The board
The board is formed by the core board and the chairpersons of the other four departments. The board members are:
Harm Elsinga
Chairman Core Board (1959)
After my physiotherapy studies in Amsterdam, I followed various acupuncture training courses and internships in Europe and China.
I am the owner of a TCM practice in Hilversum. In recent years, I have also been active as a guest lecturer at HBO institutions and organizer of courses and congresses. Mountain biking, sports shooting, culinary and artistic distractions keep me fit.
My cultural and business involvement with the country China provide the necessary variety. From 2000 to 2014, I was chairman of the NVA, a demanding task. In October 2016, I became interim chairman due to the resignation of the elected chairman Coquita van der Harst (2014-October 2016); on April 8, 2017, the official appointment by the General Assembly took place.
I am proud of our stable and active club. An important objective of the association is an increasing application and integration of TCM in the Netherlands.
Personally, I continue to work to position acupuncture, herbs, and tuina as strongly as possible on behalf of the NVA with patients, health insurers, and government.
Johanna Biemans
Vice Chair Core Board (1961)
Already during my acupuncture training, about 25 years ago, I was struck by the beauty and wisdom of this Traditional Healing Method.
Since then, I have had the passion to understand what happens when needles are inserted. In daily life, I work as an acupuncturist, physiotherapist, and clinical epidemiologist. Within the association, I am known as the one with the scientific view. For the Netherlands, I am an ambassador of the international and ambitious SAR, the Society of Acupuncture Research, a unique position.
In May 2006, I became a board member in the PR department of the NVA; in 2014, I took the initiative to form the Dutch Acupuncture Knowledge Center. I believe it is important that we as a professional group continue to critically assess our own abilities. And innovate where necessary. On April 8, 2017, I made the transition to the Executive Board of the NVA, in the role of vice chairman. I have been active within the ETCMA for years, the European umbrella organization, of which I became vice chairman at the end of March 2018. I stepped down at the beginning of 2023; I will continue to shape the contacts with the ETCMA for the time being.
Helen van Langeveld-Peters
chair of the Behavior and Welfare department (1962)
After working for 20 years at large multinationals, I embarked on the path of acupuncture, following a serious self-examination of what was truly important to me.
What a great profession, with many opportunities to guide clients in your practice towards recovery within their own framework of possibilities. At the beginning of my training, I also immediately started with oncology training in TCM and WM. A challenging but very valuable addition to my daily practice. Since the start of my TCM trajectory, I wanted to become a member of the NVA and also contribute something to the work of the association. That opportunity arose with additional training, once again immersed in beautiful extras for enrichment. After completing that, I had time for a task within the NVA. Carefully starting in the audit committee, I then became a member of the G&W department, a fitting department based on my preference to investigate and explore things both within our field and beyond. There was ultimately not much time to sit on the back seat and observe, but with the enthusiasm and know-how of the G&W team and support from the secretariat, I dare to take on this role within G&W and the board.
Koos van Kooten
Chairman of the Education
and Science Department (1965)
In 1993 I graduated as a medical doctor and in 1998 as an acupuncturist and Chinese herbal medicine practitioner. Since then, I have been working in my own practice in Utrecht and Arnhem.
In my work, which I describe as 'acupuncture with attention', I support people in processes of change and healing, without losing sight of the physical and psychological complaints and symptoms or the medical background of these complaints. I provide further education to acupuncturists.
Within the NVA, I have been chairman of the Continuing Education Committee since 2000, and since 2017 of the Continuing Education Department. Since January 1, 2019, I have been chairman of the Education & Science Department (E&S), whose main tasks include the recognition and quality control of acupuncture training programs, the admission policy, and the acceptance of members.
Barbara Jenner
Chairman of the Continuing Education Department (1970)
In 1987 I set foot on Chinese soil for the first time and became fascinated by the country. My international background has ensured that in 1998 I graduated as a political scientist in International Relations at the UvA.
During the many visits to China, I came into contact with Qi Gong, Tuina massage, and Chinese philosophy. After my studies, I worked for the FSC certification for sustainable forest management and then for five years with and for rejected asylum seekers in Haarlem. My fascination with Chinese medicine never let go of me, so in 2007 I changed course and started studying Chinese medicine, alongside my work and two young children. In 2011, I started my practice of Tuina and acupuncture in Bloemendaal and later Haarlem.
In December 2018, I switched from Zhong to NVA and quickly became active as a cadre member in the continuing education department. Since the position of chair became available, I also became a board member in 2022. Initially, it is the task of our department to ensure the quality of accredited continuing education courses, so that NVA members can maintain and improve their professional knowledge. In addition, we also assess requests from members for postponement of the continuing education obligation due to compelling circumstances. At the board level, my goal is to raise more awareness for Chinese medicine, which I will be working on with great pleasure in the coming period.
Esther Buquet
Chair of the Communication department (1969)
I started my working life as a physiotherapist and movement scientist and taught this at a university in Aberdeen, Scotland. After a stint in the business world, I returned to my first love, the human body and health.
In 2018, I graduated as an acupuncturist. Since then, I have been working in my practice in Wassenaar. My practice is part of Praktijk Acupunctuur; a group of 11 acupuncturists who join forces for a wider reach and deeper professionalism.
Within the NVA, I have been the chair of the Communication department since 2024. My main tasks are promoting broader attention to acupuncture and related Eastern healing methods to the general public and informing (potential) members.
It is my goal, as part of the board, to contribute to putting acupuncture on the map as an effective form of treatment.
