RHIANNON LEWIS (FR)

clinical aromatherapist, director of Essential Oil Resource Consultants, educator

Rhiannon is the director of Essential Oil Resource Consultants (France).
She is a practising aromatherapist, educator, author, conference organiser and host of the professional online International Clinical Aromatherapy Network (ICAN). Rhiannon is the host and organiser of the Botanica and the Essence of Clinical Aromatherapy (ECA) conference series and scientific committee member of several structures within France including the Gattefossé Foundation, Phyt’Arom Grasse and AromaDays (Cosmed).

From 2004 to 2020 she was editor of the International Journal of Clinical Aromatherapy; the only English language publication dedicated to clinical aromatherapy.

Her aromatherapy studies began in the UK in 1989 and were further deepened over the years in the USA and France, where she has been living since 1997.
A former nurse, Rhiannon’s effective teaching style and passion for making an aromatic difference at the bedside of sick patients has taken her all over the world as a speaker at conferences and as facilitator of numerous advanced clinical aromatherapy programs. She is an initiator of several important advances in the clinical aromatherapy world including the introduction of personalised aromatherapy inhalers in settings such as cancer and palliative care.

Rhiannon’s contributions and deep dedication to the field of aromatherapy have not gone unnoticed. She is a Fellow of the International Federation of Professional Aromatherapists (GB) and has received both an Outstanding Achievement award and Lifetime Achievement award from from the Alliance of International Aromatherapists (USA).

DIDIER PESONI (FR)

clinical aromatherapist, lecturer, pharmacist, author of books

After obtaining his doctorate in biological and pharmaceutical science at the University of Nancy (France), Didier Pesoni left to live in Reunion island 20 years ago.
He first worked as a pharmacist then he quickly discovered and became passionate about essential oils whose traditional use was very strong. In 2006, he created his own training organisation OT formations which is one of the French leaders in the teaching of aromatherapy for health professionals with 6000 health professionals trained so far. Didier is the author of 2 books, the last of which : „Essential oils: handbook“ has enjoyed enormous success in France and is now translated into English. 

For the past 14 years, Didier has been a consultant for one of the leading aromatherapy laboratories in France.
Speaker at Botanica, Phyt’aroms and ECA congrès, ICAN fellow member, he talked about essential ois and virus at Phyt’aroms 2024 in Grasse with Marco Valussi and Pascale Frennet. They are publishing a systematic review about essential oils and virus. 

For several years now, he has been working on the international diffusion of French medial aromatherapy and on the union of all aromatherapies best practices.

JACQUI STRINGER, PhD. (UK)

nurse, consultant, researcher in the field of aromatherapy

Jacqui is a Nurse Consultant in Integrative Oncology at The Christie NHS Trust, Manchester, with a background in haematology / oncology nursing and psychology. Jacqui has a clinical focus of supporting patients with complex physiological and/or psychological needs, using essential oils in combination with conventional care. She also leads on the department’s research programme, is an honorary research fellow at the Royal London Hospital for Integrative Medicine and honorary lecturer at the University of Manchester.

BARBARA DANIEL-LEPPICH (DE)

naturopath, SEP Somatic Experiencing (SE)® practitioner, aromatherapist

Barbara Daniel-Leppic has been working with natural essential oils and their effects on the body, mind and psyche for over 40 years. Since 2013, her practical experience in aromatherapy has expanded to include an increasing focus on psychotherapeutic aspects. Since 2016, she has been working in her private practice in Murnau, Germany, as a complementary medicine practitioner.

Her approach to psycho-aromatherapy includes guidance on body and self-awareness, relaxation skills and imagination techniques. According to her AromaNeuroregulation Protocol, individually selected scents serve as a diagnostic tool and encourage clients to find a personal therapy companion for stabilization, self-regulation and enablement. Addressing clients issues following drastic live events or ongoing and longlasting challenges such as trauma and grief in clients of all ages are her target group. In April 2019, she obtained the SEP certificate from EASE (European Association of Somatic Experiencing). Since 2021, she has been part of the German Somatic Experiencing Training Program as a training assistant and is thus licensed to offer Somatic Experiencing sessions of all levels.

In addition, Barbara is a licenced Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) Provider, an evidence-based listening therapy designed to address e. g. behavioral state regulation and social engagement behaviors through filtered music – a modality which perfectly fits in the multi-sensory approach with scents.

Mgr. SOŇA TROJANOVÁ (CZ)

nurse

Soňa Trojanová studied Midwifery and Perioperative Care in Gynecology and Obstetrics. Six years ago, she began working at a palliative care unit in Jihlava, initially as an external assistant. However, her work in this field resonated with her so deeply that she decided to stay. Aromatherapy has been a part of her life for many years, but the pivotal moment came when she completed an aromatherapy course during her time in palliative care. Since then, scents have become an integral part of her daily work and life. In her free time, she also practices craniosacral therapy, combining it with other alternative approaches to support patients.

Bc. DANA KOUSALOVÁ (CZ)

nurse

Dana graduated in General Nursing and has been working as the Head Nurse at the Palliative Care Unit in Jihlava Hospital for eight years. She has also been a member of the Hospital’s Palliative Care Consultation Team for six years. During her practice in caring for terminally ill patients, she has pursued additional education to provide the best possible support. She has completed specialized courses such as ELNEC and ESPERO for nurses, communication training, and aromatherapy courses, including Aromatherapy for Healthcare Professionals in Palliative Care. Her training also includes a course in crisis intervention.

Aromatherapy is a part of both her professional and personal life. It helps her manage challenging situations, provides relaxation, and has become an integral part of her daily work with patients and their families.

LADISLAVA SVATOŠOVÁ

social worker, care programme coordinator

Ladislava Svatošová is a graduate in Social Pedagogy from Jan Evangelista Purkyně University. She has been working at the Senior Home Krásné Březno for 10 years as a Care Coordinator, Social Worker, and Deputy Director. She actively participates in the preparation and implementation of all concepts at the home, including aromatherapy, basal stimulation, sensory activation, and biographical work.