Join Us at the 17th Annual Summit
Benefit from the thriving global wellness economy with new research from the Global Wellness Institute
The sister company to the Global Wellness Summit (GWS), the nonprofit Global Wellness Institute (GWI) will release at the Summit a new edition of its highly anticipated research series, The Global Wellness Economy Monitor. Generating the authoritative research on the global wellness economy, GWI Research Fellows Ophelia Yeung, Katherine Johnston and Tonia Callender will deliver a keynote presentation showing the latest wellness economy data from over 200 countries (updated through 2022) and how each sector is faring post-pandemic, along with predictions for where each sector is headed in the next five years. Become a Summit delegate and get the first look at the most reliable wellness economy research in the world.
Price increases October 1.
Meet the Research Fellows
Ophelia Yeung
Senior Research Fellow, GWI
Ophelia Yeung has more than two decades of experience leading research and consulting assignments for global business, governments, universities and nonprofit organizations, including 20+ years at SRI International and as the co-director for the Center for Science, Technology and Economic Development. Under the auspices of the Global Wellness Institute, Ms. Yeung has created new frameworks for defining the size and scope of the global wellness industry and its many sectors. She co-authored numerous GWI studies, including “Future of Wellness at Work 2016,” “Build Well to Live Well 2018,” “Global Wellness Economy Monitor 2018,””Move to be Well: The Global Economy of Physical Activity 2019,” and “Defining the Mental Wellness Economy 2020.” Ophelia co-led the GWI White Paper series: Resetting the World with Wellness in 2020. She has presented at major industry events, written for industry publications, and given interviews on these topics. Ophelia received a BA in Economics from Smith College and a Master in Public Affairs from Princeton University.
Katherine Johnston
Senior Research Fellow, GWI
Katherine Johnston has extensive experience conducting economic and industry competitiveness studies worldwide, including 17 years as a Senior Economist with SRI International. Since 2008, Katherine has pioneered ground-breaking research on the wellness economy, including the first-ever definition and measurement of wellness as a global industry that encompasses eleven component sectors (wellness communities/real estate, mental wellness, physical activity, workplace wellness, wellness tourism, spas, thermal/mineral springs, and others). These studies provide thought-leadership on the trends driving the future of wellness in the economy and their implications for the public and private sectors, along with rigorous data on the industry size and growth trajectory across 200 countries. GWI research has become the leading resource for wellness sector data and insights among media, industry, and governments. It is quoted widely in business, trade, and consumer media and has recently been featured by the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, Fast Company, Skift, National Public Radio, CNBC, and many other leading publications. Previously as a Senior Economist at SRI International, Katherine led dozens of studies on economic competitiveness, industry cluster and workforce development, economic development program evaluation, and economic impact analysis/modeling – both across the United States and in countries around the world. She holds a B.A. from Sweet Briar College in Virginia and an M.S. from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service.
Tonia Callender
Research Fellow, GWI
Tonia Callender specializes in conducting economic and legal research and analysis. Tonia has advised private and public organizations worldwide to help to promote more equitable development. She has worked with government and community organizations in the DC Metro region to enhance public-private partnerships that help underserved populations, and she has designed and evaluated a wide range of public programs, ranging from micro-business development to substance abuse treatment. Currently, Tonia is focusing on mental health and wellness policy and practices to improve well-being across the lifespan. Previously, she worked with SRI International, consulting for a diverse range of international clients. Tonia received her B.A. in economics from Yale University, her Master’s in public policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, and her law degree from the University of Virginia.