Board Members 2008/9

Helen Graham
Helen qualified in Electrolysis in 1980 at Telford College, Edinburgh. She Loved electrolysis as soon as she was introduced to it and went on to specialise in it. She worked for Essanelle in House of Fraser for over 3 years firstly as a therapist and later as Company Electrolysis Trainer for Scotland & the North of England.
She started her own business in 1984 which is now the largest clinic in Glasgow & the only one to specialise in Electrolysis.
She passed examinations to become a member of The Institute & The Association in 1988.She was awarded Fellowship of the Association in 1997 and Fellowship of The Institute in 1998.
Since then she has continued to specialise in electrolysis and to promote both professional bodies and latterly the BIAE by, amongst other things, coaching all her staff towards the standard necessary for the BIAE entrance exam.
She also specialises in treatment of Dilated Capillaries/Advanced Techniques [removal of skin tags, blood spots,warts, whiteheads] and works on a consultancy basis assisting in teaching Advanced Electrolysis.
Her clinic is the Scottish Examination Centre for the BIAE. Helen assists in examining for the BIAE and served on the Education Committee for around 6 years and on the Board as Vice Chair for one year and became Chair in April 2006

Janet Ellard-Smith
Trained at The London College of Fashion in Hairdressing & Beauty Therapy. After graduating I worked amongst others for The Tao Clinic before starting my own business in 1982. Trained in advanced electrolysis, hypnotherapy, teacher training and fashion & beauty journalism. Currently studying part-time for a Masters degree in ‘Chinese Studies’ at SOAS, University of London.
Taught electrolysis and related subjects at The London College of Fashion and Bexley College and examined for City & Guilds, BTEC and CIBTAC. Currently run a course for qualified electrologists to hone their skills.
Awarded ‘British Electrologist of the Year’ in 1997 & 1998.
I am an ‘expert witness’ in electrolysis.
Was a committee member and press secretary of the BAE since 1998. I am most proud of the BIAE’s commitment to Needle-type Permanent Hair Removal. I have endeavoured to put electrolysis at the forefront of people’s minds, both professional and consumer, so that whenever they think of permanent hair removal they think of electrolysis. We are now well known both nationally and internationally and have made many contacts within the media.
I would be delighted to stay on committee as I feel I still have much to offer and although committee is incredibly hard work it is also extremely rewarding.

Nicky Wilsher
During my working life I have progressed from Secretary to PA to Administration Manager to Office Manage, working for Peugeot, Unigate Dairies, Hall of Cards and Royal & Sun Alliance and now to running the office for the BIAE. I started as secretary for the BAE in May 2000 and continued as Secretary for the joint organisation when it was formed on 1st October 2004. There is very little in the way of administration that I have not had to tackle during my career and I am therefore able to accept the many and varied challenges regularly thrown at me by the BIAE.

Marny Abercrombie
Marny completed her beauty therapy training at the Mary Reid School of Beauty Therapy in 1966.Her passion for electrolysis started there and she worked for Tao for six years followed by the running of her own business for 16 years. In 1988 she joined Edinburghās Telford College gaining her teaching qualifications as well as teaching and assessing. During this time she was involved in the development of the Scottish Higher National awards in Electrolysis and Advanced Electrolysis. The highest point of Marnys career was to win British Electolysist of the year 2002. Marny joined the Institute of Electrolysis in 1972 and the British Association of Electrolysists in 1998. Marny joined the Board in 2003 and has been delighted to have been involved in the amalgamation. A year ago I opened a clinic in Edinburgh specialising in electrolysis and am training staff to gain their Modern Apprenticeship in Beauty Therapy and work towards becoming members of the BIAE.

Rani McMurran
I have been an Electrologist for approx. 28 years. My training began with the Kree Institute of Canada. I worked full time as an Electrologist for 3 years before taking a break to have our family.. During the next 15 years I worked part time between Family commitments. By 2002 I had updated my skills and trained in Advanced Electrolysis, I also taught clinical skills and Beauty Therapy at Bridgewater College, Somerset.
In 2003 I opened my own private clinic in the heart of the Mendip countryside and specialized - amongst other therapies - cross gender Electrolysis. I was honoured in 2004/2005 by the Society to be awarded Student of the Year for Electrolysis and also in that very year won the National title of Electrolysist of the Year .In my experience the demand for needle epilation is as great today as it ever was in the past and since the advent of Laser & IPL. 70% of my work is Epilation and the demand is always there. I would like to think that I would be able to further the benefits of Electrolysis through education and client awareness during the course of my membership and beyond.

Nona Girling
I have been practising and teaching electrolysis for the last 35 years and within that time I have twice been Chairman of the BAE.
I am a Confederation examiner, C&G examiner,
B.A.B.T.A.C. Examiner and BIAE examiner.
I fully believe in By Industry Attain Excellence

Eunice McBride
I came to Electrolysis after 25 years as a Dental Nurse, which I gave up to have my son at the geriatric age of 39. It was during this break I decide to train as a Beauty Therapist. As soon as I had qualified in Electrolysis Julia Pittaway insisted I take the BAE entrance exam which I passed in 2003. I then went on to complete the BIAE advanced course in 2006 and have not looked back since.Having gained Salon experience in London I decided to set up on my own 7 years ago in SE London where I continue to work 3 days a week. I also run the electrolysis clinic at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich. I have found that clients are coming back to electrolysis after trying Laser and IPL and feel the demand for good electrolysists is strong and see the BIAE leading the way. I get tremendous job satisfaction and plug electrolysis at every opportunity. As a non teaching member of the Board I hope to bring input from a different perpective and help the BIAE go from strength to strength.

June Norman
I Trained with Kree in 1974 and became a member of the Institute of electrolysis. Teaching Diploma in 1984 with Advanced Electrolysis and have worked as an electrolysist for many years.
I have been a Fellow of BABTAC for 10 years and was elected to the Board of the BIAE in 2005.
I feel that you enjoy being able to give back to others what I have gained.

Mandy Painting
I Trained at Tottenham College and graduated in 1975. I worked in a Salon for a year before returning to college to teach. However I missed the "hands on" and returned to Salon work in 1978 and for the next 6 years advanced my skills before leaving to start my Family.
In 1990 I updated my skills and started a mobile business during which time I gained my Advanced Electrolysis Certificate which I updated in 2006. During 2001 I opened my own Salon specialising in electrolysis. I achieved a Certificate in delivering learning which I put to use working with Sterex presenting their workshop on Blend electrolysis for east Anglian Colleges. I am dedicated to furthering the knowledge of permanent needle epilation to new Electrolysists and the Public. By joining the Board I believe I have plenty to offer in advancing the position of electrolysis in the minds of the consumer and look forward to a hardworking and rewarding time.