Rika Jean-François holds a Master Degree in Social Anthropology + Iranian Studies of the Free University of Berlin - with an expertise on ethnic identities, sustainable development and diversity issues. Before her degree she also studied at the Philosophical School of Crete and worked as a tour guide & incoming agent. She travelled for research purposes to Iran, Malawi and Haiti. She counselled at the FU International Academic Exchange Office and gained experience as quality management evaluator for development aid workers of the German Development Service. Always engaged in social issues, she vitally built up ITB’s CSR policies when she joined Messe Berlin in 2004. As head of CSR she is passionately advocating responsible tourism, speaking at sustainable tourism events internationally. Putting an emphasis on human rights and diversity, she has spearheaded ITB’s implementation of LGBT+ travel as an equal segment and served on the board of the IGLTA and currently the IGLTA Foundation. She is also a board member of PATA and The Code and jury member at global responsible tourism contests.