Hello! I'm Sanaz, a PhD candidate in Tourism Management at Anadolu University in Turkey. My research focuses on sustainable tourism, destination branding, and nature-based tourism—especially in protected areas and outdoor recreation sites. I have a strong academic and professional interest in birdwatching tourism and wildlife conservation, and I've been involved in multiple national projects in Iran related to avian species protection and environmental education. I recently received TÜBİTAK funding to study tourist behavior and sustainability perception in outdoor recreation areas and am currently working on a thesis project in, Turkey. I’m passionate about using tourism as a tool for conservation and community empowerment. I'm excited to join the WildHub community to exchange knowledge, develop my skills in project management and conservation, and connect with professionals who share the same passion for protecting biodiversity and promoting responsible travel. I look forward to contributing to and learning from this inspiring network!

My background is mainly in species conservation, education and capacity exchange. I researched mother-young interactions in gorillas and chimpanzees, in captivity and the wild. After that, I worked for three years in Indonesia, where I developed and implemented youth ambassador and community engagement programmes on local and regional scales. I co-founded WildHub, a community of nature conservation professionals, in 2020 and work as their Community Lead. I am furthermore on the Advisory Board of the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE) at the University of Kent where I obtained my PhD on capacity development for conservation in 2022. 

Since July 2025, I have been serving as the Community Advocates Coordinator at WildHub, where I coordinate initiatives to engage, support, and empower our community advocates in advancing WH’s mission. Beyond WildHub, I wear a few different hats. I work as a researcher and lecturer in Sweden, teaching courses on environmental law, political and historical ecology, and disaster risk management. I also mentor undergraduate and postgraduate students, collaborate with faculty members, and contribute to ongoing research projects. I’m passionate about giving back through volunteer work. I support a few conservation and animal welfare organisations with research and advocacy to help drive positive change. When I’m not working, you’ll find me hiking forest trails with my dog or enjoying a good cup of coffee.