The fitness and wellness industry is to hold its inaugural summit at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin in July, with 40 international and local speakers confirmed.

Scheduled for Saturday and Sunday July 16 and 17, the event says it aims to be the largest industry event of the year and to spark discussions about the latest trends and future opportunities helping to shape the fitness and wellness landscape, according to the organisers.

IHRSA chair and chief executive of Westwood Clubs Alan Leach said: “For 20 years I’ve spoken at fitness conferences all over the world. The Fitness and Wellness Summit is different. The fitness management education, the sales and marketing expertise, the conference format, the Aviva Stadium location, and the calibre of the fitness industry speakers — all make this a world-class event for anybody in the fitness or wellness industry.

“If you own a fitness business, manage a fitness club, or work in a gym or fitness studio, you need to attend this event. The knowledge you’ll get will be worth 50 times the ticket price.”

Tickets are priced at €320 for the weekend or €180 for a day, with group rates on offer.

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The summit will provide educational and motivational content over three separate tracks. Practical advice for business owners, the latest developments in injury prevention, and the latest trends in the growing wellness market, all will be covered, said Leach.

TV and radio broadcaster and founder of Pure Results wellness community Kathryn Thomas will MC the main stage, and the confirmed headline speakers include:

• Karl Dunne, CEO of Ireland Active
• Alan Leach, chair of the Global Health and Fitness Association, IHRSA
• Daniel Lieberman, paleo-anthropologist at Harvard University, where he is a professor of biological sciences in the department of human evolutionary biology. Lieberman is also bestselling author of Exercised, the Science of Physical Activity, Rest and Health and The Story of the Human Body: Evolution, Health and Disease
• Sat Bir Singh Khalsa, associate professor of medicine at Harvard University, director of yoga research for the Yoga Alliance and a researcher in the field of body mind medicine who specialises in yoga therapy
• Dr Ruairi Robertson, a scientist studying the human gut microbiome and how microbes influence the human body.
• Dr Emilia Thompson, who co-wrote and delivered the Optimum Nutrition, Nutrition for Health and Performance course.
• Pat Henry, yoga therapist and fitness consultant
• Dr Michelle Hone, founder of The Fit Clinic
• Catherine Carty, UNESCO chair project manager
• Karl Henry, personal trainer and fitness expert, broadcaster, columnist and author
• Dr Philip Crowley, national director of strategy & research at the HSE.

Summit co-founder Laura Kinsella added: “The fitness and wellness industry is worth over €300m annually, and it’s an area that’s continuing to grow. However, there is little by the way of corporate events which share the latest trends in the industry for professionals, as well as allowing for networking.

“The Fitness and Wellness Summit will be the first event of its kind in Ireland, and will help industry professionals understand the latest trends, policy and innovations which will go towards improving the standards of delivery across the sector.”

Kinsella, who is based in Wicklow, founded the event together with her sister Hayley Hester, who spotted a gap in the market and pooled their event industry experience plus their passion for fitness to fill it.

The event is supported by Active Ireland, REPs Ireland (Register of Exercise Professionals), the HSE, Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists (ISCP), Dublin City Council, Athletic Rehabilitation Therapy Ireland (ARTI) and Yoga Therapy Ireland.

The full list of speakers is available here, with ticket sales here.