KUCHING, Malaysia, 19 August 2026: The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has announced Lizam Dorji, CEO of MICE Bhutan (subsidiary of Druk Asia), as the Grand Winner of the 2026 PATA Face of the Future Award, recognising her leadership, innovation and commitment to shaping a more meaningful and sustainable future for tourism.
In addition, four outstanding young tourism professionals have been recognised for their achievements in key areas of tourism development: Abdulla Iyaan Ahmed, former Chair of the PATA Malaysia Taylor’s Student Chapter, for Student Excellence; Orawan Dinsor, Team Leader – Travelplan (Latin Markets) at Asian Trails, for Strategic Management; Alevtina Borodulina, Lead Heritage Consultant at Aquamarine Projects, for Leadership; and Uyanga Galbadrakh, Co-Founder & CEO of WildMongolia, for Sustainability Initiatives.
Since 2002, the PATA Face of the Future Award has recognised exceptional young professionals across the Asia Pacific region for their leadership, innovation and dedication to sustainable tourism development. It is PATA’s most prestigious honour for emerging leaders in the travel and tourism industry.
“I sincerely congratulate Lizam Dorji on being named the 2026 PATA Face of the Future,” said PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid. “This recognition reflects her leadership and contribution to the tourism industry, as well as the potential of the next generation of tourism professionals to shape a more innovative, responsible and meaningful future for our sector.”
Lizam Dorji named 2026 PATA Face of the Future
As CEO of MICE Bhutan (A subsidiary of Druk Asia), Lizam Dorji is helping shape the development of Bhutan’s Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) sector, creating new opportunities for economic growth, knowledge exchange and international engagement. Before returning to Bhutan, she built more than five years of experience in Thailand with the Royal Cliff Hotels Group and Pattaya Exhibition and Convention Hall, where she managed international conferences, United Nations events, corporate meetings and large-scale conventions involving up to 4,000 participants.
“I truly believe that tourism can be a powerful catalyst for positive change. Through our work at MICE Bhutan, we hope to demonstrate that business events can go far beyond commerce. By designing programmes that create authentic cultural exchanges and support local communities, we aim to reflect Bhutan’s philosophy of sustainability and Gross National Happiness,” said Dorji.
Four emerging leaders recognised
In addition to the Grand Winner, four outstanding young professionals were recognised for their achievements in key areas of tourism leadership and development.
Abdulla Iyaan Ahmed – Student Excellence
A Maldivian national and final-year student of the Bachelor of International Tourism Management (Honours) at Taylor’s University in Malaysia, Abdulla Iyaan Ahmed was recognised for his leadership and contribution to student development. He recently completed his term as President of the PATA Malaysia Taylor’s Student Chapter and currently serves as President of the PATA Malaysia Chapter Student Wing. Under his leadership, the Student Chapter delivered a range of initiatives, including destination trips involving students from multiple universities, a Youth Symposium debate attended by more than 200 students from five universities, a student talk series and professional development activities. Beyond PATA, he has helped organise more than 40 events through Taylor’s University Student Council and student clubs, while gaining experience in destination marketing and marine conservation through organisations including Visit Maldives Corporation and the Olive Ridley Project.
Orawan Dinsor – management
Orawan Dinsor, Team Leader – Travelplan (Latin Markets) at Asian Trails, was recognised for her strategic management, leadership and ability to deliver high-quality tourism experiences in a dynamic international operating environment. Since 2024, she has led the Latin team for the Travelplan Project, managing operations that welcome more than 1,000 Spanish travellers each month. Her experience across operations and customer service has strengthened her ability to respond to challenges, solve problems under pressure and continuously improve both guest experiences and operational performance. A Thai, English, and Spanish speaker, Dinsor places collaboration, empathy, and empowerment at the centre of her leadership approach and is committed to creating meaningful connections between travellers, destinations, and local communities.
Alevtina Borodulina – leadership
Alevtina Borodulina, Lead Heritage Consultant at Aquamarine Projects, was recognised for her leadership in heritage, cultural tourism and community engagement. A social anthropologist by training, she has conducted fieldwork across Russia and Europe and developed immersive exhibition concepts, multimedia storytelling and cultural projects that place communities and their stories at the centre of visitor experiences. In 2024, she spent six months conducting ethnographic fieldwork with the Bidayuh indigenous community in Sarawak, Malaysia, as part of a tourism masterplan, building trust with the community and translating local knowledge into practical frameworks for cultural identity and ethical, participatory community engagement. Her work reflects a commitment to developing tourism that shares culture responsibly while ensuring communities play a meaningful role in shaping how their heritage is presented and experienced.
Uyanga Galbadrakh – sustainability initiatives
Uyanga Galbadrakh, Co-Founder & CEO of WildMongolia, was recognised for her innovative approach to sustainable tourism, community empowerment and cultural preservation. After working in IT and strategy consulting in Tokyo, she returned to Mongolia in 2022. She co-founded WildMongolia with a vision of making nomadic life economically viable while preserving Mongolia’s cultural heritage. Under her leadership, the company has grown into the second-largest player in Mongolia’s luxury tourism market. At the same time, its Pop-Up Ger Camp in western Mongolia is designed and led by local Mongolian and Kazakh nomads, supporting 50 families directly and more than 300 people indirectly since April 2025. Galbadrakh has also supported conservation initiatives, including a programme providing winter care for orphaned bear cubs, with five cubs successfully released since April 2025.
For more information, visit www.pata.org/pata-face-of-the-future or contact PATA at [email protected].
(Source: PATA)
