The staff of The International Institute for Complementary Therapists

The IICT provides a dedicated team of industry professionals to assist you with your enquiries. Our key personnel are listed below and welcome your enquiries. 

Lawrence Ellyard - IICT Director / IICT Founder

Lawrence Ellyard is the director and founder of the IICT with over 18 years experience in the natural health industry. Lawrence has been instrumental in developing the IICT's operations both within the Australia and Internationally.  He is also the Director of The International Institute for Reiki Training and has several years of training and practice as a Transpersonal Therapist. In 2009 Lawrence was awarded a Masters of Transpersonal Studies (IKON Institute).

Since the early 1990's, Lawrence has been an active member and facilitator of several educational organisations and spiritual traditions and has supported their growth with many innovations in natural therapies since this time. He has travelled extensively throughout the world both lecturing and training and draws on his extensive background in natural therapies in the running and future direction of the IICT. 

Lawrence is also the author of nine books in natural therapies. 
For more about Lawrence and his books visit his author's website at: www.lawrenceellyard.com

The IICT also offers a dedicated team of professionals to assist you with all your enquiries. If you any questions about our service and membership click here



Kate Holmes
- Operations Manager, Marketing and Customer Care

Kate has followed a lifelong passion associated with dance, creative arts and natural therapies. She studied Dance at the Northern Rivers Conservatorium which led her toward a 10 year career as a professional dancer both in Australia and overseas. Eventually Kate made a reluctant transition to corporate life in Sydney where she worked in the Communications Industry for several years in Operations Management. During this time Kate also attained her Yoga Teacher Training Certificate and conducted yoga classes as a sole practitioner.

In 2005 Kate was offered a job with the Northern Rivers Gestalt Institute as Administration Manager. Kate provided admin support to the Director and was also actively involved in advising students and the teaching faculty on all general matters related to the Institute. Kate left the Gestalt Institute in early 2008 to become a mum but has now returned to the workforce and is delighted to be joining IICT which offers a perfect match for her interests and experience.



Rosemary Lobban
- Administrations Officer, Marketing and Customer Care

Rosemary grew up breathing crystal clear Tasmanian air. After gaining a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Tasmania she commenced a 10-year stint in the corporate world, firstly in the wine industry and then later in publishing. She is a customer service specialist and has experience in operations and administration management.

Three years ago Rosemary relocated from Sydney to Byron Bay, leaving behind a successful career in retail marketing, driven to discover a simpler, more fulfilling existence. She has an active interest in natural therapies and is excited for the opportunity to join the IICT team and work with its members and affiliates.

Sarah Benhaim 
- Executive Operations and Human Resources Officer

Sarah was born in England and enjoyed a happy childhood in the English countryside. After graduating from the University of Wales with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology, she went on to spend the next few years working in corporate London, primarily in Human Resources. After finally giving in to the urge to travel, she and her then-fiancé (now husband) packed up their things and headed off to spend the next year living, working and travelling around the world, one of the highlights being scuba diving with manta rays in Thailand. One of the other places she visited along the way was Byron Bay, Australia, where she fell in love with the pace of life and the local wildlife – not to mention the friendly locals!

When she returned to London she completed a Post Graduate Certificate of Education and enjoyed working as a Primary School Teacher until she emigrated to Australia in 2009 and became a mum. She has now returned to work after a 2 year break and is now supporting the staff and members of the IICT and continuing to broaden her horizons.



Cindy Wessling
- Administrations Consultant / Customer Care

Cindy began her career life learning the art of hair styling working for Toni & Guy Hairdressing Australia. After working many very consuming, but loving years in the hair industry she decided to put her backpack on her back and head to Central & South America to soak up the colour, music and life there. Cindy is currently completing her study in Soul Voice Sound Healing and GyroTonic Body Expansion System, two modalities that resonate with her strongly.  Working for the IICT seemed such a perfect fit for her previous experiences, being focused around customer care and service and her own journey and passion for complementary therapies.  

Previous Experience includes a short stint in the corporate world and an amazing time spent working for the RSPCA working in customer care and specializing in the adoption team, finding animals the right home.  She also volunteered in Bolivia in an Animal Sanctuary and Orphanage, two experiences that really opened her heart and mind to the diversity of people. Cindy is a real people person and looks forward to assisting you with your membership enquiries.




Sam Blight
- Webmaster and Graphics Specialist Consultant

Sam Blight is a graphic and web designer with over 20 years of experience, specialising in small-to-medium sized businesses and non-profit organisations. He has been servicing projects for the IICT for several years and provides custom design solutions for the IICT's operating systems.

Sam's other interests include music (he is a guitarist with several recordings to his name), digital art, hang gliding, non-dual philosophy, applied ontology and sitting very still, doing nothing. To view samples of Sam's work visit: www.rangsgraphics.com


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