Ireland & England Institute Coordinator

Shirley Gleeson è una consulente di natura e benessere e fondatrice di EcoWellness Consulting Limited, precedentemente nota come Nature, Health & Wellbeing Ireland. Vive a Dublino.

Shirley ha conseguito master sia in promozione della salute che in lavoro sociale e ha un'esperienza ventennale nel settore della sanità e dell'assistenza sociale nel settore pubblico e privato. Progetta interventi basati sulla natura per accrescere e migliorare la salute e il benessere delle persone e facilita interventi di formazione in natura per i professionisti della salute mentale. È stata la prima guida certificata di Forest Therapy in Europa, dopo aver completato la sua formazione negli Stati Uniti con l'Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guide and Programs (ANFT) nel 2014. È stata mentore e formatrice presso l'ANFT e ha sostenuto guide da tutto il mondo.

Shirley ha una vasta formazione post-laurea in ecoterapia, art therapy espressiva, counselling, gestione dello stress, abilità dialettiche di terapia comportamentale, terapia familiare comportamentale e uso terapeutico della mindfulness.

Ha presentato la sua ricerca e pratica sulla Forest Therapy a conferenze internazionali in Irlanda, Regno Unito e Austria e di recente ha relazionato alle Nazioni Unite a Ginevra sul tema delle foreste e della salute umana. Shirley si è allenata come guida naturalistica in Eco Training in Sud Africa e ha completato uno stage con i Parchi nazionali sudafricani. Ha un profondo amore e rispetto per la natura, specialmente gli alberi.

Ann Tilman intergrates health, nature connection, art, stress handling, divergent thinking, performance coaching and team dynamics. As the founder of Foresterra, she offers nature-based experiences in Belgium and Italy. By connecting people, nature and culture, she stimulates ecotourism and transformative learning as an ultimate inspiration for meaningful changes in our life and the world.

Ann has over 20 years of HR experience in life sciences and arts. As an HR director, she ispecialises in organizational development, value creation and culture building as well as aligning people practices with growth objectives. To deal with psychosocial well-being, work-life balance, stress and burnout she advocates mindfulness in nature, self-leadership, appreciative inquiry, feedback culture and yoga breaks. Her professional development can be characterized by a belief in pragmatism leading to intelligent practice. She is convinced that people are capable of more than they think. Her main challenge in life is to stimulate people to explore and use their full potential.

 Ann holds a Master in Roman Philology and International Affairs. She is a keen yogi and qi gong practitioner and trained in mindfulness. To her, nature is a place for healing and personal growth. Ann is a Certified Forest Bathing Guide by the Forest Therapy Institute (FTI).

In 2018 she completed her training with the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs and became the first Certified Forest Therapy Guide in Belgium. She designs introduction workshops, self-care and corporate wellness programs for individuals, teams and organisations.

Iberoamerica  Institute Coordinator

Spain & Portugal Coordinator

Alex è il fondatore dell'Instituto de Baños de Bosque e dell'Instituto de Banhos de Floresta de Portugal e ha collaborato come consulente specialista nel gruppo di esperti in Human Health and Well-being per Forest Europe, Conferenza ministeriale sulla protezione delle foreste in Europa.

Consigliere per la salute pubblica e forestale del CONAF, Ministero dell'agricoltura del Cile. La CONAF ha la missione di contribuire allo sviluppo del Paese attraverso la gestione sostenibile degli ecosistemi forestali e dei componenti della natura ad essi associati.

Dal 2017 è consulente dell'Unione dei silvicoltori dell'Europa meridionale (USSE). USSE è un gruppo di interesse economico europeo (GEIE) che unisce le organizzazioni forestali di Portogallo, Spagna, Paesi Baschi, Aquitania e Grecia.

Alex è l'autore di "Sentir el bosque: La experiencia del Shinrin-Yoku (baño de bosque)", Grijalbo, edito dal gruppo editoriale Penguin Random House.

Al contrario dell'azione dello stress quotidiano della vita urbana, facilita e sviluppa le tecniche di connessione della natura in modo che tutte le persone possano sperimentare i benefici per la salute degli ambienti naturali. Sviluppa programmi di supporto per aziende e organizzazioni per ridurre lo stress, prevenire la sindrome del Burnout, migliorare il benessere dei collaboratori e stimolare la creatività e il lavoro di squadra. Alex si impegna a promuovere questa pratica per supportare tutti a superare i propri limiti stabiliti e migliorare il loro benessere.

Alex ha sviluppato il Programma KIDS & Forest per adolescenti a rischio di esclusione sociale, dove ha lavorato con diverse istituzioni per il coinvolgimento dei giovani.

Con base tra Barcellona e Lisbona, ha partecipato a eventi e corsi di formazione in Spagna, Chile, Portogallo, Irlanda, Francia, Regno Unito, Slovenia, Croazia, Slovacchia, Costa Rica, Stati Uniti e Australia, tra le altre località.

È specializzato in gestione aziendale, sociologia, comunicazione non verbale e leadership. Tiene un E-MBA dalla EAE Business School di Barcellona. Inoltre, ha partecipato alla formazione di Forest Therapy Guide con l'Association of Nature  and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs (ANFT). È stato il primo istruttore europeo ANFT, formando e sostenendo la formazione di guide di tutto il mondo.

È stato presentato e / o intervistato in diversi paesi da: TVE 1, RNE, TV 5, Antena 3, Condé Nast Traveller, Euronews, El Periodico, LaVanguardia, Huffpost, Su Barcellona, Betevé, Diari Ara, El Mundo, El Diario Vasco, Burgos Conecta, Revista Cuerpo y Mente, TimeOut, Lecturas, RTP, SIC Mulher, TVI, Publico, Visão, Pais, Sábado, A nossa Prima, Revista Calm, Revista Sabre Viver e Revista Q, Diario de Burgos, Rivista della Norwegian Airlines tra gli altri media.

Jacques has been involved in the field of nature protection and social work for the last twenty years. Nature has always played an important part on his life, tracing memories back on his childhood, when he used to go walking and foraging in the woods, with one of his grand fathers.

he has been offering walks and nature connected services to the general public, as well as to some institutions and associations.

He, often, works with partners such as yoga teachers, Qi Qong & Mindfullness practionners, for instance, to have thematic days based on forest bathing with a broader scope in terms of content.

His engagement has seen different stages. The most important part has been as the founder and director of an organic marketgarden in link with a network, known in France, as « Jardin de Cocagne ». For almost 15 years, he managed and developed this activity, which aimed to help people with social & health difficulties to re/integrate the world of work.

During that time, he set up two marketgardens on two different locations. The initial one, was dedicated to the production of organic vegetables and herbs, while the other was solely flower-growing. As such, it was one of the two first sites in France, known as « Fleurs de Cocagne », to produce organic cut-flowers, used to create and sell original bunches of flowers, directly to customers.

Prior to that, he worked as a marketing executive, in England, for an innovative start-up company, involved in the design, production and selling of mobile earth satellite.

Jacques holds a Master of Arts in marketing, as well as Master of Management in Social & Solidarity Entities (DESS). He also possesses a CELTA qualification through the Cambridge English Teaching Framework.

In completion of his main diplomas, he trained in permaculture and as a sound therapist. He practices yoga and meditation on a regular basis, and occasionnaly some Qi Qong.

Jacques  is a Certified Forest Bathing Guide by the Forest Therapy Institute (FTI). In 2016, following his training, in Ireland with the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy, he became the first certified forest therapy guide, in France.

Caitlin Keddie is the founder of Forest Therapy Scotland, and became Scotland’s first certified Nature & Forest Therapy Guide in 2017. Caitlin lives in Glasgow and offers Forest Bathing through public and private events around Scotland.

Having had a close relationship with the natural world throughout her childhood, Caitlin has been interested in natural health and wellbeing all her life. For the last 8 years, Caitlin has been working with Scotland’s oldest herbal establishment Napiers the Herbalists. She was director and manager of their busy multi-disciplinary health clinic and herbal apothecary in Glasgow, and now runs Napiers Bathgate, a community interest company (CIC) set up to make natural medicine and health education more accessible for local communities. Caitlin is passionate about holistic health and wellbeing, and is a strong advocate for spending time in nature for mental health, as well as physiological health.

Caitlin’s focus is on creating a safe, supportive and accessible space where people can enhance their wellbeing through mindful connection with nature, giving participants all the tools necessary to create a deep and long lasting relationship with the natural world and their local community. Caitlin also loves to share her wide knowledge of plants and their many health benefits on her guided walks.

Caitlin’s work has featured on BBC Landward, BBC Radio Scotland’s ‘Out of Doors’ and  ‘Kaye Adams’ programmes, the Herald Scotland, the Scottish Sun, the Holistic Scotland Magazine, as well as various radio discussions on nature for mental health.

Caitlin is Certified Forest Bathing and Forest Therapy  Guide by the Forest Therapy Institute. Also  a Certified Forest Therapy Guide by the Association of Nature & Forest Therapy Guides & Programs.

Claudio is responsible of the Instituto de Baños de Bosque in Chile.  Founder of Bosque para Ti, pioneer of Forest Bathing practice in South America

He is a Forest Bathing Advisor for the Department of Protected Areas of CONAF  in Chile, Ministry of Agriculture.

He facilitates and develops techniques of connection with nature to improve in employees health benefits through natural environments.

Claudio develops programmes for companies and organizations in stress management, employee well-being and stimulate creativity and teamwork.

With its operations center in Valdivia, where his projects are developed under the eaves of the Valdivian rainforest..

Certified Forest Bathing and Forest Therapy  Guide by the Forest Therapy Institute. Also he is a Forestry Consultant, Technician in Risk Prevention and Environment, Engineer in Risk Prevention, Master Student in Occupational Hygiene,(E) Diploma in Ecotourism.He has been mentioned and / or interviewed, Radio El Conquistador where he actively participates in the Gen Viajero program, interviews; Diario La Tercera, Diario La Segunda, and Publimetro.

Pedro M. Trindade ha lavorato come stagista e ha collaborato alla ricerca presso lo Schau und Sichtungsgarten Hermmanshof, a Weinheim, in Germania. Tornato in Portogallo, ha deciso di dedicarsi a un'altra delle sue passioni: la danza, con l'insegnamento e la conduzione di numerosi progetti artistici e coreografici. Appassionato di crescita personale e di sviluppo di attività legate a salute e benessere, ha deciso di creare nel 2018 il suo blog Peace of Plant, condividendo contenuti che spiegano come il contatto con la natura, le piante e l'arte del giardinaggio possano essere una fonte di benessere nella nostra vita. Scoprire il Forest Bathing è stato qualcosa che ha permesso a Pedro di conciliare i suoi diversi interessi, dal contatto con lo sviluppo pubblico e personale alla promozione delle abitudini di salute e benessere alla protezione dell'ambiente. Pedro ha conseguito un Master in Architettura del paesaggio presso la Facoltà di Scienze dell'Università di Oporto. È una guida certificata di Forest Bathing.

Paco is an amateur percussionist with musical training and passionate about writing, both disciplines are fundamental in his life. The practice of forest bathing is the basis on which he develops his projects for the creation of experiences in nature.

Galician by birth and heart, he has spent more than half of his life in Madrid, developing activities in the field of IT consulting, specialized in the field of Human Resources, and the development and implementation of agile methodologies (Lean, Scrum) , as a means for the optimization and humanization of business processes.

 He studied Technical Engineering of IT Systems in Madrid. In addition, he has a master's degree in creative writing (Hotel Kafka), and has completed different courses and retreats of Vipassana meditation. He is a Certified Forest Bathing and Forest Therapy Guide by the Forest Therapy Institute (FTI). He is also a Guide certified by the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs (ANFT).

Marta is a social community worker for more than ten years and focused her career in relationships with people, supporting them and encouraging their resilience and sense of belonging to their community.

She is now the social work representative in her city’s Health Board, diagnosing cases of non desired loneliness, helping with immigration procedures and also welcoming refugees and people seeking international protection.

Marta is a nurse and has a master degree in Tropical Medicine and International Health. She has worked in county and district programmes related to cooperation development. She has evaluated and led nutritional and health projects in the NGO Action Against Hunger in different countries, strengthening local public health systems integrating programs to their structures.

Marta studied emotional ecology, as the sustainable and creative management of emotions to improve the self, our relationships and the world we live in.

As a teacher, she has worked in Barcelona’s Nurse School, in NGOs and in local and regional institutions.
She is FTI’s Forest Bathing Guide and Forest Therapy Practitioner. She sees nature, art and music as connection ties for people and civilizations. She likes getting to know other cultures and surroundings, and also listening and observing how nature, people and life itself are all interconnected. 

Katarzyna Simonienko is a psychiatrist- a medical practitioner and a scientific researcher, PhD in psychiatry. She works in the Mental Helath Hospital in Choroszcz, in the Department of Psychiatry at the Medical University of Bialystok and in outpatient services in Bialystok, Poland . She is a Certified Forest Therapy Practitioner by FTI.

She works in field of different mental health diseases and stress prophylaxis as well. She is a founder of first medical forest bathing  centre in Poland:  Centrum Terapii Lasem/ Forest Therapy Centre PL . From 2018 she is a licensed guide of the Białowieża National Park. She is a member of the Japanese shinrin-yoku organisation INFOM (International Society of Nature and Forest Medicine). Currently she runs forest therapy workshops, leads shinrin-yoku walks in Poland, she also promotes medical knowledge in the field of forest therapy on scientific conferences, in medical journals and in media in Poland and abroad.

In private life she paints, photographs wildlife and run a Facebook fanpages ‘Zapuszczeni / Beforested’ about nature and ‘Galeria Silva’ about her art. She is interested in herbal medicine, old stories, different worlds, archetypes, fairy tales, legends, old European cultures (Celts, Slavs, Vikings), tribal cultures and related ethnopsychiatry.

‘The forest is a huge, wise book, from which we can learn many useful things. It is a work of original and unmanageable art. A living organism, a pharmacy, a palpable arrangement of bubble worlds and a friend. A bag of fairy tales, a source of archetypes, fears and comforts. The Context. That’s why I am here.’

Marco Nieri è bioricercatore ed esperto sulla salute dell’habitat. Ha iniziato a lavorare come esperto nella progettazione bioecologica di ambienti di vita e di lavoro, utilizzando le conoscenze più vitali di Oriente ed Occidente, consapevole della relazione circolare tra Uomo e Ambiente.

Spinto dal desiderio di approfondire la conoscenza del nostro habitat, per oltre quindici anni ha collaborato strettamente con il Dott. Walter Kunnen di Anversa (Belgio), che nel 1960 ha fondato “Archibo Biologica”, Centro indipendente di ricerca scientifica sulla Biosfera e le influenze energetiche esercitate sugli organismi viventi dall'elettromagnetismo naturale ed artificiale, punto di riferimento di centinaia di medici e naturopati di tutta Europa.

Queste conoscenze lo hanno spinto a una particolare ricerca per studiare il bio-elettromagnetismo vegetale e la sua influenza sull’organismo umano. Ha creato così il “Bioenergetic Landscapes”, una tecnica innovativa con cui realizza parchi e giardini terapeutici bioenergetici per portare beneficio all’essere umano anche in contesti sanitari.

Collabora con Marco Mencagli per approfondire con studi multidisciplinari le tematiche della Forest Medicine, e applicare questa nuova ricerca nella creazione di percorsi di Forest Bathing su base scientifica in Italia e all’estero.

Insieme hanno scritto il libro “ La terapia segreta degli alberi”, ed. Sperling & Kupfer, 2017, ora pubblicato anche in Francia e USA. Marco ha anche pubblicato il libro: “Bioenergetic Landscape”, ed. Sistemi Editoriali, 2009.

Articoli, interviste e recensioni sui suoi lavori e ricerche sono costantemente pubblicati sulla stampa italiana e straniera.

Marco è guida certificata di Forest Bathing dal Forest Therapy Institute (FTI)

Kerry Walker is a passionate Forest School Practitioner and an Eco-Art Therapist.

She currently lives on the West Coast of Ireland, where she experiences the daily language and connection of nature landscape. She feels strongly that this connection with nature and each other is vital at this moment in time.

Her appreciation for nature and art has brought her on creative journey's around the world. She has facilitated creative arts programmes in Spain, India, Guatemala and Chile, with a focus using art and nature as a tool for integration, connection and awareness.

She is the co-founder of Down to Earth Forest School, a nature based educational programme where children are supported to learn and create through nature. She is also part of the facilitator team for the Forest School Leadership programme that takes place in Galway.

She feels fortunate to work in Brigit’s Garden, a Celtic Garden in Galway set within 11 acres of native woodland & wildflower meadows. It is here where she is a part of the Environmental Education team. She facilitates workshops on environmental and sustainability issues, and nature connection workshops for Primary and Secondary School children.

Kerry holds a Masters in Art Therapy and she is currently training in Eco-Psychology and Therapeutic Play Skills for Children. She is a Certified Forest Bathing and Forest Therapy Guide by the Forest Therapy Institute (FTI). Since completing the Certified Forest Therapy guide training with the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy, she has led monthly forest therapy walks in Brigit’s Garden and various woodlands around Galway.

She is a Certified Forest Bathing Guide by FTI.

Mila is also an experienced translator; she collaborates with the independent publishing house "Dvi Tylos/Two Silences" and this year together with a colleague she translated the book "Shinrin-Yoku: the Art and Science of Forest Bathing" by dr. Qing Li into Lithuanian language.

She guides walks in urban forests of Vilnius and other Lithuanian forests. Mila is one of the organizers of the annual Forest Festival which takes place in Anyksciai town; in 2019 during the festival she coordinated Forest Therapy day – a whole day dedicated to forest bathing and therapy.

Pietro Ostano is as a freelance professional working in the fields of Language Coaching, Forest Bathing and Group Dynamics.

Following his early childhood years in Africa, he moved to the Italian Alps and has always lived in rural areas; a true extension of his comfort zone, this environment helps him build nature-based learning experiences for kids and adults.

He works with schools, banks, incentive travel agencies, professionals and families and has recently been assigned two teaching positions at a vocational high school operating in challenging contexts.

During summertime he is usually involved in leading residential summer camps in the Alps, study-vacations abroad, hiking trips, or enjoying free time to explore new pathways, spending time outdoors.

Pietro has successfully organised and coordinated volunteer-based trail cleanups in the Cervo Valley as a way of promoting physical, psychological and social health, to encourage interaction, and reduce isolation.

His engineering background hasn’t stopped him exploring psychology, sociology and the human condition in general.

His Forest Bathing approach relies on his intense and variegated lifestyle and his experience with people, and is aimed at improving healthy relationships by healing and reinforcing self-esteem, empathy, hence reciprocity.

His goal is to coach individuals, groups and organisations into learning and using their interpersonal skills to create a healthier and happier society for us humans and the natural environment we all depend on.