WELCOME TO GD2025
Speakers and Panelists
Keynote Speakers
We are pleased to welcome Saskia Cousin and Xavier Font, as the keynote speakers for this year’s conference. We look forward to their insights and inspiring perspectives to help shape the discussions at GD2025 Occitanie.
Saskia Cousin
Anthropologist and professor of sociology at Paris Nanterre University, at SOPHIAPOL Research Center
KEYNOTE SPEAKER – DAY 1
Saskia Cousin is an anthropologist and professor of sociology at Paris Nanterre University, affiliated with the SOPHIAPOL Research Centre. A leading voice in critical tourism studies, her research explores the social, cultural, and economic dimensions of tourism in a globalised world. She is known for her critical perspective on sustainable tourism, challenging narratives that often overlook local realities. Co-author of Sociologie du tourisme (2009), she frames tourism as a ‘total social fact’ with wide-reaching impacts. Saskia advocates for more ethical, inclusive tourism practices and has contributed extensively to academic publications, shaping critical discourse in tourism studies across France and beyond.
Xavier Font
Professor of Sustainability Marketing MSc, PhD. University of Surrey
KEYNOTE SPEAKER – DAY 2
Xavier Font is a leading academic in sustainable tourism and responsible marketing, based at the University of Surrey. He is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Sustainable Tourism and has authored over 100 academic publications. Xavier specialises in sustainable supply chains, certification systems, and behaviour change in tourism. He has consulted for VisitEngland, Fáilte Ireland, and the European Commission, and has delivered training across Europe on sustainability communication. A strong advocate for applied research, Xavier works to bridge theory and practice, helping destinations and businesses embed sustainability through measurable, marketable strategies.
Special Attendees
We are honored to welcome the special attendees from Occitanie to GD2025. Representing a region rich in innovation, culture, and sustainability, their presence highlights the growing influence of southern France in the Tourism industry.
Vincent Garel
CRTL Regional Committee for Tourism and Leisure of Occitanie
France
Emmanuel Bobin
Open Tourisme Lab
France
Cyril Meunier
Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole
France
Céline Vachey
ADEME French Agency for Ecological Transition
France
Phillipe Berto
CRTL Regional Committee for Tourism and Leisure of Occitanie
France
Panelists
We are excited to welcome our panelists and moderators for GD2025 — a diverse group of experts and practitioners who will share valuable perspectives and experiences across key themes of the conference.
Albert Salman
Green Destinations
The Netherlands
D'Arcy Dornan
Green Destinations
Brazil
Jana Apih
Green Destinations Foundation
Slovenia
Hugo de Jong
Green Destinations Foundation
The Netherlands
Iyad Kayali
Green Destinations
Greece
Patice Talaue
Green Destinations
Philippines/ Germany
Elisabeth Boon
Green Destinations
Mexico / Belgium
Bart Hageman
Green Destinations Foundation
The Netherlands
Sophie Pirkin
CRTL Regional Committee for Tourism and Leisure of Occitanie
France
Dominique Thillet
CRTL Regional Committee for Tourism and Leisure of Occitanie
France
Dr. Chuwit Mitrchob
DASTA Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration
Thailand
Dr. Kaewta Muangasame
Sustainable Tourism In Action Center Thailand, Mahidol University International College
Thailand
Jahanzeeb Ahmed
BeCause
Denmark
Beatriz Barreal
Riviera Maya Sostenible
Mexico
Holger Sigmund
Tourism Impact
Switzerland
Emmanuel Arnaud
HomeExchange
France
Jean-Thierry Winstel
Bioviva
France
Nathalie Balland
Voies Navigables de France
France
Tarek Habib
Murmuration
France
Angelika Sauermost
CRTL Regional Committee for Tourism and Leisure of Occitanie
France
Mathieu le Scanf
MLS Conseil
France
Christelle Bedes
ADEME French Agency for Ecological Transition
France
Miloš Ivanisević
Prijestonica Cetinje, Old Royal Capital Cetinje
Montenegro
Athanasios Kalogeras
ATHENA Research Center
Greece
Barbara Poggio
Municipality of Genoa
Italy
Marie-Flo Guy
OTN Regional Federation of Tourist Offices of Normandy
France
Rokaya Toubale
Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole
France
Monique Chen
Sustainable Travel Taiwan
Taiwan
Hele Lõhmus
Tallinn Strategic Management Office
Estonia
Ivana Alilović
Zagreb County Tourist Board
Croatia
João Cardoso de Melo
Cascais Ambiente
Portugal
Kirsi Hyvaerinen
HYVÄ Coaching & Consulting + Balkan Green
Montenegro
Jukka Punamäki
City of Helsinki
Finland
Júlia Nagy
Innotime Hungary Ltd.
Hungary
Alison Burgh
Acorn Tourism Consulting Ltd
United Kingdom
Konstantinos Tzamaloukas
Region of Western Greece
Greece
Thalma Redwan
Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority
Jordan
Sinem Soygul
İzmir Metropolitan Municipality
Türkiye
Victor Fernandez Morales
La Buena Huella
Spain
I Ketut Purna
Jatiluwih Village
Indonesia
Kaisa Linno
Visit Lahemaa
Estonia
Ryan Tym
Lantern London
United Kingdom
Paolina Rusta
Municipality of Belsh
Albania
Emma Harrison
Visit Inverness Loch Ness
Scotland
Russell Fraser
Loch Ness Hub & Travel
Scotland
Everlysy Messas Valerio
University of São Paulo
Brazil
Jeff Nearing
Discover Halifax
Canada
Lesley Robb
Swell Impact
Canada
Louise de Torcy
RAMBOLL
France
Mohamed El Hafid
SDR SMART Tourism
Morocco
Julie Jammes
Open Tourisme Lab
France
Lahcen Ichou
Tamalayt Sustainable Tourism Association
Morocco
Jean Michel Clerc
AD’OCC Regional Economic Development Agency Occitanie
France
Deborah Le Goff Louvel
Granville Tourism Office
France
Amandine Launay
Granville Tourism Office
France
Fabienne de Chassey
Normandy Tourism
France
Jean-Louis Moretti
Corsica Tourism Agency
France
Stjepan Čavar
Dubrovnik Development Agency DURA
Croatia
Nils Brunet
Occitanie Natural Parks
France
Marika Arrabi-Onnela
‘Grands Sites de France’ Network
France
Ioanis Mardikis
European Public Law Organization (EPLO)
Greece
Christine Portero-Espert
Prefecture of the Pyrénées-Orientales
France
Cécile Bedel
Regional Biodiversity Agency of Occitanie
France
Nawale Benelhabib
Office Français de la Biodiversité
France
Bianka Benko
Municipality of Hosszúhetény
Hungary
Ana García López
University of Granada
Spain
Hélène Lehu
CRTL Regional Committee for Tourism and Leisure of Occitanie
France
Laurent Bougras
GreenCAST
France
Luc Béal
Excelia Business School
France
Polly Lomas
Travalyst
United Kingdom
José María de Juan Alonso
KOAN Consulting SL
Spain
David Seigneuric
RECO Occitanie
France
Stéphanie Drothier
Tourism Development Agency of the Ardennes
France
Issana Agathe
Discovery Rodrigues / Rodrigues Tourism Office / Agelev Consultancy
Mauritius
Caglar Gogkun
SGA Travel
Türkiye
Taichi Kato
Fukui Hito Mono Design
Japan
Jordi Colomí
Ajuntament de Torroella de Montgrí-l’Estartit
Spain
Caroline Mignon
Acteurs du Tourisme Durable, Echo Terra
France
Matuta Cauneau
Murmuration
France
Trevor Benson
Bannikin
Canada
Radji Araye
Authentic Agency
France
Léonard Grynfogel
Luniwave
France
Yi-Ting Chen
Northeast and Yilan Coast National Scenic Area Headquarters, Tourism Administration, M.O.T.C.
Taiwan
Roman Caamal
Community Tours Sian Ka’an
Mexico
Francisco Roncagliolo
Municipaility of Cisnes
Chile
Arzu Kutucu Ozenen
Yesil Valiz Association
Türkiye
Hanna Kitsilinska
Lviv Tourism Office/Lviv City Council
Ukraine
Geneviève Marais
Aquatech Innovation
France
Haruka Sueyoshi
Straits City Kanmon DMO
Japan
Jan Klavora
Goodplace
Slovenia
Simon Reuter
Outdooractive
Germany
Agnes Pierce
Amadeus
France
Robin Alauze
LineUp Ocean
France
Nicolas Fourcroy
EURAKOM
France
Kélian Galletier
La Musette Services
France
Scott Eliott
Visit Britain/Visit England/North York Moors National Park
United Kingdom
Event Organisers
Partners
Exhibitors
