Claudia Dolezal-Wurbs

Prof. (FH) Dr. Claudia Dolezal-Wurbs is an international sustainability expert specialising in tourism and the social dimension of sustainability, community empowerment, and people-centred transformation. With more than 15 years of experience across Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America, she helps organisations understand how social impact, inclusion and cultural dynamics shape successful sustainability strategies.

Her approach is grounded in participatory methods that foster ownership, dialogue and inclusion – ensuring that solutions are not only strategic but also meaningful, culturally grounded, and designed for real-world impact. Claudia brings an accessible, cross-cultural and human-centred perspective to organisational change, always with a focus on enabling teams and communities to thrive.

Focus Areas

• Sustainable & Regenerative Tourism Development: Guiding destinations and organisations toward community-centred, resilient and climate-aware tourism pathways
• Sustainable Tourism & Place-based Development: Using tourism and mobility as lenses to strengthen communities, value chains and organisational strategies
• Social Sustainability & Impact: Designing people-centred sustainability strategies with positive impact
• Community Empowerment & Participation: Leading co-creation processes that build shared ownership, trust and agency
• Culture, Inclusion & Transformation: Guiding organisations through complex change by addressing power, identity and collaboration dynamics

Work Experience

• Professor in Tourism & Sustainable Development, IMC University of Applied Sciences, Austria
• UN Tourism Expert, designing and delivering global trainings on sustainability, tourism and empowerment
• International Project Lead & Advisor for multi-country sustainability and capacity building/development projects
• Senior Lecturer in Tourism, University of Westminster, London, UK
• Teaching Fellow in "Development from Below", SOAS University of London
• Lecturer in Tourism, International Development and Social Anthropology, University of Brighton, UK

Education and Training

• PhD in Sustainable Development & Tourism Geography, University of Brighton
• Doctoral Training in Social Anthropology, University of St Andrews
• MSc Tourism & International Development, University of Brighton
• BA Tourism Management, IMC University of Applied Sciences
• PGCert in Higher Education, University of Westminster
• PGCert in Research Methods, University of Brighton
• Certified LEGO® Serious Play Facilitator
• Certificate in Social Entrepreneurship, LSE London School of Economics and Political Science
• Certificate in Sustainability Reporting, Sustainability Skills Academy
• Training in Participatory Methods for International Development, Royal Geographical Society UK

Working Languages

English, German, Spanish