Our Expertise

Executive Committee Chairs

Lilian Arigbodi

Executive Committee Chair – SWAA Nigeria Chapter

Board Directors & Advisors

Elaine
Okeke-Martin

Patrick Saussay

Lydia

Dr Theo Mothoa-Frendo

Eryca Freemantle

Senior Board Advisor

Georgina Ragaven

Senior Board Advisor

Suki Kalirai

Dr. Denzil Phillips

Dr Hildah Ashio

Board Advisor

Angela Derks

Naim Maadad

Board Advisor

Jean Martin

Former Board Of Directors

Dr. Stephan Helary 5th (completed one term) October 2015 – 5th Oct 2017.
Mrs. Pamela Olutunji (completed one term) 21st Nov 2014 – 21st Nov 2016
Mrs. Dzigbordi Dosoo (completed two terms) Jan 2011 – 15th Sep 2016.
Mr. Raoul Andrews (completed two terms) 26th March 2012 – March 2016
Mr. Tonny Muiruri Mutungu (completed one term) 1st Feb 2014 – 1st Feb 2016
Mrs. Elisabeth Brandt (completed one year) 21st Nov 2014 – Nov 2015
Mr. Renaud Azema (completed one year) Sep 2014 – Oct 2015
Mr. Jeff Butterworth (completed one year) 15th Sep 2014 – 15th Aug 2015.
Mrs. Janine Shipra (completed one term) 1st June 2013 – 1st May 2015.
Mrs. Ameenah Gurib Fakim (completed one year) 2013 – 2014
Ms. Anne- Marie Murai (completed one year) 13TH July 2011- July 2012
Mrs. Alison Caroline Ng’ethe-Kariuki (completed one year) – May 17th 2011- May 2012

Stay in the loop

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.

2022. Copyright | swaafrica.org

Patrick Saussay

Board Director

Project Director – International Development – Wellness industry expert

Patrick is Founder and CEO of Global Project and Spa Advisory, a company dedicated to providing worldwide expertise in management of wellness projects and spa consulting. He supports project owners, investors, brand owners, hotel management in their moves and investments on the wellness market.

With GPSA company, he was instrumental in the definition of evian®SPA concept and he is currently in charge of evian®SPA international development on behalf of evian® since 2012.

Graduated from AUDENCIA, his expertise began with 15 years of experience in the major consulting companies. As an Executive for Arthur Andersen/BearingPoint, he was involved in the transition process of several private and public large organizations including the French Healthcare Ministry, Paris Head office, and hospitals. He was fully dedicated to health-care organizations for three years, supporting quality and efficiency in this very sensitive sector.

Being caught up with his passion for wellness, he has spent 3 years heading the international development of an upscale Swiss spa brand, while preserving the high quality and originality of the brand. He developed new spa projects and partnerships with 5*resorts, Palaces and day spas in Istanbul, Antalya, Dubai, Cotonou and especially Paris where he has directly led all steps of design, implementation and go live of a high-end hotel spa in the heart of Paris.

Since 2012 when he founded GPSA Wellness Lifestyle company, he supports strategic wellness projects in many countries in Europe, Middle East, Asia, for evian® and other exclusive brands and hotels. In France, his expertise also goes to thermal centers and destinations, or meaningful projects like the transformation of a ski destination into a wellness destination.

He strongly believes in global wellness and prevention to secure a real impact on anyone’s wellbeing, and ultimately to live better, not only longer. Thanks to his passion for international travels, he is focused on the synergies between the richness of local cultures, heritage, know-how, products, and the importance of international standards of quality.

Through iconic projects, conferences, or in front of MBA students in Hospitality Management, he shares his vision regarding the guest’s wellness experience beyond spa treatments, and the necessary consistency between a concept, an investment and guests’ expectations.

Angela Derks

Board Advisor

Angela Derks is the Founder and CEO of the Australasian Sustainable Wellness Academy (ASWA) and the course and curriculum developer for the Australian Accredited Diploma of Wellness.

Originally from Papua New Guinea, she moved to Australia when she was 12 and graduated with University Degrees in Naturopathy, Marketing and Real Estate Development. At the age of 28, Angela designed, developed and operated one of Australia’s first integrated health, wellness and spa facilities. Angela has lead strategic initiatives and training programs in award-winning companies such as Six Senses Spas, Soneva Resorts, Ritz-Carlton, Madinat Jumeirah, Palazzo Versace, Kempinksi, Westin, Qantas First Lounges, Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat and Aurora Spa.

She launched ASWA with the mission of bringing wellness within reach of individuals and organisations to enhance the way we live and work. Angela works with various organisations, from private enterprise in sectors such as vocational education, manufacturing, hospitality, health, spas and aesthetic clinics to not-for-profits and government departments such as industry skills councils and associations, delivering specific intelligence at board level.

As a professional working mother with two young children, Angela knows personally the challenges of attaining individual wellness and balance in today’s working world – vital concepts for individuals and organisations to understand and embrace, in order to thrive.
In her spare time, you’ll find Angela in a pilates class, enjoying a nutritious organic meal with fun-loving friends and family, or planning her next wellness adventure.

“Wellness is a day-to-day choice, an active process of increasing self-awareness, complemented by the supportive actions of one’s workplace, home and community environments. What I’m truly passionate about is seeing others thriving at their personal and professional best. ASWA provides an avenue for people to realise their potential; to live their best life with clarity, vitality and peace, underpinned by a true sense of purpose and passion.” says Angela.

Angela believes that she can achieve her purpose of empowering others to attain optimum wellness, by providing organisations with advice, solutions and training programs that not only demystifies the concept of wellness, but inspires participants to live, breathe, cultivate and lead the integration of wellness into lives and workplaces.