Chair

Mariane Akwenye, Managing Director, Nomad Group, Namibia

Mariane Akwenye, visionary founder of Nomad, an ecosystem of curated health and wellness offerings with a deep passion for culture and holistic well-being. With over two decades of experience, Mariane established the award-winning Nomad Wellness Homestead and Makai product line. She specializes in ancestry-inspired cultural wellness consultancy and has made her mark in high-end spa resorts across Southern Africa. Through her social enterprise, Mariane empowers undervalued women, particularly those with visual impairment, with essential skills for careers in the health and wellness industry. Transitioning from Namibia’s first black female commercial pilot to a Wellness Entrepreneur, Mariane now advocates for Wellness Tourism in her home country. Committed to inclusivity and promoting African heritage in wellness solutions, she is a pioneer and advocate of African wellness.

Vice-Chair

Michelle Saudan, Founder & Facilitator of Amanzi Wellbeing, Dubai-Zimbabwe

Born and Raised in Zimbabwe, Michelle was proudly awarded with the Global Wellness Summit’s Susie Ellis Scholarship recipient for Equity in Wellness 2023 and is the Co-Chair for the Global Wellness Institute’s African Wellness Initiative. Amanzi Wellbeing works at the intersection of wellness and community empowerment and is devoted to supporting and holding space for our global community through the awareness of Africa’s Unique Wellness Assets via Transformational Retreats. Intently heart-led on creating safe spaces of healing for the local Southern African community through accessible Trauma-Informed wellness programs, workshops and retreats. She has been traveling around the world from the age of 16 years old and has visited 70 countries, making the global community her home. During her journey she found confirmation of the importance of healing in community, through shared laughter, grief, movement, and mindfulness – concepts also deeply rooted in the African Culture.

Steve Andrews

Master Therapist | CEO, Steve Andrews & Associates, Barbados

Steve Andrews is a seasoned spa therapist, trainer and the founder of Soothing Touch Spa and The Bamboo Retreat in Barbados. With a career in the health and wellness sector that spans over 29 years, he is passionate about comprehensive training and continuous development.

Steve’s passion for sharing his knowledge led him to teaching, starting in Barbados in 2008 and expanding to several Caribbean county’s. Internationally, he has conducted online training with groups from the Global Holistic Spa in Europe, the Asia Pacific Spa and Wellness Coalition, and the Spa and Wellness Association of Africa. He has also conducted workshops in prestigious spas across Rwanda Kenya and Nigeria, making a significant impact on spa therapists globally. Drawing on his wealth of experience, Steve has in-depth knowledge of developing spas, from conceptualization to implementation. Venturing outside the technical aspects of therapy, he also focuses on the importance of understanding the culture within spas, standards, operations, and procedures. In 2018, Steve Andrews assumed the role of Global Wellness Ambassador for Barbados. As the CEO and Master Therapist, he leads Steve Andrews & Associates, where he is dedicated to sharing the benefits of massage therapy with practitioners worldwide.

Mahlodi Letsie

Founder/CEO – Bare Mind Holdings, South Africa

Mahlodi Letsie is the Founder & CEO of Bare Mind Holdings, a pioneering HealthTech venture dedicated to destigmatizing mental health within African communities.

Under her leadership, Bare Mind is piloting a transformative platform designed to provide personalised mental wellness solutions. Currently engaged in a groundbreaking partnership with a corporate client serving 1600 employees, Mahlodi is spearheading initiatives to integrate mindfulness into corporate wellness strategies. With a commitment to innovation and accessibility, Bare Mind is set to revolutionise mental health support through its gamified interface and culturally resonant content.

Mahlodi holds degrees from The University of Cape Town and recently completed postgraduate studies in Mindfulness-Based Interventions at Stellenbosch University’s Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences.

Leah Nduati

Yoga Experiences Africa

Leah is a certified yoga instructor and the Founder of Yoga Experiences Africa. Yoga Experiences Africa democratizes access to holistic wellness in Africa through an AI-driven discovery & booking portal for yoga and wellness in Africa. The portal empowers communities to access vetted wellness services, community wellness events, and professional wellness training. Yoga Experiences Africa was declared winner of the 2023 Shark Tank of wellness at the Global Wellness Summit and has built a community of yoga teachers from 22 African countries. Leah also serves as Vice Chair of Global Wellness Institute ’s Yoga Therapy initiative. Born in Kenya and living in Ghana, Leah has extensive experience working as a venture builder and trade facilitator in Africa, having worked in over 12 African markets.

Denzil Phillips

Founder | Director Denzil Philips International Ltd/ Barbados

Denzil Phillips has worked in the field of botanicals and natural products in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean for more than 35 years. Denzil co-founded High Value Horticulture plc in
1989 and launched Denzil Phillips International Ltd (DPIL) in1998. DPIL has undertaken consultancy assignments with many of the world’s leading natural product, beauty care and phyto pharmaceutical companies. It also advised many African and Caribbean governments and international agencies such as World Bank, Commonwealth Secretariat and the European Commission(EU)
Denzil now lives in Barbados where he works on building bridges between Africa and the Caribbean in the field of high value crops. He was founder Director of the Association of African Medicinal Plants Standards (AAMPS) an organisation dedicated to promoting quality standards for African medicinal plants, founder Director of the Global Frankincense Alliance (GFA) and is an advisor to the Spa and Wellness Association of Africa (SWAA) and the Global Wellness Institute (GWI).

He specialises in the conservation and sustainable sourcing of high value natural
products many of which are indigenous plants. He also helped organise the first Medicinal Plants Business Forum for Commonwealth Africa in Kirstenbosch in 2000 and the World Congress on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in Cape Town in 2008(WOCMAP IV)

Kent Richards

Corporate Director of Spa Operations – Global Spa- Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas

Born into a family of gym fitness fanatics in Kitwe, Zambia, Kent Richards grew up in the major cities across South Africa, following all the fitness trends of the 80’s and 90’s before finding himself in the middle of the global Spa and Wellness industry.After a career with 20 years in fitness and 15 years in spa and wellness, Kent joined Six Senses as their Corporate Director of Spa Operations responsible for over thirty spas across the globe.

Kent knows his African roots constantly guide him in daily life. Now based in Bangkok, Thailand, and London, England, the benefits of “ubuntu” are thrown into all decision processes as outcomes always affect more than the decision-maker. We all need to be a part of the solution to make a decision effective in the long-term. Africa represents passion, colour and inclusion making each day full of hope in a dynamic economy. Our traditions, beliefs, rituals, practices and resilience go back to the birth of mankind allowing us to enjoy life together.

Working with the Africa Wellness Initiative allows Kent to bring all his experience from over 30 countries worldwide to share with others as we highlight the effectiveness of wellness initiatives from Africa.

Josephine Wairimu Njenga

Holistic Wellbeing Specialist – Kenya/Maldives

Josephine is a distinguished Holistic Well-being Specialist, Wellness Programme Architect, and Integrative Somatic Therapist driven by a profound passion for guiding individuals on their journey towards optimal health and overall well-being. With nearly two decades of experience in the wellness industry. Her work artfully blends Ancient Wisdom and modern science. She has significantly contributed to advancing wellness practices across Africa, the Middle East and Asia She was nominated for the Leader of the Quarter within her organization and for Wellness Personality of the Year (2024) in the Maldives, further highlighting her impact on the Global Wellness community.

With an educational background in the Science of Medical Intuition, a Degree in Human Anatomy and Physiology, a Certified Meditation and Mindfulness Teacher and a Master Integrative Somatic Practitioner Certification. Josephine believes in nurturing the innate healing abilities within individuals, meeting them at their point of need, and creating personalized wellness programs grounded in compassion, authenticity, and empowerment.

Krystal-Joy Williams

Founder- Women Wellness Africa / Ghana

Born in London to parents of Guyanese and Sierra Leonean heritage, Krystal-Joy Williams brings a rich, multicultural perspective to her work. Her career journey spans continents and industries, reflecting her adaptability and diverse skill set.

For over a decade, Krystal-Joy thrived in digital advertising as a Producer, honing her expertise in developing niche communities and building strong business relationships. Her ability to connect exceptional brands with highly engaged audiences has consistently delivered impactful results.

After 12 years in Barcelona, the COVID-19 pandemic prompted a significant life change. Prioritising mental health and well-being, Krystal-Joy relocated to Ghana with her young family in 2021. This move marked her transition from advertising to the wellness industry.

Recognising a gap in the African wellness community, Krystal-Joy founded Women Wellness Africa (WWA) in 2021. WWA serves as a network supporting wellness practitioners and advocates making a difference on the ground. The organisation has forged partnerships with notable companies including Samsung, Melcom, and EcoBank.

In her current role, Krystal-Joy is focused on promoting wellness as a lifestyle rather than a passing trend in Africa. She aims to empower women, fostering individuality and strength while embracing the unique identity of the vibrant African community. Her vision for the future is ambitious, shaped by values of empowerment and cultural pride.

Through WWA and her various initiatives, Krystal-Joy continues to leverage her skills in community building and brand partnerships to make a lasting impact in the African wellness landscape.