TRAININGAID - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Chief Purpose Officer at EXO Travel
- Chief Purpose Officer at EXO Travel, a Leading Responsible Travel DMC in Asia, Shares Her Personal and Professional Journey
- Director of Sustainability at EXO Travel
- Director of Sustainability at EXO Travel / France
Alexandra Michat, Chief Purpose Officer at EXO Travel, a leading responsible travel DMC in Asia, shares her personal and professional journey combining experiences in development, social entrepreneurship, and purpose-driven business.
Born in France, Alexandra first stepped foot in Asia ten years ago. With a Masters degree in Development, Cooperation and International Relations and a Research Masters in Public Law, she has professional expertise with social enterprises and non profit organizations.
Alexandra started her career working for non profit organizations and then in the public sector, in the fields of local development, leading projects in various fields such as microfinance and fair trade.
She joined EXO Travel in 2014, a Destination Management Company creating tailor-made travel experiences in Asia, first as Vietnam's sustainability coordinator before rising up to Director of Sustainability and to her current position as EXO's Chief Purpose Officer in 2022.
Overseeing EXO's not-for-profit arm, EXO Foundation which supports environmental grass-roots organizations and local communities in Asia, Alexandra is a key part of the leadership team shaping the organization's strategies.
Alexandra has contributed to:
Story: "Leading with Purpose and Making Change Happen with a Value-Driven Responsible Travel Business"
Course: GSTC Sustainable Tourism Course
Job Titles:
- Group Sustainability Manager at Asian Trails
Job Titles:
- Community Tourism and Development Specialist
For more than 30 years, Antonio has been: interpreter guide, professor, planner and consultant in community and sustainable projects. In Venezuela he worked in the Pemón and Michiruy Tourism Project. Additionally, he was the assistant of the Deputy Director of Competitiveness and Tourism Quality in the Municipal Tourism of Acapulco (Mexico). In 2021 he was involved in the project: "Regenerative tourism strategy to build strong and resilient communities in Panama" promoting effective synergy between all social actors.
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder, MOYO Training Foundation
Job Titles:
- Consultant
- Consultant at Chi Sustainability Consulting
- Consultant Focused on Sustainability and Social Justice Practices in Tourism Worldwide, Shares Her Own Journey, Pursuing an Equitable Path
Chi Lo (she/her) is a sustainable tourism expert and consultant with experience across four continents. She specializes in sustainability strategic planning and reporting, cross-sectoral and cross-cultural relationship building, with particular interest in community-based tourism, social justice, wildlife, (food) waste, and certification. Current engagements include Travel Unity, Travelife for Tour Operators, and Textile Exchange, alongside affiliations such as the GSTC Communications Working Group, Destination Stewardship Center, the World Tourism Association for Cultural Heritage, and others. Chi is based in Seattle and is happiest exploring the wide world with her husband and young children.
Chi Lo, a consultant focused on sustainability and social justice practices in tourism worldwide, shares her own journey, pursuing an equitable path forward through "tourism done well".
Job Titles:
- Tourism Sustainability Manager at ERC Australia
Job Titles:
- Communications Consultant at the Lost Compass
Dr. Xavier Font shares his thoughts on why training and professional development important are important for the tourism industry, and for…
Job Titles:
- Travel Writer
- Travel Writer and Community Storyteller, Shares Her Journey in Sustainable Tourism, and How She Found Her Vision and Built Her
- Travel Writer at Traveller Storyteller
Elisa Spampinato is a travel writer with a great passion and years of experience in Community-Based Tourism. She is an internationally recognised and qualified Sustainable Tourism professional.
She focuses on rediscovering the roots and the soul of a tourism destination through the stories of its communities. She supports local tour operators with communication and marketing services, while helping strengthen their connection with local communities and improving their positive impacts at the grassroots level.
Elisa Spampinato, a travel writer and community storyteller, shares her journey in sustainable tourism, and how she found her vision and built her path, focused on the simple but profound idea that for tourism to become more sustainable and inclusive, stories of communities must be told through the local perspectives.
Job Titles:
- German Chancellor Fellow
- Product Manager ‑ Supplier Audits Sustainability and Traveler Safety at HRS Group
Fabio Fornari is a German Chancellor Fellow sponsored by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and hosted by the Deutscher Reiseverband in Berlin. He holds a bachelor's degree in Tourism from the University Anhembi Morumbi, with extensions at the GLION Institute of Higher Education, the School of Hospitality and Tourism of Setubal and the Edinburgh College, and a specialisation in Politics and International Relations from the School of Sociology and Politics of São Paulo. He is currently a master's degree student in Tourism Development at the University of São Paulo with co-supervision by the Technische Universität Berlin. One of his main research interests is on climate change, sustainability and how the industry interacts with the global climate agenda.
Job Titles:
- General Manager at Intrepid DMC Colombia
- Specialist in Colombia
Hernán Acevedo, an incoming tourism specialist in Colombia, shares his journey discovering the power of tourism to transform the lives of travellers and local communities, and promoting the potential of responsible local and adventure tourism to forge a peaceful future for the country.
Job Titles:
- Founder, Copywriter & Strategist at the Guilty Granola GLP Films
- Sustainability Expert
Holly Prievo is a sustainability expert, with knowledge spanning sustainable tourism, capacity building for sustainable development, sustainability certifications, and best practices for businesses. She is the founder of The Guilty Granola, a content strategy and copywriting service for sustainable and ethical brands. She's presented at the European Summer School in Leadership and Governance for Sustainable Tourism on the topic of Capacity Building for Sustainable Tourism Projects, writes a lifestyle blog for personal sustainability, and has authored a draft sea turtle certification program for coastal lodging. She currently works with GLP Films, a sustainable tourism storytelling agency based in Maine. She holds a graduate degree in Global Sustainability with a concentration in sustainable tourism.
Job Titles:
- CEO at Travelopment
- Entrepreneur
- Entrepreneur Focused on Travel and Technology, Shares His Sustainability Journey, from Developing His Own Businesses to Applying
Håvard Utheim is an entrepreneur in travel and technology. He grew up on a small island in the middle of nature in Norway and his professional life has been about protecting the nature he loves. Håvard is has through his businesses helped thousands of entrepreneurs and small local businesses from more than 180 countries. He really believes that many small responsible companies can change tourism, and the world :)
Håvard Utheim, an entrepreneur focused on travel and technology, shares his sustainability journey, from developing his own businesses to applying…
Job Titles:
- Sales and Sustainability Manager at COMPASSO DMC
- Sales and Sustainability Manager at COMPASSO DMC in Portugal
- Sales and Sustainability Manager at COMPASSO DMC in Portugal, Shares Her Journey of Developing, Deepening and Applying Sustainability
Inês Francisco, Sales and sustainability manager at COMPASSO DMC in Portugal, shares her journey of developing, deepening and applying sustainability knowledge, and working as a sustainability coordinator to facilitate the implementation of sustainability management steps as part of a certification process.
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder and Director at INOW
- Co - Founder and Director at INOW / Japan
- Co - Founder of INOW in Kamikatsu, Japan
- Co - Founder of INOW in Kamikatsu, Japan, Shares Her Sustainability Journey, Combining Her Passion in Education, Sustainability and
Kana is the Co-founder and Director of INOW, an educational tourism programme based in Kamikatsu, the first "Zero Waste Village" in Japan, and a member of the Zero Waste Academy. In 2021, she was selected as an Emerging Climate Leader Asia-Pacific through the ProSPER.Net Leadership Programme hosted by UN University - Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability and Social Innovation Japan. Kana cares deeply about climate action, sustainable tourism, and education.
Kana Lauren Chan, Co-founder of INOW in Kamikatsu, Japan, shares her sustainability journey, combining her passion in education, sustainability and tourism, and working towards creating opportunities that nurture a sense of community and create value for people through experiences.
Kana is Japanese and Chinese, born and raised in Canada. She is the Co-founder and Director of INOW, an educational tourism program based in Kamikatsu, the first "Zero Waste Village" in Japan, and a member of the Zero Waste Academy.
Job Titles:
- Product & Sustainability Team Manager at World Challenge
- Product and Sustainability Team Manager at World Challenge, a Leading Sustainable Educational Expeditions Provider, Shares Her Stories and
- Sustainability Team Manager at World Challenge
Liz Tuck, Product and Sustainability Team Manager at World Challenge, a leading sustainable educational expeditions provider, shares her stories and lessons based on her personal and professional experiences in the educational travel sector, and her thoughts on creating lasting positive impacts through sustainable and mindful travel, including the transformation that happens long after the traveller returns home.
Job Titles:
- Communications Manager at Global Ecotourism Network ( GEN )
- Professor
- Venezuelan Professor and Researcher at Universidad Del Zulia
Marianela Camacho is a Venezuelan professor and researcher at Universidad del Zulia dedicating her work to the Pemón culture, its documentation and sustaining its historical and environmental legacy for future generations. Marianela is the General Director of Fundación Etnika and Angel Conservation Corporation, as well as a Jimmie Angel Historical Project Board Director since 2017.
She has supported Angel Conservation Corporation, Fundación Etnika and the Kamarakotos since 2011 through cooperation projects, educational and training programs and currently she is also the Communications Manager of the Global Ecotourism Network (GEN) and Founding Member of the Latin American and Caribbean Ecotourism Network (LACEN).
Marianela Camacho (Professor, Universidad del Zulia, Venezuela) shares her sustainability journey, and her personal, academic and professional experiences that have led to her passion for tourism that promotes well-being for all.
Job Titles:
- Founder and Director of Nave Tours
Mario Mellado is the founder and director of Nave Tours (Chile) and Ecomorro (Brazil). He also designs custom programs for Nanook Travel (Norway) and Vivitravel.com (Italy). For Nanook he manages the Latin American network of providers.
Job Titles:
- Responsible Tourism Consultant and ESG
- Responsible Tourism Consultant, ESG & Sustainability Specialist
Nia Klatte, Responsible Tourism Consultant and ESG & Sustainability Specialist, shares her journey in sustainable tourism and responsible travel, including different roles and opportunities that have contributed to her professional development, and lessons and insights gained from such experiences.
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Founder
- CEO at Uteguiden
- Founder and CEO of the Adventure Company Uteguiden in Norway, Shares His Experience As an Entrepreneur With a Great Love for
Oscar Almgren, Founder and CEO of the adventure company Uteguiden in Norway, shares his experience as an entrepreneur with a great love for delivering world class adventures and outdoor experiences, and lessons from building and growing Uteguiden into one of the largest adventure companies in Norway.
Job Titles:
- Historian - Turned - Entrepreneur Who Has Been Working With Local and Indigenous Communities in Colombia 's Northern Regions, Shares Her
Paola Forero, a historian-turned-entrepreneur who has been working with local and Indigenous communities in Colombia's northern regions, shares her…
Job Titles:
- Founder at Angel - Eco Tours
- President of Angel
- President of Angel - Eco Tours, Angel Conservation Corp. and Fundación Etnika, Shares His Story of Encounters and Adventures in
Paul Stanley, President of Angel-Eco Tours, Angel Conservation Corp. and Fundación Etnika, shares his story of encounters and adventures in Venezuela, a country he fell in love with two decades ago.
Born and brought up in India, Tanuvi Joe is a freelance writer dedicated to covering the climate crisis and how the tourism industry can transition to sustainability. She believes in the power of words and through her travels and conversations with people, she raises awareness and provides the readers with innovative ways to align themselves towards a kinder way of living that does more good than harm to the planet. Tanuvi has a background in Journalism, Tourism, and Sustainability, and in her free time, this plant parent surrounds herself with books and writes poetry on her blog Ruffling Wings.