Dr Theresa Chew is the Co-founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Expressions International, a healthy lifestyle services provider offering total health, beauty and spa services.

She is actively involved in the health and beauty industry and has participated in numerous spa conferences – as delegate and as a speaker. Dr Theresa also spearheaded and chaired the “Spa Summit 99: The Asian Experience” held in Singapore in 1999 to promote the growth of the Spa industry in Asia. In April 1999 to 2003, she initiated the formation of the International Spa Association (ISPA) Asia Chapter. Dr Theresa is the first Asian woman Director of International Spa and Fitness Association, USA from 1995 to 1998. In Feb 2006, she initated the Spa & Wellness Asia Pacific Leaders Roundtable in Singapore.

She was one of the Top ten entrepreneurs of the 1997 and 1998 Entrepreneur of the Year Award and was also a finalist of the 1997 and 1998 first Women Entrepreneur Award of the Year.

Tomonori Maruyama is the Chief Researcher at the Research Institute of Mitsui Knowledge Industry Co. Ltd. Together with his junior researcher, Takayoshi Okamura, they undertake surveys and studies for the spa industry commissioned by the government. Both are dedicated to the global research on the current issues such as spa services, quality standards of therapists, regulations and the overseas recruitment systems.

Mr Maruyama has lectured for prominent executives and professionals at “The Research Conference of Spa-Services Industry” held by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in 2005 and most recently earlier this year (2006). His credentials also includes presentations to assemblies, Nippon Spa Association (NSPA) meetings and other relevant organizations.

Through government missions and tireless effort from his research team, Mr Murayama has single-handedly raised the bar in spa service quality standards and progressively pushed the industry towards internationalization.

Suzanne Ng and Yoriko Soma are partners of Conceptasia Inc and Spa Finder Japan Inc. Ms Ng and Ms Soma have been very active in the development of the Spa industry in Japan and have helped top international hotel and spa brands to make their presence felt in Japan. THese efforts included the launch of the first International Spa at Windsor Hotel, Toya and Mandarin Oriental Tokyo and Mandara Spa, Tokyo.

Professor Mary Tabacchi has been involved in the spa industry since 1982. Professor Tabacchi has served as a board member of the International Board of Directors for 4 years, where she served as President. She also served on a variety of committees during her 4 years of active service with the International Spa Association. Professor Tabacchi was a primary constituent in the conception and development of the International Spa Association.

Currently, Professor Tabacchi serves as a leader of the Destination Spa Group Marketing and Advocacy committee. Also, she is a founding member of NYSPA and works closely with several corporate hotel spa executives.

She is a regular speaker throughout the world on spa management issues and trends. Professor Tabacchi has authored more than 30 different studies on the spa industry throughout her long interaction with the industry. She has presented more than 100 papers and talks for spa and related conferences. She currently teaches Spa and Spa Resort Development, Tying Wellness Practices to Company Profits, Healthy Cuisine and Airline Management.