Dr. Irina S. Zen demonstrates exceptional expertise in cultural heritage conservation integrated with sustainable development, evidenced by her pioneering research on Balinese Subak irrigation systems—UNESCO-recognised intangible cultural heritage—where she operationalises traditional ecological knowledge for contemporary sustainability (Zen et al., 2024). For the past 15 years, Dr. Zen has been actively involved in several UNESCO projects related to Bali and Yogyakarta World Heritage Sites, creating UENSCO masterclass for sustainable development (2013) and sustainability science (2015) based on Bali WHS. Sungai Lembing nomination for the tentative list, biosphere research, conservation and management in Crocker Range, and intangible cultural heritage of the Tagal system. She is among the awardees for UNESCO WHITRAP training on heritage sites and sustainable development (2025), among the selected participant for Javanese Symposium for Yogyakarta Axis (2026) and among the recipient for writing on intangible cultural heritage of Minangkabau Negeri Sembilan by Herriot Watt University, Edinburgh (2025-2027), alongside her work on the potential of Bali's biosphere reserve candidacy (Zen et al., 2019). This transdisciplinary scholarship bridges living heritage conservation with ecological resilience, positioning Dr. Zen as a vital contributor to sustainable cultural landscape preservation, aligning UNESCO heritage mandates with SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).