Veronica Schreibeis Smith, CEO and founding principal of Vera Iconica Architecture, was presented with the Leading Women in Wellness Award at the 2020 Global Wellness Summit.

Schreibeis Smith is passionate about championing regenerative wellness architecture and is on a mission to get it on the agenda of the wider architecture and spa and wellness communities.

To realise her passion, she set up Vera Iconica in 2010 in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, with a focus on ‘how environments impact human wellbeing and planet earth’, and has since worked with well-known industry names, including Rancho La Puerta.

She also has global experience having previously worked in Peru, South Korea and Germany and is the chair of the GWI’s Architectural Wellness Initiative which brings together thought leaders from the sector to raise awareness on how our surroundings directly impact all aspects of our wellbeing.

GWS chair and founder, Susie Ellis, and creative director and executive director, Nancy Davis, presented the award, with Davis calling Schreibeis Smith an “absolute superstar, who embodies the award and has taken the architecture world by storm.”

Schreibeis Smith was humbled by the accolade and said: “This is truly an honour – I feel like I haven’t arrived yet and for the two of you (Ellis and Davis) to see me and recognise the work and the impact that we’ve already had, but more so the impact we want to have on the industry, is an incredible honour.

“From the bottom of my heart thank you for all of the support you have given me, it’s powered and fueled our business and our inspiration.”