TCSD - Year of Graduation: 2004

Nika graduated from the Technological Educational Institution of Athens in May 2002 with a BSc in Tourism Business Management. In July 2004 she graduated from the University of Greenwich and was awarded with an MSc in TCSD. As well as the fact that it was a thoroughly enjoyable course, it also proved to be valuable in terms of knowledge and developing her awareness on responsible tourism issues. Additionally she developed a special interest in the relationship between protected areas and the impact of tourism on the local communities and environment. She worked for the Countryside Agency from September 2004 to the end of 2005 as a Growth Areas Adviser, Higher Executive Officer. Green Arc, Succession Planning strategy for both Thames Chase Community Forest and THERAPI, sharing policies and approaches on Growth Areas work with other Government Agencies and non-Governmental Organisations were within her responsibilities. Nika has now started a PhD in tourism planning in protected areas with a particular focus on Wales and Greece at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth.

RTM - Year of Graduation: 2007

After ten years in IT, I was looking for a change and signed up for this degree. I am now working at the British Wildlife Centre in Surrey. My role is varied; starting as a volunteer whilst studying, I quickly became full- time (hence the long delay completeing the course) and now manage all aspects of marketing, interpretation and business planning for this small, but growing visitor attraction. It's been fulfilling being a key player in a small business from the start, and a good opportunity to hone and put to practice skills and knowledge from the course.

TCSD - Year of Graduation: 2000

James has spent the last 18 months to May 2005, employed in New Zealand. Initially working for Tourism Auckland and subsequently as a Strategic Recreation Planner for the Department of Conservation. This role, based in the Bay of Plenty Conservancy, included regional strategy development, visitor monitoring and facility development. (For more information on the Department of Conservation see www.doc.govt.nz). James has recently returned to Dublin and works for a planning, landscape and environment consultancy - Brady Shipman Martin - as a planner specialising in tourism and recreation development.

TCSD - Year of Graduation: 2002

Having completed his dissertation on developing complimentary tourism products that benefit local communities, he was appointed Programme Co-ordinator of the St. Lucia Heritage Tourism Programme (SLHTP) in 2002. The SLHTP is the leading responsible tourism development agency in the Eastern Caribbean. The achievements of the SLHTP are viewed as a model for pursuing sustainable development through tourism in small and island developing states. Sylvester co-authored the EU funded project “Community-based Nature Heritage Tourism” (1998-2002), which was implemented by the then newly formed SLHTP. In 2002, he directed the development of a successor project “Tourism and Community Development” (2003-2005) which he is currently implementing. Sylvester is also currently co-ordinating the development and implementation of an OXFAM funded project to increase the access of small agricultural producers to the tourism industry in St. Lucia..

RTM - Year of Graduation: 2007

After 27 years studying and working as a researcher/analyst in the UK, I have finally uprooted to return to my roots in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo in April 2007. Armed with my Eurocentric background, an MBA, the TCSD and a 'Wild' thesis, I have now set up as a freelancer under Symbiosis Consulting. Research however, seems to be my unwitting destiny. My first assignment with the Sabah Forestry Department involved supervising an ecotourism research project with local communities in the Kinabatangan Floodplain. Speaking of destiny, I am literally walking in my late forester father’s footsteps as the base of my next project is the Forest Research Centre. A techy assignment for the evaluation of tourism potential in Sabah forest reserves using GIS.

With more research assignments (involving community livelihoods) looming in the horizon, I will always be learning new exciting things as a freelancer and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Even with the tropical heat, mosquitoes and stifling bureaucracy, it is good to be home. Sabah has a lot to offer, not only to a budding freelance researcher but also to our visitors. With that said, Africa could be on the cards for me in October 2008.

TCSD - Year of Graduation: 2003

If you are truly passionate about bringing about sustainable forms of tourism, no matter what your personal focus is, I highly recommend that you embark on this Masters degree. I graduated with a BSc in Human Geography and an interest in responsible tourism, and the TCSD MSc has taken this interest further and developed my knowledge, understanding of and commitment to Responsible Tourism. I have also been able to specialise in my own personal interest, which is responsible dive tourism. My MSc project, carried out alongside UNEP and Friends of Conservation, focused on assessing the possible contribution towards coral reef conservation and responsibility of the diving industry. This project led me to be offered an internship with CORAL, a well established NGO based in San Francisco, who like me are committed to working with local communities and the diving industry to bring about a more efficient and sustainable form of reef protection. I have recently been promoted to program assistant. I assist the program team on a variety of conservation programs and projects, and coordinate the international reef conservation event Dive In to Earth Day. I am also in the process of developing a handbook to give practical advice to community groups and park managers on how to establish different types of user fee systems and leverage tourism in support of coral reef conservation in Marine Protected Areas and other coral reef destinations.

TCSD - Year of Graduation: 2002

Since completing his Masters in Tourism, Conservation and Sustainable Development Bongani has taken a post with the Swaziland Tourism Authority. He is responsible for promoting the concept of community tourism development in Swaziland and assisting communities to benefit from tourism. Bongani is also engaged in product development and diversification using the cultural and natural resources available in the communities.

MSc RTM - Year of Graduation: 2005

Richard graduated from the Masters Course in 2007 and having spent 12 years working for the independent travel agency, Trailfinders, and unfortunately failing to convince them of the worth of an RT policy he moved himself and his family to the more conducive climes of Dartmoor. As the Sustainable Tourism Officer for the National Park, Richard is responsible for the Dartmoor Charter for Sustainable Tourism, related funding bids, public transport policy and advises on recreation strategy. Having spent a year of his life cycling from Japan to Australia, the daily 10miles cycling through the Park to work is a reminder of how spectacular Britain's open spaces are!

TCSD - Year of Graduation: 2001

Since completing the MSc in Tourism Conservation and Sustainable Development he has been working in the Catalonian Pyrenees and Costa Brava running adventure programme for Pavilion Tours – a School’s Tour Operator. Since then he has lead groups through Costa Rica and Nicaragua with Raleigh International as part of their trekking programme. Returning to the UK, Hugh continued work with Pavilion Tours as the Ski Product Manager and has recently taken over as the Assistant Director of the Global Adventures Project, the gap year division of the American Institute for Foreign Study. The MSc has proved to be invaluable. As well as gaining a great qualification the subject matter was cutting edge, exciting and will put you ahead of the game. Although a little more office bound than used to, he still gets the opportunity to travel and surf and climb and is planning to climb the Matterhorn this summer.

RTM - Year of Graduation: Current Student

After spending a few years in Japan and volunteering with the Japanese NGO Peaceboat, I chose the RTM program in order to pursue a career in tourism from this important perspective. I'm originally from Colorado, USA, with a BS in Foreign Service from Georgetown University. I travelled to northern Peru for my dissertation research, where I evaluated the degree of responsible practices among local hotels, tour operators and archaeological sites in Trujillo as well as the local authorities' priorities for change. At the end of 2007 I will start working as a Tour Product Manager with Collette Vacations, a US tour operator based in Rhode Island. My territory is South America, so I am looking forward to returning to Peru and the opportunity to put my valuable RT studies into practice.

TCSD - Year of Graduation: 2001

Justin Francis, Chief Executive and Co-Founder with Harold Goodwin of ResponsibleTravel.com. Justin worked in advertising and marketing with J.Walter Thompson and The Body Shop before setting up responsibletravel.com with Harold Goodwin in 2001. He is a trustee of the Government's new Foundation for Sustainable Tourism and has carried out consultancy work for ABTA and AITO. Justin has a passion for wildlife and Africa and spent a year travelling independently from Kenya to South Africa (with a tent and some luck).

MSc Intern - Year of Graduation: 1999

Miriam spent one semester with us in 1999 participating in the course and then returning to Peru where she worked for CENFOTUR on community based tourism around the Northern Circuit. She is now Director of Development for Tourist Products in Peru working for Vice Minister of Tourism at the MINCETUR.

TCSD - Year of Graduation: 2003

Michael, a German national, has gained expertise in the areas of responsible tourism, development economics and sustainable development through his studies, his professional experiences and travels to more than 55 countries.

His university background is in Law (Münster, Paris), International Relations (Toulouse), Responsible Tourism Management (Greenwich) and Pro-poor Tourism (Münster), and his Ph.D. dissertation dealt with maximising tourism's contribution to poverty reduction in Rwanda. He is occasionally lecturing at universities in Germany and Rwanda.

As an independent consultant since 2003, Michael coordinated project teams in Rwanda and Ghana, and advised tourism operations in a variety of countries. He is the Founder and Director General of Rwanda-based New Dawn Associates Ltd (NDA), a social enterprise that works at the crossroads of tourism and sustainable development. He also serves as President of the German NGO Sustainable Development through Tourism e.V. (SDT).

More information: www.newdawnassociates.com, www.sd-tourism.org

Contact michael@newdawnassociates.com

MSc RTM - Year of Graduation: Current Student

Having completed my BA (Hons) Tourism Operations and Marketing in 1998 I then travelled for a year before commencing work in the tourism industry. I have worked for a variety of tour operators both in the UK and abroad before working for Thomas Cook as Senior Recoveries Executive. Working in mass tourism highlights the negative impacts tourism brings more than any other area of tourism and this was the main reason I chose to study for the MSc. I am now Partnership Co-ordinator for the Yorkshire Dales and Harrogate Area Tourism Partnership and I am based in the Yorkshire Dales. My role will help develop the promotion and sustainable development of the area whilst enhancing the contribution of tourism to the local economy.

TCSD - Year of Graduation: 2003

Prior to the MSc my career was in financial services and travel, but my passions were nature, wildlife and meeting new people. My travel experiences had highlighted the importance of finding sustainable solutions to harnessing natural and cultural heritage for tourism and I wanted to make a difference that would count. The taught modules of the Tourism, Conservation and Sustainable Development MSc expanded my knowledge and perspective, and following my dissertation (the socio-economic impacts of tourism and second home ownership on rural communities) I took the position of Sustainable Tourism Development Manager for the Yorkshire Dales. This was an extremely exciting opportunity to be directly involved in the development of responsible tourism in one of the UK's most stunning rural landscapes. I soon began working with Screen Yorkshire, the Regional Screen Agency, and it became clear that location filming could provide a valuable low impact stimulus for rural and urban economies. Furthermore, popular production could have a tourism multiplier effect. For example, local businesses had benefited from supporting the filming of the Calendar Girls and continued to benefit from the 'set jetters' who subsequently sought out filming locations. In 2005 I took the position of Head of Locations & Inward Investment for Screen East, the Regional Screen Agency for the East of England, and I love it as I feel I'm really making a difference to sustainable tourism development across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk as a direct result of supporting what can only be described as one of the world's most exciting industries.

TCSD - Year of Graduation: 2003

MSc in TCSD was really a thought-provoking course. Tutors and lecturers were excellent and helpful, and the relationships with my classmates sharing similar passions are precious assets for myself. This course developed my knowledge and skills, and my MSc project gave me a basic idea for PhD research at Nottingham Trent University. I am interested in host communities of tourism and cultural heritage site management. The title of my PhD research is "The impact of World Heritage Site designation on local communities - a comparative study of Ogimachi (Japan) and Saltaire (UK)", and I have just been awarded a PhD with minor corrections.

MSc RTM - Year of Graduation: Current Student

I came to the course with a background in tour operating and an interest in sustainable development issues. I am currently working with a tsunami relief organization in North Andaman, Thailand. Many of coastal communities in this region were devastated by the tsunami and the organization is now helping tsunami-impacted communities return to economic stability by developing and marketing Community-Based Tourism (CBT). The area is ripe for tourism development and it is hoped that CBT will give traditional fishing communities a more equitable stake in the inevitable expansion of tourism to the region.

MSc RTM - Year of Graduation: Current Student

I have 18 years work experience in the fields of Economic Development, Regeneration & Planning in both the public and private sector. My work experience has included project and programme management, area investment frameworks and funding bids, partnership development, action plans and development briefs, environmental impact assessments, development control and urban capacity studies/housing strategies and policy monitoring. I am currently Manager and lead officer for the Brighton & Hove Area Investment Framework and I work for Brighton & Hove City Council. My interest in responsible tourism management stems from my interest in local economic development and personal travel experiences.

TTCSD - Year of Graduation: 2005

I am working as a programme officer for the Energy and Environment for United Nations Development Programme in FYR Macedonia. Through programming of the country office activities and projects, I am mainly dealing with issues on protected area nature conservation, sustainable local development and local level applications of global warming/climate change abatement initiatives. These issues inevitably include tourism. I hope to continue exploring the area, which focuses on sustainable development especially from conservation and local economic development perspectives.

RTM - Year of Graduation: 2007

Catherine studied the UK’s travel print media for her MSc Research, culminating in an extensive content analysis of four months’ travel articles in ten national papers. Seeing a gap in the media’s commitment to the responsible tourism movement, she went on to study travel journalism and is now a freelance travel writer. She has been published in The Daily Telegraph, The Observer, The Independent, The Times. Metro, Green Parent Magazine, and The Irish Sunday Tribune, all articles with an RT angle. She is also a regular contributor to www.greentraveller.co.uk. Catherine is Irish, living in SE London, and is currently researching a Green Travel Guide to Ireland.

MSc RTM - Year of Graduation: 2007

Originally from Toronto, Canada, Laura held a BA in Leisure, Tourism and Society specializing in ecotourism and cultural/heritage studies from the University of Calgary before beginning the MSc RTM programme. Upon completion of the MSc, Laura returned to Toronto where she obtained an internship with an international cultural heritage consultancy firm based in Toronto. She now works as a freelance researcher and consultant and has founded a website ( www.theresponsibletraveller.ca) to raise awareness of responsible tourism issues in Canada.

TCSD - Year of Graduation: 2001

Lindsey completed her MSc in Tourism, Conservation and Sustainable Development in 2001, whilst working as a part time lecturer in Travel and Tourism for Mid Kent College. Since then Lindsey has worked with the University of Kent to develop a degree in Tourism Management, and has gone on to manage the department of Travel, Tourism and Customer Service at Mid Kent College. She lecturers on the HND in Tourism Management, and the degree programme at Kent, and is currently involved in the development of a Foundation Degree. She would be pleased to hear from ex colleagues from the 2000 and 2001 cohort and anyone who would be interested in talking to students about what they do!

Tourism & Conservation UKC - Year of Graduation: 1999

Stephen was appointed as the Responsible Tourism Manager for Exodus Travel at the end of 1999 and has worked for the company in several capacities since 1991. After successfully completing the MSc in 1999 he helped to direct the company Responsible Tourism policy to the highly regarded position it is now in. Exodus was highly commended in the BA Tourism for Tomorrow Awards 2002. Stephen combines his role of Responsible Tourism Manager with Overland Product Manager.

TCSD - Year of Graduation: 2002

Haywantee Ramkissoon is now a Lecturer at the University of Technology, Mauritius. In her current position Haywantee's responsibilities include curriculum development, the management of and teaching of programs within the School of Sustainable Development Science.

TCSD - Year of Graduation: 2001

After completing my MSc I went on to work for three years in Cultural Services for an Inner London Borough. I worked on a variety of projects that aimed to regenerate the area through the development of creative industries and a more creative approach to education, urban design and community activities. I have now come to New Zealand with a view to putting my skills and TCSD knowledge to good use. So far I have been doing some voluntary work for a small but expanding organisation called Creative Tourism New Zealand who offer creative and cultural workshops to visitors looking for a taste of ‘real’ New Zealand culture. As part of this I am of course obliged to tell everyone to have a look at their website!! www.creativetourism.co.nz

TCSD - Year of Graduation: 2001

Richard has over 10 years industry experience, including particularly tough assignments in the Maldives, and here in the Milford Sound, New Zealand! Richard has a particular interest in corporate social responsibility and tourism, and manages relationships with new and prospective members of responsibletravel.com

MSc RTM - Year of Graduation: Current Student

Alison works for the English National Park Authorities Association part-time heading up its campaigns and also works freelance. She is currently reading the MSc in Responsible Tourism Management. She is a Senior Advisor (Associate) for Forum for the Future on tourism, a member of Green Alliance, the Office of Science and Technology’s Future Analysts Network and former Board Director of Studentforce for Sustainability. Alison already holds a Masters in Sustainable Development and a BSc in Environmental Science. She is fluent in Spanish having worked with VSO for a year on sustainable tourism projects in Costa Rica where she still has strong links. She boasts a strong track record in business development, environmental policy, campaigns and influencing decision makers. Alison is passionate about responsible tourism and has a solid network of contacts in tourism, business and the environment movement.

TCSD - Year of Graduation: 2000

After a year working as a research assistant at the International Centre for Responsible Tourism on a number of exciting projects and with students, I moved to the Institute for Development Studies in Sussex. I have returned to the UK after nearly three years in Madagascar where I worked as a sustainable tourism consultant. Work there included an exercise to involve the tourism industry in the response to HIV and AIDS (I have worked on this issue in the UK and Caribbean as well), looking at community tourism potential around a marine reserve and coordinating a nine month training project in sustainable tourism for the private sector in both Madagascar and Mauritius. I was also involved in various national committees and working groups helping to define, develop policy for and help pilot projects for sustainable tourism in the country. I plan to continue working as a consultant for the time being, based in the UK. I hope to keep my links with Madagascar alive as well as working in new countries

Tourism & Conservation UKC - Year of Graduation: 1999

My masters project had a big influence on my current career - developing sustainable tourism in Scotland. My project on marine wildlife tourism on the Island of Mull (off the west coast of Scotland) opened my eyes to the tremendous potential Britain has for nature-based tourism. On completion of my masters, I worked as a research assistant for the International Centre for Responsible Tourism where I undertook further research on whale-watching for the Dept of the Environment. Following this, I moved to Inverness as Development Officer for the Tourism and Environment Forum (TEF), which works to ensure that Scottish tourism develops sustainably and is about to become the Scottish Sustainable Tourism Unit. During my time at TEF, I led the development of the nature tourism sector in Scotland and in September 2005, I left the Forum to become manager of a new organisation called Wild Scotland. This business-led group is Scotland's wildlife and nature tourism operators association and aims to raise the profile of wildlife-watching in Scotland and promote responsible access - www.wild-scotland.org.uk. This role is part-time as I'm hoping to do other smaller projects with my remaining days.

Tourism & Conservation UKC - Year of Graduation: 1999

Everyone who studied with me knows how enthusiastic I was about the course, it was current, applicable, practical, demanding and stimulating. My dissertation looked at the impact of tourism on a community in western Uganda and the research and my involvement in a national workshop for community tourism entrepreneurs led to a job with the Uganda Community Tourism Association.

My two years with UCOTA were fantastic: working with community groups, tourism and handicraft training, product development, marketing, promotion and liaison with government and other NGOs. Botswana followed Uganda, when I joined the Kuru Family of Organisations as a Tourism Advisor. Kuru works with marginalised communities, primarily the San (Bushmen), in areas such as income generating projects, CBNRM, advocacy, awareness raising, ... I spent 3 years with Kuru, the last 2 of which were dedicated to putting together and launching the first ever book written by the San themselves.

‘Voices of the San’ is both a beautiful and compelling book (I know I’m biased, but it’s also true), developed through transcription of oral history interviews and the use of many images.

For details see www.responsibletourismpartnership.org/VoicesoftheSan.pdf

Following Botswana I headed for Gabon, to develop a proposal for a similar book on the tribal groups living in and around the national parks, which is awaiting funding.  I returned to the UK and stayed longer than expected due to family circumstances, but then returned to Botswana for a few months, to put together a booklet on ‘The Khwe’s use of veld plants for food and medicine’.

As for what’s next, well the answer to that is in the wind somewhere.

TCSD - Year of Graduation: 2001

After graduating with an MSc in TCSD I worked in tourism and leisure research for a few years before moving to my current position as a Consultant with PLB Consulting in August 2005. I am responsible for business and interpretive planning for natural and cultural heritage sites and have also developed a thorough understanding of the principles of access and audience development. Community consultation is at the heart of audience development planning, which identifies barriers to access and engagement with heritage sites and provides recommendations for overcoming those barriers. During my time at PLB I have produced business, interpretive and audience development plans for a range of clients throughout the UK, many of them designed to meet Heritage Lottery Fund guidelines in order to support bids for funding. Having travelled widely before undertaking my MSc I am hoping that I will soon be in a position to develop my overseas experience.