Tatiana Antonelli Abella is GHAYA’s Societal Transformation Partner responsible for guiding organisations to foster cultures of social responsibility and environmental stewardship.

Tatiana is also the Founder and Managing Director of Goumbook, a Social Enterprise established in 2009, leading sustainability, environmental practices, and social impact in the UAE and beyond.

During her 17 years in the UAE, Tatiana has garnered a strong reputation and she is actively involved in the green arena. In 2021 she was nominated by LinkedIn as a UAE Top Voice in Sustainability and was elected as regional ambassador of the Nature Needs Heroes international campaign by Timberland.  In June 2022 she was awarded the Mother Teresa Award for Social Justice and Environmental Sustainability under the patronage of H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak.

Tatiana supports and advises different businesses and sits on the advisory board of Gulf Sustainability Awards, FutureTech Summit and HeroGo.  Most recently, Goumbook has been appointed as strategic sustainability partner of Dubai Can, a campaign by HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai.

Tatiana sits on the Engage Committee under Dubai Chamber of Commerce’s umbrella and has been nominated Environmental Ambassador for the Middle East Youth Expo. She also acts as an advisor to events such as Art Dubai or the Emirates Literature Festival to help them achieve their sustainability goals. Since 2012, Tatiana has been proud to be a judge of the Gulf Capital SME Awards for the ‘Most Sustainable Business of the Year’.

In April 2019, Tatiana started Forward Talks, a weekly podcast highlighting leaders and professionals who, through their work, entrepreneurship, and commitment, promote positive impact and sustainability in the GCC and globally.

Considered one of UAE’s top environmental influencers, she contributes regularly to media and at conferences in her role as a green business leader in the country.