Successful scholarship program that enables recipients to attend this year’s Global Wellness Summit taking place Doha, Qatar from November 6-9 receives twice the number of applications in its second year and doubles number of scholarships awarded
The Global Wellness Institute (GWI), the leading research and educational resource for the $4.4 trillion global wellness industry, is pleased to announce the expansion of the Susie Ellis Scholarship for Equity in Wellness for 2023. This year, the program received an overwhelming response, with 215 applications pouring in from 61 countries, showcasing the heightened awareness and interest in global wellness equity. In light of these numbers, and to further support deserving individuals, the GWI is delighted to award four scholarships in 2023, doubling the number given in 2022.
The scholarship fund offers invaluable opportunities for deserving individuals to participate in the Global Wellness Summit (GWS), GWI’s esteemed counterpart and the foremost conference on the wellness industry. This program serves as a bridge, granting access to individuals who may not have had the means to attend the Summit independently. This year’s Summit, to be held in Doha, Qatar from November 6-9, promises to be a transformative event, bringing together leading experts, innovators and influencers from around the globe.
“Through their unwavering passion and dedication to the wellness industry, these scholarship recipients will no doubt make a profound impact and contribute positively to the global wellness community,” said Nancy Davis, GWI’s chief creative officer & executive director. “This scholarship lets us offer those who have perhaps dreamt of attending the Summit an opportunity to participate in conversations with global wellness leaders, exposing them to the topics and issues that are shaping the business of wellness now and into the future.”
The establishment of the scholarship fund was made possible by the generous contributions of Katrine and Bill Formby, Rick Stollmeyer, Lynne and Victor Brick, and the Szekely Family Foundation. Since its inception, the fund has experienced remarkable growth through the annual live auction held during the GWS gala event.
GWI relied heavily on input and guidance from two of its advisory board members, Hannah Messerli, PhD, and Nicola Finley, MD, to create a shortlist from the applicant pool. Subsequently, the GWS Board of Advisors voted, resulting in the four deserving recipients.
This year’s recipients are:
Rita Prasad-Ildes, co-founder of Australia’s World Wellness Group, formed with the mission of addressing health inequities for migrants, refugees and people seeking asylum.
Jonathan Imperial, a senior advisor for the Queens Borough President’s Office. His role involves providing community wellness support to the largest public housing community in the United States.
Michelle Saudan, the founder of Dubai-based Amanzi Wellbeing. Her platform, dedicated to expanding awareness of Africa’s unique wellness assets, achieves this through wellness retreats.
Theodora WarriorHealy, an Indigenous empowerment facilitator based in Canada, whose ultimate goal is to offer wrap-around care for Indigenous healing.
The scholarship is named for Susie Ellis, GWS chair & CEO, who has been at the helm of the Summit and its sister non-profit organization, the GWI, since inception.
Ellis expressed her excitement about the scholarship program’s growth, stating: “The doubling of scholarships awarded this year is a testament to the increased recognition of the importance of equity in wellness. We are delighted to support this exceptional group of individuals and provide them with a platform to contribute to the ongoing mission of making wellness accessible to all.”