Lydia Pluess is a professional with over a decade of experience in international development cooperation, focusing on rural development, natural resource management, and organizational development.

In July 2019, Lydia returned to Switzerland and joined the Nature Park Gantrisch, where she leads the Department of Rural Economy, contributing to the promotion of sustainable rural development.

She holds a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) from Private Hochschule Wirtschaft PHW, Bern, a Dipl. Ing. Agr. FH from Berner Fachhochschule BFH, and a CAS Organisationsentwicklung Trigon from Fachhhochschule Nordwestschweiz.

Lydia's professional background includes roles such as Bereichsleitung at Förderverein Region Gantrisch, Coordinator for Partnerships and Capacity Development, Programme Coordinator for Central Asia and India, Technical Advisor, and Project Manager/Technical Advisor at HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation.

Prior to her current role, she also served as an Assistant and Scientific Collaborator at Bern University of Applied Sciences, School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences.