Jirbie Go, CA

Philippines - Email Jirbie

Jirbie (www.couchwasabi.com) is a graduate of The School for Aromatic Studies. Aside from serving the Board, she is a current Philippine Representative for AIA. Jirbie is the Philippine Ambassador for Airmid Institute and a member of the Education Committee. She is also the founder of the Alliance of the Philippine Aromatherapists (APA), the first professional aromatherapy organization in the Philippines, and the first aromatherapy certification school in the country Aromatherapy Institute of the Philippines (AIP). As one of the pioneering Certified aromatherapists in the country, Jirbie has been invited to participate in various public speaking engagements about aromatherapy since 2018 and has been published in various aromatherapy journals.

Jirbie remains to be a conduit between small scale producers of essential oils and end users in the hopes of uplifting the Philippine aromatherapy industry as she supports these microproducers in their sustainable and regenerative efforts. She continues to empower and inspire her students to pursue formal studies in aromatherapy as she believes that a proper education can help elevate the aromatherapy industry in the Philippines.

Tresa Staeven 

Canada - Email Tresa

Formerly employed in the software IT industry, in my own personal search to look for products that are safe and not filled with additives, I encountered the world of aromatherapy and came to understand the wealth that essential oils can offer if used correctly. Now, I have left the corporate world, become a Certified Aromatherapist and opened my own aromatherapy business (Scented Path). I can now focus solely on aromatherapy and bringing this gift to all in not only a safe and reliable manner, but also one that is personalized to reflect each one's own individuality.

Melissa Holman - Representative's Mentor

Tennessee - Email Melissa

I am a Holistic Life Coach, Registered Aromatherapist, and Certified Body Code Practitioner.  I also support other healing practitioners to succeed in their businesses as a project manager.

I have a natural ability to steer people in new and powerful directions with transformational questions and intuition which allows them to reframe and restore their well-being.  I help people dive deep to discover the root cause and motivation behind their habits that keep them stuck.

I am a graduate of the American College of Healthcare Sciences (ACHS) and through building my Aromatherapy business, I found myself steering my Clients toward wellness through a Holistic Coaching Methodology.  This led me to the Health Coach Institute (HCI) where I became a Master of Transformational Coaching, and Discover Healing for my Body Code Certification.  I work with overwhelmed and exhausted clients to help them reduce stress and transform their thoughts and lives at the core of their beliefs and identity.

As the Representative’s Mentor, I offer support and encouragement to the AIA Reps as they perform their duties to support the members.

I am a wife, mother, and Memaw to 5 grands (so far).  I am a USAF veteran, Boy Scout Leader veteran, Former Bass drummer in Silver Thistle Pipes and Drums, and so much more.  I homeschooled my children and went back to school later in life to become an Aromatherapist, Life coach, and Energy Healer.

I live and work in Oak Ridge, TN.  I am the host of the Aromatic Chat Podcast.  Find Aromatic Chat on Google, Apple, Stitcher, and Spotify. 

My passion is helping you succeed.

Julie Duke

Washington - Email Julie

Julie Duke became a level one certified aromatherapist with the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy in 2023.  She is the founder and director of Island Haven Animal Sanctuary and has been using essential oils with the sanctuary animals since she was gifted her first bottle in 2017. 

Julie has studied with Jade Shutes, Caroline Ingraham and Nayana Morag among others and is always looking to expand her aromatic education.  In 2023 she founded Duke Apothecary and began distilling her own line of local, sustainably sourced hydrosols. 

Julie is honored to be an AIA Area Representative and looks forward to supporting members and nurturing our aromatic community.

Midori Kameoka

Hawaii - Email Midori

Midori, originally from Tokyo and now based in Kaohao (Lanikai), Hawaii, is a seasoned aromatherapist, yoga teacher, Reiki Master, and massage therapist. With decades of training worldwide, including with renowned aromatherapy educators, Midori integrates plant medicine, yoga, and holistic healing into her daily life and practice. Her passion lies in helping others heal through a blend of aromatherapy, nutrition, and mindful living.

Jodi Kelsey, MS, Aromatherapy | MS, Herbal Medicine

Colorado - Email Jodi

Jodi Kelsey is an aromatherapist, herbalist, and botanical skincare formulator with a deep commitment to natural wellness and plant-based healing. After retiring from the Air Force, Jodi was introduced to essential oils after relocating to Colorado in 2013. Motivated by a desire to reduce her family's exposure to toxic chemicals, she began by creating simple formulations and essential oil blends—marking the start of a transformative journey into the world of plant medicine.

Jodi began formulating skincare products in 2014, initially focusing on essential oils and lipid oils to address personal skin concerns. As her passion grew, she soon began exploring the therapeutic potential of herbs and hydrosols, gradually incorporating them into her formulations. In 2017, she launched a small business, 3Js Pure Botanicals, centered on handcrafted, plant-based products. Eager to expand her knowledge, she enrolled at the American College of Healthcare Sciences (ACHS), earning a Master of Science in Aromatherapy in 2019 and, later, a Master of Science in Herbal Medicine in 2025.

Jodi has also completed specialized training with the Aromatic Wisdom Institute (hydrosols), the School for Aromatic Studies (essential oils and botanical formulation), and the Herbal Academy (herbalism). She has studied herbal oil infusion with Kami McBride and explored the chemistry and applications of lipid oils with Susan Parker. Jodi brings a rich, interdisciplinary approach to her work that reflects a lifelong commitment to learning and to honoring the profound healing power of plants.

Today, Jodi is passionate about educating others on the therapeutic benefits of botanicals and raising awareness of the potential dangers of synthetic chemicals found in everyday products. She specializes in botanical skincare, blending science, tradition, and artistry in every formulation.

Wanda Parks, IM-D, PhD, MA, BSN RN CMSRN, CHC

Arizona - Email Wanda

Dr. Wanda Parks is an Integrative & Holistic Health Practitioner, IM-D, PhD, MA, BSN RN CMSRN, CHC who has served in two branches of the military as a Registered Nurse. Wanda is also a certified Aromatherapist, a two-time published author of ‘The Wellness Lifestyle and the 30-Day Living your Created Life; Reflective Food Journal and #1 Best Seller Co-Author of You Were Made to be Unstoppable.

Wanda began her journey to better her own health and it all began with Essential oils. This led to her learning more and becoming a certified aromatherapist and using this modality with all her clients. She is a lifelong learner of all thingsholistic. She has been a member of AIA since 2016 and the AZ state Rep.

Wanda helps women over 40 with metabolic and autoimmune conditions better their health at the cellular level, reducing toxins, inflammation, and pain.

Wanda loves traveling and spending time with her 8 grandchildren. She has fused her two loves and began offering wellness getaways [e.g. cruises and land]; where she blends both of her passions wellness and travel.

Jona Valdez - CA

Utah - Email Jona

Jona graduated in England as a Beauty Therapist (Massage Therapist/Aesthetician) in 1993 and worked in England and Iceland for 10 years. She moved to the States and stayed home with her kids. A few years later she decided to start studying again, and that's when she discovered her love for essential oils.Jona has been homeschooling her 5 children (two who graduated) for the past 10 years as well as taking care of her family through natural means for about 15 years.

After taking a lot of small courses in herbalism and essential oil usage she decided to get certified as an aromatherapist. She also decided to do the LabCannamist course and now loves using the oils with the plant. Jona loves learning all the latest research, and learning about all the different strains, and about the terpenes, and of course making all sorts of products with it. She mostly works one-on-one, and loves that she can be one cog in this wheel we call our health journey.

Cyrene Banerjee 

Canada - Email Cyrene

Cyrene bought her first bottle of essential oil in England in 1992 and has never been without one ever since. Her purse and her home may as well be an oversized essential oil vial!

When the Heartfulness Institute inaugurated its first still in India in 2018, Cyrene leapt into distillation and formulating bath and body products for the 100,000 people who visit the meditation center annually.  Cyrene continues her studies in aromatherapy at The Tisserand Institute, Aromahead, Healing Fragrances School of Aromatherapy, Lipids Oil Academy, and the School for Aromatic Studies.

Apart from her membership with the AIA, Cyrene is also an active member of the International Clinical Aromatherapy Network and a patient engagement researcher for Alberta Health Services in Calgary, Alberta.  

She is a meditation trainer, and a passionate—if not skillful—billiards player.  She splits her time between Canada and India, and enjoys learning something new every day.

Jacqueline Higgins

Minnesota - Email Jacqueline

I have been practicing as a nurse since 1993 and have been an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse functioning as a Nurse Practitioner since 1999. I have always been drawn to complementary and integrative practices. I have made referrals and recommendations over the course of my career for these services.

A few years ago I was encouraged by an administrator to explore my personal interest of Aromatherapy. I gave this thought, reviewed the AIA and NAHA sites for educational recommendations, reviewed each school represented and selected Aromahead Institute.

I am a restless learner who appreciates brilliant minds. I seek out individuals, articles, books, lectures, classes and conferences.  My aromatherapist hat has focused in the direction of safe use. I also use preparations that enhance the exploration of breath and the movement of an individual from the sympathetic to the parasympathetic nervous system - when needed during an office visit.

Amy Lechner

Pennsylvania - Email Amy 

Amy Lechner is a Traditional Naturopath, Certified Aromatherapist, and Licensed Cosmetologist.  She is also the PA State Rep for AIA, Alliance of International Aromatherapists. She is the owner of a hair salon focusing on cleaner products within the salon environment and is also owner of a wellness business and formulator of her own essential oil blend line, A. C. Essential Oils. She has enjoyed creating and formulating essential oil blends for over 18 years. She has studied under a variety of educators that have helped form a solid background in complimentary modalities of wellness and health support. With over 1500 hours of education in a variety of complementary therapies, she displays her strong dedication to the area of aromatherapy, wellness, lifestyle and nutritional support. She resides in Altoona Pa with her family and regularly sees clients to consult with them about health and lifestyle choices.  Amy has a passion for educating, coaching and sharing with people healthier alternatives for lifetime benefit.  She is very dedicated to staying active and current in education and has a strong desire to share the most current information available. 

Amy is available for public speaking as well as private consultations.

Ruth Moore, MSc.D., CCA-APAIA, FCMA

Maine - Email Ruth

Dr. Moore is an integrative practitioner who specializes in behavioral and holistic health. She is a senior fellow with the Complementary Medical Association and both a certified clinical aromatherapist and advanced level practitioner. Her passion is to educate others about the clinical applications of essential oils; and multiple providers consult with her when they need natural and drug free solutions for their patients. When not treating her patients or speaking and teaching, she enjoys a quiet rural life on Graham Lake in Ellsworth, Maine.

Brenda Lamkin – M.Ed.

West Virginia - Email Brenda

Hello! My name is Brenda Lamkin, and I live in wild and wonderful West Virginia. My background includes a Master of Education and Human Service from Fairmont State University and received my Nonprofit Management Certificate from Duke University.

I am the Executive Director of the Parent Training Center in West Virginia, where our focus is providing training, information, and resources to parents/caregivers of children and youth with disabilities. Also, I was selected to serve as a statewide "ambassador" to spearhead the use of the Division of Early Childhood (DEC) Recommended Practices for the care and education of young children with disabilities.

My interest and love of essential oils began with a class from AromaHead with Andrea Butje. I immediately became hooked on the benefits of the essential oils and the beauty of the plants. Then I went on to complete the Aromatherapy Certification Couse. I have been a member of the Alliance of International Aromatherapists (AIA) for several years and look forward to being the WV representative for the AIA.

Jennifer Wilson, RA™️ - 

South Carolina - Email Jennifer

Jennifer is a South Carolina native, the owner of Aromatic Elements, and a Registered Aromatherapist that has been studying aromatherapy since 2015. Her formal education includes courses from the Atlantic Institute of Aromatherapy and the Tisserand Institute.

She is a Professional Member of the Alliance of International Aromatherapists (AIA), the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA) and the International Clinical Aromatherapy Network (ICAN). She is also serving as the South Carolina State Representative for AIA and has served as the secretary for the United Aromatherapy Effort.

Her passion and focus is in aromatherapy education and research. Because there is still so much misinformation regarding aromatherapy, Jennifer has created, and/or helps to admin, several social media pages and groups that are dedicated to providing reliable aromatherapy information and resources. A couple of these have a specific focus on awareness about the safe use of essential oils, and the support of individuals that have been injured by them.

Along with serving as a student mentor, she provides writing, editing, consulting, and supportive administrative services to others in the industry. She is also the author of several articles, one of which has been published in the International Journal of Professional Holistic Aromatherapy (IJPHA).

In addition to aromatherapy, she has a love for landscape and nature photography that she features in her website and social media projects.

Bruce R. Boynton, PhD™️

North Carolina - Email Bruce

Bruce is a retired pediatrician with a PhD in Holistic Healing and extensive training in aromatherapy, clinical hypnosis, crystal healing, and spiritual counseling.

He has had a distinguished career as a Naval officer, educator, researcher, and hospital administrator. He was formerly the Chief Operating Officer of a small hospital and clinic system covering Sicily, Crete, and the island of Bahrain. He was the Commanding Officer of a large infectious disease research laboratory in Cairo, Egypt, and the Commanding Officer of the USNS COMFORT, a 1,000-bed hospital ship engaged in humanitarian relief work.

Bruce is currently the editor of The Journal of Health and Human Experience, an international on-line journal exploring topics in healthcare and social justice (https://jhhe.sempervifoundation.org/).

Jake Myara

Florida - Email Jake

Jake Myara is a founding partner of Miami based essential oils wholesaler, VINEVIDA. After graduating with a BA in Psychology from Johns Hopkins University, he decided he would like to find a natural way to manage his asthma. The profound benefit he found from essential oils became the driving passion behind building the company.

Today, continuous quality improvement is his watchword, always seeking to source more beautiful oils, to create engaging and helpful content and to make the retail environment a more valuable and safer place for his customers.

At AIA, he looks to educate people on dynamic ways to use essential oils safely and imaginatively.

Joni Carroll, LMT, CCAP

Texas - Email Joni

Joni Carroll completed her certified clinical aromatherapy practitioner (CCAP) training in 2016 with the distinguished R.J. Buckle Associates, LLC at Texas Health Resources in Fort Worth, Texas. R.J. Buckle Associates, LLC is a leading provider of courses in clinical aromatherapy to licensed health professionals in the USA.

Joni has also completed several in-depth certification classes with the esteemed Tisserand Institute. She is a professional member of the Alliance of International Aromatherapists (AIA). She is currently a Regional Representative and on the Membership Committee with AIA. She is also a licensed massage therapist specializing in oncology, pain management, orthopedics and pediatrics and has been in private practice since 2005.

Melissa Tucker - RA™️

Iowa - Email Melissa

Melissa is a registered aromatherapist. She gained her education at the American College of Healthcare Sciences with an Associates in Complementary Alternative Medicine, with specialties in aromatherapy and herbal medicine, iridology and homeopathy, and a laughter yoga leader.

Melissa joined AIA in March of 2021 and became the Iowa State representative soon after. She is the owner and operator of Essence of Nature which provides holistic consultations to aid in increasing personal well-being through the use of herbs and oils as well as beginning her product line.

After her introduction to aromatherapy, Melissa learned of possible safety risks of using essential oils which spurred her decision for further education. It is a passion of hers to educate others to use aromatics safely and ethically for themselves and their families

Dori Bell 

Kansas - Email Dori

Hello, all! I'm Dori Bell, aromatherapist and Kansas state rep for AIA. I have been studying and practicing aromatherapy since 2000. I love to learn, drink tea, smell beautiful smells, and read. Currently I'm learning all I can about native plant gardening, and hope to turn my little plot of land into an oasis and sanctuary for native plants, birds, and insects. My husband and I live in the little town of Manhattan, Kansas ("the Little Apple") and have a 19 year old daughter who is the delight of our heart.

I run two businesses. Both businesses are built on the same foundation: my desire to facilitate people feeling great about their lives. 

Through my work as an aromatherapist at The Blossom Bar (https://www.theblossombar.com) I offer custom essential oil blends that encourage well-being and connection on an individual or group level. I also incorporate my training in flower essences and herbal care into my aromatherapy practice. My focus is on education and sustainability, and I'm a proud business sponsor of Airmid Institute. 

With my digital marketing business Blossom Creative (https://www.blossomcreativeonline.com) I specialize in helping wellness businesses and the people behind them express their missions in ways that attract their ideal clients and generate sales. My "smart strategies, executed well" focus helps clients expand and deepen their visibility through thoughtful, comprehensive content and SEO strategies. My signature offer is Alchemy, an all-in-one website design, copywriting, SEO, and branding package that gives clients a website built from the ground up to make them money.

I look forward to meeting each of you at meetings and events!

Yasmine ElGhamrawy

England - Email Yasmine

Yasmine ElGhamrawy is a former visual effects artist who used aromatherapy to cope with stress and burnout during her demanding 20-year career in the film industry.

She became a registered and certified aromatherapist to learn more about the science behind essential oils and their benefits. She is passionate about helping others integrate aromatherapy into their daily lives easily and safely through her "Yatlina" company products.

She loves to network with like-minded people within the wellness community and sits on the board of directors for the UK International Federation of Professional aromatherapists.

Yasmine is based in London but grew up in Egypt and spent seven years in New Zealand. She is fluent in both Arabic and English.

Cami Lee

Benelux Region - Email Cami

Originally from the United States of America, Cami Lee has spent the last 10 years living in the Dutch countryside.  In her business, ‘Relax, Recharge, Create’ she is a massage practitioner, yoga instructor, and offers aromatherapy and art workshops. 

She is a ski technician, gardener, Westfriese Folklore festival participant, wife, and mother of two children. 

Cami has a Bachelor’s degree in Earth Science and Business Management from Utah Valley University, and is a graduate of the Aromahead Institute’s Advanced Graduate Program,  She loves spending time in her vegetable and herb garden and learning about plants, practicing karate and being creative.