Year of Graduation: 1994
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After 27 months as a VSO in Tabora Region, Tanzania, Mike wrote his MSc ecotourism thesis at the Durrell Institute of Conservation & Biology (DICE) where Harold and Shaun Russell were among his main influences.

When I left DICE I worked for the conservation education NGO The Living Earth Foundation before moving to the private sector to work for a small-scale sustainable tourism operator, Symbiosis Expedition Planning. In 2001, I became a freelance consultant, continuing to work for Symbiosis who by now had opened an office in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and writing on, as well as offering consultancies in tourism and conservation. My articles were printed in BBC Wildlife magazine, Geographical, Diver magazine, Wanderlust, etc. and my research included on TV in the recent BBC 'Planet Earth' series.

Throughout the links I have maintained with tourism experts from first DICE and now ICRT have been at the core of my tourism activities. For instance in the consultancies I worked on for The Travel Foundation, where among the tasks I was asked to complete were the initial monitoring and evaluation of the Gambia Is Good (GiG) Farm project, as well as in the Tourism Country Reports and Travel & Tourism Analysis reports I am regularly commissioned by Mintel International PLC to produce for their global tourism market intelligence portfolio.

Current Student

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The course enables me to more effectively promote responsible tourism in my professional setting and also meets personal growth objectives.  As a project manager in the United Nations Environment Programme, I design and implement projects that promote more sustainable patterns of consumption and production, specifically through improving resource efficiency in industries.  These industries have traditionally been manufacturing but as products are recognized as the key point for societal change, more sustainable products and services (like tourism) have become increasingly important in donor interventions.  

 

I came to the course having carried out responsible tourism projects and with a mandate to implement new and more effective ways at the national level to support such interventions.  The course has provided me key theoretical concepts on responsible tourism and a clear context and network to do my job better.  Equally important, the course has exposed me to other tourism professional and those interested in the sector which have provided a stimulating stakeholder forum to discuss the issues.

 

Personally it feels great to be in an education setting again.  When I got my Masters Degree in Public Policy from the University of California at Berkeley in 1982 there were no programmes offered ‘environment’ or ‘sustainable development.’  Working in this field has required a real ‘learn by doing’ approach. It also reinforces the fact that the topic is always growing and evolving and that there are many ways to reach the same end.  In this case, Im really enjoying the journey.

Year of Graduation: 2007
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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.

Year of Graduation: 2008
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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 started working as a Product Manager designing and managing escorted tours for Collette Vacations, a US tour operator based in Rhode Island.  My territory is Mexico & South America, and I especially enjoy my trips back to Peru and the opportunity to put my valuable RT studies into practice.

Current Student
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Ally is Tourism lecturer at Southend College of Further Education. She wanted to study the course to make her a better lecturer, gain industry knowledge and contacts, and to gain teaching materials from ICRT staff. Ally has been helping ICRT test City and Guilds level three qualifications for a new responsible tourism course, and has used the course to introduce new ideas in the curriculum and teaching methods in her job. 

 
"Studying Responsible Tourism Management has made me much more confident in my job. I can now share scenarios and actual events that I have been learning about on my course and discuss up-to-date issues that matter in Tourism with my students. Studying via distance learning is perfect so I can continue working and through weekend tutorials I have met other students on the course that have helped me with the curriculum."

Year of Graduation: 2001
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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).

Year of Graduation: 1999
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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. More recently, she worked as the Director of Development for Tourist Products in Peru working for Vice Minister of Tourism at the MINCETUR. She is now based in Cajamarca and works as General Manager for a MIF-IADB (INTER AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK) PROYECT:  "The development of The Northern Tourist Circuit of Perú" , which extends to four regions: Cajamarca, La Libertad, Lambayeque and Amazonas.

Year of Graduation: 2003
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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

Year of Graduation: 2009
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Rosie is a market/social research consultant with approximately 9 years global experience, in both qualitative and quantitative techniques. She completed the MSc in 2009 after undertaking her thesis on the barriers to pro-responsible behavioural change amongst independent western tourists to the Mekong region. During her year Rosie was offered several opportunities for consultancy, conducting market research for responsible tourism in Sri Lanka and using mixed methods in Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Rosie now works in London as a social marketing consultant, undertaking research programs that guide the development of social and environmental behavioural change interventions.

Current Student

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Like many students, after completing my degree, a BSc in Environmental Science at the University of Southampton I wanted to see some more of the world.  My interest in conservation and the environment led me to go to travel to South Africa where I trained as a Field Guide.  My experience working in the lodge industry showed me firsthand the impacts of tourism both positive and negative.  My degree had given me a broad understanding of sustainability and more specifically environmental management but I had never considered the role of this within tourism.  I became convinced of the potential of tourism as a catalyst for positive social development and conservation. After returning to the UK, I enrolled on the MSc in Responsible Tourism Management.  I hoped that the course would offer an understanding of tourism and also the practical solutions that can enable it make a positive difference.  After 2 months on the course, my tutors found me a placement within the Responsible Business team at Virgin Holidays.  The experience has been incredibly valuable because it has given greater insight into the tourism sector and the role of a tour operator.

 

Primarily my role at Virgin Holidays is to conduct the auditing of their worldwide accommodation suppliers through the Travelife Sustainability in Tourism Award system.  My knowledge of environmental management systems combined with the theoretical knowledge that the course has provided has enabled me to do this.  In addition, I have had the opportunity to contribute and participate in other areas of the team’s work including internal communications. I genuinely feel that having the opportunity to work within a responsible tourism environment has given me a deeper understanding and an invaluable opportunity to reflect upon the learning material of the course.  Despite having no previous experience within a commercial tourism company, the course prepared me well.  An important part of this was definitely having the opportunity to meet other students with varied backgrounds and expertise. Even though at times it has been a steep learning curve it has definitely offered a different perspective on the reality of responsible tourism and sustainability.

Year of Graduation: 2007
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I have now worked in tourism for 10 years and my experience covers both the public and private sector.  My experience includes working both overseas and in UK for various tour operators before moving into the public sector to work for the Yorkshire Dales and Harrogate Tourism Partnership and Craven District Council.  Within these latest roles I gained experience in working with rural businesses and tourism development in rural areas.  I worked closely with the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority on responsible tourism projects such as the Three Peaks Project and preparation for the introduction of GTBS within the Yorkshire Dales area. I am currently Assistant Leisure Tourism Manager for Visit Leeds.  Within this role I will promote Leeds as a leisure tourism destination and will deliver various projects to increase the volume and value of tourism to Leeds

Current Student
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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.

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.

Year of Graduation: 2009

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Katelijne is a tourism professional with 15 years of tourism experience and with a varied work history across sectors in tourism, water, education and project management.  She is Belgian born but worked for 10 years in Australia as owner of a multi-award winning adventure tour company, before moving to the UK to study the Masters. Studying the Msc Responsible Tourism Management has led to consulting work as a tourism advisor in Africa, Asia and South America.  During the second part of her masters studies she worked as a consultant doing SME advisory work on development projects in Zambia, Tanzania and Laos. Soon after finishing her degree she became the technical advisor and project manager for an EU funded project in tourism capacity building focusing on public-private partnerships, community tourism development and e-marketing in Suriname, South America. With international work experience in Europe, Asia, Australia, Middle East, Africa and South America, her expertise focuses on SME development, responsible tourism product development & marketing as well as capacity building of government agencies and communities in developing countries.  She now works as an independent consultant on short, medium and long term projects across the globe.

Year of Graduation: 2006
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Following 17 years in the hotel industry, primarily in international sales, and three and a half years in business travel, I moved back home to Kent to study for the MSc. My research thesis looked at the impact of CSR on the procurement and management of business travel. During my studies I joined the Kent Downs AONB Unit as Sustainable Tourism Officer where for four years I delivered a series of EU funded projects that laid the foundations for a Kent-wide rollout as well as the first stage of gaining Europarc Sustainable Tourism Charter Status. Key to this role was finding the balance between economic development and landscape conservation.

Drawing on this experience I now work as a freelance Responsible Tourism consultant and am currently involved with a number of projects involving market research, developing ‘sustainable tourism’ in Kent and sourcing information for the ICRT’s MSc in Responsible Hospitality. I am also an Associate of Wild Asia in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - a social enterprise working to support the conservation of natural areas and the communities dependent upon their resources.

Year of Graduation: 2007
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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 specialising in RT. She has been published in The Daily Telegraph, The Observer, The Independent, The Times. Metro, Green Parent Magazine, The Week, and The Irish Sunday Tribune, all articles with an RT angle. Catherine writes a fortnightly column for The Irish Times, called Ethical Traveller. See www.irishtimes.com. Her first book, Ecoescape:Ireland was published in June 2008, (www.ecoescape.org) and she completed a new RT handbook commissioned by Failte Ireland (the Irish Tourist Board) and Greenbox end 2008.  Catherine's own websites www.ethicaltraveller.co.uk and www.ethicaltraveller.ie will go live early 2009. Catherine is Irish, living in SE London.

Year of Graduation: 2008
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In 2005, following previous studies and a varied career in community development in the UK and overseas (largely in West Africa), I started the MSc Responsible Tourism Management at the University of Greenwich to help me pursue a career change. The course enabled me to apply my broad interests in community participation, poverty alleviation and social anthropology of development to the more specific focus of responsible tourism. It also greatly improved my understanding and knowledge about tourism, and introduced me to a very exciting network of people including in The Gambia where I conducted my dissertation research. After completing the course I got a job as a research consultant for PLB Consulting Ltd in North Yorkshire who specialise in natural and cultural heritage management. Then, in September 2009,  I very happily accepted a position with the ICRT staff team as a research fellow to contribute to teaching, research and consultancy work (see the ICRT staff page for further info).

Year of Graduation: 2007
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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 program. Upon completion of the MSc, Laura returned to Toronto where she worked as a contract researcher and consultant for several consulting firms for heritage and tourism projects in Canada and around the world. In 2007, Laura founded The Responsible Traveller (www.theresponsibletraveller.ca) to begin developing a register of responsible tourism experiences in Canada.

In November 2008, Laura launched the ICRT Canada (www.icrtcanada.ca) with a vision to develop responsible tourism in Canada, in particular in Canada's rural, aboriginal and northern communities - promoting the development of authentic and unique natural, cultural and community-based tourism initiatives through awareness raising, training workshops, relevant research and advisory services. Laura was also recently appointed as Tourism Product Development Coordinator for the Alberta Ministry of Tourism, Parks and Recreation in western Canada.

Year of Graduation: 1999
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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 for a decade. Exodus was highly commended in the BA Tourism for Tomorrow Awards 2002 and was awarded Joint Overall Winner Responsible Tourism Awards 2004. Stephen moved on from Exodus and now has a key role for helping to promote local tourism worldwide at www.tourdust.com.

Current Student

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I started the course in 2008 and am studying part-time over two years. My experience so far has been positive and I feel I am gaining and improving on a variety of practical skills that will be useful to me in the future. At the same time, I work as a consultant to the International Finance Corporation (IFC) which is a member of the World Bank Group. Currently, my work focuses on generating private sector investment in tourism in the emerging markets of Mozambique and Madagascar.

 

My interest in the course is very much on the Local Economic Development and Pro-Poor angle of tourism, and how to work with both governments and private sector to achieve this. From this perspective I have been able to directly apply much of my learning from the course to my work in planning and designing elements of the program in Mozambique and in establishing a replicable model for the future.  

Current Student
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Sean is Environmental Manager at TUI UK, a position for which only two ICRT students were shortlisted. Through the course we work closely with Sean to test ideas for incorporating sustainability in new product development and reviewing the company’s product portfolio, his main responsibility in the company. It’s very enjoyable to have Sean in the course because it brings that reality check, while also allowing us to understand, within the limits of confidentiality, where industry is going.

"I wanted to change career and as an ex-manager for hotels overseas, I now work with other hoteliers working towards more sustainable operations, both within resorts and in the community. The relevance of the course modules no doubt boosted my candidacy for the role with TUI and my confidence in performing so far."

Year of Graduation: 2001
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Helen returned from two years in New Zealand in August 2007 and now works for Audley Travel as a New Zealand specialist. Audley are keen promoters of responsible travel and are in the process of developing responsible travel guides to go in to all client itineraries. Helen recently wrote this guide for New Zealand and is the representative for her team as part of company-wide RT development.  Helen also continues to support Creative Tourism New Zealand, for whom she did voluntary work whilst in NZ.

Current Student

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Nick came to the ICRT to study the MSc Responsible Tourism Management in 2007 whilst working for a small, specialist and independent tour operator as a travel consultant. With a First Class degree in Environmental Science from the University of Plymouth, Nick joined ICRT with a dedication to environmental issues and an aspiration to work at the interface between tourism, conservation and sustainable development. Shortly after starting the MSc, he took up a position with The Adventure Company, as Product Executive during which time he travelled to Nepal, Madagascar and North Cyprus as part of the job. Nick subsequently took on the role as Responsible Tourism Coordinator for The Adventure Company until early 2009 when he decided it was time to apply for a position that really reflected his interests and passions and was successfully appointed to Brecon Beacons National Park in Wales as Sustainable Tourism Officer. Nick is lead Officer for the Collabor8 project; a three-year EU project focussed on developing and managing sustainable, high-quality and locally distinctive tourism. He has a particular interest in responsible food and drink sourcing as part of local distinctiveness, has instigated a research partnership between Brecon Beacons National Park Authority and ICRT and has recently become a contributing thinker to responsibility.org.uk

Year of Graduation: 2009
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Alison works in the Green Start project of Visit Britain through a partnership with the ICRT. While doing her MSc Responsible Tourism Management she has also worked in campaigns for the English National Park Authorities Association. 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.

Year of Graduation: 2009
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Having previously studied for a BA (Hons) Modern Languages degree at Bradford University, Anna found herself returning to West Yorkshire to continue her studies in 2007. She completed the MSc in Responsible Tourism Management at the ICRT in 2009, having studied on a full-time basis whilst continuing to work part-time at Sustrans in Bristol. She chose to concentrate her professional report on tourism's contribution to sustainable communities, with a specific focus on the Transition Town movement. Linked to her particular interest in sustainable transport, in September 2009 she took up a consultancy position within the ICRT which involved a move to Northumberland to develop a cycle tourism project looking to create 'cycle hubs' in two market towns in the county

Year of Graduation: 1999
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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.

Year of Graduation: 1999
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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. Botswana followed Uganda, when I joined the Kuru Family of Organisations as a Tourism Advisor. Kuru works with marginalised communities, primarily the San (Bushmen). ‘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’.

Year of Graduation: 2001
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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.