Meet Our 2026 Trends Writers

The Future of Wellness: 2026 Trends report

The Future of Wellness: 2026 Trends report has garnered a superior reputation with media, investors and business leaders for its in-depth analysis on the meaningful shifts impacting the business of wellness. Far more than just a list of what’s trending now, the Global Wellness Summit brings unmatched rigor, business acumen and industry savvy to the study of the global wellness economy helping leaders make decisions that impact the bottom line. The top journalists, analysts and wellness experts authoring each trend provide a multi-dimensional analysis including the people and companies to watch.

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Professor Gerry Bodeker

Public Health Researcher, Academic & Member, Green Templeton College, University of Oxford, Malaysia & United Kingdom

Harvard-trained public health academic professor Gerry Bodeker, PhD, researches, advises, and publishes on integrative medicine and wellness. He taught medical sciences at Oxford for two decades and is adjunct professor of epidemiology at Columbia. A Fellow of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, he’s worked with UN agencies, advised National Geographic, and was Senior Consultant for Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s CNN series Chasing Life. He chairs GWI’s Mental Wellness Initiative and co-chairs the Microplastics Watch Initiative.

Amy Eisinger

Writer, Editor & Digital Creator, Well+Good, United States

Amy is a writer, editor, and digital creator who covers health and wellness. For the past 15 years, she’s led creative teams at Well+Good, SELF, New York Post, and The Messenger; and written for the New York Daily News, Washington Post, LA Times, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, and Allure, among others. During her tenure at SELF, the brand earned multiple Webby Awards, MM+M Awards, and several ASME nominations and one win. Amy is the author of the Substack Way Beyond Well, and has appeared as a guest on TODAY, Good Day New York, Access Hollywood, KTLA, numerous podcasts and panels; plus was the host of the Sweat With SELF YouTube series. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Florida with a double major in English and Classical Studies before receiving her M.A. in Journalism from New York University. Amy is an A.C.E.-certified personal trainer, and PROnatal prenatal and postpartum specialist. A native Floridian, when Amy is not working, she enjoys running, film, and spending time with her husband, two kids, and dog.

Cecilia Girr

Journalist & Cultural Strategy Director, Backslash, United States

Cecelia is both journalist and Strategy Director for Backslash, the cultural intelligence unit of Omnicom Advertising Group. She leads strategy for Backslash’s annual report of global cultural shifts, and is the co-founder of Backslash’s zine, ED\GE. During her time in brand strategy, she has worked across categories ranging from food and entertainment to telecommunications and technology. She has also led branding work and integrated campaigns for the Golden Globes, Postmates, and UNICEF.

Olivia Houghton

Insights & Engagement Director, LS:N Global, The Future Laboratory, United Kingdom

Olivia Houghton is Insights and Engagement Director at The Future Laboratory, where she leads research across beauty, health, and wellness, connecting foresight analysis with strategic client engagement. With over eight years experience, Olivia has a deep understanding of evolving market dynamics and shifting consumer behaviours, making her a trusted industry voice.  She regularly contributes to leading publications, including Vogue and the Financial Times, and speaks at major industry events such as the Global Wellness Summit – where she is a key contributor to the annual Trend Report – MakeUp In, and Cosmetics Business Live.

Skyler Huber

Journalist & Senior Cultural Strategist, Backslash, United States

Skyler Hubler is a journalist and Senior Cultural Strategist at Backslash, the cultural intelligence unit of Omnicom Advertising Group. In her role, she works across categories to help today’s biggest brands stay one step ahead of cultural change. She was also a staff writer on Backslash’s debut zine, ED\GE: Age of Wellness, and has proudly contributed to the Global Wellness Summit’s annual trend report for five years.

Jane Kitchen

Media & Trends Analyst, Global Wellness Summit, United Kingdom

Jane Kitchen has a 20-year career in journalism, specializing in the spa and wellness industry. She is Editor-at-Large at Spa Business magazine and has traveled the world in the name of wellness—writing first-person features on the latest spa openings, interviewing some of the most influential people in the industry, and examining trends shaping the marketplace. She is also the Editor of the annual Spa Business Handbook, a key resource for wellness professionals, co-author of its annual Spa Foresight report, and a regular contributor to the Global Wellness Summit’s annual trend report.

Claire McCormack

Senior Editor, Beauty Independent, United States

Claire McCormack is a senior editor at digital publication Beauty Independent, covering the beauty, wellness and personal care industries. She is a thought leader, writer and speaker on beauty and wellness business, trends and consumer behavior, with a deep expertise in the sexual wellness consumer goods market. Claire’s work has been a featured expert in CNBC, Adweek, Washington Post, Business of Fashion, WGSN, Stylus, the HBO documentary “Not So Pretty” and others.

Beth McGroarty

VP, Research & Forecasting, Global Wellness Summit, United States

Beth McGroarty is Vice President of Research and Forecasting for the Global Wellness Institute (GWI) and the Global Wellness Summit (GWS). She has directed the GWS’s annual Wellness Trends Report for over a decade and authors The Trendium, a monthly analysis of emerging developments across the global wellness market. Beth also serves as Editor of the GWI’s research-focused Global Wellness Brief and oversees WellnessEvidence.com, the first online resource dedicated to the medical evidence supporting dozens of wellness approaches. She is frequently quoted in major global media outlets on wellness industry insights and trends.

Heidi Moon

VP Marketing & Communications, Global Wellness Summit & Global Wellness Institute, United States

With strong expertise in strategic business planning, management and communications, Heidi Moon is a trusted advisor in the business of wellness with three decades of experience in seven countries. She consults to and has led pioneering spas, integrative wellness centers and wellness real estate projects. As VP of Marketing & Communications for both GWS and GWI, she drives the global visibility of these two leading organizations, shaping narratives that influence the direction of the wellness industry. Heidi has an MBA from Columbia Business School.

Trent Munday

Senior Vice President International, Mandara Spa, Thailand

Trent Munday is a seasoned executive in the global wellness industry and currently serves as Senior Vice President of Mandara Spa, a division of OneSpaWorld (Nasdaq: OSW) a worldwide provider and innovator in the fields of wellness, beauty, rejuvenation and transformation across the globe. With over 30 years of experience across more than 30 countries, Trent’s background spans both wellness and hotel operations, including leadership roles with renowned hospitality brands such as Six Senses and COMO Hotels & Resorts, where he was the opening General Manager of Uma Ubud in Bali. Trent has written extensively for numerous hospitality, spa and wellness publications and is also the host of over 1,500 podcast episodes.

Jessica Smith

Strategist & Co-founder, MAYAH, United Kingdom

Jessica Smith is a trends researcher, strategist and co-founder working at the intersection of beauty, wellness and culture. With over a decade shaping future-facing thinking, she has contributed strategic insight to global brands including LVMH, Estée Lauder, Lululemon, L’Oréal and Remedy Place. She is also the co-founder of MAYAH, a new personal care brand redefining bodycare across the full motherhood journey, built on clinically backed formulations and a cultural reframe of maternal wellbeing. Formerly a Senior Strategic Futures analyst at The Future Laboratory, Jessica is a recognized authority on trends and consumer behavior. Her writing and insights have been featured in Vogue, The Times and Harper’s Bazaar. 

Megan Whitby

Freelance Journalist & Brand Manager, Myndstream, United Kingdom

Megan Whitby is a freelance journalist specializing in the global spa, wellness and hospitality sectors and brand manager at wellness music brand Myndstream. Based in London, she has spent the past seven years immersed in the wellness industry, developing a deep understanding of the global market, its key players and the dynamics shaping the sector. She began her career as assistant editor at Spa Business magazine, travelling internationally to cover concept launches, investment activity and market developments – gaining a front-row view of the sector from the ground up.