Learn more about us
Elevate Sustainability was founded with a clear purpose:
help organizations move beyond sustainability ambition and turn it into structured, measurable action.
We believe sustainability should not be a parallel initiative, it should be integrated into strategy, operations, and decision-making.
Our work is grounded in three principles:
Strategic clarity
Practical implementation
Long-term value creation
We support organizations across sectors, with particular expertise in tourism and hospitality, helping navigate ESG frameworks, strengthen operational performance, and align with international best practices.
Meet the Founder
Maria Pais
As a passionate Madeiran, Maria has been drawing inspiration from nature since she can remember, from the sea to the mountains, protecting what she cares for has always been a priority and fuel for helping others do the same.
Specialised in ESG strategy, environmental management, and sustainability implementation across sectors, she is a sustainability consultant with particular expertise in tourism and hospitality.
She founded Elevate Sustainability to provide organisations with practical, structured, and business-oriented sustainability advisory, bridging the gap between strategic ambition and operational reality.
She is an Associate and Auditor of EarthCheck, contributing with technical expertise aligned with internationally recognised benchmarking and certification standards within the tourism sector.
Prior to founding Elevate Sustainability, Maria worked in sustainability consulting at PwC, supporting organisations across sectors in ESG strategy and reporting. Today, as both consultant and auditor, she brings a dual perspective that bridges compliance requirements with practical implementation.
She holds degrees from the University of Málaga and the University of Lisbon and works with clients across Europe in Portuguese, English, Spanish, and Italian.