Our Team
Associate Professor Shelley Petersen
NZQA recently giving the title Associate Professor. Principal of Aromaflex Academy, AromaScience Training and founder of Aromaflex (the shop www.aromaflex.co.nz). Shelley is the lead tutor of the ITEC Diploma in Aromatherapy, and the ITEC Diploma in Reflexology. Qualifications and experience not limited to, spanning over 30 years in SP Dip Aromatherapy, AMA Dip Reflexology MIFPA (UK), ITEC (UK); MNZROHA, MNZIR, Diploma in Aromatic Medicine & Diploma in Tertiary Teaching. The love of spiritual matters and family is how this all started, balanced with gardening, travelling, education and health, makes this the best job ever.
Bev Fockenga
Bev is a qualified obstetric nurse, Aromatherapist and Sports Massage practitioner. Bev teaches the Anatomy & Physiology & Pathology course in Nelson and moderates our students progress in this subject. Bev also works with the elderly in a retirement village as an relieving area co-ordinator. She is an advent tramper, and walker, does Thai Chi and happily married with 2 young adult children.
Christine Burn
Christine is a highly qualified Aromatherapist, MNZROHA, and has her National Certificate in Adult Teaching along with other Post Graduate qualifications in Aromatherapy, such as perfumery. Christine is our student support both in house and on-line. She is our qualified moderator and assessor and is a subject matter expert when it comes to essential oils. Christine is a musio and loves her garden. She has been part of this organisation for over 20 years and is dedicated to her students and their progress.
Ashley Ashton
BSc, Dip. Tchg. Married to Bethany and together they have 7 children. Ashley is a registered secondary school teacher in New Zealand and has taught Science, Biology and Chemistry. Ashley teaches the Chemistry part of the Aromatherapy course and has contributed to the updating of the course material for the Aroma Science course. Ashley loves the outdoors and has a wide range of interests. Having a keen and active interest in health issues and is a strong believer in that society has much to gain and learn from the complementary therapies when looking at the science of the oils.
Carlo Valle
Originally from South Africa, Carlo has always had an interest in complimentary medicine and spiritual studies. Having completed his Reiki Masters over 20 years ago, he then studied further in Ireland obtaining ITEC Diploma's in Anatomy and Physiology, Reflexology, Massage, (Sports Lvl4, Indian Head Massage, Hot Stone, Lymphatic Drainage), Diet & Nutrition and Thermo Auricular Therapy. Qualifying in adult education, Carlo has been teaching holistic therapies for the past 10 years. Carlo is passionate about teaching new skills to students.
Bonita Marshall
Bonita is a Clinical Herbalist and our resident Academic Team advisor. She is qualified in Aromatherapy and Naturopathy.
Sally Escandila
Sally is one of our Administrators. Behind the scenes Sally works on administration documents for our compliance documents. Sally is an avid user of Aromatherapy products and is a believer of complementary medicine. Her hobbies consist of swimming and dancing. Sally is has a background of working on the ships in the antarctica looking after clients as they visit the South Pole.