Olivia Ruggles-Brise

Olivia Ruggles-Brise has over 20 years’ experience of sustainability in the travel industry. As BCD’s vice president of Sustainability, she plays an integral role in aligning and driving sustainability initiatives throughout BCD and our network. She actively engages with key stakeholders, partners, and groups within the industry, using strategic collaboration to ensure continued progress for sustainability.

Together with her team, Olivia developed BCD’s Sustainability Framework, a set of resources to help influence change across different stakeholder groups from our customers, business partners, company and people. She is central to how the company delivers on its science-based target and motivates colleagues across the company to engage in carbon emissions reduction. Olivia also oversees BCD’s global ISO 14001/45001-certified Environmental Health and Safety Management System and works with colleagues in locations around the world to reduce energy consumption and waste.

Prior to joining BCD, Olivia was a director at Greenview, a consulting and research firm that supports hospitality organizations in designing environmental, social and governance sustainability strategies. Before that, she spent nearly a decade at the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) where she oversaw the organization’s policy, strategy and sustainability work. She developed programs for the annual WTTC Global Summit, launched the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards, and led initiatives to understand and manage “overtourism,” address climate change and stop illegal wildlife trade.

Olivia has a master’s degree in Tourism, Environment and Development from King’s College London, and gained her first degree in French and Spanish from the University of Edinburgh.

Speaker topics:

• Sustainability strategy
• Sustainable sourcing
• CSRD regulations in corporate travel
• Strategies to increase sustainability in business travel programs
• Trends in sustainable travel
• How to avoid greenwashing in your travel program
• The importance of a holistic approach to sustainability beyond carbon
• Navigating the complex world of hotel sustainability