About Ian

I’m passionate about quality herbal and naturopathic health care, education and research, having worked in the field since 1993.

I have taught, managed and designed programs at private colleges and universities, worked as a technical consultant for various herbal medicine companies, served on scientific advisory panels, and spoken at seminars and conferences both nationally and internationally.

Currently I am a Senior Learning Facilitator at Torrens University Australia (TUA). In addition I am an Expert Contributor to the Olive Wellness Institute, Chair of the NHAA’s Board Member Advisory Committee, and an advisor to the Natural Health Science Foundation.

My clinical practice (via telehealth) focuses on helping patients with cardiovascular conditions, diabetes, and chronic inflammatory diseases. My research activities focus on herbal quality, safety and efficacy.

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Herbal medicine has been in my bloodstream for most of my life. The first lecture I attended at 17 years of age, delivered by Nick Burgess, really ignited a fascination in the complexity of herbal medicine.

In hindsight though, the passion had been developing for a few years. As a young teenager I was amazed by an article in the Science section of the newspaper, about chimpanzees in Africa self-medicating with carefully selected leaves from specific plants, to treat parasitic infections.

Around the same time, whilst on a school field trip to a national park during torrential rain, I noticed a particular tree which had masses of foam at the base of its trunk. Thinking this may have been pollution from runoff, I asked our Guide about it. He pointed out that there were no other plants growing around that tree for some meters, and then explained the foam was a chemical produced by the tree to inhibit the growth of competing flora. Normally invisible, it was stirred up by the massive rains to a large foam.

Since those early years I have trained extensively in herbal medicine and naturopathy. I completed from my clinical qualifications in naturopathy and herbal medicine (from the Australasian College of Natural Therapies) in 1992, and was fortunate to have additionally learned from the late Hein Zeylstra, obtaining a Certificate in Phytotherapy. In 2005 I obtained my Masters Degree in Herbal Medicines from the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sydney, specialising in herbal pharmacology and quality analysis.

I spent 8 years on the Board of Directors of the Naturopaths & Herbalists Association of Australia (NHAA), culminating in the position of Vice-President. I am currently Chair of their Board Member Advisory Committee – an external strategic advisory group supporting the NHAA Board and the mission of the Association. In 2006 I was awarded Fellowship of the NHAA for “meritorious work in the profession of herbalism”, and in 2023 received Life Membership in recognition of “outstanding contributions to herbal and naturopathic medicine”.

But that’s enough about my CV – if you want to read more my LinkedIn profile has the details. You can also read more about my research via my Torrens University Australia page, and via ResearchGate.

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