Dozens of High-Profile Keynote Speakers and Panels on the Coming “NEW New Era in Health & Wellness”


In our 15-year history, we’ve never gathered so many luminaries from both the medical and wellness worlds–a historic number of brilliant doctors, wellness executives, technologists, scientists and startup founders trailblazing the future of health and wellness around the world

The Global Wellness Summit (GWS), the foremost gathering of international leaders in the multitrillion-dollar global wellness economy, today announced the full agenda for its 15th annual conference taking place in person at the Encore Boston Harbor and virtually (November 30 to December 3). The conference will bring together a record number of global leaders from the wellness, medical, public policy and tech worlds to explore the very different future for health and wellness in the wake of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

VIEW the full 3-day agenda (including all networking and gala events)

New Topics; New Speakers

With the release of the full agenda, GWS unveils more topics and high-profile keynote speakers, including:


  • An exploration of where travel, hospitality and spa are headed post-COVID with a panel featuring Taleb Rifai, ex-Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO); David Scowsill, ex-President and CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC); and a keynote by Neil Jacobs, CEO, Six Senses.
  • Innovations and investment in women’s health and wellness with a keynote by Stacy London, CEO, State of Menopause; and a panel of experts led by Carolee Lee, CEO & founder, Women’s Health Access Matters (WHAM).
  • A new slate of keynotes and panels covering how wellness will increasingly impact medicine, the mental health industry, pharma, and health policy, featuring leaders such as Michelle A. Williams, Dean of the Faculty at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; and Melinda Ring, MD, Executive Director of the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at Northwestern University, who will join a panel moderated by 2021 GWS co-chair, Michael Roizen, MD.
  • Rick Doblin, PhD., founder and Executive Director, Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), will be on hand to explore why psychedelics are having such a moment.

“In our 15-year history, we’ve never gathered so many luminaries from both the medical and wellness worlds–a historic number of brilliant doctors, wellness executives, technologists, scientists and startup founders trailblazing the future of health and wellness around the world,” said Susie Ellis, GWS chair and CEO. “Hosting the Summit in Boston has provided amazing access to the most respected academics, researchers and integrative medicine pioneers, as well as wellness tech startups and the investors that back them. A dramatically different future for health and wellness is ahead, and if you want the expert perspective on where it’s going, this is a Summit you can’t afford to miss.”

New Wellness Market Research

In addition, the Global Wellness Institute researchers will present “The Global Wellness Economy: Looking Beyond COVID.” This is GWI’s most ambitious, detailed report on the global wellness economy ever, featuring all-new market data and analysis from 2017-2020 (and forecasts through 2025) for all eleven sectors of the wellness economy¬–from regional and national market numbers and trends to which wellness markets were the biggest pandemic winners and losers.

Today’s announced agenda additions compliment prior announcements by GWS, including the ways traditional healthcare is expanding into prevention and wellness, the future of the $275B wellness real estate market and building for human health, and the incredible, disruptive innovations occurring in tech, healthcare, higher education, and more. Visit the GWS press room for more.

2021 Select Agenda Highlights

VIEW the full 3-day agenda (including all networking and gala events)

The NEW era in travel and hospitality:

A panel led by Debbie Flynn, managing partner, FINN Partners, UK, featuring Taleb Rifai, ex-Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and David Scowsill, ex-President and CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC)

Keynote: Neil Jacobs, CEO, Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas on “The NEW New Hospitality Priorities”

The NEW era in women’s health and sexuality:

“Economic Impact of Investing in Women’s Health,” a panel led by Carolee Lee, CEO & Founder, Women’s Health Access Matters (WHAM), featuring Robynne Chutkan, MD, founder and CEO of the Digestive Center for Wellness, and Suzanne Steinbaum, MD, SRSHeart, Inc., Women’s Prevention, Health and Wellness

Keynote: Stacy London, TV personality and CEO, State of Menopause on “Where Do You Want to Live: The Right Mindset for Menopause”

The NEW era in public health:

Victor Koo, chairman, Tianren Culture, China in conversation with Michelle A. Williams, Dean of the Faculty, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Angelopoulos Professor in Public Health and International Development

The NEW era in medicine, digital health and mental health:

“The Silver Linings We See in the COVID-19 Cloud,” a panel moderated by Michael Roizen, Chief Wellness Officer, The Cleveland Clinic, with Melinda Ring, MD, Executive Director, Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at Northwestern University; Ann Mond Johnson, CEO, American Telemedicine Association (ATA); Rosane Oliveira, DVM, PhD, President & CEO, Plant-Based Life Foundation; faculty, Public Health Sciences UC Davis School of Medicine

“Big Pharma and Wellness: Strange Bedfellows No More,” a panel moderated by Susan Silbermann, former top executive at Pfizer; Board Director, HilleVax Inc.; Director, LianBio, with Henriette Nielsen, EVP of Business Operations, Hikma Pharmaceuticals and Sally Susman, EVP, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Pfizer Inc.

“The Future of Wellness—Where Self-Care Overtakes the Sick Care System,” Gil Bashe, managing partner, Chair Global Health, FINN Partners in conversation with John Nosta, President of digital health think-tank, NostaLab and Joaquin Serra, SVP, Natura Bisse Group.

“Digital Health: When Technologies and Healthcare Converge,” moderated by Victor Koo, featuring Michael Greeley, co-founder and General Partner at Flare Capital Partners, a leading healthcare technology venture firm, and Dr. Min Cui, founder and Managing Director of Decheng Capital.

A NEW era for psychedelics:

“What a Trip: Psychedelics Have Their Moment!,” Rick Doblin, PhD., founder and Executive Director, Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) in conversation with Mary-Elizabeth Gifford, EVP, Psyence™ Group.

“The Treatment Revolution: Psychedelics, Nature and Healing,” Louie Schwartzberg, founder and filmmaker, Moving Art, in conversation with GWS’ Beth McGroarty, VP, Research & Forecasting

The 2021 Summit also features its legendary Shark Tank of Wellness student competition; the presentation of Global Wellness Awards; and the 2nd-Annual Tech Innovation Pavilion, featuring global companies presenting their latest wellness technology solutions.

Networking and Celebrations: The Summit offers unparalleled networking opportunities, including “hosted table topic” luncheons with industry leaders, a welcome cocktail reception, a “dine-around” evening where delegates experience the best of authentic Boston cuisine, and a closing gala celebration, including an auction of exclusive wellness trips, experiences and art in benefit of GWI’s industry research. Delegates can also choose from daily wellness activities, including yoga, meditation, walks and more. An exclusive post-Summit trip to Miraval Berkshires is available.

Register for the in-person event at the Encore Boston Harbor; space is limited.

Virtual attendees have access to all on-stage presentations–live and on-demand–as well as online breakout and networking sessions hosted by Anna Bjurstam, Six Senses Wellness Pioneer. Register to attend virtually here.

Media: To apply to attend virtually or in-person as press, please fill out the media accreditation form.

About the Global Wellness Summit — The Global Wellness Summit is the premier organization that brings together leaders and visionaries to positively shape the future of the $4.5 trillion global wellness economy. Its future-focused conference is held at a different global location each year and has traveled to the US, Switzerland, Turkey, Bali, India, Morocco, Mexico, Austria, Italy and Singapore. GWS also hosts regular virtual gatherings, including Wellness Master Classes, Wellness Sector Spotlights and Investor “Reverse Pitch” events. The organization’s annual Global Wellness Trends Report offers expert-based predictions on the future of wellness. The 2021 Summit will be held in Boston from November 30–December 3.

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