O’Shannon Burns is a researcher and sustainability consultant with more than 15 years’ experience shaping mission-driven businesses and embedding regenerative principles into operations with a focus on climate action, conservation, environmental justice, and sustainable travel and tourism.

She has collaborated with TED Conferences, The World Bank, Disney, the National Geographic Society, Lindblad Expeditions, Regenerative Travel, and dozens of small businesses on sustainability research, strategy and management.

O’Shannon is part of Cornell University’s Center for Sustainable Global Enterprise at the SC Johnson College of Business. She holds a Master’s in Sustainability from Harvard University, a BS in Physical Geography with a focus on Climate Science from Penn State University, and a certification in Training and Facilitation Georgetown University. 

Her recent publications include TED’s Leveling Up Company Climate Action and Regenerative Travel’s Climate Action through Regeneration: Unlocking the Power of Nature and Communities through Tourism. She has facilitated conversations on climate action as well as regenerating finance, healthcare, and business.  She has shared her work as part of the World Travel and Tourism Council Global Summit, the Business of Conservation Conference, TED Countdown, and the Regenerative Travel Summit.

Previously, she spent a decade as staff at National Geographic collaborating with explorers as they conducted field work, spearheading sustainability initiatives, and operating exploratory educational travel experiences on all seven continents. While there, she created and was then appointed to National Geographic Partners’ first full-time sustainability position, overseeing sustainability for the company’s travel business, and serving as an internal sustainability leader and expert.

With over 25 years of experience in the commercial sector, he has developed and led growth strategies that have exceeded revenue expectations and helped teams under his leadership reach their full potential. His career in leading companies across industries such as construction, industrial production, mass consumption, and services has provided him with a broad and multidisciplinary perspective that he now applies to every project he undertakes. 

Holding a degree in General Management and a Master's in Business Administration with a Marketing emphasis, he is also a speaker, writer for digital media, and the creator of a podcast focused on the MICE industry and sustainability. A passionate wine and music enthusiast, he has left a lasting mark on every organization he has worked with and continues to build his legacy through innovation, leadership, and strategic vision. 

For nearly seven years, he has been a key figure in the meetings and events industry, serving as the Commercial Director of the Costa Rica Convention Center, a strategically significant project for the country. His work has contributed to positioning Costa Rica on the global MICE industry (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions) map, attracting more than 1,050 events during this period and generating economic, social, and academic impact across various sectors. 

As a specialist in artificial intelligence applied to events, he has integrated cutting-edge technologies to enhance event management, marketing, and overall experience, optimizing data-driven decision-making. Additionally, he is a strong advocate for sustainability in the meetings industry, ensuring that every event contributes to reducing its environmental impact and promoting responsible initiatives within the sector. 

Tia has over 25 years of experience in the meetings and events industry, having held key roles within convention centers, hotels, and a PCO in the US and Denmark.