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Peter Nowland - Landscape Architect, Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority
Wednesday 9 November 09:00-09:20 - Urban Ecotourism: greening the destination

The Rocks: creating a ‘sense of place’ through cultural and heritage interpretation
The Rocks precinct in Sydney is a place of national cultural and historic significance. Its management is the responsibility of Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, an agency of the NSW government. This workshop examines the Authority’s journey in researching, creating and delivering a sustainable interpretation strategy for The Rocks. The experiential character of precinct visitation is discussed as well as the major themes that create The Rocks ‘sense of place’; people from the past, historic views and vistas, cultural and political events that helped shape our nation, atmosphere or ‘feel’, and the personal meaning that is infused into the visitor’s experience. Sustainable restoration and adaptive reuse of heritage buildings is a key element of creating authenticity and accentuating the unique character of The Rocks. The interpretation strategy evolved from an intense period of planning, research and consultation. The result is an integration of authentic stories into the life of the Rocks, told through a series of narratives that include installations, public events, e-media and self guided walks.

Biography
Peter is a Landscape Architect with Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority. He holds a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (Hons) from UNSW and has over 25 years experience. Previously, he worked with the Centennial Park and Moore Park Trust. Peter’s expertise lies in the adaptive reuse of historic public parks and urban places to deliver modern functionality, while retaining their intrinsic special and much loved heritage qualities. The sustainability of historic precincts is an important emerging theme for many of the world’s great cities. To retain their relevance, these historic places need to not only creatively tell the stories of the past; to engage their visitors with the historical and cultural values that make them special, but to also deliver viable new uses within the commercial reality of self sustainability and financial independence. Heritage interpretation is one of the tools we use to drive visitation, raise community awareness and entrench sustainability.

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Ms. Kristi O'Brien - Experiences Project Manager, Indigenous Tourism, Tourism Australia
Monday 7 November 12:00-12:20 - Indigenous Tourism Forum

The Indigenous Tourism Champions Program
The Indigenous Tourism Champions Program (ITCP) is now in its second year and is being implemented by Tourism Australia (TA) and Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) with significant support and involvement from the State and Territory Tourism Organisations (STO’s).

The ITCP is a cohesive national program linking IBAs financial investment in supply side initiatives for business improvement (for Full Members and Marketing Members) in with TA’s demand side marketing initiatives.
The ITCP looks to maintain and enhance the competitive advantage Indigenous culture offers Australian tourism by building a reputation of reliability and consistent quality in service delivery. The ITCP is achieving this through selective marketing of product which has met stringent criteria, ensuring that the businesses being promoted are able to meet the needs and expectations of trade and the international market.

The mentoring program is underway with three specialist tourism consultancies delivering tailored mentoring for all full members. Marketing Members are also benefitting from mentoring support through Indigenous Business Australia’s Business Support Program.

The mentoring process facilitates the transference of a range of business improvement skills, as well as working with Champions to identify the most effective marketing channels and trade events for them to participate in. IBA is also contributing to some of costs to enable the Champions to participate in agreed events.

A marketing activity plan has been completed and is currently being implemented and fully supported by TA offering the Indigenous Tourism Champions extensive exposure through TA marketing channels both domestically and overseas.

Members of the ITCP are exclusively eligible to participate in Tourism Australia’s Indigenous tourism marketing initiatives, which includes trade events, road shows, trade training initiatives, online marketing, print marketing and other marketing initiatives.

Indigenous Tourism Operators must be nominated for inclusion in the program by their State Tourism Organisation (or other nominated State based representative); they then must apply and meet the criteria for membership. There are three membership categories, each with specific support mechanisms in place, tailored to market and grow the participating businesses in accordance with their individual needs.

Biography
Kristi O’Brien has over 15 years of experience in the tourism industry and is now Tourism Australia’s Experiences Project Manager – Indigenous Tourism. For the past three years at Tourism Australia she has delivered a number of innovative programs including working with IBA to develop the Indigenous Tourism Champions Program. This has ensured a whole of government approach to Indigenous tourism development within an agreed framework, enabling TA to facilitate the building of strong and lasting relationships.

Kristi has worked extensively in the private sector and has brought this entrepreneurial drive, enthusiasm and strategic focus to her role at Tourism Australia instigating projects such as the highly successful Indigenous tourism photo shoot which is currently the most downloaded collection in the Tourism Australia Image Library. Her trade networks have facilitated the delivery of four very high profile Indigenous Tourism Trade Events which have been instrumental in shifting perceptions and improving awareness of the diversity of awesome Indigenous experiences on offer in Australia.

Kristi has worked in Product Development for two ITO’s, a Wholesaler and Tourism NT, giving her direct experience in all sectors of the global supply chain. In 1998 Kristi was integral in setting up a specialist Inbound Tour Operator which has grown to be at the forefront sales and marketing of Indigenous experiences in Australia and overseas.

Kristi sits on the Indigenous Government Forum Panel and the Indigenous Tourism Industry Advisory Panel. She holds a Bachelor of Business (Tourism) and a Graduate Diploma in Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

She developed a passion for Indigenous tourism following extensive travels where she immersed herself in a range of cultural experiences around the world, and across Australia.

Ms. Tara O'Connell - Director, Tarani Group and Chairman, Tourism Hunter
Wednesday 9 November 09:20-09:40 - Tourism: a strategic partnership for protected areas

The Role of Eco Tourism in Increased Sustainable Visitation to Protected Places
This paper will showcase how innovative partnerships between public and private organisations are creating increased sustainable visitation to protected areas whilst offering financial, social and environmental sustainability for government organisations, private operators, and the community. In particular the paper will use the case example the of TreeTop Adventure Park eco tourism product which is now operating in National Parks and State Parks throughout Australia, with additional new developments planned in a further 3 locations over the coming 12 months. Our presentation will demonstrate how private eco tourism operators can work in partnership with government agencies to showcase true sustainability in action through innovative, environmentally sustainable initiatives that serve to not only increase visitation to protected areas, but also raise environmental awareness through interpretation, education, and promotion. This oral presentation will provide an excellent case example of a successful initiative, offering a point of reference for future public/private partnership opportunities in Australia and overseas.

Prof. Mohd Shahwahid Haji Othman, Deputy Dean Research and Innovation, Faculty of Economics and Management, University Putra, Malaysia
Wednesday 9 November 12:00-12:20 - Tourism: a strategic partnership for protected areas

Community-based tourism at Batu Putih, Sabah, Malaysia: A strategic partnership of local community cooperation in protected areas
The Kinabatangan River Ecosystem is rich with wildlife. At Batu Putih, Sabah, Malaysia, the local community has set up a model ecologially sustainable community tourism cooperative - MESCOT comprising of 209 members that participated by providing homestay lodging, boat transportation to the jungle campsites and ox-bow lakes, and new lodges within the rainforest constructed by the community and volunteers from around the world and managed with as little disturbance to the ecosystem. MESCOT strived and obtain financing from international organizations and bid for forest rehabilitation jobs from the Forestry Department that generated sustainable income to pay for the wages of its participating members and its forest lodge facility. MESCOT was able to show that well managed and inclusive community participation and sharing of opportunities, the rainforest along Kinabatangan River and its wildlife population is protected. This paper analytically investigates the critical success factors and formulas of the MESCOT CBT model and to fish out lessons that could be learnt: how MESCOT seized the potential of strategic multi-partnerships in delivering tourism in protected areas and in maximizing the potential of a forest lodging project. The strategies adopted by MESCOT management in its success and in ensuring the longevity of its collaborations in tourism are highlighted.

Biography
My academic philosophy is to promote wholesome education and research by integrating both physical and social sciences. My basic degree is on forestry that was enriched by graduate degrees in areas related to economics, management and policy. Natural resources are a gift to mankind providing dual functions: on one hand as a producer of economic commodities while the other as a provider of ecological services including in ecotourism and assimilating and recycling wastes. The natural resources have to be managed on a sustainable basis so that these goods and services can be offered perpetually.

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Ms. Gail Parsonage - President, International Institute for Peace through Tourism Australia Inc. (IIPT)
Monday 7 November 13:30-13:50 - ASEAN and OCEANIA Tourism Forum

Implement a Change to bring about Sustainable Tourism, Climate Change and Peace
IIPT – International Institute for Peace through Tourism is a not-for-profit association. Its mission is to foster and facilitate tourism initiatives which contribute to: - International understanding and cooperation, improved quality of environment, preservation of heritage and poverty reduction and through these initiatives helps to bring about a peaceful and sustainable world.
In May 2011, IIPT held the 5th African Summit in Lusaka, Zambia with 440 delegates from 36 nations. As a result of that meeting, the Lusaka Declaration on Sustainable Tourism Development, Climate Change and Peace was adopted.
The Lusaka Declaration calls on all sectors of the Travel and Tourism Industry, Government and International Development Agencies and Travellers, to take a positive role in contributing to, Sustainable Tourism and reducing the effects of climate change, specifically as it relates to the Tourism Industry.
Simple but practical examples include:-

• Tourism activities that contribute to poverty reduction and contributes to the restoration of ecological systems.
• Implement environmentally responsible development and operational practices.
• Practices that benefit local destinations and enhance both cultural and natural heritage.
• Give emphasis to energy conservation and aggressively make the transition to renewable and clean energy sources.

We challenge all people to be “Agents of Change”.

Biography
Gail Parsonage is President of the International Institute for Peace through Tourism Australia Inc. (IIPT).
Her background covers 25 years in the International Airline and Tourism Industry and for the past10 years she has been a trainer and lecturer, specialising in Travel & Tourism, Event Management and Business Administration.

Most recently Gail was a delegate to the 2011 IIPT African Summit held in Lusaka, Zambia which addressed the issues of “Challenges of Climate Change to Tourism”.

Gail has also held the position of President of the Women’s Australian Travel League. Governor – Pacific Region, of the International Federation of Women’s Travel Organisation, and was also a Founding Member and Executive to the Australia Travel & Tourism Professionals.

Her other interests include practising MBTI (Myer Briggs Psychological Type Indicator) and has conducted a Stress Management topic using MBTI for the Australian Army Chaplains, she also does voluntary work for the Little Sisters of the Poor and Exodus Foundation.

Ms. Natasha Paul - Park Planning and Sustainabilty Officer, Tourism NT
Wednesday 9 November 15:40-16:00 - Urban Ecotourism: greening the destination

Greening the Red Centre:  Alice water smart accommodation
Tourism plays a vital role in Alice Springs, with visitors spending around $252 million in the town during 2010. With 385,000 visitors staying 3.1 nights each, the tourism industry makes a significant contribution to water use in Alice Springs. Accommodation providers are contributing to a major initiative which aims to reduce water consumption in the town by 1600 million litres over two years. Alice Water Smart Accommodation is a $200 000 project developed by Tourism NT and supported with funding from the Australian Government which aims to help businesses understand their water use and identify opportunities to reduce consumption. Alice Springs tourism businesses have shown a strong commitment to environmental sustainability, with many businesses focusing their efforts on cutting energy consumption over the past few years. Through this project, attention is now focused on preserving Alice’s precious water supplies and securing a sustainable future for tourism businesses in the region.

Biography
Natasha Paul has been involved in the Northern Territory tourism industry for six years. After three years in Kakadu National Park, she joined Tourism NT in 2008 and is focused on tourism policy and planning in Northern Territory protected areas and enhancing environmental sustainability of Northern Territory tourism operators. Natasha has a Bachelor of Management (International Marketing) and spent six years as a marketing professional prior to entering the tourism industry. She also lectured in Sustainable Tourism at Charles Darwin University.

Ms. Molly Phillips - Manager of Corporate Social Responsibility, Pan Pacific Hotel Seattle
Wednesday 9 November 14:20-14:40 - Urban Ecotourism: greening the destination

Global Responsibility in Hotel Industry
* Components of Hotel Sustainability/Global Responsibility Program
* The Business Case for Sustainability
* Marketing the Message, Building the Brand through Global Responsibility
* Measuring Success - Measurement and Metrics
* Building Partnerships & Profit through Sustainable Efforts

Biography
Molly joined Pan Pacific Hotel Seattle in 2010 as Global Responsibility Manager. She created the PanEarth program to explore and improve upon environmental and social sustainability. Since inception, the program has had success in areas of cost savings as well as building community and environmental impact. In addition, programs and practices that help guests decrease their environmental impact while traveling been implemented. The program is now poised to expand to the North American region of the company and Molly will be working with properties in this region to create symmetry for the PanEarth program.

Molly lived on the East Coast of the US for most of her life. She moved from Philadelphia to Seattle and began working for Kimpton Hotel Group in 2007. After completing a degree in Sustainable Business, she was named Manager of Sustainable Partnerships for all three Seattle Kimpton hotels. She created a pilot program to set companywide standards and metrics for monitoring the hotel’s environmental footprint and represented the company on panels, roundtable discussions and press interviews. The pilot program was then adopted company-wide to provide footprint analysis for guest rooms and meetings.

Molly was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA and graduated with a B.A. in Communications/Media from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. In 2008, she graduated from Bainbridge Graduate Institute with a degree in Sustainable Business. She has a 14 year old son, Andrew and is married to Jason Phillips. They reside in downtown Seattle.

Mr. Neville Poelina - Chairman - WAITOC Association Inc.
Monday 7 November 15:30-15:50 - Indigenous Tourism Forum

Seize the Potential of Empowered Indigenous Tourism
WAITOC Association Inc. is a product of empowered Indigenous tourism that has achieved what no other Australian Indigenous tourism organisation has managed to do. It has forged a pathway from its inception over ten years ago and has now entered into its 4th phase of empowered evolvement, focused by its vision to see the creation of a vibrant authentic Indigenous tourism industry as an integral component of Australia’s tourism industry. Its eventful journey has been marked by the achievement of a series of building block milestones. These milestones have included the establishment of a suitable organisational mechanism for engagement, establishing its credentials with government and the industry, demonstrating its capability to deliver and now positioning itself as an agent for change to realise the full economic potential of Indigenous tourism in Western Australia and provide an example of leadership for Indigenous Australia.

Biography
Neville is a Nyikina man from the Kimberley. He is presently Chairperson of WAITOC and a member of the Tourism WA board of commissioners. Neville was born in Derby WA and is the proud father of five children. He has lived in the Kimberley all his life and holds a wealth of knowledge of the region. He has traditional ties right throughout the Kimberley and Aboriginal culture and society is his life. Starting off selling bait and fishing trips to Broome’s visitors at 6 years of age, Neville has been involved in tourism all of his life. He has been operating his own business Uptuyu Adventures since 2002.

Neville was called back to his traditional lands to establish the Oongkalkada Wilderness Camp and Indigenous Training Centre where he now bases his business operations. Neville is passionate about sharing cultural insights in the spectacular ever changing Kimberley.

His diverse employment background is based around positions of responsibility in the areas of pearling, diving and training and more recently as a tourism and Indigenous culture consultant.

His latest endeavour is to see WAITOC champion a national Indigenous tourism representative body and an international Indigenous tourism alliance.