Stephanie McLean Blending science, technology and health.
As wellness evolves from a trend into a cornerstone of modern living — Anna Davies, Founder of Refined Wellness, is leading the charge in reshaping how Australians approach health and longevity. With a background in finance and a passion for science-backed innovation, she’s pioneering a more integrated, personalised approach to wellbeing — one that blends cutting-edge modalities with ancient practices to meet the growing demand for tailored health solutions.
Anna shares her inspiring journey from corporate finance to becoming a prominent figure in the global wellness industry. She reveals how personal experiences of loss and discovery shaped her mission to make advanced recovery and longevity tools accessible to all. We sat down with her to delve into her belief that the future of health lies in personalisation, biohacking, and seamlessly integrating science into everyday life.
What led to your interest in wellbeing, so much to start a business within and pivot from your background in finance?
Finance always felt like an expectation—an outcome of doing well in school, getting a good OP, excelling at university, and landing that “ideal” 9-to-5 job (which, in reality, was more like 8-to-7). Climbing the corporate ladder felt like a script I was following, but deep down, I knew it wasn’t the story I wanted to tell.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m a numbers girl at heart, but my true passion has always been health and wellbeing. From a young age, playing sports, being outdoors, and living life to the fullest gave me energy and purpose. I completed at a high level in sport and I would always be on a mission to perform better & recover faster. Even at the age of 16, I was getting IV drips and using whole-body cryotherapy units—definitely ahead of my time—but I’ve always been fascinated by this stuff.
It wasn’t until I experienced the heartbreak of losing two of the closest people to me that I realised how short life truly is. That loss sparked a pivotal moment where I decided to stop worrying about what others might think and to follow my heart. I set out to find a way to help people live happier, healthier, and more fulfilled lives.
Initially, I thought that would be through building my own wellness centre, but I quickly realised I didn’t have the capital to make that dream a reality. As I researched the global wellness industry, I discovered how much Australia was missing out on. That’s when I stumbled across Starpool—a company I believe to be the world leader in wellness —I reached out to them, and one step led to another. Today, I’m proud to be their exclusive Australian distributor, along with so many other incredible modalities.
The journey hasn’t been easy. The first two to three years were incredibly tough—I struggled to sell even a single unit at times. It was my partner’s unwavering support and my belief in the vision of spreading wellness, recovery, and longevity that kept me going.
Looking back now, I realise those challenges shaped me into the businesswoman I am today. Wellness isn’t just a business for me—it’s my way of contributing to something bigger. It’s about creating opportunities for others to lead healthier, more joyful lives and making a meaningful impact in an industry that has the power to change lives.
What would be your modality of choice, and why?
It’s incredibly hard to choose just one modality because I’ve curated such an incredible lineup of partners. Every manufacturer I work with & modality I source is backed by countless clinical studies, and their products truly change lives. What excites me the most about these modalities is the ability to stack them—combining different ones to address specific needs and amplify results.
For instance, in my line of work, I travel a lot. After a demanding, month-long trip, my go-to routine is all about recovery and resetting. I start with ZeroBody to calm my parasympathetic nervous system, bringing my body out of fight-or-flight mode. Then, I move on to BOA Lymphatic Drainage to flush out the fluid retention from flying and rid my body of toxic waste that builds up in our environment. Next, I spend 30 minutes in the sauna to further promote detoxification. Following that, I use ARRC LED therapy, which literally creates systemic benefits across nearly every tissue, organ, and system in the body, recharging each cell on a molecular level. If I’m stacking these treatments at the start of the day, I always finish with cold therapy, whether that’s Cryotherapy, Starpool’s ZeroBody Cryo, or a traditional cold plunge for vasodilation, promoting cellular repair, reducing oxidative stress and, the best bit is the dopamine hit for the jetlag.
What I love most about these modalities is their versatility. They can be tailored to suit anyone’s schedule or needs—whether you have just 20 minutes or a luxurious three hours. Either way, the impact on your physiology is undeniable, leaving you feeling rejuvenated, balanced, and ready to take on the world.
Where do you see the health & wellness industry moving in the next 5-10 years?
This question excites me the most! Wellness, recovery, longevity, and biohacking—whatever you want to call it (although I’m not a big fan of the word “wellness,” but that’s another conversation)—are still in their infancy, particularly in Australia. People are only just beginning to embrace practices like sauna and ice baths, which are age old traditions in other cultures. There are so many directions that wellbeing can take, from the experiences of day spas to recovery-focused gym programs, meditation at a yoga shala, or biohacking and longevity centres. Personally, I believe even something as simple as a long walk or run in nature is one of the best forms of wellbeing. It’s all about finding a routine that resonates with you and makes you feel good.
When we dive into the more science-focused side of wellbeing, I believe this side of the industry will undergo a significant shift over the next 5–10 years. The concept of “biohacking,” popularised by Dave Asprey in 2015, transformed the global wellness industry and points to where things are headed. Advances in technology and research now allow us to better understand and support our biology for healthier and more fulfilling lives. Science has shown that through specific approaches and modalities, we can optimise our physical and mental wellbeing in powerful ways.
I’m currently reading Lifespan by David A. Sinclair, and I love how he frames the concept of health and longevity. He suggests that rather than focusing solely on treating age-related conditions, we should address the underlying factors contributing to these issues. The idea of reclassifying ageing as a condition that can be studied and managed is fascinating. Research into longevity factors such as sirtuins, NAD, and TOR is helping us better understand how to support health over time.
One exciting development in this field is the growing ability to identify key biomarkers in the body that give insights into our overall health. Through testing, we can uncover areas to focus on to help individuals feel their best. While we’re not curing diseases or addressing medical conditions, the modalities we offer at Refined Wellness are designed to support research by creating customised stacks and protocols tailored to individual needs. These approaches can help people feel stronger, more energetic, and more resilient in their day-to-day lives, contributing to a healthier, longer life.
The future of health and wellbeing is all about personalisation, integration, and science-backed solutions. I’m thrilled to be part of this industry as it evolves and continues to help people unlock their full potential.
Learn more at Refined Wellness.
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