Speakers

Billy Wadongo is The Head of Research, Innovation & Business at Boma International Hospitality College. He holds a Ph.D. in performance management and evaluation from University of Bedfordshire, UK, M.Sc. (Hospitality management) and a B.Sc. (Hotel & Institution Management) from Maseno University, Kenya as well as a Diploma in Community Development and Project Planning & Management. He previously worked a chair of academic department, Maseno University, research assistant at Lord Ashcroft International Business School, Anglia Ruskin University, UK, and a graduate research assistant at Maseno University. During his career as he have delivered program leadership, teaching, and examination of Undergraduate/postgraduate courses. He is an experienced TVET skills development expert & training consultant in strategic technical guidance on market-driven workforce development methodologies involving public and private sector partnerships through development and delivery of TVET Competency Based Education Training (CBET) curriculum, short courses, professional development programs (PDPs), Dual Vocational apprentice Approach (DVAA) programs, Recognition for Prior Learning (RPL) programs, blended learning programs, and masterclass programs. He is an experienced program and curriculum leader, curriculum developer and peer reviewer. In addition he has invaluable postgraduate dissertation supervision & examination. Over the years, he has gained relevant and practical experience in qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods research designs, systematic literature reviews, data analysis, technical proposal writing and report writing. He has worked with private, public, and non-profit organisations as a researcher, and consultant in performance management, skills expert groups, innovation, documentation, capacity building, quality assurance project design, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. He has published 17 papers in refereed journals, co-authored two peer reviewed book and book chapters.

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.