GSTC Staff
If you would like to contact the right person, visit the Contact Us page
Randy Durband
Randy Durband, Chief Executive Officer
Randy Durband has had two careers in travel and tourism – twenty-plus years in senior leadership positions at some of the finest U.S. tour operators, having served as President for Travcoa, INTRAV, and Clipper Cruise Lines, (brands within TUI Travel plc), plus Executive Vice President of Tauck World Discovery. Following that, in his second travel and tourism career, Randy advanced the work of Sustainable Tourism as an advisor, consultant, and speaker. He brings his knowledge of the business of travel, his global network of travel professionals, and a passion for sustainability to support the GSTC and the general sustainable tourism movement. He has held several board positions and committee memberships in travel and tourism organizations, and is a frequent speaker on sustainable tourism issues.
Roi Ariel
Roi Ariel, General Manager
Roi Ariel has been focusing on responsible travel and sustainable tourism over the past decade. In his role at GSTC, Roi manages the organization’s memberships, communications, events and operations. He previously worked with UN-ESCAP researching sustainable development and green growth in Southeast Asia, and on sustainability issues with the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA). Prior to his move to Asia, Roi worked with Friends of the Middle East in Israel as the Green Economy Initiative Advisor. Roi holds a master degree in Applied Economic and Social Development from the National Chengchi University in Taipei, and a bachelor degree in International Relations and Comparative Religion from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. With his master thesis titled “Common Pool Resource Management and Benefit Distribution in Community Based Tourism”, he speaks as a guest lecturer at universities and presents at academic conferences.
Contact Roi at roi@gstc.org
Dr. Mihee Kang
Dr. Mihee Kang, Chief Assurance Officer
Dr. Mihee Kang is the Chief Assurance Officer, as well as an authorized trainer and destination assessor. She has taught and researched ecotourism and sustainable tourism at several universities since receiving her Ph.D. degree in 1999 from Seoul National University. As the first Ph.D. in ecotourism in S. Korea and a UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve (MAB) Young Scientists Awards 2000 winner, she has been involved in sustainable tourism policy development and sustainability assessments of various types of destinations in S. Korea and other countries over 30 years. She has served in both domestic and international organizations such as Korean Geopark Committee, Korea Islands Foundation, Korea Trails and Culture, Jeju World Heritage Committee, Korea Forest Education Committee, Asian Ecotourism Network, etc. She has actively participated in numerous research projects and ODA projects in Korea and abroad. Dr. Kang has published many articles and books including a recent book about ecotourism in Asian countries.
Contact Mihee at mihee@gstc.org
Estefanía del Azar
Estefanía del Azar, Communications Manager
Estefanía del Azar is the Communications Manager for GSTC, she has a solid background in advertisement and marketing. With an entrepreneurial mindset, she co-founded her own advertising agency, working for almost a decade with various agencies and media companies. Estefanía holds a Bachelor’s degree in Advertising and PR from Antonio de Nebrija University, as well as an MBA and other management and leadership courses, such as Corporate Social Responsibility, Team and Talent Management, and Online Marketing. She is a passionate learner about technology, innovation, and sustainable travel. In addition to her professional work, Estefanía volunteers in her community by leading its book club. She is based in Madrid, Spain.
Contact Estefanía at stef@gstc.org
Naomi Oiwa
Naomi Oiwa, Japan Market Development Manager
Contact Naomi at naomi@gstc.org
Ane de Miguel
Ane de Miguel, Communications Specialist
Ane de Miguel Molina is the Communications Specialist at the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). She has a robust background in sustainability and communications, having worked as a Sustainability Coordinator, Content Creator, and Customer Experience Specialist. Ane also completed a Bachelor’s degree in Tourism Management from Saxion University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands, where she researched sustainable tourism practices and advised on regenerative tourism projects. Additionally, she was part of two projects by the EuroCulture en Pays Gentiane association in Riom-ès-Montagnes (France), focusing on the immersion of refugees from Africa through artistic initiatives. She holds certifications in Sustainable Tourism, Green Performer, and Animal Welfare. Ane’s expertise spans sustainable tourism, social media, video marketing, and customer experience. She is currently based in Deventer, the Netherlands.
Contact Ane at ane@gstc.org
Sergio Aja
Sergio Aja, Senior Accreditation Manager
Sergio Aja is a seasoned tourism professional with over 20 years of experience driving sustainability in businesses of all scales, from Andean communities in Peru and protected areas in Guatemala to hotel chains and multinational tour operators across Latin America. His early work, primarily with non-profit organizations, focused on strengthening sustainable practices in community tourism, SMEs, and local destination management organizations. These efforts aimed at safeguarding natural and cultural heritage while fostering inclusive and prosperous businesses. Sergio’s diverse expertise also extends to the public sector, private companies, and academia, where he served as a university professor, lecturer, and trainer. Before joining the GSTC, he managed the South American and Caribbean client portfolio for a prestigious CB, overseeing audit processes across multiple countries. Sergio Aja holds a degree in Ecotourism and a Master’s degree in Development from the Universidad del Valle in Guatemala. He is currently based in Lima, Peru.
Contact Sergio at sergio@gstc.org
Emi Kaiwa
Emi Kaiwa, Finance Director
Emi Kaiwa specializes in tourism and hospitality, sustainable tourism, project management, membership engagement, corporate sustainability and fundraising, and is experienced in the regions of Europe, Africa, and Asia. Working with profit and non-profit organizations in different industries and countries have given Emi a varied skillset and the ability to multitask and handle multiple projects simultaneously. Prior to joining GSTC, Emi worked with the leading sustainability organizations, such as WWF (World Wild Fund for Nature) Japan, University of Cagliari, South Sardinia, and Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA). Emi holds an MBA in Tourism from University in Thailand, with a concentration in sustainable tourism in Asia. She is currently based in Tokyo, Japan.
Contact Emi at emi@gstc.org
Natalia Sanin
Natalia Sanin, Assurance Measurement & Reporting Manager
Natalia Sanin is the Assurance Measurement & Reporting Manager for GSTC. She has seven years of experience in quality assurance, both in ISO 9001 and Fairmined (sustainable standard for small-scale and artisanal mining), as well as experience in process improvement and crowdfunding. She has a business administration degree, a certification in Integrated Quality Management Systems (HSEQ), and is certified as an internal auditor.
Based on her experience and knowledge in quality assurance and auditing, she seeks to positively impact the lives of people in need, their communities, and the environment. She believes that sustainable standards are an excellent way to improve society and the world.
Contact Natalia at natalia@gstc.org
Tiffany Chan
Tiffany Chan, Destination Program Manager
Tiffany’s focus is on sustainable tourism, particularly in destination stewardship, responsible recreation, and nature-based tourism. Her role at GSTC includes communications and Destination program support. Prior to joining GSTC, Tiffany held various positions in tourism, from business development and marketing to client services. She is a jury member for two international tourism film festivals and a volunteer at the Destination Stewardship Center. Tiffany holds a master’s degree in Sustainable Tourism Management from the Polytechnic Institute of Leiria in Portugal and an Honours Bachelor of Science degree in International Development Studies, Economics, and Psychology from the University of Toronto in Canada.
Contact Tiffany at tiffany@gstc.org
Dr. Jisun Kim
Dr. Jisun Kim, Training Program Manager
Dr. Jisun Kim is the Training Program Manager at GSTC. She received a Ph.D. in Business Administration from Inha University, focusing on happiness, leadership, work values, and self-efficacy. She taught a course on Peter Drucker’s Managing Oneself, focusing on how an organization and people can be sustainable. She completed the Global MBA and Leadership certificate program that included intensive training in France (University of Le Havre Normandy), Germany (Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg), China (University of Xiamen) and Korea (Inha University). She worked as an intern for a marketing project for CJ Cheil Jedang and as an HR Coordinator for Dongsung Corporation, developing an integrated job profile that included job description, role and responsibility, competence and KPI. At GSTC, she designs and operates training programs for industry and government with global trainers.
Contact Jisun at jisun@gstc.org
Maria Liontaki
Maria Liontaki, Accreditation Senior Manager, Lead Assessor
Maria’s career has a significant focus on sustainability within the hospitality industry but also in accreditation procedures. As a Quality Manager, she successfully implemented ISO and Sustainability Management Systems for a hotel chain in Greece, integrating environmental and social considerations into operational practices. Her role as an Assessor for the Hellenic Accreditation Body (ESYD) highlighted her commitment to upholding industry standards, while her experience as a Lead Auditor for ISO Standards and Tourism Product Manager for a Certification Body showcased her proficiency in evaluating and certifying sustainable practices. Maria studied Chemical Engineering and holds an MBA. Maria’s multifaceted expertise and profound commitment to sustainability and accreditation make her an asset to the GSTC team, aligning seamlessly with the organization’s mission.
Contact Maria at maria@gstcouncil.org
Yoko Ueki
Yoko Ueki, Japan Training Coordinator
Yoko resides in one of Japan’s premier tourist destinations and has been dedicated to regional nature conservation for many years. She worked on promoting GSTC at the Japan Ecotourism Center, and supported GSTC training as part of the Japan Tourism Agency’s sustainable tourism model project, which deepened her engagement with GSTC training programs. She recognizes that sustainable tourism is crucial for community development. Currently, she primarily coordinates GSTC training in Japan and works with a nature conservation NGO.
Contact Yoko at jp.training@gstc.org
Julieta Battilana
Julieta Battilana, Events & Membership Coordinator
Julieta Battilana is a tourism specialist whose focus has been on the communication and planning of tourism and has a particular interest in regenerative tourism. She has held different positions in this sector, from product development to marketing specialist for a certification body, focusing primarily on the communication aspects of tourism. Julieta recently completed her MSc in Sustainable Development at the University of Sussex, which engages with interdisciplinary perspectives of today’s most pressing issues. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Tourism, Planning and Management from the University of Westminster in London. She is currently based in London, United Kingdom.
Contact Julieta at julieta@gstc.org
Adriana Pizzi
Adriana Pizzi, Membership Manager
Adriana Pizzi is one of the Membership Coordinators at GSTC with over eight years of experience in the conservation of nature and sustainable tourism sector. Previously, Adriana worked as Communications Officer at Provita NGO in Caracas, where she contributed to environmental education and outreach projects. She later expanded her expertise by working as a Project Manager at Train & Travel with Women for Africa in Côte d’Ivoire, empowering women through community tourism. Adriana’s journey led her to become the Ecotourism Manager at Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Sierra Leone, where she successfully oversaw ecotourism activities. Her profound dedication to protecting natural resources, improving livelihoods, and promoting a harmonious relationship with nature and diverse cultures drives her work at GSTC. With a Law degree from Universidad Católica Andrés Bello, Venezuela and a Master’s degree in Ecotourism from Edinburgh Napier University, Scotland, Adriana is committed to projects that have a positive impact in nature and people.
Contact Adriana at adriana@gstc.org
Tatiana Agudelo Monguí
Tatiana Agudelo Monguí, Membership Coordinator
Tatiana works alongside in the GSTC Membership department, where her primary focus lies in providing dedicated support and fostering collaboration among Public, Academia, and Civil society members. She is convinced that recognizing the significance of inclusive discussions and engagement among all tourism stakeholders is necessary to build the foundations of sustainable tourism.
Tatiana has a master’s degree from the Université Lumière Lyon II in ‘Planning, Development and Marketing of Tourism Territories’ and have formerly served in the France public tourism sector in the Normandy region. Prior to this, Tatiana held various positions around the world from hospitality to tourism product, observatory, and destination development. Driven by her lifelong passion for cultural immersion and learning through nature, Tatiana has witnessed the incredible transformative power of tourism in recognizing and strengthening the cultural and natural heritage and wants to firmly continue to contribute to this.
Contact Tatiana at tatiana@gstc.org
Ayako Ezaki
Ayako Ezaki, Online Training Manager
Ayako Ezaki is Co-Founder and Director of Training Strategies & Development at TrainingAid, an international tourism and training company offering training and skills development opportunities for tourism industry professionals. Having worked for more than a decade in tourism professional training and education, Ayako specializes in content building, educational program design, training facilitation and project planning. She also brings many years of experience in online communications and content marketing. Through TrainingAid’s partnership with the GSTC, Ayako serves as Training Director to develop, manage and market the GSTC Sustainable Tourism Training Program, and over the last few years has worked with hundreds of tourism industry professionals from around the world supporting sustainability practices for tourism businesses and destinations. In addition, Ayako serves as the Expert Coordinator for Tourism Declares Climate Emergency, a global network of tourism industry stakeholders coming together to make tourism more climate positive.
Contact Ayako at training@gstc.org
Dr. Ioannis Pappas
Dr. Ioannis Pappas, Program Director – Mediterranean Region
Dr. Ioannis Pappas sits on the GSTC Board of Directors and acts as the Treasurer of GSTC. He is the GSTC Representative in the Mediterranean Region, and a GSTC authorized Trainer. Dr. Pappas is the CEO of Green Evolution SA, an experienced professional engineer, with over 25 years of work in several fields of science, focusing on sustainability and tourism, energy and environmental efficiency in infrastructure and buildings. He is also auditing and advising on standardization of companies and technological implementation of climate adaptation and mitigation methodologies. Dr. Pappas is Co-founder and a Board Member in a number of organizations (Sustainable Building Council of Greece, Hellenic Passive House Institute, Hellenic Start Up Association) as well as Co-founder of the Hellenic Ecotourism Society. He worked with the Joint Research Center-IE of European Commission and was a Greek representative as the expert for ITL at UNFCCC.
Contact Ioannis at ioannis@gstc.org
Jorge Moller
Jorge Moller, Program Director – Latin America & Caribbean
Jorge Moller is a sustainable tourism expert with nearly 40 years of leadership and hands-on experience in Chile and throughout Latin America. Currently, Jorge is the Director of Regenera ONG, which is a GSTC Training Partner that delivers training courses in Spanish online and in Latin America. Through Regenera, Jorge builds bridges with indigenous communities to create authentic experiences for tourists by sharing their culture and beliefs while generating income to sustain their way of life. Jorge has been involved with the GSTC since 2013, when he participated in the GSTC Early Adopter Program in Chile. He aslso served on the GSTC Board of Directors for a number of years. Jorge was instrumental in the cofounding and development of the South American Sustainable Tourism Network (SAST Network). Also co-founder of LACEN (Latin American and Caribbean Ecotourism Network) and on the board of GEN (Global Ecotourism Network). He regularly shares his expertise as trainer, consultant and speaker, lecturing on tourism and sustainable development in events throughout the region. Jorge is especially passionate about his work with the Mapuche and other indigenous peoples in Chile.
Contact Jorge at jorge@gstc.org
CB (Ram) Ramkumar
CB (Ram) Ramkumar, Program Director – South Asia
CB Ramkumar is a Member of the GSTC Board of Directors, Chair of the GSTC India Working Group, and was influential in the adoption in 2014 by the government of India of national sustainable tourism standards which drew heavily from the GSTC Criteria. Ram is an author, speaker, trainer, consultant, an entrepreneur and an expert in applied sustainability. He developed a model for sustainable living when he built the first 100% eco resort – Our Native Village in Bangalore, India. Over the last decade, he has extended his expertise to sustainable living – sustainable food, sustainable health, sustainable service, marketing & branding. Ram had been an advertising and marketing professional for two decades. His long career in the advertising & marketing took him to global companies like Saatchi & Saatchi, Ogilvy & Mather, Publicis and Standard Chartered Bank.
Contact Ram at cbramkumar@gstc.org
Kathleen Pittman
Kathleen Pittman, Program Director – Caribbean, and Special Projects
Kathleen Pittman is a leading technical expert on the application of the GSTC Criteria by businesses and government, supporting specific partnerships, special projects, and as a Destination Assessor and a GSTC Trainer. Kathleen is an attorney and international practitioner at the intersection of tourism and sustainable development. Kathleen especially enjoys working with partners devising strategies to deepen community benefits from tourism, including building capacity and market access for local entrepreneurs and other suppliers. Kathleen previously served as an attorney for the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and the law firm O’Melveny & Myers LLP. Before law school, Kathleen helped the Center for International Private Enterprise advance private sector development in Latin America & the Caribbean.
Contact Kathleen at kathleen@gstc.org
Jackie Denman
Jackie Denman, Associate Technical Director
Jackie studied maths and geography at Cambridge University and has been an Associate of The Tourism Company since its inception in 1991. Jackie has a long held and special interest in the interface between people, place and the environment and has specialised in sustainable tourism and tourism in rural and protected areas. She has worked on destination management plans and on product development strategy and evaluation. She has co-authored publications for the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), IUCN and the Secretariat for the Convention on Biological Diversity. In 2009, Jackie was awarded with distinction an MSc in Sustainable Development (Environmental Management) with Imperial College, London; she is an Environmental Partner of the Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Management.
Contact Jackie at td@gstcouncil.org
Richard Denman
Richard Denman, Associate Technical Director
Richard is Director of The Tourism Company, a small specialist tourism consultancy based on the UK. Following a degree in Economics from Cambridge University and a doctorate based on tourism research, Richard worked for ten years as development and marketing director for the tourist board in central England. He has been a consultant since 1990 and has worked in over fifty countries. In 2005 he wrote the policy guide Making Tourism More Sustainable for UNEP and UNWTO, and has continued to work with them and a number of international agencies on sustainability issues, including the preparation of various good practice guides. Richard has worked at a local level with many destinations round the world and has a particular interest in tourism in protected areas. In 2009/10 he undertook the initial work on developing the accreditation process for the predecessor body to the GSTC. Richard is a former Board Director of The International Ecotourism Society and serves on the Advisory Committee of the Travel Foundation.
Contact Richard at td@gstcouncil.org
David Andrés Ortegón-Martínez
David Andrés Ortegón-Martínez, Associate Technical Director
David’s experience on sustainability include his work as Sustainability Corporate Director at Karisma Hotels & Resorts in México, Jamaica and Dominican Republic, the development of the SM@RT Manager program, created to integrate Project Management, International Quality Standards (The Leading Hotels of the World – AAA) Innovation and CSR under a Sustainable approach into the daily operation of Hotels & Accommodations, and the development of the Sustainable Tourism Model for the State of Guanajuato, México. David is General Director and Owner of KAI Sustainable Coaching, a company based in México and Dominican Republic, created to assist tourism businesses in Latin America and The Caribbean to integrate Sustainability into their Management Systems and use it as a key element to optimize the use of its resources and its competitiveness on the market. David holds a Master on Leadership & Environmental Management from the UCI Costa Rica and an International Master in Local/Rural Development from the Polytechnic University of Madrid.
Contact David at td@gstcouncil.org
Dr. So Young Lee
Dr. So Young Lee, Project Manager
Dr. So Young Lee has a passion for human behaviour against nature. Her master research on local community’s perception on protected areas and world heritage sites has led on to further research on qualitative assessments in development projects and sustainable management. With her Ph.D research on ‘Enhancing Interactive Innovation in the Rural Areas of Europe through Evaluation: Quantitative Network Analysis and Qualitative Self-Evaluation Tools’ she is interested in how stakeholders can bring in innovative solutions to their programs/projects through self-evaluation and qualitative assessments. At GSTC she is responsible for data inventory management, such as filing of successful case studies according to the GSTC criteria. She also supports other GSTC initiatives.
Contact So Young at soyoung@gstc.org
Dr. Yoonjeong Jeong
Dr. Yoonjeong Jeong, Postdoctoral Fellow
Dr. Yoonjeong Jeong is a postdoctoral fellow at the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. She holds a Masters and PhD degree in Forest Environmental Science from Seoul National University. Her research focused on sustainable tourism and ecotourism. She has also conducted research on community-based tourism and tourism governance. Currently she is focusing on tourism big-data as well. She has actively participated in Korean government-funded research projects which are related to the aforementioned research areas. To date, she (co-)authored many refereed papers including the recent article about factors influencing community-based tourism in developing and developed countries.
Contact Yoonjeong at yoonjeong522@snu.ac.kr
Rita Kuan
Rita Kuan, Market Access Manager
Based in Taipei, Taiwan, Rita has a passion for working on cross-cutting solutions aimed at promoting sustainable tourism. Rita held various positions across tourism to sustainability consultancy, from guest relations, marketing, business development to ESG risk advisory. Rita holds a master’s degree in Global Hospitality Business from Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne, and a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management from Fu Jen University in Taiwan. In her role with GSTC, she is responsible for developing market access benefits to Certified Businesses, liaising with Accredited Certification Bodies(CBs), advise and support key stakeholders, and more.
Contact Rita at rita@gstc.org
Soohyun Kwon
Dr. Soohyun Kwon, Asia Market Development Manager
Dr.Kwon studied national parks and rural tourism at Seoul National University in Korea and received a master’s degree and a doctorate from the University of Tokyo in Japan through the analysis of the social network of rural tourism stakeholders as a recipient The Korean Government Scholarship Program for Study Overseas. She has been engaged in government policy research projects on rural development, rural revitalization, forestry, mountain village revitalization, rural tourism, ecotourism, and international cooperation, etc. She also lectures at universities.
Contact Soohyun at soohyun@gstc.org
Öykü Öztürk
Öykü Öztürk, Assurance Strategy Manager
Öykü works as an Assurance Strategy Manager at GSTC. She is an experienced professional with a background in sustainability reporting and sustainability frameworks, indices. She hold a Bachelor’s degree in Tourism Administration and a Master’s degree in Environmental Science from Boğaziçi University, specializing in environmental policies and sustainable tourism. Her career has been dedicated to bridging the gap between tourism and sustainability. She is passionate about driving positive change within the industry through her work in sustainability auditing and ongoing training in sustainable tourism practices. With a deep belief in the vital role of sustainability in the tourism sector, she is committed to applying her knowledge and expertise to create a more sustainable and responsible future for the industry and our planet.
Contact Öyük at oyku@gstc.org
Mustafa Söğüt
Mustafa Söğüt, Assurance Strategy Manager, Lead Assessor
Mustafa Söğüt is the Assurance Strategy Manager at GSTC. His role at GSTC is to support the execution of accreditation activities, Turkiye’s Sustainable Tourism Program, and assisting Auditor Training.
With a decade of experience as a Sustainable Tourism Auditor, Mustafa has gained extensive firsthand knowledge of onsite sustainability practices and initiatives.
Mustafa holds a Master’s degree in Tourism Management and a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and Public Relations. His certifications include GSTC Hotel Auditor, ISO 9001 Lead Auditor, Pedagogical Education, and Health and Safety Expertise. Mustafa is currently based in Antalya, Türkiye.
Contact Mustafa at mustafa@gstc.org
Joonsik Son
Joonsik Son, Assurance Communication Manager
Joonsik Son is an Assurance Communication Manager at GSTC. His responsibilities include managing communication and operational optimization within the GSTC Assurance program, and administering the GSTC Auditor Training program. Prior to joining GSTC, he earned his expertise in marketing communication as a brand marketer for a company focused on locally inspired tourism souvenirs and as a creative copywriter at a comprehensive advertising agency. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English Language and Literature and has authored literary travel essays. In his current role, he focuses on enhancing the consistency and efficiency of the process of the assurance program, ensuring it meets global standards and effectively communicates with stakeholders.
Contact Joonsik at joonsik@gstc.org
Yuna Jeon
Yuna Jeon, Training Program Coordinator
Yuna Jeon is the Training Program Coordinator at GSTC. In her role, Yuna designs and manages training programs tailored for both industry professionals and government officials, frequently collaborating with global trainers to ensure these initiatives are impactful and comprehensive. She is particularly motivated by the opportunity to engage with various stakeholders and work collaboratively towards shared goals in the field of sustainable tourism.
Yuna’s background in nursing has endowed her with exceptional communication skills, allowing her to connect effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and create a collaborative learning environment. This unique combination of skills and interests not only enhances her effectiveness as a coordinator but also significantly contributes to the broader impact of GSTC’s initiatives.
Contact Yuna at yuna@gstc.org
Başak Bilgin
Başak Bilgin, Assurance Coordinator
Başak Bilgin is the Assurance Coordinator at the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). She holds a bachelor’s degree in English Language Teaching; however, during her undergraduate studies, she discovered her interest in climate change research thanks to the course “The Age of Sustainability” and decided to change careers. She studied in Sustainable Tourism Management master program at Boğaziçi University, specializing in climate change and tourism studies. In her master’s thesis, she investigated the impact of climate change on tourist comfort levels in popular coastal destinations in Türkiye. With a strong commitment to sustainability, she aims to further her work in the future by focusing on climate adaptation and mitigation strategies in the face of climate change for the tourism sector. As the Assurance Coordinator, she supports GSTC’s strategic goals and the Assurance Director’s policy leadership, focusing on assurance management through executing assurance services, developing GSTC Criteria, supporting Türkiye’s Sustainable Tourism Program, training auditors, conducting research, aiding micro and small business certification, and managing administrative tasks.
Contact Başak at basak@gstc.org
Patricia Arellano
Patricia Arellano, Training Program Coordinator
Patricia is one of the Training Program Coordinators at GSTC, where she contributes to the development and delivery of international sustainable tourism courses. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Tourism at the University of the Philippines, where her interest in sustainable tourism began to take root. Prior to joining GSTC, Patricia worked in the hospitality industry, focusing on sales and client-account management for a portfolio of resorts and hotels. This included properties located in a managed resource protected area, which reinforced her commitment to environmental stewardship and advocacy towards sustainable tourism. Combining academic insight with on-ground experience, Patricia brings both enthusiasm and practical perspective to her work role in sustainable tourism education and advocacy.
Contact Patricia at patricia@gstc.org
Emily Cho
Emily Cho, Human Resources Manager
Emily Cho serves as the Human Resources Manager at GSTC, bringing a wealth of experience in management support, marketing intelligence, and communications. In her role at GSTC, she is responsible for management support, administration, coordination and various communications. Prior to joining GSTC, Emily gained valuable experience in global marketing at LG Display and A&E Korea, where she excelled in coordinating international projects, fostering stakeholder relationships, and delivering actionable business insights. Her expertise is further enriched by her tenure as a junior editor at EBM, a publishing company, which sharpened her communication and editorial skills. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from KyungHee University in Korea and is currently based in South Korea.
Contact Emily at emily@gstc.org
Mei-Han Feng
Mei-Han Feng, Membership Coordinator
Currently based in Tokyo, Japan, Mei has a background in account management in travel and marketing tech companies, with experience helping businesses adopt innovative digital solutions. Her focus on sustainable tourism is centered on cultural and social aspects, aiming to create meaningful impacts within communities. She holds a bachelor’s degree in French from National Central University in Taiwan and a master’s degree in Tourism from Monash University in Australia. As a Membership Coordinator at GSTC, Mei is dedicated to supporting GSTC’s global mission while expanding membership engagement in the Asia-Pacific region.
Contact Mei-Han at mei@gstc.org
Jesús Mena
Jesús Mena, IT Manager
Jesús studied Computer Science in Spain and practiced it in several countries including Taiwan, where he’s been living for well over a decade. He’s passionate about IT solutions that utilize data and information to make people’s work and communication better. His work experience ranges from the more technical aspects of Software Development and IT to coordinating multiple teams to creating products to be proud of.
Contact Jesús at jesus@gstc.org
Fachri Artadi
Fachri Artadi, Accreditation Compliance Manager
With over a decade of experience in sustainable certification and compliance, Fachri brings in-depth expertise in managing accreditation systems and aligning certification practices with international sustainability standards. Prior to joining GSTC, he served in senior roles at global certification bodies, where he oversaw accreditation processes and stakeholder engagement across multiple schemes.
In Indonesia, he played a key role in the development of the national CHSE (Cleanliness,Health, Safety, and Environment) Standard for tourism enterprises, also serving as one of its lead auditors. He also contributed to advancing sustainability in the maritime sector by developing the Greenport Matrix in collaboration with the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment and the Ministry of Transportation. At GSTC, he ensures the credibility and integrity of the GSTC-Accredited Certification Bodies, supporting the organization’s mission to promote sustainable tourism through robust, global standards. His work is driven by a commitment to continuous improvement and the use of certification as a strategic tool to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Contact Fachri at fachri@gstc.org
Yejee Oh
Yejee Oh, Accreditation Compliance Manager
Yejee developed a strong interest in sustainability while conducting her master’s research on “The Impact of Sustainable Brand Authenticity on Purchase Intention,” exploring the relationship between consumer perception and sustainability. This academic exploration laid the foundation for her continued commitment to sustainability and responsible business practices.
Prior to joining GSTC, she worked at a global certification body, where she was primarily responsible for certifying and auditing sustainable product certifications in the textile industry. She later continued her career at a Korea-based local certification body, focusing on technical operations for management system certifications.
At GSTC, she serves as an Accreditation Compliance Manager, ensuring the credibility and integrity of GSTC-accredited certification bodies and supporting the organization’s mission to promote sustainable tourism through robust, global standards.
Contact Yejee at yejee@gstc.org
Ozlem Okcu
Ozlem Okcu, Senior Accreditation Manager
Ozlem is an environmental engineer with over 20 years of expertise in environmental management, health and safety, quality assurance, and management systems integration.
Her career began as an environmental engineer in the chemical industry and then developed in the food industry, where she advanced into management roles and established systems that enhanced workplaces through sustainable practices. Driven by a desire to make a broader impact and explore diverse cultures, she found her calling as a freelance auditor. During this journey, her path crossed with GSTC, where she realized her persistent values could contribute to global sustainability by collaborating with the GSTC team.
While her passion for making a positive impact continues in her professional life, she also engages in volunteer activities on environmental and social protection.
Contact Ozlem at ozlem@gstc.org
Erel Ben Dor
Erel Ben Dor, Auditor Training Program Manager
Erel Ben Dor is the Auditor Training Program Manager for GSTC. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Tourism Management and has years of experience working across multiple tourism businesses – from chain hotels, through business travel in high-tech companies to small tour operators. Prior to joining GSTC, Erel worked across sectors and brings a unique blend of strategic thinking from the fast-paced Israeli High-Tech companies along with soft skills learned from years of being a state-service social worker. With a strong commitment to sustainability and a passion for tourism, Erel hopes to support GSTC’s global mission for being an agent of change in the world of sustainable tourism.
Contact Erel at erel@gstc.org
Wendy Li
Wendy Li, National Programs Director
Wendy is the National Programs Director at the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), where she works closely with public sector agencies to adopt and implement the GSTC Standards and sustainability framework. Before joining GSTC, Wendy was a tourism specialist at the World Bank for eight years and served as the technical lead on nature-based tourism. In that role, she oversaw the development of tools, knowledge products, and capacity-building initiatives to support stakeholders in delivering sustainable tourism with greater benefits for people and the environment. Wendy holds a Master of Tourism Administration from George Washington University and lives in Washington, DC.
Contact Wendy at wendy@gstc.org