Meet our 2024 Trends Writers

Susie Ellis
Chair & CEO, Global Wellness Summit

Susie Ellis is the co-founder, chair and CEO of Global Wellness Summit, which is now in its 18th year. She is also chair and CEO of the nonprofit Global Wellness Institute, known for its pioneering research, wide-ranging initiatives, Geography of Wellness microsite, Wellness Evidence portal and The Wellness Moonshot. She is the former president of Spafinder, where she pioneered the first global wellness trends forecast 20 years ago. She sits on numerous academic and industry boards and holds an MBA from UCLA. 

Cecilia Girr
Director of Cultural Strategy, TBWA\Worldwide

Cecilia, a journalist and strategist, is the director of cultural strategy for Backslash, the cultural intelligence unit of TBWA Worldwide. She began her career at 180LA where she rose through the ranks in brand strategy, working across categories ranging from beverage and entertainment to telecommunications and technology. She has also led branding work and integrated campaigns for the Golden Globes, Postmates and UNICEF. During her time leading both strategic and editorial efforts at TBWA, she has transformed Backslash into a strategic practice, working with brands in every category. She is also the co-founder of Backslash’s zine, ED\GE.  

Olivia Houghton
Beauty, Health & Wellness Trends Analyst, LS:N Global

Olivia Houghton holds the role of deputy editor at LS:N Global, the consumer foresight and futures innovation platform of The Future Laboratory. She is responsible for creating agenda-setting content which involves identifying, monitoring and scrutinizing global consumer and lifestyle trends. Contributing regularly to esteemed publications including Vogue and the Financial Times, as well as industry events such as Cosmetics Business Live and The Sunday Times’ Life Lessons, Olivia is known as The Future Laboratory’s go-to expert for trends in beauty, health and wellness.  

Skyler Hubler
Senior Cultural Strategist, TBWA\Worldwide

Skyler Hubler is a journalist and senior cultural strategist at Backslash, the cultural intelligence unit of international advertising agency TBWA\Worldwide. In her role, she works across categories to help today’s biggest brands stay one step ahead of culture. She was also a staff writer on Backslash’s debut zine, ED\GE: Age of Wellness, which unpacks wellness’s influence on everything from finance to food.  

Jane Kitchen
Editor at Large, Spa Business 

Jane Kitchen has a 20-year career in journalism, specializing in the spa and wellness industry. Jane is editor at large at Spa Business magazine and has traveled the world in the name of wellness, writing features on the latest spa openings, interviewing influential people in the business and examining trends. She is also the editor of the annual Spa Handbook, a resource for all in the wellness industry, and co-author of the Spa Handbook’s annual Spa Foresight. Additionally, Jane works as a consultant for Under a Tree Health & Wellness Consulting and runs her own communications firm.    

Patricia Ladis
Founder, WiseBody Physical Therapy

With over 25 years of clinical experience, Patricia Ladis founded WiseBody Physical Therapy in 2020 and was previously co-founder of the esteemed KIMA Center for Physiotherapy & Wellness. The WiseBody methodology includes specialized biomechanical analysis and treating the root cause of someone’s pain, ailments and inefficient mechanics in a holistic way. Patricia has appeared on NBC News and Fox News as commentator on orthopedic issues and was featured on ESPN discussing pro player comebacks during the US Open. She received her degree in physical therapy from New York University, graduating with valedictory honors. 

Emily Laurence
Journalist, Freelance Writer, and Certified Health Coach

Emily Laurence is a journalist, freelance writer and certified health coach living in Raleigh, North Carolina. She specializes in writing about health, lifestyle and social justice. Her work can regularly be seen on sites including Forbes, The Huffington Post, Parade and Shape as well as in Girl’s Life magazine. Emily spent six years as an editor and writer at Well+Good, covering everything from food trends to serious issues like the opioid crisis in America, gun violence and sexual abuse. Emily graduated from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, where she studied magazine journalism and child & family studies. 

Claire McCormack
Senior Editor, Beauty Independent

Claire McCormack is a senior editor at digital publication Beauty Independent, covering the beauty, wellness and personal care industries. She is a respected voice in the beauty and wellness startup space, known for her trailblazing editorial coverage of “taboo” verticals, including sexual health, CBD, psychedelics and psychedelic-adjacent wellness. She has an extensive track record for being the first to identify, crystallize and cover trends. Claire has been a featured beauty industry expert in The Washington Post, Adweek, Business of Fashion, WGSN, Stylus, the HBO documentary Not So Pretty and more. She has an MBA from Fordham University. 

Dr. Kenneth Pelletier
Prolific Author & Clinical Professor of Medicine

Ken Pelletier, MD, PhD, is a prolific author with 15 major books to his name, who has been featured in numerous national television programs, including several appearances on ABC World News, Good Morning America, Today and CNN. His international bestseller, Mind as Healer, Mind as Slayer, paved the way for his latest work, Change Your Genes, Change Your Life, exploring the transformative potential of epigenetics in achieving optimal health and longevity. Dr. Pelletier is a leading figure transforming the landscape of healthcare through his pioneering work in integrative medicine, epigenetics and personalized health care.

Ari Peralta
Award-Winning Neuroscientist and Sensory Designer

Ari Peralta is an award-winning neuroscientist, sensory designer, Forbes-recognized innovator, and one of the world’s leading voices in neuroscience and the senses. The winner of top design awards across multiple media disciplines, Ari champions ways to use the senses to elevate quality of life and promote self-awareness through Arigami UK—an innovative consultancy dedicated to multisensory research. Recognized as a top “40 under 40” professional by the retail industry, this Harvard alumnus makes a positive impact through interdisciplinary projects that focus on using the senses and technology to support people’s mental health.   

Jessica Smith
Brand Consultant & Wellness/Beauty Expert, Rennie Creative

Jessica Smith is a strategic brand consultant and beauty and wellness specialist who has worked with top companies such as LVMH, Nike, Beiersdorf, Estée Lauder, lululemon, Dornbracht, PUIG Group and Remedy Place. With over a decade of experience in brand strategy, trend forecasting and creative direction, Jessica has a deep understanding of the consumer and brand landscape. Jessica’s upcoming venture, MAYA, is a self-care retail destination curated for mothers navigating the transformative stages of pregnancy through postpartum. Drawing upon her extensive background, Jessica aims to redefine motherhood self-care.  

Zoë Weiner
Wellness Journalist

Zoë Weiner is a wellness journalist with over a decade of experience reporting on health, fitness, beauty and travel. She holds a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University, where she graduated with honors in magazine writing, and previously worked as an editor at Well+Good, where she hosted the Routine Rundown podcast and launched the first-ever editorial Sunscreen Awards. Her writing has appeared in Self, Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, MentalFloss and Bustle, among others.   

Eric Wilson
Journalist

Eric Wilson is a veteran fashion and style journalist based in New York City and Hong Kong, where he most recently was editorial director of Tatler Asia Group, overseeing its eight editions published in the region. He was previously a staff reporter for The New York Times and WWD, and fashion news director for InStyle.