Ilse Beunen lived in Japan from 1989 to 2000 where she studied Japanese garden design and Ikebana. Back in Belgium she set up her own Ikebana school in Antwerp. She has been President of the Belgian Sogetsu Azalea Study Group and has received the prestigious 90th Anniversary Commemorative Overseas Akane Teshigahara Award. Using social media, she is working hard to teach and increase awareness for Ikebana worldwide. She has ten thousand followers on Facebook and Instagram, and manages an online ikebana video channel.