Greetings From the New Chair of the IFPA ....

During the conference at Glasgow I had the opportunity to meet and talk to many of the members attending the conference and to hear their comments regarding many aspects of the IFPA as well as comments about the conference.

The IFPA also had a stand at the recent Complementary & Natural Healthcare Expo in Docklands, London. Brenda Desborough, the new IFPA Secretary, and myself manned the stand. We both had many members come up to see us many giving their comments with regards to the IFPA conference.

All the comments and suggestions received will be taken to council for discussion and action as appropriate, especially they will be used in planning future conferences.

Together with the new council I want to ensure that the IFPA are active in the process of self-regulation. I am committed to the development of aromatherapy by ensuring high standards of professionalism and safety. Furthermore, I see it as important to encourage, facilitate and fund research in the practice of aromatherapy.

Most importantly the IFPA is the membership, and every member has a say in how the organisation progresses. Therefore I welcome and value your involvement and contributions to OUR IFPA.

My thanks go to Ian Smith, Linda Orton-Jay, Haidee Muske and Yvonne Smith for all their hard work during their time as IFPA council members.

Although no longer a council member of IFPA, Ian will continue to be active in the field of aromatherapy regulation as he has been appointed Chair of the Aromatherapy Regulation Working Party by the Aromatherapy Consortium.

The new IFPA council is made up as follows:

Chair Fran Rawlings

Secretary Brenda Desborough

Treasurer Fran Doidge

Accreditation & CPD Chair Patricia Durkan

Charitable Trust Anne Northern

Conference Chair Gabriel Mojay

Education & Examinations Chair Sue Jenkins

Essential Oil Trade & Industry Liz Tams

Government Affairs & Regulation Chair Viv Hinks

International Chair Su Hagan

Membership Chair Sue Charles

Publications Chair Helen Vintner

Publicity & Public Relations Chair Veronica Sibley

Research & Scientific Matters Chair Judith Howie

As you may have noticed we have no council member appointed to the Regional Groups Chair. This is because we did not receive any nominations in time for the AGM. Therefore Yvonne has agreed to continue temporarily with Regional Groups, with the help of Sasha Cunningham, one of our Scottish members.

Finally, I would like to welcome the five new members of council, who together with the returning and existing council members will endeavour to serve the IFPA membership to our best ability.

Fran Rawlings, IFPA Chair