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Update from my work experience in Australia: Global Eco Asia Pacific Conference has been an incredible experience. During the conference, I have met experts on sustainable tourism from all over the world, and I have had the honour to chat with some of them.

Me and Emily – Ecotourism Australia

If I compare with the conferences I have attended in the past I can easily say the environment was completely different: very friendly and easy-going, probably because I am part of the staff that was organising it. I have been in contact with many speakers during the past months due to my role as a web marketing assistant (mainly focused on social media marketing).

Global Eco conference registration desk

I also took care of the Audio-video from the beginning (for example, I have selected a couple of companies and negotiate with them). During the conference, I have helped the AV technician setting –up all the instrument for the speakers and their presentations. A small role if I compare with my colleagues but perfect for me because I could follow most of the presentation, not only during the plenary session but also during the workshops. This way, the coverage with social media has been immediate and on time.

The most important and interesting part of the whole conference has been the delegates from different parts of the world and are running their businesses in niches of the sustainable tourism sector. Some examples for you, just a quick list for the moment, but stay tuned. I will share information about them.

Costas Christ editor at large editor-at-large for National Geographic Travel Magazine, but also a sustainable tourism pioneer. He leads the Beyond Green Travel http://beyondgreentravel.com/ and Chairs the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards for the World Travel and Tourism Council. Based in Maine – USA.

Keith Sproule, Tourism Business Advisor with the World Wildlife Fund in Namibia, manages a portfolio of tourism activity in some of the most rural, isolated regions of Sub-Saharan Africa.

Me and Keith Sproule
Me and Keith Sproule

Mariglo Laririt, the director of sustainability of El Nido Resorts, the winners of a Tourism for Tomorrow Award from the World Travel and Tourism Council.

Sarah Rhodes, Client Services Manager for Think! Social Media, she has more than 13 years experience in tourism. Sarah likes to describe herself as a responsible traveller, and on her personal website, this passion for sustainability and responsible tourism is expressed through her travel stories (http://saraherhodes.com/#!).

Lizzie Corke is the Founder and manager of the Conservation Ecology Centre, also. In 2004, she established the Great Ocean Ecolodge that received the Victorian Tourism Award.

Peter Gash is Managing Director of Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort.

Geoff Manchester, the co-founder of globally successful Intrepid.

Sam Friend investor and entrepreneur in online and digital businesses in Australia and overseas.

Jonathan Roberts New, high speed, low-cost 3D laser technology is about to revolutionalise heritage interpretation and management. Australia’s pre-eminent research institute, CSIRO, developed Zebedee, a mobile, handheld 3D laser scanner that captures millions of detailed measurements. It gives users the ability to reliably map an environment in 3D simply by walking through it.