Kirien Withers is renowned as one of the leading lights of the Australasian Spa industry. As founder of the Beauty Trade Guide and Professional Beauty publications, Kirien recognised the potential of the spa industry in the Australasian region and began writing articles and speaking about the lifestyle of spa when there were less than a handful of spas in the region. In 1999 she launched the Spa Australasia magazine to drive the professional development of the local spa industry.

In 2000 she united members of the embryonic industry to form the Australasian Spa Association (ASpa), and was its president for three years following its inception.

Today, she consults to spas in development and the industry at large, as both Spa Guru Consulting and with architectural and operations partnerships as Spa Consultants International. She writes for local and international media and speaks both locally and internationally on all things ‘spa’. She has recently launched Spa Life, an inspiring magazine describing the spa and wellness lifestyle to an Australian and New Zealand readership. In November 2006, Spa Life won the Australian publishing industry 'Consumer Magazine of the Year Award' for under 30,000 copies and was a close runner-up for the overall Consumer Magazine of the Year Award. Kirien has also recently launched SpaXchange.com, where spa professionals can buy, sell and lease all things spa.
 

 Paul has over 20 years in Management and Senior Management experience ranging from FMCG to the Complimentary Health Industry and now the Spa Industry. He has worked in major Corporations and small to medium sized businesses in Australia and Canada. He has also owned his own Company.

This uniqueness gives Paul a perspective from all sides of the industry and allows him to listen and provide solutions in order to grow the industry.

Way back in the 1980’s he completed his Degree in Business Administration and that started a lie-long journey of learning. With a passion on how to understand others and to better relate Paul started taking courses in NLP and in 2006 became a NLP Trainer. He is currently taking a refresher course on Management.

His passion and enthusiasm is to build business by building great teams and providing a positive environment in which to work from is evidenced from his recent stint at LI’TYA. Like the late John Ilhan (founder and owner of Crazy John’s) he believes in building business by building capabilities in others around him.

For the past 10 years Paul has resided in Melbourne and is happily married to Lisa.

With over 15 years experience in the spa industry worldwide, Susanne has gained knowledge and experience in all aspects of ‘spa’. From operations to training, customer service and sales.  

Susanne’s experience is both domestic and international, gaining her international experience at The Sanctuary in London’s Covent Garden, where she controlled all aspects of management within this large high profile spa incorporating, day to day operations, training, product and treatment development and marketing.    

Since returning to Australia Susanne has been successfully involved in the consultancy and operations of several large spa developments, including various projects with Hilton Hotels, pre-opening and management of one of Australia’s premier resort spas, the Rejuvenation Spa on Daydream Island. Having also worked as a training and sales manager at HydroCo she has an extensive knowledge of spa equipment and facilities.  

Susanne currently works with LI'TYA in the role of Spa Development Manager where she combines her extensive experience to support many aspects of the business, with her role focusing on the LI’TYA concept spas.

Susanne is passionate about the development of the spa industry within Australasia and has been involved with the Association since it inception, holding the role of president of ASpa for the past two years.

Meaghan South is the managing director of Spa Solutions, one of Australia's foremost spa consultancy companies. Spa Solutions offers a program of knowledge and experience-based solutions for designing, planning and opening new spa developments. With over 10 years of operational experience, Meaghan has also created a range of spa business solutions to support the professional development of the industry, address the key challenges and help ensure the success and profitability of spas.

Since selling her multi-award-wining spa, The Dome Retreat, Meaghan contributed to many of Australia's leading new and innovative spa projects.
 
Meaghan is currently the Queensland President of Women Chiefs of Enterprises International (WCEI). As an ASpa director, Meaghan is committed to supporting the spa industry by sharing her comprehensive knowledge to develop and deliver tangible, relevant and valued benefits to ASpa members, to encourage to industry players to join and remain members of ASpa.

With over 15 years in the Spa & Hospitality Industry Rob has worked for 5star brands in the US and throughout Australia.  Currently Rooms Division Manager at The Sofitel Mansion & Spa, Rob launched Sofitel’s LeSpa into the Australian market earlier this year.  Rob’s experience started with working for the Ritz Carlton Hotel group in New York, Atlanta, and Double Bay. He then moved into the spa world where he worked for Spa Chakra in various Management, Consulting and Business Development roles for five years around Australia including Sydney, Hayman Island and Melbourne.  Rob also spent time working for HydroCo, gaining valuable experience as a supplier to the spa industry before returning to the world of operations with the Accor group.

Rob’s been an active member of ASpa from the early days, attending the initial round table style meetings, and was the net working coordinator for Victoria prior to the current ones.  Rob’s take on the 2008 conference is, “Having attended four of the five conferences I’ve watched them grow and evolve just as the membership base has.  My goal in organising the 2008 conference in Tasmania is to carry on this tradition.  I plan to source a diverse range of speakers and exhibitors that can provide the spa curious with an insight into the industry, while at the same time provide solid tools and sessions to the more seasoned spa professionals that have evolved with the industry-through the years!”

Vanessa Gay has over 17 years experience in the hospitality and spa industry in Australia. With a Diploma of Business in Hospitality Management and extensive Hotel and Spa knowledge, Vanessa’s experience encompasses Operations, Human Resources, Customer Service and Business Management.  With an energetic spirit and a passion for 5 star service Vanessa has headed up the team at The Observatory Hotel Day Spa in Sydney and The Lyall Hotel & Spa in South Yarra, Melbourne.

 As a Director of Spacareers™  & SHE Says, Vanessa and her team have been instrumental in offering a recruitment solution to a global spa & wellness market alongside training and consultancy services.

 Vanessa’s enthusiasm for the industry also finds her as the current Treasurer of the Australasian Spa Association(ASpa) and recent Aspa Award Winner 2008 for ‘Individual of Excellence’.  She is actively working to grow Aspa’s presence in Australia and internationally. 

Personally committed to connecting people and businesses so that everyone can achieve their goals is Vanessa’s driving force and she is keen to further develop and be an active participant in this dynamic spa and wellness industry.

After intensive training with Estee Lauder in London and working with some of the top beauty brands in the world, Melannie was inspired to launch her own range of boutique spa body care products in Australia Melle Beauty was launched in 2003, offering a new and vibrant spa body care range of products that are steeped in aromas inspired by the rich floral accents of Melannie’s home of Tasmania. Melle Beauty is developing strong distribution channels within Australia and has recently started exporting into New Zealand and Hong Kong.

With the success of Melle Beauty it is not surprising that Melannie has immersed herself in the world of spa, wellness and beauty. She has been instrumental in bringing together the spa and wellness industry in Tasmania, forming a Tasmanian chapter of ASpa and championing the island state in her role as an ASpa director. She looks forward to being a key contributor to the future direction of the spa and wellness industry in Australia. With responsibility for ASpa’s tourism portfolio Melannie is particularly keen to progress this agenda on behalf of the organisation’s members.

Jeff Fleming is owner of Exclusive Spas group, and operator of the award-winning Reef House Spa Palm Cove and the new iconic spa at Q1 on the Gold Coast. Jeff hails from a successful career in resort ownership and management in Australia and overseas. In the spa industry for 5 years Jeff has set up and designed four other spa properties in Queensland’s far north.

Jeff also operates as a spa consultant in design, operations and management to resorts and hotels. With the huge growth in our industry Jeff hopes to work with his fellow board members to actively set standards and policies to guide our organisation so that it continues this great growth over the next few years.

Marguerita is based in Hepburn Springs (the Spa Capital) and is currently enjoying “time out” to freelance while the iconic Hepburn Bathhouse undergoes major renovations.

She has worked as Human Resources Manager and General Manager at the biggest, busiest historic mineral water spa in Australia since 1999, specialising in Balneotherapy and employing up to 150 staff who service up to 80,000 customers a year. She has also been Business Manager at Elly Lukas College and sat on the steering committee for the William Angliss Spa Management programme.

Marguerita has gained broad business experience and business acumen by working across a variety of industry sectors including tourism and hospitality, financial services, retail and education and training. She is a member of Service Skills Victoria and manages ASpa’s Education portfolio. She has a Graduate Diploma in Business, is a qualified massage therapist and a certified Lithos therapist, and enjoys training in spa therapies and designing spa menus and services.

“I am passionate about this industry and I am very excited with the growth and direction our industry is moving in, along with the exciting education and training initiatives that are being presented with a distinct spa health and wellness focus.”

Living in regional Victoria, Ian is Director, Business Development at Sunraysia Institute of TAFE, Mildura.

In 2003 he recognised the growth in the spa sector and subsequently researched and implemented Australia’s first dedicated spa management program, the Spa Resort Management program at William Angliss Institute of TAFE. Ian also identified the need specialised training in Spa Cuisine which has now come to fruition at William Angliss Institute of TAFE.

Ian holds a Certificate IV in Workplace Assessment & Training and a Bachelor of Business (Tourism Management) and is currently completing a major thesis for a Master of Business by Research in staff turnover and transience in resort locations with Victoria University.

Ian served on the ASpa board from 2004 to 2007, and managed the Accreditation Portfolio, which seeks to develop a suitable model for the industry. The recently implemented ASpa Code of Ethics was the first step in the process. A spa water initiative attracting Victorian Government support and funding was secured in late 2006 and saw the industry’s first water audit undertaken on spas across Victoria with results presented at the 2007 National ASpa Conference in Sydney. It is anticipated that further funding be sought  to develop a training and water application benchmarking project to assist in ensuring the long-term sustainability of the industry.

Vanessa has a wealth of expertise in the Spa & Wellness industry having worked across much of Australia, Indian Ocean, South East Asia and the Middle East. With an established background in pre-opening project management, concept design and operational spa management her skills, knowledge and passion for the industry has continued to grow through her recent roles and diverse experiences. Vanessa has been instrumental in the creation of many premium spa brands including with Hayman Island, Voyages Luxury Resorts, Chuan Spa at The Langham Hotel, Mirvac Hotels & Resorts and Per Aquum.

Vanessa is now the Director of Savvie – an energetic and innovative company specialising in creative concept design, strategic spa services, project management and operational business mentoring targeting the global spa, health and wellness industries.

Felicity has 25 years of experience in all areas of spa and beauty therapy development, from operations to training, and customer service to sales. She trained, worked for private clinics and as a tutor in London before opening her own skin and body care clinic in New Zealand.

Over the years she has made herself available to train, mentor, and develop beauty clinics as well as maintaining a high profile within the education and assessment fields. In 1995 Felicity relocated to Asia to work in hospitality and language teaching positions beside her husband, who works in hotel development. While there she learnt different techniques of massage and developed an interest in alternative healing.

In 2000 Felicity moved to Australia to complete a training contract before returning to New Zealand as Start up and Branding Manager for Lake Spa Retreat Polynesian Spa, Rotorua. In 2005 Felicity established ST Spa Ltd, a spa Operations consultancy that assists new, expanding and emerging business to introduce or integrate innovative spa services and alternative revenue streams to the business. 

Felicity’s focus is to develop ASpa’s profile in New Zealand and the Pacific.

Naomi Gregory has extensive senior management experience in the spa, wellness and fitness industry.  Her exposure to different cultural and operational issues is broad, having worked in Australia, Asia and Saudi Arabia for 5-star brands such as Chiva-Som International Health Resort, Mandara Spa Asia, GHM and Crown Hotels. She is a respected operator with many successful large-scale openings to her credit. She is accustomed to working with luxury brands and has developed a great appreciation of what their guests’ desire and expect.

Naomi founded Spa Sessions in 2005, and in 2007 SpaAudit.com, a groundbreaking secret shopping system. She continues to develop comprehensive training and performance products designed to support spa and salon operators globally.  Naomi has an impressive client portfolio and is a sought after Spa Project Consultant.  She travels extensively throughout Asia Pacific and the Middle East from her home base near Margaret River, Western Australia.