Here are the Winners of the 2017 Global Wellness Awards

The winners of the Global Wellness Awards were announced recently at the annual Global Wellness Summit (GWS), hosted by the Global Wellness Institute (GWI). The annual awards honor industry leaders in seven major categories, and this year, there were two new categories – the Leader in Social Impact award, and the Award for Living a Well Life.

The seven awards categories include the Leader in Innovation award, the Leader in Sustainability award, the Leading Woman in Wellness Award, the Leader in Workplace Wellness award, and the Debra Simon Award for leader in Furthering Mental Wellness Award, in addition to the two new categories.

“I’d like to congratulate this year’s Global Wellness Award winners and thank the sponsors and the Global Wellness Summit Advisory Board for making these important honors possible,” says Susie Ellis, chairman and CEO of GWS. “These outstanding individuals have made significant contributions to the industry–and their dedication and creativity furthers our goal to bring health and wellness to people around the globe.”

During the ceremony, Ellis introduced Jane Iredale, founder of Iredale Mineral Cosmetics, who surprised the audience by awarding Deborah Szekely, founder of Rancho La Puerta (multiple locations) and Golden Door (San Marcos, CA), with the first ever GWS Wellness Award for Living a Well Life. Szekely, known to many as the godmother of the spa industry, turned 95 recently, and received a standing ovation from the delegates who gathered to honor her numerous and inspirational contributions to the wellness industry.

The new Social Impact award, which honors a leader who has worked to make it possible for more people and societal groups to live healthier, happier lives, was presented to Richard Carmona, M.D., by Dilip Barot, founder of Amrit Ocean Resort and Residences (Riviera Beach, FL).

Other winners for the 2017 award season include Steve Nygren, cofounder of Serenbe named Leader in Innovation award; Neil Jacobs, CEO of Six Senses Hotels, Resorts, Spas, named the Leader in Sustainability; Julie Bach, founder of Wellness for cancer, named Leading Woman in Wellness; Renee Moorefield, Ph.D., CEO and founder of Wisdom Works, named Leader in Workplace Wellness; and Louie Schwartzberg, filmmaker, who won the Debra Simon Award for Leader in Furthering Mental Wellness.

Members of the GWS Advisory Board selected all winners and, along with award sponsors, presented honorees with their awards at the annual Summit held at The Breakers Palm Beach.

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