Meet the Speakers
Forge meaningful, game-changing connections at the highest levels
From top developers expanding the boundaries of real estate to legendary architects to innovators of new standards and technologies, the speakers at the Wellness Real Estate & Communities Symposium represent the top minds shaping the future of this exploding sector.
The secret sauce of any Global Wellness Summit or Global Wellness Institute event is our ability to nurture meaningful, deep, game-changing connections at the highest levels, often across sectors. This Symposium is no exception. The growing roster of speakers and attendees is so impressive, no doubt those joining us in person will forge new relationships that will positively impact future projects and investments—connections that are professionally rewarding and personally enjoyable.
Meet the initial roster of confirmed speakers below, and watch for updates.
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John Alschuler
Executive Chairman, Therme Group US, United States
John Alschuler is the executive chairman of Therme Group US, a company devoted to the creation of large scale, accessible, wellbeing facilities across North America. Since 1973, John has worked with cities, civic organizations and developers to solve complex urban development challenges and create financing strategies for distinctive places. In 1984 John founded HR&A Advisors, a national real estate and economic development consultancy, spending the last 38 years as CEO & chair of the board.
Deepak Chopra, MD, FACP
Founder, The Chopra Foundation and Chopra Global
DEEPAK CHOPRA™ MD, FACP is founder of The Chopra Foundation, a nonprofit entity for research on wellbeing and humanitarianism and Chopra Global, a whole health company at the intersection of science and spirituality. He is also architect of the JP Morgan Chase workplace wellness program and is a recognized world-renowned pioneer in integrative medicine and personal transformation. Chopra is author of over 90 books, including numerous New York Times bestsellers, and serves as a senior scientist with Gallup Organization.
Craig Collin
President & COO, Tavistock Development Company, United States
With more than 25 years of experience, Craig Collin has focused his career around innovation, execution and growth in the building and development industry. As President and COO of Tavistock, he leads business and operational functions and has managed delivery for projects including Lake Nona, Sunbridge and Pier Sixty-Six Hotel & Marina. Previously he served as a division president with PulteGroup and has spearheaded the planning and development of hundreds of projects, including master-planned communities, infill and mixed-use developments.
Clodagh
Founder & CEO, Clodagh Design, United States
Irish-born, New York-based designer Clodagh has been ahead of the curve with eco-friendly designs since she began her career. She is acclaimed for her life-enhancing minimalism and “wellness by design” tenets. She embraces healing modalities, using both ancient and cutting-edge methods to energize and balance space. Clodagh was one of the earliest adopters of feng shui, incorporating chromatherapy, aromatherapy, biophilia and the science of light. Her focus is sustainability, wellbeing and comfort.
Elizabeth Diller
Partner, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, United States
Elizabeth Diller is a partner of Diller Scofidio + Renfro. Alongside Ricardo Scofidio, her cross-genre work has been recognized with TIME’s “100 Most Influential People” list and the first MacArthur Foundation fellowship awarded in the field of architecture. Most recently, Diller led two cultural works significant to New York: The Shed and the renovation of MoMA. She is a member of the UN Council on Urban Initiatives and a Professor of Architectural Design at Princeton University.
Peter Epping
Senior Managing Director, Global Head ESG, Hines, United States
Peter Epping is responsible for developing and implementing the ESG, Hines, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategy in close coordination with the firm’s leadership, as well as its regional and key functional groups. The business line is charged with discovering, designing and delivering innovative ventures, partnerships and solutions that address critical sustainability imperatives. Epping joined the firm in 2001, working in various development and financial roles with Hines Germany and the Hines European Development Fund.
Adam Flatto
President & CEO, The Georgetown Company, United States
Adam Flatto is president and CEO of The Georgetown Company, where he has been involved with the development, acquisition and ownership of over 20 million square feet of commercial and residential real estate projects throughout the United States for 30+ years. He is a trustee and board member for a range of organizations and has been honored for his work in business leadership and enterprise. Flatto received his MBA from the Wharton School (Univ. of Pennsylvania).
Jean-François Garneau
Chief Development Officer, INITIAL Real Estate, Founder & Chief Possibilities Officer, ALIŌ – Building Wellbeing; Co-Chair, Wellness Communities & Real Estate Initiative, Switzerland
Jean-François Garneau works to integrate wellbeing and wellness into the places that define our lives. He has created development strategies and provided creative direction and development services for resort and urban mixed-use projects in Europe, India, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand, the US and Canada. Passionate about real estate development, Garneau is also a keen study on the creation of cities, towns, villages and the mechanics and behavioral aspects of “people places” everywhere. He is also chair of the ULI Europe Hospitality Council.
Joseph G. Allen
Assistant Professor & Director of the Healthy Buildings Program, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, United States
Joseph G. Allen is an assistant professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and director of the Healthy Buildings program. He began his career conducting forensic health investigations of sick buildings, leading teams of scientists and engineers to investigate and resolve indoor environmental quality issues. His academic research focuses on the critical role the indoor built environment plays in overall health. Allen is the co-author of “Healthy Buildings: How Indoor Spaces Drive Performance and Productivity.”
Robert Hammond
President & Chief Strategy Officer, Therme Group US, Co-Founder, Friends of the High Line, 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. Hammond has won numerous awards for his work and advised myriad companies and organizations.
Rachel Krupa
Founder, The Goods Mart, United States
Rachel Krupa is the founder of The Goods Mart, a better-for-you, socially conscious convenience store with three locations in New York City. As a professional “Snack Curator,” Rachel has deep insights into what makes a small brand stand out on the shelves and offers customized snack curation for corporations, hotels and more. She has been featured in publications including the New York Times, Today Show and Vogue, and has appeared on Grace & Cultivate’s list of forward-thinking women.
Amy McDonald
Owner Principal, Under a Tree Health and Wellness Consulting, United States
Amy McDonald is a 30+ year expert widely recognized for transformational health and wellness consulting through her firm Under a Tree. Her team merges the best of hospitality and wellness programming into residential communities, mixed use projects, hotels, sports performance facilities, lifestyle clubs, etc., to create best in class business models. She leads national and global brands on a range of wellness projects and is also the co-chair of the GWI Dying Well Initiative.
Rebecca Parekh
Co-founder and CEO, THE WELL
Prior to co-founding THE WELL, Rebecca Parekh was the COO for Deepak Chopra Radical Well-Being and a director at Deutsche Bank Securities where she held various positions including head of cross product sales and head of the US private institutional client group. She is on the board of directors for Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation and an advisor to the Tufts
Friedman School of Nutrition Entrepreneurship Program. She also serves on the board of several nonprofit foundations.
Kane Sarhan
Co-founder and CCO, THE WELL
Kane Sarhan is the co-founder & CCO of THE WELL, known as a one-stop shop for wellness. Prior
to THE WELL, Sarhan was head of brand for Starwood Capital Group’s SH Hotels & Resorts where he oversaw the development and management of 1 Hotels & Homes and Baccarat Hotels & Residences. Sarhan was named to the 2013 Forbes 30 Under 30 list and has been featured in The New York Times, PBS, Forbes Magazine, CNN and more.
Kathryn Scheckel
Head, Global Venture Lab, Hines, United States
Kathryn Scheckel is head of Global Venture Lab (GVL), where she identifies, accelerates and delivers transformative ideas across the built environment. In this capacity, she oversees the progress and implementation of cross-functional initiatives that help push the business forward. Since joining Hines in 2019, she has initiated the global relaunch of OneHines Women’s Network, which strengthens and empowers diversity, equity and inclusion amongst women at Hines. Previously she held strategic roles at McKinsey & Company.
Veronica Schreibeis Smith, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP
CEO & Founding Principal, Vera Iconica, United States
Veronica Schreibeis Smith leads a design brand focused on creating environments that support optimal human and planetary wellbeing. The company is recognized as a global pioneer in wellness architecture. 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. Schreibeis Smith has practiced architecture on four continents and founded the Wellness Architecture & Design Initiative for the Global Wellness Institute.
Paul Scialla
Founder & CEO, Delos, United States
After 18 years on Wall Street, Paul Scialla’s interest in sustainability and altruistic capitalism led him to found Delos, which merges the world’s largest asset class—real estate—with the world’s fastest-growing industry—wellness. Since the company’s inception, Paul has become a leading voice in the wellness and sustainability movements, serving as a keynote speaker at prominent green building, real estate, and technology forums and conferences around the world.
Todd Shaw
SVP Business Development, Fountain Life, United States
As senior vice president of business development, Todd Shaw expands the reach of Fountain Life, a leader in preventative medicine with a mission to transform the current healthcare system into one that is both proactive and data-driven. Fountain Life’s Precision Diagnostics enable people to boost longevity by catching and treating illnesses earlier than ever before. The global company is committed to delivering advanced diagnostics and vetted therapeutics to those who seek a longer, healthier and more vital life.
Teri Slavik-Tsuyuki
Principal, tst ink LLC; Co-Chair, Wellness Communities & Real Estate Initiative, United States
For more than two decades, Teri has brought to life some of the most valuable and recognized brands and communities in resort and community development. She works with developers, investors, and entrepreneurs, bringing a “how might we?” curiosity to the creation of places and experiences that support wellness, connectivity and matter to people. She spearheaded the America at Home Study during the COVID-19 pandemic exploring changes in consumer behavior, with lasting impacts on home and community design.
Matthew Trowbridge, MD MPH
Chief Medical Officer, International WELL Building Institute (IWBI); Associate Professor, University of Virginia (UVA) School of Medicine
Dr. Trowbridge’s academic research focuses on the impact of architecture, urban design and transportation planning on individual and population health. Prior to joining IWBI, Dr. Trowbridge served as principal investigator for the Green Health Partnership between UVA and the U.S. Green Building Council; a multi-year initiative, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, focused on increasing consideration of health and wellbeing outcomes across global real estate by applying green building principles of market transformation.