understanding and recognition of CAM, and to train practitioners for professional registration with the South African Allied Health Professions Council. Natascha relocated to the UK during 2001 and first worked in the medical field (Kings College London, St. Peters NHS Foundation Trust, and East Surrey Hospital) and then education (lecturing, leadership and management in FE and HE). She set up her CAM practice at the Hale Clinic in London. With the birth of her son, she relocated her practice to her home and also visits patients in their homes. She is currently completing Doctoral training at the University of West England to become a registered Health Psychologist. She is a researcher with an interest in psychobiological medicine, behaviour change, obesity management, child health and Alzheimer’s care. She supervises CAM practitioners and students and has a thriving professional life. She brings her knowledge and experience to ION and shares her passion with her learners. Sally Lawson MSc, MSc, BSc Hons, PGCert HE Academic Support Tutor The consistent theme across Sally’s varied career in business psychology, mental health and as a Senior University Lecturer is facilitating adults to learn and grow. Sally joined ION in 2017 to take on the role of Academic Support Tutor. This draws on her academic and research experience, both as a student at Masters level in three London Universities, and as a Senior Lecturer. The Academic Support Tutor role 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 has recently completed a Post Graduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. Emma Rees MProf, BA Hons, FdSc, DipION, mBANT, CNHCreg, Registered NT Year 2 Leader Registered Nutritional Therapist Emma Rees is a qualified Nutritional Therapist with just under 10 years clinical experience. Emma graduated from ION with distinction and a Foundation Science degree in Nutritional Therapy. Combining this with her teaching qualification, she currently leads the Clinical Practice One and Clinical Practice Two modules. She specialises in clinical skills and reflective practice. Emma is also the Year Two Course Leader. Emma provides consultations in the North Essex/Suffolk area for clients with a wide range of health conditions, and gives talks in her local area. Emma serves as a Profession Specific Board Member of the CNHC. She also holds a Master's that focussed on research and reflective practice. Shirley Briars BSc Hons, FdSc, DipION, mBANT, CNHC, Registered NT Module Coordinator Shirley is a Registered Nutritional Therapist and graduated from ION in 2011 with distinction. She joined ION as a lecturer and module leader in September 2013 and currently leads the Practice Management and the Drug Nutrient Interactions/Pharmacology/Supplements modules. She is also personal tutor to a number of students and supervises students in the Teaching Clinic. Prior to changing career direction Shirley worked for several years in a primary school and has also previously worked at senior management level in Local Government. Shirley practises privately in South Essex where she supports clients with a variety of health issues but her areas of interest are digestive health and women’s health. Shirley also lectures on food and nutrition at a college in Norwich and enjoys giving local talks to women’s groups including the Women’s Institute. Katie Clare BSc Hons, DipCNM, mBANT CNHCreg Module Coordinator Katie is a Registered Nutrition Practitioner leading the first year (level 4) modules in Nutrition Sciences 1 & 2. She is also an orientation tutor for first year students. Katie will soon be starting an MSc in Nutrition. Previously Katie ran workshops on food fermentation with an introduction to gut bacteria and digestive health at a London nutrition college. She has worked in PR and Communications for inSpiral, original UK manufacturer of organic air-dried kale crisps, raw chocolate avocado mousse and raw nut & seed crackers. She also helped them to launch their London plant-based café back in 2007. She has worked for the NHS: Blood and Transport in the clinical role of a Blood Donor Carer. Katie originally studied human geography and international development, then working with refugees and young vulnerably housed young people as a Healthy Living Advisor. Placements overseas in China and then also Australia and the Peruvian Amazon in the early 2000s opened her eyes to what a fully integrated system of orthodox and traditional medicines could look like and she began to re-evaluate her childhood diagnosis of asthma and how to start working with her body. Optimum Nutrition Clinic The clinic team provides the essential support to students whilst they complete their clinical practice modules in year 1 and 2, helping them to move from theoretical knowledge to practical experience. Emma Rees BA Hons, FdSc, DipION, mBANT, CNHCreg, Registered NT Training Clinic Lead Registered Nutritional Therapist Emma Rees is a qualified Nutritional Therapist with just under 10 years clinical experience. Emma graduated from ION with distinction and a Foundation Science degree in Nutritional Therapy. Combining this with her teaching qualification, she currently leads the Clinical Practice One and Clinical Practice Two modules. She specialises in clinical skills and reflective practice. Emma is also the Year Two Course Leader. Emma provides consultations in the North Essex/Suffolk area for clients with a wide range of health conditions, and gives talks in her local area. Emma serves as a Profession Specific Board Member of the CNHC. She is currently studying at Master’s level, with focus on research and reflective practice. Ania Mason DipION, mBANT, CNHC, IFM Registered Nutritional Therapist Ania helps her clients feel the best they have felt in years by incorporating her scientific knowledge of human body and nutrition, up to date research and her coaching skills. Ania graduated from ION in 2018 with a distinction, set up her private clinic - Nutrified in West London and is now working at our clinic in ION. Ania’s special interests due to her own health journey are gastrointestinal health and its tight link to autoimmunity and hormonal health and she is also very passionate about brain health and fertility. Lorraine Perretta Since graduating from the Institute for Optimum Nutrition in 1995, Lorraine has focused her work on supporting people with mental health conditions, using a nutritional approach. The wealth of experience she has accumulated over the years has also led to her being invited to lecture widely on this topic. Lorraine has also written a book entitled Food for Thought (Pyramid) and is also a Fellow of the Institute for Optimum Nutrition, as well as a member of BANT and the CNHC. Olga Preston A graduate of the Institute for Optimum Nutrition, Olga Preston has over 20 years’ experience in the healthcare industry. She developed an interest in mental health after the effect that good nutrition had on family and friends affected by mental health conditions. She now focuses on using her passion for nutrition to support people with their mental wellbeing.