Belgin Aksoy, Jeremy McCarthy and Dr Fikry Isaac were all honoured with awards at last week’s Global Wellness Summit in Kitzbuhel, Austria.

Isaac, former VP of global health services for Johnson & Johnson, was named Leader in Workplace Wellness for his pioneering work in the field of workplace health promotion and global health.

Aksoy was honoured as a Leading Woman in Wellness for her work in founding Global Wellness Day, a nonprofit grassroots movement that has now reached more than 90 countries.

Aksoy thanked Global Wellness Institute chair Susie Ellis and the GWS for the honour, and dedicated it to “all the hardworking, strong women in the world, especially to the loving memory of my soul-sister, Charlene Florian.”

Florian, who worked for skincare brand Kerstin Florian, died earlier this year, and this year’s Global Wellness Day was dedicated to her memory.

Aksoy also invited Jean-Guy de Gabriac, international coordinator of Global Wellness Day, on to the stage to help accept the award.

And McCarthy, group director of spa & wellness for Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group and author of The Psychology of Spas & Wellbeing, received the first-ever Debra Simon Award for Leader in Furthering Mental Wellness for his work in bringing the power of positive psychology to the spa industry.

The award was introduced by Simon’s daughter, Lauren Wright, in an emotional video that paid tribute to her mother’s legacy.

In a Facebook post, McCarthy said he was taken by surprise at the award.

“This is an honor I do not take lightly – my heart and soul are soaring from this acknowledgement by my peers,” he said. “So amazing to work alongside this incredible wellness community and feel the focus shift from merely battling illness to fostering wellbeing and human flourishing.”