BGTW Better World Symposium 2026

Award-winning journalist, author and photographer Emma Gregg has been a specialist in sustainable travel for more than two decades. She writes about responsible, eco-friendly adventures for the national press, travel organisations and major publishers including The Telegraph, National Geographic Traveller, Wanderlust and Rough Guides. Passionate about wildlife, nature, culture and conservation, Emma has a taste for the world’s wildest places, from rainforests to rivers. Based in the UK, she has visited all seven continents, and of the seven, it’s Africa that keeps calling her back. She also covers sustainable travel in the UK, Australia, the Americas and remote islands, worldwide, researching topics as diverse as flight-free weekends and experiences that support indigenous communities.

Holly is a freelance writer and responsible travel expert who has specialised in sustainable travel since circumnavigating the world without flying in 2010. Former Editor of Green Hotelier, Holly now writes for the likes of The Guardian and The Times, as well as consulting on sustainability for hospitality and travel brands. She’s also Communications Manager for conservation-led travel organisation, The Long Run, and Project Manager for a new initiative, Wildlife Heritage Areas. Holly’s book, Sustainable Travel: The Essential Guide to Positive Impact Adventures, was published by Quarto Knows in 2021, and Slow Travel Family Breaks, by Bradt in 2022.

Flavio is a Board Member representing Antor (Association of National Tourist Offices and Representatives), and leads the operations for the UK and Ireland at ENIT, the Italian National Tourism Board tasked with promoting Italy as a top travel destination on behalf of the Italian Government. With twenty years of experience in the tourism industry, he has occupied various roles, from ticketing to event management, ultimately managing the London Office of the National Tourist Board. Despite the numerous challenges the travel sector has encountered recently, Italy has solidified its position as a premier destination for tourists from Britain and Ireland. The tourist board has been advocating for diversity and inclusion for several years, alongside promoting sustainable and responsible travel practices.

“The future of luxury travel in the Arctic is rooted in purpose, protection and presence. ”

After more than 60 expeditions into the Arctic and Antarctica as a polar guide and CEO of her own polar cruise company,
Heather Thorkelson is now at the forefront of the polar tourism industry, launching the next generation of responsible polar
expedition ships.
Her company, Minimal Impact Expeditions will introduce low-impact voyages on a revolutionary near-zero carbon polar
expedition ship in late 2026. With zero-waste operations, solar sail technology, and hybrid electric propulsion, the 36-Passenger
Captain Arctic is designed with a light footprint to deliver a deeply responsive and responsible way to experience the world’s
most beautiful and sensitive environments.
Heather is an entrepreneur, founder of four companies, author of “No Plan B: A Handbook for Incurable Entrepreneurs and
Other Rebellious Souls”, and host of the AntArctic Stories Podcast. Her appearances always include engaging personal
anecdotes from her adventures in the Arctic and Antarctica. As an experienced podcast host, Heather is comfortable in
conversational interview settings, both as a remote guest and in-person. LinkedIn

Meera Dattani is a freelance travel and culture journalist, and executive editor at award-winning website Adventure.com where she commissions and edits features from writers and photographers around the world. Focusing on community-led tourism, food/cultural heritage, soft adventure, and wildlife, her bylines include National Geographic Traveller, Wanderlust, BBC Travel, Condé Nast Traveller, Evening Standard, and the i paper.

She’s also involved in mentorship work for emerging/aspiring travel writers, awards judging, speaking/moderating on panels for organisations such as Women In Travel, IMM, Adventure Travel Networking and Destinations, and is the founder/host of TravelWritingWebinars which offers informal professional development for travel media professionals.

Sophie Ibbotson is the founder of Maximum Exposure, a tourism development consultancy and PR company specialising in emerging destinations. She advises the World Bank and national governments, and has been Uzbekistan’s Ambassador for Tourism since 2019. As a writer, Sophie is the author of six guidebooks for Bradt Travel Guides and has contributed to titles by Lonely Planet, DK Eyewitness, and Insight Guides. Her next book, Oxus: Four Women, One River, a biography and travelogue about the River Oxus, will be published by Icon. You can also read Sophie’s writing in National Geographic Traveller, The Telegraph, Wanderlust, etc.

Abi Best is Managing Director at Lemongrass Marketing and a recognised force in travel communications, bringing over 15 years’ experience working with leading tour operators, independent hotels and global tourist boards.

Her trusted leadership and strategic vision have helped cement Lemongrass as both a sustainability pioneer and an industry thought leader in travel PR. With deep expertise in award-winning hotel launches, global brand expansions and destination marketing, Abi is a sought-after consultant to some of the most respected names in travel. A specialist in bringing travel brands successfully to market, she builds long-term partnerships rooted in sharp audience insight, competitor intelligence and digital positioning.

At Lemongrass, Abi leads a team of 15 marketing and communications specialists delivering integrated Content, SEO and PR strategies for purpose-led travel brands. Under her guidance, Lemongrass became a certified B Corp in 2023 and produces an annual trend report exploring the future of travel and sustainability.

A frequent speaker and judge at major global industry events, awards and webinars—including PURE, ABTA, TTG and The Conscious Travel Foundation – Abi regularly shares her informed perspective on the evolving communications landscape. She is also an active member of Travel By B Corp, championing sustainable and ethical travel across the sector.

Rashmi Narayan is a London-based, award-winning journalist with an insatiable curiosity and a passion for lifelong learning. Her work spans leading national publications, including The Times, The Daily Telegraph, The Guardian, National Geographic Traveller, and The Independent, as well as numerous specialist trade titles. Rashmi’s writing reflects her deep interest in gastronomy, sustainability and history, exploring the intersections between culture, environment and the way we eat.

Uwern Jong is Experientialist®-in-Chief of OutThere, the multi-award-winning luxury and experiential travel magazine and media brand rooted in values of diversity, discovery and discernment. A storyteller at heart and strategist by trade, he co-founded OutThere to champion authentically inclusive, underrepresented and narrative-led travel stories. Under his leadership, the brand has grown into one of the most respected independent voices in luxury travel.

With over two decades of experience in tourism marketing, publishing and brand storytelling, Uwern works with the world’s most forward-thinking destinations and hotels to help them meaningfully engage with today’s culturally curious, affluent and ever-diverse traveller. Uwern was named Luxury Travel Writer of the Year at the 2025 TravMedia Awards and recently appeared on Walpole’s “50 Most Influential People in British Luxury” list for the second time.

A recognised industry thought leader, Uwern founded Icons of Inclusion, a global conference advocating for representation, personalisation and purpose in travel. He also spearheads the LGBT+ Travel Symposium series and OutThere’s not-for-profit Experientialist® Awards, which spotlights authenticity and innovation, while giving back to those redefining luxury with impact. Beyond OutThere, Uwern is co-founder of StockholmLGBT, a private-sector initiative promoting LGBTQ+ travel to the Swedish capital in partnership with the city’s tourism board. He also leads the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s GoThaiBeFree platform – one of the world’s most successful LGBTQ+ tourism campaigns – and has developed the global LGBTQ+ strategy for Small Luxury Hotels of the World. Additionally, he heads up the diversity conference at World Travel Market (WTM), the world’s most influential travel trade show. www.outthere.travel | @outtheremag | @uwern

Debbie North is an accessibility advocate, motivational speaker, and author based in Yorkshire. After being forced into early retirement due to spinal degeneration, she turned her passion for the outdoors into a mission to make the countryside accessible for all. Debbie co-authored In the Spirit of Wainwright after completing the UK Coast to Coast trek in an all-terrain wheelchair, and has written several books about walks without stiles.  She founded the charity Access the Dales to provide opportunities for disabled people to get outside and enjoy the countryside. She is a sought-after speaker and serves as a Disability and Access Ambassador, Get Outside Champion, and Ramblers UK ambassador. She is a regular contributor to Travel Begins at 40, an online magazine for individuals seeking travel adventure. 

Shebs Alom is highly respected for his broadcasting, writing, and podcasting, and he stands at the forefront of promoting diversity and inclusion (DEI) in the travel industry. He leverages his platform to champion underrepresented destinations and narratives. As a director of the travel magazine Voyagers Voice, he drives this publication’s inclusive mandate, commissioning diverse stories that range from exploring the underground lesbian scene in Saudi Arabia to unexpected destinations and perspectives in Syria. Shebs is a leading authority that caters to the needs of Muslim travellers, in recent times, writing about how the industry can be more inclusive of their needs. This expertise is a central theme in his writing for platforms including Adventure Travel Network. Major media outlets, including the BBC, The Express, Marriott Bonvoy and Travel Weekly, have featured Shebs’ work and commentary. He is dedicated to inspiring a more representative and thoughtful approach within the sector.

Nathan James Thomas is the editor of Intrepid Times, the host of The Travel Writing Podcast, and the author of several travel books and numerous articles for publications ranging from Lonely Planet and Roads and Kingdoms to the New Zealand Herald and Success Magazine. Since 2014, Intrepid Times has encouraged readers to go beyond the tourist trail, to travel slower, to linger longer, and to ask more questions of the people they meet along the way. The Times described Nathan’s latest book, Untethered (Exisle Publishing), as ‘well written, full of good tips, and very clear about the ups and downs’ of the digital nomad life. Nathan is a citizen of New Zealand and the United Kingdom. He divides his time between London and a small village in western Poland.

Sarah Rodrigues is a Sydney-born freelance journalist, now living in London. Most of her favourite travel experiences have come from random encounters and conversations with strangers at flea markets and second-hand shops, which always feature in her plans, no matter where in the world she is. She holds an Advanced PADI and is passionate about reef conservation and responsible diving. She loves getting outdoors, exploring new destinations and having a bash at speaking different languages, but is too frequently incensed by the owl in Duolingo to master any of them.

Caroline Mills is the author of several travel guides including Slow Travel The Cotswolds, published by Bradt Guides since 2010. She writes often on subjects as varied as camping, food, farming, and the countryside throughout Europe, and has travelled flight-free for eight years. Aside from her work as a writer, Caroline has spent 30 years managing a small farm to organic principles in the Cotswolds with her husband. She has hands-on practice of conservation management including a designated wildlife site on the farm with responsibility for landscapes, protection, and sustainability. This long-term project is documented in her new nature writing and travel narrative, This Is Not My Land, published in January 2026.

Holly Budge is a world-class adventurer, Everest summiteer, and the first woman to skydive Everest. She is a sought-after keynote speaker on risk, leadership, and the power of a growth mindset. Off the podium, Holly is an award-winning designer, the founder of How Many Elephants NGO and the visionary behind World Female Ranger Week. As a UN Women UK Delegate and recently voted ‘Female Thought Leader of the Year in Non-Profit’, she has spent over a decade championing female rangers, witnessing first-hand their profound impact on conservation, communities, and gender equality.

Her work has reached over 500 million people worldwide, earning high praise from Sir David Attenborough. She has raised over £500,000 for conservation, supporting 5,500+ female rangers and funding projects in 24+ countries across Africa, Asia, and South America. She recently launched Wildlife Positive Travel, offering immersive, on-the-ground experiences with ranger teams, led by Holly, that connect travellers directly with frontline conservation efforts in South Africa and Kenya .

Mark is former director of communications for the BGTW as well as a travel writer who has launched Travel Begins at 40 and Hairy Traveller. Mark writes extensively about regenerating industrial spaces and sustainable travel. He is closely involved with the SUNx Program having gained a diploma in Climate Friendly Travel with them.

Karen is a writer and editor of 20+ years, specialising in responsible travel and sustainability. She currently writes for titles including High Life, JRNY, Metro, Time Out and Wanderlust.

Shafik Meghji is an award-winning travel writer, journalist and author specialising in Latin America. The co-author of more than 45 guidebooks, his bylines include BBC Travel, National Geographic Traveller, Wanderlust, Lonely Planet and Geographical. Shafik’s first book, Crossed Off the Map: Travels in Bolivia, was shortlisted for the Edward Stanford Travel Book of the Year in 2023. His new book, Small Earthquakes: A Journey Through Lost British History in South America, is out now.

Chris is a professional photographer with over 30 years experience, photographing landscapes, people, travel, wildlife, architecture, interiors and more around the world.  He also mentors up and coming photographers on a one-to-basis, through TPOTY and through Eye for the Light. His work is commissioned for advertising and editorial projects, but is increasingly taking on both conservation-related projects. He has shot over 50 travel and coffee table books and undertaken commissions for both multinational companies and smaller ones. His images have been widely published in newspapers, magazines and books. Chris has also written several books on photography and runs events and workshops, both in the UK and overseas. He has lectured for a range of companies including Fujifilm, Adobe and Apple and presented photographic features for TV.

Alicia’s travel writing career springs from earlier passions, including the interior design of international hotels and restaurants for studios in Denver, Colorado, and London, as well as numerous years selling wine, which sparked her interest in gastronomy. Formerly the international editor of Boutique Design magazine, she has also been a contributing editor for HOTELS magazine, writes regularly for Hospitality Design, and has been published in Starboard, Travel Ticket, Hospitality Interiors, SPACE, BEAST, and Hotel Investment Today, amongst others. She has also moderated conference panels in NYC, LA and London and judged awards competitions. Alicia strives to cover ESG topics in every article she writes.

Ricardo is co-founder and Managing Director of environmental and building services consultancy XCO2, the first practice to have been awarded CIBSE Building Performance Consultancy of the Year four years in a row. With both architectural and engineering backgrounds, and 25 years of experience in the industry, he is a firm believer in collaboration between disciplines and design integration for delivering building performance. Ricardo holds an MSc in Environmental Design and Engineering from UCL, where he received Commendation for his innovative research. He has also lectured at UCL, Imperial College and Central St Martins, and numerous hospitality conferences in Europe, Asia, North and South America.

Over twenty years ago, Sue escaped her job as a business manager of a barristers’ chambers to travel across Africa for nine months. On her return, realising she could never work in an office again, she turned to travel writing to help feed her addiction to the wild places and wildlife of this beguiling continent. She’s been returning ever since, now as an award-winning travel and conservation writer specialising in Africa and published in leading UK newspapers and magazines, including The Times, The Telegraph, The Independent, BBC Wildlife magazine, Travel Africa magazine, JRNY and Wanderlust. Her passion has always been to tell the untold positive stories behind the safaris, highlighting the symbiotic relationship between tourism and conservation and their impact on community upliftment. Alongside her freelance work, Sue is now Conservation Editor for Travel Africa magazine and in November, won the Best Travel Writer award in the African Tourism Awards 2025