Environmentalist and Founder of Eco Tourism Bali

I see a future where sustainability and climate are becoming strong considerations for tourists and consumers. I see a greener and more well-managed Bali, with better vision and wisdom.
Tell us your story – how did you get here?
I have always been an environmentalist and grew up being close to nature. After graduation, I worked for a big business and when it was time to have my own business with my husband, we really didn’t want to have something that was part of the corporate, “profit only” world. By chance, I met the representative of The Body Shop from Singapore and with my husband, applied to be the franchisee for Indonesia. Thus, I was introduced to the world of purpose and values of “Planet People Profit” as a way of conducting business. I moved to Bali about 11 years ago and I wanted to do something that would help the future generations inherit the natural splendour of Bali, whilst allowing the tourism industry to grow. So in 2021, I founded Eco Tourism Bali with my partner Rahmi, a sustainable, verification-based community for accommodation and F&B operators.
What accomplishment are you most proud of?
Being part of one of the first businesses in Indonesia (30 years ago) to head in a sustainable direction with The Body Shop, and now with 140 stores across Indonesia. Campaigning in Indonesia for the prevention of violence against women, and for the conservation of the Tapanuli Orangutan with NGO partners.
What impact have you made in Bali?
I founded Eco Tourism Bali – a verification-based community on sustainability for accommodations and F&B operators. The mission is to spread the understanding of what it takes to be sustainable and climate friendly.
I provided support to and volunteered over the years for The Biggest Bali Cleanup, The Ubud Writers Festival, and also to other NGOs in Bali. I am still in the process of writing a book about Bali!
What does the future look like for you?
I see a future where sustainability and climate are becoming strong considerations for tourists and consumers. I see a greener and more well-managed Bali, with better vision and wisdom. This will be a result of the pressure from tourists who will expect this from Bali, and the result of the tourism community getting together to influence Bali in this direction.
What do you love most about Bali?
What I love most is that wherever you live in Bali, you are not that far away from nature and this is the connection that you can keep. And in Bali, you can come together to build communities with shared interests and do something together that brings a positive impact to your community.
What does being sustainable mean to you?
Sustainability to me means that you are aware that everything you do has an impact on the planet. This awareness is also focused on the major threats to the environment, especially waste, water scarcity, climate change and the loss of biodiversity. This awareness is not just about reducing your impact, but also to inspire others on the journey to ensure a flourishing and liveable environment for everyone.
Who is your Local Legend and why?
Gede Robi is my Local Legend. Robi, as a musician with hundreds of thousands of followers, uses his band Navicula to create music that brings awareness to the issues in our environment and in our society.