Judy Kepha Gona

Founder and Executive Director

BIO

Judy Kepher-Gona is the Founder and Executive Director of Sustainable Travel & Tourism Agenda (STTA), the Pan-African advisory platform she established in 2013 to drive sustainable tourism development across the continent. With over 20 years of experience in sustainable tourism advocacy, planning, training, and community engagement, she previously served as the founding CEO of Ecotourism Kenya, where she co-created Kenya’s Eco-Rating Certification Scheme for lodges and hotels. Judy holds an MA in Rural Sociology & Community Development and has earned continent-wide recognition for her leadership in sustainable tourism. Her accolades include the Forbes Woman Africa “Sustainable Citizen Award” (2019), the CREST Responsible Tourism Legacy Award (2020), and being listed among the Top 40 global shakers in sustainable tourism. She has designed and delivered training modules for tourism businesses, launched the East Africa Sustainable Tourism Report and facilitated programs like STTA Young Changemakers and the Green Tourism Summit Africa. Judy has served globally as a judge or assessor for prestigious awards, including the WTTC Tourism for Tomorrow Awards, National Geographic’s World Legacy Awards, and IIPT Awards. She has also served on boards such as the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and Fair-Trade Tourism South Africa