Nine Fitness Industry Leaders Set to Advise on GHFA Initiatives

BOSTON, MA—October 4, 2021—The Global Health & Fitness Alliance (GHFA), an IHRSA initiative launched to establish the health and fitness sector as an essential service and a key contributor within the healthcare continuum, announced its inaugural nine-member Advisory Council.

“After meticulously sorting through numerous applications, we have put together a solid group of industry veterans who bring with them decades of experience and passion for the industry,” said Kilian Fisher, GHFA coordinator and IHRSA director of international public affairs. “This group wholly represents the global fitness industry and aims to promote the industry’s vital contributions to the health, well-being, and prosperity of societies, influence national governments’ agendas, and secure a seat at the table with United Nations and other international organizations.”

The GHFA Advisory Council includes:

• Greg Oliver, GHFA advisory chair, CEO and managing director of APAC’s Fitness & Lifestyle Group, and founder of Debit Success, one of ANZ’s largest membership, billing, and software services.

• Gigliola Aycardi, co-founder and executive vice president of Bodytech Corporation, the second-largest gym company in Latin America and 22nd-largest in the global fitness industry.

• Richard Beddie, CEO of Exercise New Zealand and board chief of staff for the International Confederation of Registers for Exercise Professionals (ICREPs).

• Andrea Bell, co-founder, director, and chief people officer of Inspire Brands Asia, the consortium that owns the master franchise license for Anytime Fitness Asia.

• Anna Henwood, chief marketing officer of Les Mills International.

• Brian Morris, founder and CEO of the Aspria Group, a collection of large, premium, award-winning well-being clubs, spas, and hotels across Belgium, Germany, and Italy.

• Justin Musgrove, CEO of Kun Real Estate, a new leisure and hospitality company centered on creating one of the world’s most revered lifestyle brands.

• Emmett Williams, a partner in the wearable technology company, Myzone, and a member of IHRSA’s Industry Partner Advisory Council.

• Anastasia Yusina, president of Strata Fitness Holding and founder of Orange Fitness, City Fitness, and FITSPACE Boutique Fitness, whose club brands span from Moscow to Florida.

The GHFA Advisory Council’s main priority is producing the first-ever Global Economic Impact Report, which GHFA members worldwide are currently developing and funding to benefit the global fitness industry. The report will analyze the industry’s social and economic contributions to society and deliver a comprehensive overview of its direct and indirect value.

To learn more about the GHFA Advisory Council members, visit this page. For more information about the GHFA, contact Kilian Fisher at kfisher@ihrsa.org.

About the GHFA

The Global Health & Fitness Alliance (GHFA) was founded by IHRSA in November 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, with a mission of repositioning the health and fitness sector in the eyes of global governments and health bodies, definitively confirming it as an essential and vital service and a key contributor in the preventative healthcare continuum.

The GHFA is a proactive, globally representative alliance that brings together CEOs, C-suite industry stakeholders, and influencers from across the health and fitness sector.

The Alliance represents the entire global health and fitness club industry while funding research and advocacy to ensure the sector’s essential role is first recognized and then realized, working as a team and in cooperation with the relevant authorities.

The GHFA is powered by IHRSA and supported by organizations worldwide—ICREPS, national trade associations, club companies, and suppliers—but operates as a fully inclusive alliance open to all, with no membership fees. All applications are reviewed to ensure global representation, thought leadership, and authority move at pace.

About IHRSA

IHRSA, The Global Health & Fitness Association, is a not-for-profit trade association representing the global fitness industry of over 200,000 health and fitness facilities and their suppliers. IHRSA maintains a leadership role in advancing physical activity, which is critical for peak health and to fight the battle against obesity and chronic lifestyle diseases.

As the world's leading authority on the commercial health and fitness club industry, IHRSA’s mission is to grow, promote, and protect the health and fitness industry, while providing its members with benefits and resources. IHRSA and its members are devoted to making the world happier, healthier, and more prosperous through regular exercise and activity promotion. IHRSA is the publisher of Club Business International, the leading monthly magazine for the global fitness industry. Founded in 1981, IHRSA will be hosting its 40th Anniversary International Convention & Trade Show in Dallas, TX, on October 13-15, 2021, to celebrate the industry's revival! To register for a media pass, contact pr@ihrsa.org.