Anna's dedication to education and empowerment has always been central to her career. Passionate about nurturing the next generation of changemakers and leaders, she spent over eight years as a leader within the
IUCN WCPA Young Professionals Group and has actively contributed to international initiatives advancing the SDGs, including female leadership programs by
the Girl Move Academy. In addition, Anna serves as a lecturer in conservation and sustainable tourism management for university programs and conducts training for rangers and national park guides on outdoor ethics and interpretation as a certified
Leave No Trace trainer.
Believing that collaboration is the cornerstone of sustainability and conservation, Anna has led over 30 interdisciplinary international and domestic conservation, education, and capacity-building projects, effectively bridging scientific research with impactful communication while empowering local communities to safeguard nature. In 2019, in recognition of her exceptional contributions to conservation and community engagement,
Anna was honored with the prestigious IUCN CEC Excellence Award.
With a prolific portfolio of over 130 publications, including 12 books and industry guidelines, Anna has made significant contributions to sustainable tourism practices. Her extensive international experience encompasses academic collaborations and research exchanges with renowned institutions such as Cambridge University, the U.S. National Parks Service, and Fish and Wildlife Services. Additionally, she has over a decade of experience coordinating UNESCO MAB site activities and has consulted on sustainable tourism and conservation projects across Eurasia and beyond.
At UCSL, Anna leads the GSTC Program, bringing her wealth of expertise to design and deliver certification processes that drive meaningful and measurable change worldwide. By cultivating strong partnerships with local and international stakeholders and seamlessly integrating region-specific expertise, Anna ensures that UCSL’s certification solutions remain globally impactful while deeply rooted in local realities. Anna’s interdisciplinary expertise bridges science, policy, and practice, enabling her to deliver forward-thinking solutions to complex sustainability challenges and making her an invaluable asset to UCSL. Under her leadership, UCSL’s certifications are not merely checklists of compliance but transformative tools that drive sustainability, inspire meaningful change in the tourism sector and beyond, and create a lasting legacy for businesses, communities, and the planet.