Kris Abby been passionate about health and wellness for as long as I can remember. By 13, I had given up junk food, and by 15 I had begun leading group fitness classes – and continue to do so today. For the last 30 years I have been working with lifestyle brands from retail to travel, local and international, to help spread the good word and get more people investing in their own health and taking time out to travel, exercise, enjoy and eat well! ”
I have a Bachelor of Education (Physical Education & Science), as well as a Post Grad. Dip. in Exercise physiology and Sports Science. After graduating from uni, I spent 3 years involved in PE teaching at schools and developing a business (KTL Life & Leisure) that specialised in corporate health and stress management. My business provided health and exercise strategies for clients including NEC, Zurich Australia, Coles Myer, TNT/Ansett, Apple, Dick Smith Electronics, Sandoz Pharmaceuticals, KFC, Fujitsu, Techway, Lexmark/Gestetner, Marketing Insights and Sterling Software. By the age of 22, I had a successful corporate health company that employed 15 staff. As a result, I was invited to speak at numerous functions aimed at motivating women in business. In 1994, I decided to change direction and spent the next 5 years at Eli Lilly Australia, a pharmaceutical company, in their Neuroscience division and was part of the sales and marketing team that launched Prozac in Australia. I was fortunate enough to attend numerous sales and marketing courses to hone my marketing skills, while feeding my creative predisposition. I also initiated the company’s newsletter, which continues today!
During my time at Lilly, I learned valuable information about mental health, which confirmed my long held belief that the mind and body work as one. This understanding was instrumental in my decision to leave Lilly as I wanted to be more involved in preventative health, especially in the realm of communication (in all its forms)! Still with a burning passion for health and fitness, plus a new-found love for writing and marketing, I found myself in media, where I helped launch what was then Good Health magazine. I ran the Sydney office as NSW Publishing Manager, as well as Fitness Editor, before becoming Editor. In 2001, I purchased the magazine, changed the title to Better Health, eventually taking it to an online content & downloadable program hub (krisabbey.com). I have also consulted to Accor, The Hilton Hotel Group (Global), Divani Collection (Greece), Bondi Pacific (Sydney), Atzaro (Spain), Alila (Bali), I’ve authored a number books, Going Organic: Your Guide to a Healthier Life (New Holland) and my latest book titled The Low HI Diet; How to Get Clean & Get Lean (New Holland) is available in Australia, USA, South Africa, and the UK. I also spent 18 months as Editor of Ultra-Fit magazine, and purchased the title Spa Life magazine, which I was the publishing edtor for 4 years. It was in this role that I had great exposure to the Spa industry around the world and found my calling!
Spa’s that incorporate wellness, and of course, travel! I have fallen in love with the Travel & Wellness industry and it is where I feel most at home. For the past few years I have been working in the Wellness Tourism industry developing a media platform (website and magazine titled Spa & Wellness). Sofitel (Sydney) and Amatara (Phuket) on their spa & wellness projects. 2022 I launched the Asia Pacific Spa & Wellness Awards, bringing recognition to incredible brands and people in the industry. And in 2023 we added the Wellness Summit, bringing our industry thought leaders together to connect, educate, motivate and potentially collaborate. As well as celebrate the success of our Award winners. I love creating concepts and content that support the Global Spa and Wellness industry… Using my experience in health and wellness combined with a passion for media and marketing is where I humm.
Kriss Abby will be speaking at Sydney – Melbourne and Perth Aesthetic Business Masters
