Amy Scarth (PhD, MA, BA Hons) is an applied social scientist and independent consultant specialising in socio-economic development impact and the sustainability of biodiversity in sub-Saharan Africa. Her expertise lies understanding real-world complex systems that private, non-profit and public sectors are embedded, the intersection of humans, nature and politics in Africa's protected areas, as well as global and local tourism strategies. Combining an advanced academic foundation with extensive practitioner experience, Dr Scarth also has a background in multi-stakeholder engagement amongst last-mile populations in fragile contexts of the world. Leadership roles across private industry, NGO, social enterprise, academia, and consultancy, have enabled thought leadership in diverse fields. Marina Novelli (PhD, PGDip Panning, PgDipEd, BSc Hons Economics) is Director of the University of Nottingham's Sustainable Travel and Tourism Advanced Research Centre and Professor of Marketing and Tourism at The University of Nottingham Business School, UK. She is a globally renowned authority in the field of tourism for sustainable development, with an extensive track record of leading impactful research, consultancy and advisory services for international organisations such as the World Bank, the EU, various UN institutions, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the Commonwealth Secretariat, the British Council and National Ministries. She is an Africa specialist, having travelled and worked in 27 countries and over 50 destinations on the continent. She has publishing extensively on issues related to the continent and amongst her many recognitions, she is the recipient of the 2022 Africa Impact Champion, the 2018 Africa Tourism Leadership Award and the 2018 Top 50 Awesome Scholars in Tourism.
