AIE Report Industry News

The AIE Board of Directors would like to thank AFDA members for their continued support of the AIE and would like to introduce the current Board of Directors to members.

The Australian Institute of Embalming has been established for over 20 years. The presence of the AIE has produced a culture in Australia where embalming is an accepted part of the funeral process.

AIE's vision is to continue to be the peak representative and authoritative national institute providing embalming services within the funeral industry.

AIE's mission is promotion and maintenance through continuing education and training of the highest professional standards of embalming in the funeral industry that reflects quality, individuality and integrity.

The AIE Board of Directors consists of six full practising members which includes a Chairman and Vice Chairman. The primary role of the AIE Board of Directors is to provide strategic guidance, direction and advice for the association and to provide fiduciary oversight to protect the business property of the association. The current AIE Board of Directors and their background in embalming are listed to the right.

Andrew Mitchell –Chairman

Andrew has been in the funeral industry since 1988 and was employed by Hansen & Cole Funerals. He qualified as an embalmer in 1996 and was made a fellow of the AIE in 2010. As a practising embalmer and mortuary team member Andrew works for InvoCare in their Illawarra Support Centre in their mortuary operations centre south of Wollongong in Albion Park Rail. He is also a member of the Kenyon International disaster services and has been involved in deployments to Bali, Thailand, Jogjakarta and Christmas Island.

Danielle Calvaresi –Vice Chairman

Danielle has been working for Alfred James & Sons since 2017 in the mortuary and also as an arranger/ conductor. After working as a beauty therapist for 10 years Danielle decided to pursue her dream career as an embalmer and become a qualified embalmer in 2019. Danielle believes ongoing education and support are imperative to a successful career in the funeral industry and hopes to be part of implementing ongoing training and workshops that all embalmers can benefit from.

John Tidman

As the immediate past Chairman John has promoted the embalming profession in WA by fulfilling the roles of Examiner, State Coordinator and Board member for a number of years. John qualified in embalming and funeral directing in 1982/1984 respectively and has served the industry for over 35 years. While semi-retired, John is still active in his funeral consultancy alongside Bowra & O’Dea in Perth and serves as Manager of Australasia/ Pacific for Blake Emergency Services.

Ian Warren

Ian has worked in the funeral industry for over 40 years in various capacities and for several leading companies. Ian became a member of the British Institute of Embalmers (BIE) in 1982 and a member of AIE in 1984.

Ian has served as the Vice Chair of the Australasian Division of BIE and as Chairman. Ian is employed by Nelson Bros Funeral Services, one of Australia’s oldest funeral companies with over 150 years of service.

Ian has a keen interest in education and since 2017 has also held the role of educator for Mortuary and Funeral Educators (MFE).

Alistair Shaw

Alistair is an embalmer/ arranger/conductor for Gregson & Weight Funeral Directors. Starting as an apprentice to the industry with Gee and Hickton in the Hutt Valley, New Zealand, he qualified as an embalmer in the early 80’s going on to complete his NZCFS and BIE qualifications in the years to follow. Crossing the ditch in 1998 he now calls Australia home. Alistair has spent his life working in the funeral industry including as manager for Metropolitan Funerals and an embalmer for Hyqual, and he believes in training and education for all.

Kim Browne

Kim has been working in the funeral industry for over 10 years. In 2011

Kim became a qualified embalmer gaining her Certificate IV. Becoming a qualified embalmer is something Kim has always been very keen and passionate about. Prior to working in the funeral industry Kim was a dental nurse. Kim lives in Adelaide and is the AIE State Coordinator for South Australia.