Board of Directors
Betty Sutherland; Joint Chair of the Technical Panel
Betty started learning tai chi in 1994 in what she describes as a last ditch attempt to learn how to manage work related stress. She says: “I tried tai chi and fell in love with it instantly, even my boss noticed the improvement. She says ““Now that the union is a CIC (community interest company) we are in a position to reach out to people and groups in the community. The union is here to support teachers’ development and offer a safe, high standard of Tai Chi across the UK.”
Ben Morris; Health & Wellbeing, Communications
Ben is a senior lecturer in psychology and a researcher in the area of health and wellbeing. In recent years he has focused some of his research time on understanding the benefits of mindful practices and tai chi. He says: “The union’s more recent CIC restructuring will also give a more regional voice to members and support them in their own projects where there is clear benefit to the promotion of tai chi and qigong. This can only be positive in my mind.”
Colin Hamilton, Joint Chair of the Technical Panel, Teaching Standards
Colin is a highly experienced and successful instructor who supports all the Chinese Internal Arts of Tai Chi, Baguazhang, Xing Yi Chuan as well as Qigong. He is a qualified Fitness Instructor and Personal Trainer and will be known to many of you already particularly for his work as Joint Chair of the Technical Panel.
Tina Faulkner Elders; Health & Wellbeing
Tina Faulkner Elders studied kungfu from an early age. But, she says, she was inspired watching her father (Gordon Faulkner) practising Tai Chi ‘constantly’. She says that she just loved the movements. “I was maybe around 12 when I started with tai chi and qigong”. She says “There still seems to be this mystery about Tai Chi so a great many people shy away from it. The reality is that it does cover a great range from martial to health to spiritual and philosophical. Whatever angle you approach it from, Tai Chi is hugely beneficial to anyone who takes up the art.”
Peter Ballam; Finance
Back in the 1980’s Peter spent some time searching for a Tai Chi teacher and, after attending workshops run by Dan Docherty, he says: “I was hooked.” Peter sees Tai Chi as a no nonsense martial art but with elements of training that are also beneficial for physical and mental health.” He says: “I liked the idea that Tai Chi practitioners could come together as a community. I would like to see Tai Chi Chuan and Qigong reclaim their own identities and dispel the current confusion. They are both a good form of exercise and, in the case of Tai Chi Chuan, an effective martial art for those seeking and prepared to commit to the training.”
Support Team
The Board could only run TCUGB with support from members.
Aileen Mandic – Membership Secretary & Treasurer
Aileen is a highly experienced member of the Support Team and a Senior Instructor. Many of you will have already come across Aileen over the many years in her role as Treasurer and Membership Secretary. She is the key member of the team who keeps the Union running (and the Board on its toes!). Some of you will have met her either at her classes or at Tai Chi Caledonia which she also organises.
You can contact Aileen via enquiries@taichiunion.com.
John Roper and Suse Coon – Magazine
We are very fortunate that we have two highly experienced journalists and editors to produce the magazine.
John is our magazine editor who has been working in publishing for many years. In his “day job” he is a journalist who edits and publishes a specialist industrial magazine with a majority share in a publishing business . He is ably supported by Suse Coon who is an experienced magazine journalist, editor and publisher.
John is an Instructor and both he and Suse are passionate about Tai Chi and Qigong. Between them they produce and edit the magazine and were instrumental in taking it digital back in 2021, a format which is still popular with members even though the magazine has now returned to print.
You can contact John and Suse at enquiries@taichiunion.com.
Technical Panel
Our technical panel are the people who assess the Instructors applications to make sure they meet our high standards. They are a group of experts on Tai Chi, Baguazhang, Xing Yi Chuan and Qigong and work hard to make sure assessments are dealt with fairly and as quickly as possible. They are
- Colin Hamilton – Joint Chair with Betty Sutherland (Director)
- Gordon Faulkner
- Tina Faulkner Elders
- Jane Launchbury
As with all organisations there are more people “behind the scenes”. If you think you have a skill set that would be useful to help run the company then please get in touch at enquiries@taichiunion.com. You may be able to help on a one-off project or regular ongoing support; we welcome new ideas from people who are willing to help implement them.
