Montakarn joined UNESCO in 2011 and is currently an Associate Programme Officer for Culture at the UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok. With an education background in linguistics, museology, and cultural project development, she is responsible for implementing national and regional capacity-building projects on intangible heritage safeguarding, sustainable heritage management, professionalization of heritage-related careers, and prevention of illicit trafficking of cultural properties. Her interest has been in interdisciplinary and participatory approaches to heritage safeguarding and sustainable tourism, with a focus on ensuring ethics in working alongside local communities and indigenous peoples.