Judy Kepher-Gona

Date / Time:
Wednesday 25th October 2017 (9.30 - 10.30)

Venue:
Room Mount Kilimanjaro


Who is Judy Kepher-Gona?

Judy is a sustainable tourism advocate, planner, advisor, assessor and trainer with over 17 years experience working with tourism sector, communities, conservation. Holder of MA in Rural Sociology & Community Development, Judy has dedicated her professional life in reviewing, researching and creating opportunities that link tourism, community development, and conservation.

In Kenya, she was the founding CEO of Ecotourism Kenya, the premier ecotourism society on Africa. While at Ecotourism she led and coordinated the development of criteria and standards for sustainable tourism certification, resulting in Kenya’s eco-rating scheme for hotels and lodges. In 2013, she founded Sustainable Travel & Tourism Agenda (STTA) an advisory organisation that uses education, research, advocacy, and training to accelerate uptake of sustainable tourism, and support public and private sector agencies to engage and respond. Globally Judy has served severally as a judge of World Travel and Tourism Council Tourism for Tomorrow Awards, and onsite-evaluator for Nat Geo Unique Lodges of the World and Nat Geo World Legacy Awards. In addition she has been a board member of Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), advisory board member of The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) and recently board member of Fair Trade Tourism South Africa (FTT).