The support of the Board requires considerable decision making, strategy direction and ensuring of outcomes in many different areas from education, seminars and conferences, media and marketing, membership issues, to governance, law and ethics, government liaison (at the state, federal and even international level) and industry cooperation.
Each Board member is an elected representative of the membership and works in a voluntary capacity. Elections take place at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Association and all Full members of the NHAA are eligible to vote. To find out more about how the Board of Directors works please read here.
All board members also work on a series of committees
Hannah Boyd
PresidentHannah is a Naturopath and herbalist based in Sydney, New South Wales. She was first elected to the NHAA Board of Directors in 2018 and has led the Marketing and media subcommittees during her tenure.
Hannah established her own Naturopathic clinic after graduating from her studies in 2012. Her areas of interest include mental health, women’s health and fertility.
As well as practicing in her Marrickville clinic, Hannah has volunteered at the Leichhardt Women’s Community Health Centre as a research assistant. She has presented at various events including The Real Food Project and the Marrickville Business Association. In 2019 Hannah was asked to present at the Central & Eastern Sydney Primary Health network annual conference, Rethinking Mental Health as well as the 2021 National Symposium on Herbal and Naturopathic Medicine.
Dr Janet Schloss
Vice PresidentDr Janet Schloss is Clinical Research Fellow and Senior Lecturer at the National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine (NCNM). Janet is an accomplished researcher with extensive experience in coordinating clinical trials. In addition to her academic career, Janet is also a practicing clinical nutritionist and naturopath with over 20 years experience.
Janet has lectured in naturopathy, nutrition and student clinic supervision for over 14 years at Endeavour and is now supervising HDR students for NCNM.
In addition to her role at NCNM, Janet was a Research Fellow and a member of the International Naturopathic Leadership group with the Australian Research Centre for Complementary and Integrative Medicine([ARCCIM), and a member of Australian Traditional Medicine Society, Society of Integrative Oncology and American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Sarah Christensen
DirectorSarah is a Naturopath in clinical practice in Brisbane, having graduated with Distinction from Endeavour with a BHSc Naturopathy, she has transformed her lifelong passion for health and wellness into her working profession.
Sarah comes with an expansive career in communications and technology, and in more recent years online collaboration expertise including online events, support, and training. With a passion for our profession and its future, she brings enthusiasm to be involved with making positive change for better integration of Naturopaths and Herbalists into public healthcare.
In her personal time, you will find Sarah enjoying her passion for good food, creating new meal ideas, cooking for her family or in the garden with her herbs.
Tracelee Shew
DirectorTracelee is a qualified naturopath and herbalist based in Sydney. She is a passionate naturopathic academic, working in Naturopathy and Western Herbal Medicine university programs for the past 12 years. Tracelee appreciates being able to support graduates entering the naturopathic profession with innovative skills to adapt to the current evolving health industry.
As a health practitioner in private practice, Tracelee combines her knowledge and discipline expertise as an educator in student-led clinics in Sydney. In 2021, Tracelee started her journey into a PhD at Torrens University and will explore herbal medicines prescribed by Naturopathic and Western Herbal Medicine student practitioners in patient anxiety.
Tracelee is a newly elected NHAA Board Director, and member of the NHAA Education committee. She is keen to promote education in our profession to reflect best practice and has a strong desire to keep supporting current and future association members.
Natalie Cook
DirectorI have previously served on the NHAA board from 2013-2019 completing the maximum term at that time. I contributed initially leading the marketing and communications sub committee, then Vice President then ultimately President from 2015-2019. I am proud of many of my achievements whilst on the board, and highlights include; activating a focus on communications to members of parliament and the media – one of which saw me representing the NHAA being interviewed on The Project, changing the name from National Herbalists Association of Australia to the Naturopaths and Herbalists Association of Australia to better reflect our membership, joining the World Naturopathic Federation as a foundation member, representing Australia on the WNF Executive as Treasurer and setting the associations focus on celebrating our 100 year anniversary.
My background in the corporate, small business and academic worlds, provides me with the unique skill set, perspective and experience that I bring to this role including: lecturing and curriculum development for the BHSc Naturopathy, Program Management, experience in the corporate and not-for-profit sector across a variety of management roles and of course private practice as a naturopath. I am currently a member of the Jacka Foundation for Natural Therapies and am employed as Director of Innovation, Industry & Employability (Health & Education) at Torrens University Australia. I feel I have more to offer the NHAA serving an additional term on the board and would appreciate the opportunity.
Liza Twohill
DirectorI am a Naturopath, mentor, research clinician and successful business owner with more than 25yrs in clinical practice. I am passionate about the inclusion of complementary medicine in primary healthcare particularly for people with chronic and complex health issues in regional and remote locations.
Most of my career has been focused on providing grassroots Naturopathy to my community. I understand the demands of setting up a practice, I have worked in multidisciplinary clinics, a solo clinic, and juggled working in several locations.
Over the years I have supported many students in placement and envisage a more structured and inclusive pathway for new graduates in becoming confident and established clinicians and business owners.
Living and working in regional and remote Australia has provided me with unique opportunities to develop my skills as a clinician, particularly in utilising the foundations of Naturopathic care, including whole food education, food as medicine, herbal medicine and lifestyle medicine. This experience has also highlighted the issues around practicing beyond metropolitan areas.
I value the importance of high educational standards in our industry. I am an Adjunct Professional Fellow at the National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine (NCNM) at Southern Cross University and sit on the Course Advisory Committee for Naturopathic Medicine. Since 2018, I have engaged in research into nutritional interventions to assist psychological distress and also nutritional support for fatigue in burnout as a research clinician.
I feel my longevity in clinical practice will be an asset to the board as I can assist in the strategic vision of HAA in supporting members and new graduates improve business.
Sofia Silchenko
DirectorSofia Silchenko is a dedicated naturopath who combines traditional holistic practices with innovative technological approaches. Currently pursuing a Master’s in Advanced Naturopathy at Southern Cross University, Sofia brings a unique perspective to the field, one that honours our roots while embracing the possibilities of the future.
Sofia serves as the chair of the NHAA’s Special Interest Group on AI and Technology in Naturopathy, where she leads discussions on the safe, ethical and impactful use of AI in our field. She believes that by thoughtfully integrating new tools, we can enhance our ability to provide personalised, preventative care without compromising our holistic principles.
Sofia’s commitment to advancing naturopathy extends to her work in health technology, where she is developing AI-driven software to support practitioners in patient case management.
As a board member, Sofia would bring forward-thinking leadership grounded in clinical experience. She envisions a future where naturopaths confidently utilise emerging technologies to amplify their skills and improve patient outcomes. Her goal is to help create an environment where innovation and tradition coexist, strengthening our profession’s position in the evolving healthcare landscape.
Sofia is dedicated to fostering a community where practitioners feel supported in embracing new tools while staying true to the core values of naturopathy. By serving on the board, she hopes to contribute to shaping policies and initiatives that will ensure our profession not only adapts to change but leads the way in integrative healthcare innovation.
Gabrielle Covino
DirectorI am a committed and passionate Naturopath with nearly 20 years’ experience in complementary medicine across practice, academia, and industry. My career has equipped me with strong skills in education, science communication, project management, technical writing, and clinical supervision. In my most recent role at Blackmores Institute (the academic and research arm of Blackmores Group), I led content strategy, translational science communication and advocacy – bridging the gap between complex scientific concepts and diverse audiences, including consumers and healthcare professionals.
My decision to nominate for the NHAA Board stems from my dedication to advancing the field of complementary medicine. I believe my broad experience across the sector equips me to contribute valuable insights and help shape strategic objectives that align with the NHAA mission. Additionally, my extensive network of relationships with academia and industry partners has given me a strong understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing complementary medicine today.
In this next chapter of my professional life, I’d like to focus on working with intention – that includes championing evidence-based practices, ensuring education and advocacy remain central to the health of the sector, and our profession. My goal is to support the professional development of healthcare practitioners, enhance public awareness, and foster greater collaboration between complementary medicine and mainstream healthcare.
I am motivated by the potential to drive change and contribute to a more integrative and accessible healthcare system.
Kamalini Kandasamy FCPA, ACMA, GAICD
TreasurerKamalini is a seasoned finance and corporate governance leader specialising in providing stability during transformational periods, streamlining processes, implementing systems and fostering financial understanding within teams.
With a resilient and adaptable approach, she excels in building high-performing teams and driving outcomes through expertise in compliance, budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting and internal controls.
Kamalini’s track record of developing and streamlining processes to support organisational growth is evident in her executive roles and board positions, where she contributes strategic insights and risk management expertise. Her ability to facilitate change and achieve results underscores her impactful contributions to the not-for-profit and government sectors.
Kamalini previously served on the NHAA Board as Treasurer between March 2019 and October 2021.
Roberta Barbiellini, MEd, BHSc(Hons), AdvDipNat
Secretary (non-voting member)Roberta is a naturopath with more than 25 years’ experience in the natural medicine industry. She has worked in clinical practice, as a researcher, and as an educator, and has a passion for the science of wellbeing. Roberta particularly enjoys being able to communicate this science and has spent many years lecturing on natural medicines at both an under-graduate and post-graduate level. As a Practitioner with 10 years of clinical experience, Roberta also has a sound understanding of the needs of patients and the challenges facing complementary medicine Practitioners.
For the past 15 years Roberta has worked in the corporate sector, managing technical functions such as technical support, education, product development, innovation, and clinical research within some of the biggest natural medicines companies in Australia. Roberta is currently the Head of Education for the Blackmores Group, which has brands such as Blackmores, BioCeuticals, and Paw and oversees the educational program, diagnostic services, and technical support services there.
In addition to her role at Blackmores group, Roberta is an Adjunct Professional Fellow at the National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine (NCNM), and sits on various Course Advisory Committees, helping to shape the future of naturopathic education. Roberta is particularly passionate about advocating for the recognition of naturopathy as a legitimate, credible, and vital part of the Australian health care system, and enthusiastically supports the movement towards registration of naturopathy as an allied health profession within Australia.
Board Member Advisory Committee
One of the major responsibilities of the BMAC relates to recruitment to the Board. It is the responsibility of NHAA members to elect the Board. However as the Board’s tasks change and become ever more complex, the NHAA also needs to ensure that procedures are in place that will enable it to access members with the right mix of experience, skills and interests for Board positions, both to fill interim vacancies and to stand for election at AGMs.