Born and raised in the remote islands of the Azores, Carolina developed an early passion for protecting vulnerable places and communities, one that continues to guide her work in sustainable development. With more than nine years of experience, she has served as a Project Manager, Chief Sustainability Officer, and Consultant, supporting over 200 organizations in transforming sustainability goals into measurable, long-term impact.
At Sustainable Travel International, she is the Membership Program Lead, responsible for shaping the member experience and driving engagement initiatives that empower tourism organizations to advance their climate goals. Her focus is to ensure that members succeed in accelerating their net-zero and sustainability progress through trusted standards, practical training, and a supportive community that moves forward together.
Previously, as Coordinator of the Azores DMO, Carolina played a central role in advancing the archipelago’s globally recognized sustainability strategy. She led the destination to become the world’s first to achieve EarthCheck Gold certification under the GSTC criteria and oversaw the expansion of the Azores Sustainability Charter from 45 to more than 350 entities. She also secured international GSTC accreditation for the local Miosotis Azores sustainability label, supported the launch of the Azores Tourism Intelligent Monitoring System, and contributed to the revision of the Regional Tourism Development Plan (PDTA). Carolina frequently represented the Azores in European Commission stakeholder groups for the Transition Pathway for Tourism, where the region was often highlighted as an international case study, and spoke at major global forums including GSTC Conferences, EarthCheck Inner Circle, and the United Nations Ocean Conference in 2022.
Carolina holds a BA in Tourism, an MBA, and a Postgraduate Diploma in ESG Reporting and Sustainable Management. Outside of work, she enjoys freediving, hiking, and reading, and remains active in her local community.
