Wellness Real Estate & Communities
2025 Speakers
From top developers expanding the boundaries of real estate to legendary architects to innovators of new standards and technologies, the speakers at the 2025 Wellness Real Estate & Communities Symposium represent the top minds shaping the future of this exploding sector. Join us for this unique opportunity to learn from and network with the top executives, developers, designers, policymakers, consultants and visionaries leveraging wellness to increase value in real estate.
Nerio Alessandri
Founder, President, Technogym, Italy
In 1983, at just 22 years old, Nerio Alessandri founded Technogym in his home garage by combining his passion for innovation (TECHNO) and that for sport (GYM). In the early 1990s Alessandri coined the concept of Wellness, a lifestyle that aims to improve the quality of life thanks to regular physical activity, a healthy diet and a positive mental attitude. Today Technogym is a world-leading brand in products and digital technologies for fitness, sport and health and is present in 100 thousand wellness centers and 500 thousand private homes in over 120 countries. Technogym has been the Official Supplier of the Olympic Games for over 20 years. In addition to Technogym, Nerio Alessandri also created the Wellness Foundation, a non-profit organization aimed at promoting wellness as a social opportunity for all stakeholders: Governments, Businesses and Citizens.
Lynette Brubaker
Founder & CEO, LHB Group, United States
After 15+ years in the media industry as the publisher of both WWD and In Style Magazine, Lynette Harrison-Brubaker launched her boutique marketing and communications company LHB Group in 2018. The company has attracted a diverse portfolio of brands and executives who have enlisted Lynette to successfully launch or pivot in a rapidly changing business environment. Clients include makeup mogul Bobbi Brown and her brand, Jones Road; retail legend Mickey Drexler; and Michelin Star chef Missy Robbins.
Susie Ellis
Chair & CEO, Global Wellness Summit & Global Wellness Institute, United States
Susie Ellis is the founder, chair and CEO of the Global Wellness Summit and chairman and CEO of the Global Wellness Institute, the nonprofit research and educational resource for the global wellness industry. Recognized as an authority on wellness trends, Susie is frequently quoted in major news outlets around the world. She holds an MBA from the University of California, Los Angeles, and is a popular speaker at industry events.
Jonathan Emery
CEO, Aldar Development, United Arab Emirates
Jonathan Emery is CEO of Aldar Development, leading projects across the UAE, Egypt, and the UK. With over 30 years in global real estate, he’s held senior roles at Lendlease, Hammerson Plc, and Majid Al Futtaim. Known for driving digital innovation and wellness-focused design, he advises proptech startups and sits on boards including London Square and Sodic. A graduate of Nottingham Trent, with executive training from Harvard, INSEAD, and Henley, he’s also been a visiting professor at Yale. Emery is a strong advocate for sustainable, community-driven cities and brings future-focused leadership to every stage of development.
Tye Farrow
Senior Partner, Farrow Partners Architects , Canada
Tye Farrow is a global leader in architecture that promotes health, pioneering salutogenic design—buildings that actively support wellbeing. He’s the first Canadian architect to earn a Master of Neuroscience Applied to Architectural Design (Iuav University of Venice), with degrees from Harvard and the University of Toronto. His award-winning projects span six continents, including a butterfly-inspired cancer center in Jerusalem, a Celtic-themed hospital in Dublin, and a flood-responsive park in Venice. He’s been called “a wellness visionary” and “a global leader advancing health through architecture.”
Joanna Frank
President & CEO, Active Design Advisors, Inc. and Center for Active Design, United States
Joanna Frank is a real estate entrepreneur who oversees the global expansion of Fitwel, the leading people-centric healthy building certification platform. She is the founding President and CEO of Active Design Advisors, Inc. (Adai), and nonprofit research organization, Center for Active Design (CfAD), the operators of Fitwel. Prior to launching CfAD, Ms. Frank spearheaded data-driven, health-based real estate initiatives under the Bloomberg administration, including NYC’s FRESH Program and the Active Design Initiative. She serves on the editorial board of Propmodo and is a member of the Urban Land Institute’s Affordable/Workforce Housing Council and Fannie Mae’s Multifamily Housing Taskforce.
Kellan Florio
Chief Investment Officer, Therme Group, United States
Kellan Florio is the Chief Investment Officer of Therme Group and is responsible for capital formation strategy and execution with respect to the group’s global development pipeline, M&A and strategic investments. Kellan most recently served as the Chief Investment Officer for VICI Properties, Inc., a NYSE-listed, S&P 500 real estate investment trust focused on experiential real estate. Prior to VICI, Kellan spent over 15 years at Goldman Sachs where he served as Managing Director and Global Head of Lodging & Leisure within the Real Estate, Gaming & Lodging Investment Banking Group. Kellan received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Middlebury College and serves on the Board of Directors of Masinyusane Inc., a South Africa based non-profit focused on children’s education.
Scott Goodman
Founding Principal, Farpoint Development, United States
Scott Goodman is a founding principal of Farpoint Development, known for transforming emerging neighborhoods through community-driven, legacy projects. Previously, he co-founded Sterling Bay and helped reshape Chicago’s Fulton Market, now home to major headquarters like Google and McDonald’s. At Farpoint, he’s leading the 50-acre Bronzeville Lakefront megadevelopment and the new CTA Operations Center. With nearly 40 years in real estate, Goodman balances profit with purpose. He serves on boards including Navy Pier and the Near South Planning Board, and holds degrees from the University of Michigan and Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management.
Mark Grabowski
Managing Partner, Snapdragon Capital Partners, United States
Robert Hammond
President and Chief Strategy Officer, Therme Group, United States
Robert Hammond joined Therme after serving for over two decades as co-founder and executive director of Friends of the High Line, where he led the transformation of an abandoned elevated railway line in Manhattan into an iconic and beloved urban park. He also created the High Line Network to foster community and share best practices among leaders of infrastructure renewal projects around the world. He has won numerous awards for his work and advised myriad companies and organizations.
Marisa Hodgdon
Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Sidelines, United States
Rachel Hodgdon
President and CEO, International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), United States
Rachel Hodgdon is President and CEO of the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), where she leads the global movement for people-first places. Under her leadership, the WELL Standard now spans 75,000+ locations and nearly 6 billion square feet across 135+ countries. Previously, she helped grow LEED into the world’s top green building rating system at USGBC, where she also founded the Center for Green Schools. A recognized voice in health, sustainability, and leadership, Rachel serves on multiple boards and frequently lectures at top institutions including Harvard, Stanford, and Tufts.
Neil Jacobs
CEO, Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas, Singapore
Neil Jacobs is the CEO at Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas. Under his leadership, the company has opened resorts in some of the world’s most beautiful destinations and enabled people to experience the brand’s values in urban environments, from London to New York. Previously, he was president of global hotel operations at Starwood Capital Group and spent 14 years with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. He is passionate about wellness, sustainability, responsible design, green initiatives and making travel purposeful.
Katherine Johnston
Senior Research Fellow, Global Wellness Institute, United States
Katherine Johnston has extensive experience conducting economic and industry competitiveness studies worldwide, including 17 years as a senior economist with SRI International. Since 2008, Katherine has partnered with the GWI to pioneer groundbreaking research on the global wellness industry, with a focus on defining and measuring opportunities in the wellness economy, wellness tourism, workplace wellness and wellness communities/real estate. She holds a B.A. from Sweet Briar College and a M.S. from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service.
Isaac H. Jones
Founder, Health Experts Alliance, United States
Isaac Jones is the founder of Health Experts Alliance and a world-renowned longevity expert. A 10-year virtual practice veteran, Dr. Jones now empowers the doctors of the future with cutting-edge longevity training, systems and business education so they can have more impact and create more income and freedom. His latest venture, Centagio, is pioneering longevity and wellness residences—turnkey investments that merge high-end living with cutting-edge health optimization. These ultra-luxury developments, spanning private residences, resorts, and wellness communities, are designed to increase lifespan, enhance vitality, and create unparalleled value for investors and residents alike.
Madeline Kaplan
Partner, Selva Ventures, United States
Angus Kearin
Head of Development, Urbanest, United Kingdom
Angus Kearin was one of the founding members of Urbanest. For over 15 years has led the company’s development program with overall responsibility for the construction of each of their new developments. Angus is instrumental in the development and delivery of Urbanest’s sector leading specification and has been the driving force in their recent efforts to deliver Passivhaus certification across thei new pipeline. Angus has worked in the central London Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) sector for over 30 years. Prior to Urbanest, he was at Unite, the UK’s largest PBSA developer / operator, where he led the delivery of their London projects.
Yuki Kiyono
Global Head of Health and Wellness Development, Aman, Singapore
Yuki Kiyono has a diverse work experience in the hospitality industry. She started in 2003 at Grand Hyatt, where she worked as an Assistant Spa Manager. Yuki then joined Conrad Tokyo as a Spa Manager in 2006. From 2007 to 2009, she served as a Spa Director at Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group. Yuki then moved to Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, where she worked as a Director of Spa from 2009 to 2011. Yuki rejoined Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group in 2011 as a Spa Director and later became the Director of Spa from 2012 to 2013. In 2014, she transitioned to AMAN and held various positions, including Spa Manager, Regional Spa Director – North Asia, Group Director of Spa – Operations, Global Head of Wellness and Spa (Group Director), and Global Head of Health and Wellness Development. Yuki Kiyono attended New York University, where she studied Hotel Operation. She also studied Health Science at Osaka Woman’s College.
Mia Kyricos
President & Chief Love, Kyricos & Associates LLC, United States
Mia leads Kyricos & Associates, LLC, strategic advisors in wellness, hospitality, tourism & healthy lifestyles with a specialty in brand strategy. She has worked across 100+ countries and held leadership positions at Hyatt, Spafinder Wellness, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, EXOS and more. She is a founding board member of the Global Wellness Institute, and simply aspires to help people live well and to love more.
Abby Levy
Managing Partner & Co-Founder, Primetime Partners, United States
Abby has spent her career helping businesses and consumer brands grow as an operator, entrepreneur and advisor, most notably in the wellness sector. Prior to Primetime Partners, Abby was a senior executive at SoulCycle, where she oversaw business development and new digital products. Abby has also been a Founder herself, teaming with Arianna Huffington as the Founding President of Thrive Global, a behavior change technology company focused on employee productivity and wellness. Abby began her career at McKinsey & Company then led product development at OXO International. She is a graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Business School.
Catherine Malmberg
Director of Public Infrastructure and Strategic Development, Destination Medical Center, United States
Catherine Malmberg directs infrastructure and strategic development activities of the Destination Medical Center initiative (DMC). DMC is a 20-year, $5.6 billion plan designed to position Rochester, MN, home to Mayo Clinic, as the world’s premier destination medical center. DMC is the largest public-private economic development partnership in Minnesota’s history. She has an undergraduate degree from Harvard University and a master’s degree in architecture from Princeton University. She is adjunct faculty and an affiliate practitioner at the University of Minnesota’s Minnesota Design Center.
David Martin
CEO, Terra, United States
David Martin is CEO of Miami-based Terra, leading an $8B+ portfolio of transformative South Florida developments. Focused on smart growth and sustainability, Terra integrates green space, renewable energy, and design by top architects into projects across neighborhoods like Coconut Grove, Doral, and Miami Beach. A Florida native, David champions community engagement and serves on numerous civic, arts, and educational boards including the Bass Museum, Teach for America, and the University of Miami’s Real Estate program. He chairs The Underline’s Neighborhoods Committee and is a board member of the Urban Land Institute. A triple-degree alumnus of the University of Florida, David holds an MBA, JD, and undergraduate degree, and sits on the UF School of Business board.
Amy McDonald
CEO, Founder, Under a Tree Consulting, Wellness Counseling, United States
Amy is the founder of Under a Tree Consulting, where for over 20 years she has led innovative wellness projects for hospitality and real estate developers worldwide. She focuses on business strategy, feasibility, and design development, with a strong emphasis on ROI and regenerative health. A 2024 Women of Wellness award recipient, Amy is a sought-after speaker and active leader within the Global Wellness Institute, driving impactful change in the global wellness industry.
Beth McGroarty
VP, Research & Forecasting, Global Wellness Summit & Global Wellness Institute, United States
Beth McGroarty has led strategic communications and media relations for the Global Wellness Institute for five years, and also assists in Summit research projects, including WellnessEvidence.com. Formerly an academic, she was in the PhD program in English Literature at Stanford University, where she taught for six years and received dissertation fellowships from the Mellon and Mabel McLeod Lewis Foundations. She received her BA (summa cum laude) from Barnard College.
Anthony Mellalieu
Chief Operating Officer, Urbanest, United Kingdom
Anthony Mellalieu joined Urbanest over 12 years ago from JLL, where he was part of the Capital Markets business. At Urbanest, Anthony previously held the role of Development Director, co-leading the acquisitions program with responsibility for the purchase of land and the delivery of planning permissions for all new opportunities. Two years ago he became the Chief Operating Officer, giving him a unique perspective of the broader business with now, overall responsibility for the day-to-day operation of Urbanest’s operational assets as well other corporate roles such as leading on the ESG program.
Laurent Ohana
Senior Advisor, Ohana & Co., United States
Laurent Ohana is a Senior Advisor at Ohana & Co., guiding beauty, fashion, wellness, and tech companies through sales, financings, and strategic deals. A former venture capitalist and founder, he led New Media Capital and Parkview Ventures, with successful exits including LookSmart, MetaMatrix (RedHat), and EarthData (Fugro). Trusted by founders and investors alike, Laurent has worked with clients like TheRealReal and Violet Grey, backed by firms such as Kleiner Perkins and Capital Z.
Nathan Palin
Founder & Managing Principal, SKOA Capital, Canada
Sharon Prince
CEO and Founder, Grace Farms, United States
Kenneth Ryan
Chief Longevity Officer, The Estate, United States
Kenneth Ryan is Chief Longevity Officer at The Estate, a global platform redefining wellness through advanced diagnostics, performance science, and ultra-luxury hospitality. He leads the creation of evidence-based wellness and longevity programs across its portfolio of residences and wellness centers. Co-founded by Sam Nazarian and Tony Robbins, The Estate is pioneering a new era of personalized healthspan and elite lifestyle design. Kenneth also serves on the Board of Directors for the International SPA Association (ISPA) and leads The Ryan Wellness Group, advising top-tier developers and investors on next-gen wellness concepts. With over 27 years of experience—including senior leadership at Marriott—he’s a driving force behind some of the industry’s most iconic wellness brands.
Kane Sarhan
Co-Founder & CCO, THE WELL, United States
Veronica Schreibeis Smith
CEO & Founding Principal, Vera Iconica, United States
Veronica Schreibeis Smith, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, leads a design brand focused on creating environments that support optimal human and planetary wellbeing. Her company is recognized as a global pioneer in wellness architecture, and she is also host of the podcast, “Architecture of Being: Composing a Conscious Life,” which explores the impact our surroundings have on longevity, vitality and happiness. She has practiced architecture on four continents and founded the Wellness Architecture & Design Initiative for the Global Wellness Institute.
Horst Schulze
Author, Leader, Entrepreneur
Horst Schulze, a hospitality icon, helped redefine service standards as a founding member of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. As President and COO, he led the brand to global acclaim and two Malcolm Baldrige Awards. He later founded The Capella Hotel Group, further shaping luxury hospitality. Schulze has earned numerous honors, including “Hotelier of the World” and a hospitality school named in his honor. His book Excellence Wins has sold over 100,000 copies.
Danny Seo
Lifestyle Expert & Author, Danny Seo Media Ventures, United States
Danny Seo is a leading expert in eco-friendly living, known for his Simply Green lifestyle brand. Born on Earth Day, he founded the nonprofit Earth 2000 at age 12 and has since become a bestselling author, TV host, and magazine columnist. He shares stylish, sustainable living tips through books, CBS’s The Early Show, HGTV, and Country Home magazine. Named one of Crain’s “40 Under 40” and People’s “50 Most Beautiful,” Danny inspires millions to live green—and gorgeously.
Elan Shuker
Global VP of Programme Partnerships, BBC Studios, United Kingdom
Manvendra Singh Shekhawat
Managing Director, Suryagarh Collection; Founder, Dhun; Founder, The I Love Foundation, India
Manvendra is a quintessential explorer and a creator at heart focused on experiential tourism, cultural preservation, and ecological restoration. He’s behind standout hotels like Suryagarh, Narendra Bhawan, and Mary Budden Estate, which have helped redefine luxury travel in India. Through his I Love Foundation, he’s led over 60 community projects, from cleanliness drives to India’s first citizen-airline partnership. His current focus is Dhun, a regenerative habitat project for 8,500 people, built on 500 acres of once-barren land— a blueprint for the future of living that enhances our environmental, social, and physical wellbeing.
Teri Slavik-Tsuyuki
Principal, tst ink, LLC; Co-Chair, Wellness Communities & Real Estate Initiative, United States
Teri Slavik-Tsuyuki is a community development expert known for translating consumer insights into visionary places. She led the award-winning America at Home Study, shaping post-COVID home design. As former CMO of Newland Communities, she built brands across 40+ communities in 14 states. Her firm also launched resorts in three countries for Intrawest. Teri co-chairs the Global Wellness Institute’s Wellness Communities initiative and is a sought-after speaker. Her work has appeared in Forbes, Fast Company, CNN Business, and more. She holds degrees from Northwestern and Simon Fraser University.
Emmanuelle Slossberg
Founder, Connect 10 Strategy, United States
Emmanuelle brings over 30 years of global real estate marketing expertise, blending design, strategy, and innovation through a multicultural lens. As founder of Connect 10 Strategy, she guides projects from concept to completion, driven by ENTELECHY—the realization of full potential. Fluent in five languages, she’s led growth for tech startups, top architectural firms, nonprofits, and real estate giants like the Durst Organization and SHVO, with standout projects including One World Trade Center. Emmanuelle co-founded ULI’s Americas MarCom Forum and serves on the board of the Consortium for Sustainable Urbanization. She holds a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a BA from Wesleyan University.
Bruce Thompson
Co-Founder & CEO, Urbaneer, United States
Bruce Thompson is co-founder and CEO of Urbaneer, a wellness real estate company focused on using technology to extend health spans at home. With a background in international tech, he’s spent decades exploring how innovation shapes housing. Over 10 years and 40 projects, he’s developed an approach that blends physical and digital environments to support healthy living. His work spans residential, hospitality, and senior living, backed by a unique partner ecosystem. His next focus: homes powered by AI that actively care for residents.
Vlada Tusco
Senior Partner Manager, BBC Studios, United Kingdom
Vlada Tusco is a senior partnerships manager at Programme Partnerships, BBC Studios, overseeing the development and production of award-winning programs and campaigns focused on issues and topics that are shaping our world. She connects organizations leading meaningful change with BBC’s global audience through immersive and impactful storytelling. Prior to the BBC and following the completion of a degree in film and television studies at Warwick University in the UK, Vlada worked in a boutique London-based creative agency.
Jennifer Walsh
Founder, Creative Director, Beauty Bar, The Lost Art of Being Human, United States
Jennifer Walsh is a pioneering entrepreneur and thought leader at the intersection of beauty, nature, and human well-being. Founder of Beauty Bar and The Lost Art of Being Human, she has redefined retail through biophilic design and now advises institutions like the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard’s Brain Health Initiative. Jennifer is also the author of Walk Your Way Calm and recently launched a biophilic furniture line with CORT Furniture. Her mission: to reconnect people with beauty, movement, and nature for a more human-centered, thriving future.
Ophelia Yeung
Senior Research Fellow, Global Wellness Institute, United States
Ophelia Yeung has extensive experience leading research and strategy development for business, nonprofit, multilateral and government organizations, including 20+ years at SRI International and as the co-director for the Center for Science, Technology and Economic Development. Since 2008, she has co-authored many research studies for the GWI, including “The Global Wellness Economy: Country Rankings” in 2022 and “Wellness Real Estate: Looking Beyond Covid” in 2021. Yeung holds degrees from Smith College and Princeton University.