ristina Ortega Nuere holds a PhD in Leisure and Human Development and is an international expert in cultural policy, cultural management, and the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage, with more than 25 years of experience in research, higher education, international cooperation, and capacity building. Her professional career has been closely linked to UNESCO and the implementation of the 2003 Convention through research, teaching, policy advice, international projects, and the design of capacity-building programmes on living heritage. She has collaborated with governments, universities, cultural institutions, and international networks across Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin America, promoting community-based approaches, sustainable development, and the integration of intangible cultural heritage into broader cultural policies. As CEO of the World Leisure Organization, she brings extensive expertise in cultural governance, knowledge transfer, cultural observatories, and the cultural and creative industries, fostering dialogue, learning, and international cooperation in support of the safeguarding and sustainable transmission of living heritage.