Erika has focused her career  in support of the United Nations’ conservation and development priorities. A social entrepreneur with government and civil society experience,  she bridges the gaps between private and public sector.  Her efforts now focus on finding integrated solutions to conservation and poverty alleviation.

Erika has spearheaded initiatives such as the World Heritage Alliance for Sustainable Tourism and the Partnership for Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria. She was the Founding Executive Director of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.  In 2014 she founded Planet4People, as a platform that would bring together experts working on sustainable development and conservation.  In 2008, Conde Nast Traveler recognized Erika as a “Trail Blazer” in Sustainable Tourism; in 2009 she was named an Ashoka Fellow;  and in 2010 she received the HSMAI award for Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Sales and Marketing. Erika is a lawyer, MBA and holds a Masters in Natural Resource Management, and has served as Adjunct Professor of the renowned business school  IE ( Instituto Empresarial) in Madrid.