Biography
Russell is a regional tourism development and marketing specialist. As Director of Marketing with leading safari operator Wilderness Challenge he created remote soft adventure products. At TNQ TAFE his Ecotourism Program Manager and Faculty Manager roles focused on building workforce capacity. In various consultancies in Australia, The Pacific and China he has planned and delivered regional ecotourism initiatives. Russell has also led several industry organisations, including Savannah Guides, Guiding Organisations Australia and Savannah Way Limited.

Russell sees the human factor at the centre of tourism in regional areas, and has a range of recommendations to take remote communities forward in these challenging times.

Why Training means Growth in Tourism
There are many reasons not to have a training program in a business, including cost and time, staff turnover or lack of knowledge about available training assistance. However training is the fertiliser for the growth of a region, a business and an individual.
Skilled workers lead economic growth through their reliable, quality work and creativity.
Career paths and reward helps retain staff.
Trained staff provide a higher quality tourist experience.
Increasing risk management makes qualifications and licences key employment factors.
Tourism’s businesses leaders embrace training and accreditation as a central part of their quality management.
Traineeships and Apprenticeships engage business with the world of government programs.
The organisational skills and commitment required to complete a qualification are essential life skills for tomorrow’s world.
In regional Australia we need every growth opportunity – we need more tourism training.

Chair, Day 3
Sustainablility and Climate Change
Day 2, 14:00-14:30

Kym has 25 years experience in the tourism industry including managing a tourism industry association and two convention bureaux. She holds a Masters in Tourism Management and was a part time teacher in Tourism Marketing at the University of Canberra.

Ecotourism Australia was formed in 1991 as an incorporated non-profit organisation, and is the peak national body for the ecotourism industry. Ecotourism Australia is committed to growing, consolidating and promoting ecotourism and other sustainable tourism operations, through approaches such as:
developing and adopting standards for sustainable practices
increasing the professionalism of those working within the tourism industry
streamlining policies and processes that have in the past complicated operating in protected areas
assisting operators to improve the quality of interpretation offered about the places they visit
improving positioning and financial viability for operators who adopt sustainable practices
contributing to conservation solutions and projects; involving and providing benefits to local communities
marketing the principles of sustainability to increase awareness across the tourism industry

Peter Cochrane
Director of National Parks - Commonwealth Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts

Biography
Peter has been Director of National Parks since October 1999. His priorities include: strong and effective relationships with traditional owners of jointly managed parks and other stakeholders; enhancing agency performance, credibility and reputation in delivering its mission; and positioning parks as critical contributors to, and partners in, regional economies. Peter helped develop and champion the National Landscape initiative with Tourism Australia as a practical and leading approach to redefining parks and tourism issues as opportunities for collaboration and mutual benefit.

Peter has worked for the oil and gas industry on national environment and competition policy issues and as an adviser to two federal Ministers on environment and natural resources issues.

Peter has a Masters degree in Public Policy and a Bachelor of Science degree. He has a background in field ecology and the eco-physiology of native plants.

Partnerships at the Landscape Scale

Francisco Dousdebés
Manager, Environmental Affairs - Metropolitan Touring

In 2000 Francisco was given the responsibility of leading the Galapagos Expedition Department of Metropolitan Touring, Ecuador’s largest tour operator, where he was in charge of developing the expedition philosophy, managing Naturalist Guides and training the sales staff of his company and clients all over the Americas.

Currently, Francisco leads the Environmental Affairs Department of Metropolitan Touring and puts together sustainable strategies that minimize the environmental footprint of tour operations. He is also an Internal Auditor for the Smart Voyager Sustainability Certification, and currently is a finalist in the Heart of Green Awards 2009 because of his environmental leadership. Attending international trade shows, fairs, and seminars has allowed him to understand the industry even further.

Sustainability Development in the Galápagos Islands: Myths, Realities and Success Stories
Some 1,000 Km out in the East Tropical Pacific a group of islands gave Charles Darwin in 1835 new concepts that motivated him to think beyond thinking. The theory of natural selection could only be complete if humans were part of the equation. 174 years later, humans are visiting those islands where now tourism is the new economic force that could provide challenges, opportunities, some risks, but at the same time it can generate new hope. Explore the Galapagos Islands with Francisco Dousdebés and get to understand how environmental realities are being helped by the only species that can turn the ordinary into the extraordinary: Mankind.

Biography
James is the Chairman of the Kokoda Track Authority (KTA) and is a man from Efogi Village in Papua New Guinea, the largest village on the Kokoda Track. From growing up in a mountain village James has now gained a university education and contributes to his local community through his role with the Kokoda Health Program, his leadership as a land owner and through driving the necessary change at the KTA.

James is a communicator and negotiator on behalf of his people bringing his community’s concerns and desires to a broader audience and spending time in the villages and along the Kokoda Track working to improve the benefits to his people.

Don't fritter away a crisis
There have been some real challenges for the Management of the Kokoda Track over the past year with four trekker deaths, a plane crash killing thirteen people, track closures, falling visitation and a history of rampant corruption to name a few. The Management Agency for the area is the Kokoda Track Authority (KTA). The KTA is a PNG Government initiative with strong support from the Australian Government and its management structure reflects this with Interim Australian management reporting to a PNG Board of Management.

This presentation looks at the two sides of managing the Kokoda Track. The PNG National perspective of an Efogi Man (James Enage) on how tourism has changed his community and how he wants the future to unfold. The Management perspective of the very real business challenges ahead.

Jude has been highly successful both as a consultant and member of executive teams with a well demonstrated record of success commercially and strategically and she has a broad and in depth knowledge of the Tourism industry.

She has been involved in many well demonstrated commercial successes both in project development , stakeholder management and in areas of tourism management and marketing. This includes significant experience in dealing with large and small operators, and all levels of government.

For the last 12 months she has been the principal of her tourism, management and marketing consultancy- with a range of projects and clients in the Tourism industry ,the Arts and events sector, heritage and cultural tourism and adventure and experience development.

She has also held positions on Boards and committees in regional tourism and was until recently Deputy Chairman of the Tasmanian Convention Bureau. For the past 12 months she has been a Director of Ecotourism Australia and a member of the Membership and Marketing Committee.

She is a proud Tasmanian who is passionate about the Tourism industry in Australia and “making a difference”.

Biography
Rod is currently the Chief Executive of the Kokoda Track Authority (KTA) in Papua New Guinea. The KTA is a PNG Special Purpose Authority charged with managing the iconic Kokoda Track as one of the World’s premier trekking destinations and a place with enormous emotional and spiritual significance to Australian and Papua New Guinean people.

Before moving to Papua New Guinea he had a variety of Park Management and Tourism roles within the Public and Private sector working in Australia and for long periods overseas. Each role has a focus on bring people and conservation closer together through tourism, volunteering, education or just providing a good experience.

He is a previous Board Member and Deputy Chair of Ecotourism Australia and the Founding Chair of the Tourism in Australia’s Protected Areas (TAPAF) but is happiest paddling a canoe or sitting on a mountain.

Don't fritter away a crisis
There have been some real challenges for the Management of the Kokoda Track over the past year with four trekker deaths, a plane crash killing thirteen people, track closures, falling visitation and a history of rampant corruption to name a few. The Management Agency for the area is the Kokoda Track Authority (KTA). The KTA is a PNG Government initiative with strong support from the Australian Government and its management structure reflects this with Interim Australian management reporting to a PNG Board of Management.

This presentation looks at the two sides of managing the Kokoda Track. The PNG National perspective of an Efogi Man (James Enage) on how tourism has changed his community and how he wants the future to unfold. The Management perspective of the very real business challenges ahead.

As IHG’s regional director of corporate responsibility, Frank is responsible for developing and implementing eco-performance and community engagement strategies across the Group’s hotels in the region.

This includes driving IHG’s focus on improving each hotel’s ability to monitor and manage its actual environmental impact and related operational performance, and find ways to improve each hotel’s sustainability performance and engage guests, asset owners, business partners and Government.

Frank is a qualified scientist and engineer and a certified Environmental Practitioner, EMS Auditor and Green Globe sustainability program assessor for the travel and tourism sectors.

Responsible Business is Good Business
The climate change debate has elicited varied and colourful responses from the tourism industry, and some clever solutions. Full understanding of its impact however, and how the tourism sector can contribute to the solution, remains an enigma to most. IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) has focused on corporate responsibility – that is, its impact on environment, community, business partners and guests – as it strives to make its 4000+ hotels and resorts worldwide more environmentally and socially sustainable. Through its achievements, it has fostered powerful partnerships between operators, investors and government. Using IHG’s successes, trials and discoveries, backed by international trends, this paper will cover practical ways the tourism industry can make a real contribution to sustainability. Ultimately, it will cover how responsible business becomes good business – from the perspective of both cost saving and revenue generation.

Biography
Hitesh is one of the world's leading authorities, practitioners and researchers on sustainable tourism and ecotourism physical planning and both the landscape architectural and architectural aspects of ecolodges. He also has vast experience in Protected Area Physical Planning and has worked on Sustainable Tourism Plans for National Parks that protect the last remaining endangered species.

Hitesh regularly conducts research on international trends in Ecolodges and is currently writing his second book - Authentic Ecolodges.

In July 2006, National Geographic Adventure Magazine identified Hitesh as one of five Sustainable Tourism Pioneers in the world. In 2005 he was named by Men's Journal, a New York Based Magazine, as the "25 Most Powerful People in Adventure" in the world.

Romancing the Ecolodge
After travelling for the past 3 years, through 46 countries in 6 continents AND with a cost of half a million US dollars, Hitesh Mehta is ready is present his Romance with Ecolodges!! Through his presentation, audiences will be taken on a romantic journey to Authentic Ecolodge examples from each one of the continents. Come to this presentation if you want to fall in love…..yes, with ecolodges!! Hitesh’s forthcoming book – Authentic Ecolodges will be published by world renowned publisher Harper Collins and will be showcasing 36 of some of the most exemplary Ecolodges in the world.

The audience will get a peek preview of some of the professional photos that will be appearing in the coffee-table book, a first in the Ecotourism Industry. Hitesh will also be sharing his observations and views of Ecolodge Development and Operations in Australia. Hitesh’s presentations always have a surprise element so this presentation is not to be missed!

Mullis has over 20 years of experience in the travel and tourism industry. He began his career working in national parks in Wyoming, Montana and Utah. More recently, Mullis was the president and owner of The World Outdoors, an international travel company specialising in active and eco-travel. During his career, he has assisted numerous travel companies of all sizes in the areas of sustainable and business development, sales, marketing, finance, and management.

Mullis has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with a focus on Business from Auburn University and holds a Master's Degree in Recreation Management from Springfield College. He spends his free time traveling abroad, exploring the backcountry and enjoying quality time with friends and family.

Travelers’ Philanthropy – Traveling with Purpose
There are a growing number of conscientious consumers and responsible travel companies who are donating financial resources, time, talent and economic patronage to protect and positively impact the cultures and environments they visit. This voluntary movement, which has become known as travelers’ philanthropy, is helping to support community development, biodiversity conservation, and other environmental, socio-cultural and economic improvements around the world. This includes providing jobs, educational and professional training opportunities, health care and environmental stewardship.

More than 500 million people travel for leisure each year and there is an increasing demand for travel as remote corners of the world become increasingly accessible. If estimates are accurate, charitable giving by Americans alone could exceed $300 billion annually by 2020. Combine this with the fact that 38% of travelers plan on volunteering during their upcoming vacations (Travelocity, 2008) and more than half of Americans want to take a volunteer vacation (MSNBC and Condé Nast Traveler). The net result is a growing movement that provides a real opportunity to reduce the economic inequalities that exist in the world today.

Andy Ralph
Coordinator - Kakadu Culture Camp

Biography
Chris is Assistant General Manager – IBA Investments, based in Canberra and is responsible for the Investment portfolio with Indigenous Business Australia. Chris has sat on several Hotel and Tourism Boards while also acting as the owner’s representative for more than eight properties ranging from boutique eco lodges through to 200 room hotel/resorts;

Chris is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has attained the Advanced Diploma for the Australian Institute of Company Directors Advanced Program;

Working closely with numerous Indigenous business and associations located throughout Australia, Chris has assisted in the wealth creation and knowledge transfer on a number of investments.

The IBA Investment Portfolio is currently valued at approximately $350 million and includes a total of 30 Investments.

Growing Indigenous opportunities through tourism
Indigenous Business Australia plays a significant role in the development of Indigenous tourism. IBA presently supports some 30-40% of all established Indigenous tourism businesses through business support and lending, and IBA further owns or part-owns a number of tourism related investments, most of them in conjunction with Indigenous owners.

Indigenous Business Australia’s purpose is to increase the number of Indigenous Australians who are economically independent through business activity, investments, and home ownership. Tourism and eco-tourism businesses represent a growth area for Indigenous economic engagement opportunities, and IBA is actively exploring ways to foster Indigenous participation in tourism.

One of the mechanisms IBA is exploring is a model for helping more Indigenous Australians into tourism related self-/employment and business ownership. The model recognises that there are a number of pathways for Indigenous participation in tourism, and that linkages need to be developed to give effect to these pathways.

Bruce Walker
Chief Executive Officer - Centre for Appropriate Technology