"Give more than what you get."
Mafalda Borea FRSA, is Head of Partnerships at UN Women UK and Head of Bespoke Collaborations at IF Experience.
She was appointed Counselor for Portugal in the World by the Portuguese Diaspora Council with the High Patronage of the President of the Portuguese Republic.
She is Chair of Sustainable First™ and serves as an Advisor to the Director of the Confucius Institute for Business at the LSE (London School of Economics).
Mafalda Borea is Head of Partnerships at UN Women UK, where she leads the organisation’s efforts to engage with private sector partners and strengthen relationships that advance gender equality and social impact.
She also serves as Head of Bespoke Collaborations at IF Experience, leading strategic initiatives at the intersection of experiential luxury, arts, and culture.
Previously, Mafalda was Global Head of Partnerships & Institutional Relations at E-GAP, a company focused on building Smart(er) Cities through off-grid renewable energy storage solutions.
In December 2024, she was appointed as a Counselor for Portugal in the World by the Portuguese Diaspora Council, an organisation created under the High Patronage of the President of the Portuguese Republic. The Council mobilises influential Portuguese citizens to elevate the country’s global image, foster international awareness of its potential, and build a structured network of talent and expertise within the Portuguese diaspora.
Mafalda is Chair of Sustainable First ™, a platform she co-founded to showcase sustainable tourism destinations and businesses that drive local community impact in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
She sits on the board of the TravelIndex Group, a global network of influential digital tourism brands, and is a board member of the Travel & Tourism Foundation. She also contributes as a Sustainability Editor for the Pan-African Tourism News outlet, Voyages Afriq Magazine .
Earlier in her career, Mafalda led advertising sales and client development for CNN across Southern Europe and the CIS region. Her longstanding interest in Chinese arts and culture led her to study Mandarin and serve for two years as Deputy Editor of China Report Magazine. She remains an Advisor to the Director of the Confucius Institute for Business at the LSE (London School of Economics).
A passionate advocate for gender equality, social impact, and the arts, Mafalda is a Fellow of the The Royal Society of Arts. She is also a dedicated mentor to women starting in business and volunteers with the charity Sant’Egidio, supporting disadvantaged communities through homeless outreach work.
Published Papers
Contributed towards the Recommendations & Guidance Tool "Addressing Plastic Pollution in Tourism Through Sustainable Procurement"
In the Press
Meet Mafalda Borea, a #WORLDCHANGER
Sustainable First joins forces with the United Nations on its 75th Anniversary
Interview on the media's role in promoting sustainability in tourism
“Local communities need to be engaged in planning tourism initiatives.”
First phase of Côte D’Ivoire’s flagship tourism project to be completed by 2025
Speaking Engagements
European Commission // European Tourism Day Event
Link to European Commission Webcast: Mafalda intervenes at 12:21:00
Speaker at the European Tourism Day 2023 event in Brussels joining the Roundtable on Digital Transition
Meeting point for the world’s leading tourism experts, focused on what comprises a Smart destination.
Mafalda Borea as a Jury Member at the Live Final
The changing role of the tourism authority in Route Development
International event focused on the development of travel & tourism activities
Speaking on the importance of tourism & culture for promoting of regional cooperation in South East Asia.
Presenting at the LSE combining real-life business experiences with academic insights around the theme " Bridging the East and the West"
Moderating the Panel "How is china winning the tech race"
Published Articles
Interviewing Thomas Loughlin, Sustainability Lead at Booking.com on their Global Tourism Plastics Initiative Programme commitment
Interviewing Inmaculada Saranova, Executive Director of Ibiza Preservation Fund on their Global Tourism Plastics Initiative Programme commitment
Interviewing Gabriel Tan, Director of Guava Amenities on its Global Tourism Plastics Initiative commitment
Interviewing Carl Hunter of Jade Mountain Resort on its Global Tourism Plastics Initiative commitment
Interviewing Wassim Daoud, Head of Sustainability and CSR at PONANT Cruises on its Global Tourism Plastics Initiative commitment
Interviewing Kenya-based Judy Kepher-Gona, founder of the Sustainable Travel and Tourism Agenda (STTA)
The Portuguese Connection - Article on the Belt & Road Initiative
China's Tourism Example