Initiative Chair

Lucy Brialey, Co-Founder & Director, The Sustainable Spa Association, United Kingdom

Having led a 25 year dedicated career in spa and wellness. She believes that successful spa and wellness strategy is intrinsically linked to sustainability and that only with this in place, will it bring the health goals we expect from investing time in the spa environment, as a direct health outcome.
Her current role involves guiding spas internationally, to be better positioned for sustainability with UN SDG’s being one of the main frameworks for education and measured commitment. Lucy also sits as an expert on ‘The Sustainability in Hospitality’ Panel for Hospitality Net.

Vice Chair

Sarah Watterson, Spa & Wellness Consultant Resense Spas, United Kingdom

Sarah is an EarthCheck Master Trainer and established Member of the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership Network and a UN SDG training provider for The Sustainable Spa Association. She holds over 30 years’ experience in the Hospitality, Spa and Wellness space, consulting, creating and managing spas and wellness retreats for clients including Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, Hilton Worldwide, SHA Wellness and Shu Uemura. Sarah has lived and worked in Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, Africa, the Middle East and Europe.

Charne le Roux

Founder & Director, GreenSpa.Africa, South Africa

As Green Building SA accredited professional, lawyer and the creator of the first dedicated organic spa in Southern Africa more than 15 years ago, Charne’s skill set has placed her in the ideal position to advocate and influence sustainability in the spa and wellbeing world. She has advised spas, corporates and industry associations globally and is currently on the board of GSN Planet Foundation USA, as well as committee member of Spa & Wellness Association of Africa (SA Chapter). Charné has been widely published and received, both on a personal level and in connection with her spa, a number of awards for her contribution to sustainability. Her work at GreenSpa.Africa include the development of world first tools such as the Green Spa Guide, Sustainable Spa Practitioner Course and more recently GreenSpa Calculator.

Mike Penrose

Co-Founder & Partner, The Sustainability Group, United Kingdom

Mike Penrose is the co-founder and a partner of The Sustainability Group. Prior to setting up The Sustainability Group Mike was Executive Director of Unicef UK, CEO of Action Contre La Faim in Paris and Global Humanitarian Director at Save the Children. Mike has considerable experience in advising business on their social impact and sustainability, and in developing ESG investment strategies. He is a former advisor to the FTSE on their ESG trading index and works with a number of investment firms and family offices on matching social and environmental impact with high return investment strategies. Mike is also a world-renowned expert on risk, crisis and disaster management and has worked in more than 60 countries on disaster and risk management operations. He has also advised many large commercial organisations on how to operate effectively and ethically in fragile environments.

Alexandra Smith

Co-Founder & Partner, The Sustainability Group, United Kingdom

Alex Smith is the co-founder and a partner of The Sustainability Group. A seasoned business development and operations professional, prior to setting up The Sustainability Group, Alex was Commercial Director of Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. Alex creates and develops relationships across business and brands to create collaborative, strategic and commercially successful partnerships. With a significant focus on connecting values and purpose, Alex has led and managed impact projects with sporting brands, commercial organisations, and governments that achieve both commercial, social, and environmental outcomes.