Speaker Listing 4

Clive Allanso is a Doctoral candidate at the University of Brighton whose research is looking at developing a critical understanding of the “value of arts” beyond the commercial meaning of the term, and the role of art champions in the development of the creative sector SMEs (i.e. galleries, fairs, museums, studios) and value chain connection with the tourism sector in West-Africa. The study aims to identify innovative, socially responsible, sustainable and ethical pathways to contemporary arts and community-based tourism development and productivity in West-Africa.

Ged is the CEO of the new Climate Friendly Travel Club - a part of the SUNx Malta Community promoting Paris 1.5 and supporting tourism transformation as part of our “Plan For Our Kids” and the world’s poorest countries. A highly regarded travel industry leader with over 20 years senior management experience, Ged has held senior positions with leading global travel organisations such as; Thomas Cook, Travel Weekly, MyTravel, TUI and Kuoni. He sat on the Executive Leadership Board at Routes Aviation Events for 10 years, during which time he pioneered and promoted the role of tourism authorities in the air service development process. A passionate advocate of the advantages of tourism, Ged is dedicated to ensuring that there is a sustainable tourism offering for future generations which protects and nurtures destinations and their cultures. As such Ged is also the Founder & Chairman of Low Season Traveller; the world's first organisation completely dedicated to the promotion of travel during the non peak seasons and also is one of the Founding Directors on the Executive Board of The World Tourism Association of Culture and Heritage. Additionally, Ged regularly writes articles for industry publications within the tourism sector and is an enthusiastic, knowledgeable and passionate speaker at several travel sector events throughout the year and is regularly called upon to commentate on travel industry issues of overtourism and responsible tourism in media interviews on radio and TV.

David is an Ecologist, a Senior Lecturer and Dean of School of Tourism and Hospitality, Strathmore University. Holds a PhD in zoology (Conservation Ecology). His skills and expertise span teaching, research, conservation, public policy and sustainable development. He has experience in development, and evaluation of projects on biodiversity and ecosystem services, wildlife conservation and management, sustainable land use management, natural resource policy, climate change resilience and enhancing local livelihoods through conservation enterprise. He developed a training manual for green destination guidelines for Kenya under African Wildlife Foundation Project and trained conservancies in Southern and Northern Kenya on conservation and sustainability approaches. His aim is to promote biodiversity conservation while enhancing meaningful gains to local communities at tourism destinations and protected areas, and to mainstream conservation best practices in Kenyan tourism destinations. Research supervisor at Strathmore Business School for public policy and sustainability projects. A member of British Ecological Society, International Network for Next Generation Ecologists. A former EARTHWATCH and Tropical Biology Association fellow and current chair of International Foundation for Science (Kenya chapter). Dr. Chiawo holds a PhD PhD in Zoology (Conservation). Rhodes University, MSc. (Ecology); Kenyatta University and Bachelor of Education Science (Second class Honours-Upper Division), Kenyatta University

Prof. Bonface O. Kihima holds a PhD and Msc. in Tourism Management from the University of Lyon 2 in France. His areas of research interest include: Ecotourism, Community Based Tourism, Destination Policy, Planning and Management; and Tourism Education. He has actively engaged in the Eco-rating of accommodation facilities in Kenya. He is a member of the Accommodation committee at the Kenya Bureau of Standards and a dedicated member of the Tourism Professional Association. He has 15 years of University teaching and supervision of Post graduate students in the area of Tourism. He has published widely in the area of tourism and is actively involved in tourism consultancy, curriculum development and student mentorship. Currently, he is an Associate Professor of Tourism and Travel Management and the Chair, Hospitality and Leisure Studies of the Technical University of Kenya.

Marina is Professor of Marketing and Tourism. She joined the Nottingham University Business School in October 2023. She is a geographer with a background in economics, and over 20 years' experience of high-quality research, consultancy, knowledge exchange, PhD supervision, teaching and curriculum development and a keen interest in interdisciplinary research. She is an internationally renowned policy, planning and sustainable development expert and has advised on numerous international cooperation and research assignments funded by International Development Organisations (IDOs) including The World Bank, the European Union, The UN (UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO), the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Millennium Challenge Corporation as well as National Ministries, Tourism Boards, Regional Development Agencies and NGOs. She is known globally for her excellence in leading and collaborating with multi-disciplinary, multi-stakeholder and multi-cultural teams and for her commitment to generating new knowledge on ways in which tourism can play a key role in sustainable development by stimulating local economies, conserving the environment, developing people and changing lives.

Aisha Nabwanika is the founder and CEO of Ewaffe Cultural Village an Eco Cultural Tourism centre located in Naggalama Mukono, just an hour’s drive from Kampala, the village is a gateway to a world where food tourism and cultural immersion unite. From farm tours to cooking lessons, fishing experience, pottery workshops to mesmerizing storytelling sessions, we offer an unforgettable experience that will transport you to the heart of Uganda’s cultural essence. Aisha holds a bachelor’s degree of Commerce and is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Administration (MBA) from Makerere University Business School with a certificate in Sustainable Tourism Destination Management by UNWTO. She has served as an Administrator, at Uganda Tourism Association (UTA), an apex body bringing together all tourism Associations in Uganda for a period of 7 years. Her Passion lies in Women Empowerment, Rural development and Cultural Tourism Development.

Ambassador Paul Mukumbya, a seasoned diplomat, began his journey in Uganda's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1994. With steadfast dedication, he rose through the ranks to attain the prestigious position of Ambassador in 2013. His extensive experience includes serving in various capacities at the Ministry's Headquarters and representing Uganda abroad. Notable postings include Uganda's Embassy in Khartoum (2001 – 2006) and the Uganda Consulate in Guangzhou, China (2011 – 2016). Since January 2021, Ambassador Mukumbya has been Uganda's Consul General in Mombasa, showcasing his unwavering commitment to diplomatic service.

Ben fell in love with Africa in 2001, when he moved to Ghana to work at the Ghanaian Ministry of Justice. Since then, Ben has accumulated eighteen years of experience investing in, founding, growing and managing companies and non-profits across Africa. Ben founded and led Journalists for Human Rights (now Canada’s largest media development NGO) and Newsana Incorporated (a news aggregation platform); more recently spent nearly four years as Senior Partner at AHL Venture Partners, one of Africa’s largest early stage investors. In this role Ben ran AHL’s Nairobi office and oversaw AHL’s East and Southern African portfolio; notably, Ben led an investment and subsequent exit in Twiga Foods that won the 2019 ‘Exit of the Year’ award from the East Africa Private Equity and Venture Capital Association. Ben is also the Recipient of Canada’s Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) one of Canada’s highest civilian honours, winner of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 Award and the Queen’s University Alumni Humanitarian Award. Ben has a MSc from the London School of Economics.

Intrepid strives to change the way we all see the world. We do this by offering an immersive style of adventure travel which benefits both our travellers and the people and places they visit. Intrepid is a vertically integrated global business including our tour operating brand, more than 30 destination management companies around the world, and a not-for-profit foundation Today, we provide the world's widest range of adventure tours – or sustainable experience-rich travel, as we prefer to call it. We are a certified B-Corp and aim to be the best travel company for the world. We believe our purpose initiatives are not just beneficial to the world we operate in but good for business growth. In the role of Regional General Manager (RGM) for Africa and Middle East I hold accountability for the overall performance of each business in the region (Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Southern Africa and East Africa). A key purpose is to drive excellence for the region. My role is responsible for the long-term planning and implementation of strategy, ensuring that both yearly and longer-term goals are achieved. The engagement required is at both a strategic and, at times, a detailed level, to deliver business performance across all parts of the business, including operations and sales. I provide leadership to ensure that the region and each individual business achieves its goals, by promoting business revenue growth and profitability, monitoring trip performance including passenger enjoyment and health and safety, developing new business and effectively utilising resources to deliver the best travel experience ever to our clients. I also contribute to the global performance of the business, by contributing to strategy, policy, process and global business development.

David G. Gitonga holds a master's degree in Tourism Management, a Bachelor of Science in Tourism and a Post Graduate Diploma in Entrepreneurship. He has over 25 years of experience in the tourism public sector. Prior to joining Tourism Research Institute (TRI), he served in the Ministry of Tourism taking leadership in the areas of policy and strategic planning, sector regulation and innovation. He is particularly credited for his role in delivering the National Tourism Blueprint 2030 where he was the National Co-ordinator. The Blueprint offers an overarching strategic focus for the development of Kenya’s tourism and enhancing its contribution to the economy. At TRI, Gitonga has been leading the process of setting up the operational structures and the strategies for the Institute to deliver on its mandate from infancy. This work started by developing a Strategic Plan that gave clarity of vision and focus to the Board and staff. This enabled the Institute to adopt innovative ways of data management and research as well as for dissemination of findings. The Institute has thus taken its place as the principal source of research information and data for Kenya’s tourism sector advising both the Government and private sector on areas of improvement for destination Kenya’s competitiveness. Under his leadership, the Institute has forged global collaborations that have benefited the entire Kenya tourism sector. His services have been extended beyond Kenya’s borders and he has been invited as a resource person to support tourism research and statistics programs across the continent. This has so far taken him to Namibia, Zanzibar, Seychelles, Ethiopia and Djibouti and he has had other virtual engagements on the same. These missions help reinforce Kenya’s position as a leader in tourism within the continent and support the government’s policy of economic diplomacy.