November/December 2017 AsiaSpa 135Parineeta Sethi, Director of Exposure Media
Marketing
Parineeta Sethi is a pioneer in the luxury and
wellness industries in India. In 2003 she started
EMM with Selling World Travel and introduced
AsiaSpa India and Millionaireasia India. By 2014
she spearheaded the merger of EMM, the largest
international magazine publication in India and
a subsidiary of German-based Hurbert Burda
Media. Sethi with her expertise has developed
a portfolio of high-end magazines in the travel,
wellness and luxury sectors and brought European
magazine titles to India. She has also launched
national award-winning coffee-table books.Pete Wong, PR Consultant, Awarna Media
Founder of PR consulting firm, Awarna
Media, Pete Wong counts travel, writing and
photography as his life passions. When he has
time off from the office, he travels to remote
destinations in Asia, at times visiting resorts
and spas. His work is regularly featured in
publications around the region, including
Forbes Asia, Shanghai Daily and ParGolf,
among others. Wong is based in Kuala Lumpur
and has been contributing to AsiaSpa since
2005.Mark Smith, Editor, The Spa Man and
Contributing Editor, European Spa Magazine
Mark Smith is a spa and grooming writer based
in London. Originally from Australia he moved
to the UK almost 20 years ago and spends his
time consulting for brands and writing about
the spa industry. As contributing editor for
European Spa Magazine he travels widely
across Europe and has also written for Men’s
Fitness, Spa Traveller and Spa Ireland. One of
a handful of male spa writers, Smith shares his
unique perspectives on his blog, The Spa Man.
Melinda Yon, Senior Academic Staff, Diploma
in Wellness, Lifestyle & Spa Management,
Republic Polytechnic
Having lived in Asia for 15 years, Yon has
been a spa consultant, manager and business
owner, and trainer and lecturer for spa
management courses. She has also been a
guest speaker at many of the region’s spa
and wellness conferences. Yon edited the
first three annual editions of Asia’s first spa
publication dedicated to men, AsiaSpa Men.
She was formally a board member of the Asia
Pacific Spa and Wellness Coalition (APSWC)
for three years.
Catharine Nicol, Journalist
Following four years as editor-in-chief and
another four as editor-at-large of AsiaSpa,
Catharine Nicol is now a freelancer, but still
passionate about researching Asia’s renowned
destinations. Her love of the industry, its
growth and what it is achieving keeps her
motivated to keep discovering innovative
treatments and skincare products, mind-body
and spiritual philosophies and the incredible
people and talent that lie behind them.
Rachael Oakes-Ash, Journalist, Blogger and
Producer
Rachael has always had a strong passion for
health and wellness. As a published author,
full time travel journalist, keynote speaker
and documentary producer she has been a
judge on the AsiaSpa Awards since 2006. As
a spa, wellness and travel writer her byline
has been published by Conde Nast Traveler,
Wallpaper*, Luxe City Guides, South China
Morning Post, DestinAsian, Emirates Open
Skies, Australian Financial Review, Sydney
Morning Herald and more.Lisa Starr, Spa, Wellness and Salon Consultant,
Wynne Business
Spa, wellness and salon business consultant
for Wynne Business, Starr has over 30 years of
experience in the beauty industry, in all aspects
from as a technician to regional manager. She has
spent the last 17 years as a consultant and educator,
helping companies maximise spa operations
performance in both front and back of house. Starr
is also the task force chair for the Global Wellness
Institute Consulting Initiative, a contributing editor
at Dayspa Magazine, a regular contributor to global
trade publications, a highly-rated speaker at spa
and beauty industry conferences, and offers spa
management courses across the globe.ASIASPA AWARDS JUDGES
Chris Ryall, Freelance Writer and Columnist
Chris Ryall is a Toronto, Canada-based writer
and columnist. He specialises in writing about
spa/wellness and travel for many national
print/online publications in Canada and
internationally. An avid spa enthusiast, he has
visited spas including many in Asia in more
than 75 countries the past 25 years. He has
judged for SpaFinder’s annual Wellness Travel
awards as well as the Canadian Spa Awards.
He is an advocate for holistic approaches to
health and getting more men to spas.
Edward Wong, President, Esth’EdeS
Edward Wong is a veteran in the wellness
industry and has since 1986 involved in
the business of beauty and spa products,
salon and spa operation and education.
Wong actively engages the industry and
has served as president of the Day Spa
Association Asian Chapter, director of the
Association of Malaysian Spas and Asia-
Pacific Spa & Wellness Coalition. He is
currently the president of the Spa and Wellness
Association Singapore and ambassador for
Global Wellness Day in Singapore.