Dr. hab. Teresa Brzezińska-Wójcik is a Professor at the Department of Regional Geography and Tourism, Faculty of Earth Sciences and Spatial Management, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University (UMCS), Lublin. Her research focuses on tourism geography , sustainable tourism , geotourism , and GIS applications in regional studies. Research Trends: Analysis of 15 recent publications reveals expertise in: Roztocze Biosphere Reserve management Geocultural heritage utilization Tourism potential assessment Neotectonic landscape analysis Regional product branding GIS-based spatial modeling Projects & Grants: Geopark "Kamienny Las na Roztoczu" (2022) Transboundary Biosphere Reserve "Roztocze" (2021) Tourism brand development (2020) EU-funded transborder cooperation (2019-2020) UNESCO-MAB biosphere reserve documentation (2014) National projects on geotourism (2012-2015) Media Engagement: Featured in multiple TVP3 Lublin documentaries about Roztocze's natural phenomena and heritage (2020-2024), including: "Fascynujące Roztocze" (2021) "Via Carpatia – fenomen Karpat" (2022) "50 lat Roztoczańskiego Parku Narodowego" (2024)
Laura Lesar is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Law & Commerce at the College of Business, Government, and Law, Flinders University. She is also a Full Member of the Centre for Social Impact and the Torrens Resilience Initiative. With a multidisciplinary academic background, her work bridges environmental studies, sustainable tourism, and business governance. She holds a PhD in Sustainable Tourism from Griffith University, a Master of Science in Travel Industry Management from the University of Hawai'i at Manoa, and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Environmental Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Her research focuses on practical quality control tools that enable tourism providers to enhance sustainability and resilience. These include certification programs, sustainability indicators, net zero initiatives, adaptation strategies, capacity building training, and ESG reporting. She has developed over 100 tools for industry use and a replicable method for co-creating customized sustainability toolkits with stakeholders. Laura’s publications appear in top-tier journals such as Journal of Travel Research and Journal of Sustainable Tourism . Her recent articles highlight trends in sustainable tourism tool development, SDG integration, drone-based overtourism monitoring, and diffusion challenges in sustainability adoption. These works emphasize practical, industry-relevant solutions grounded in community and stakeholder engagement. Research Excellence Award for Outstanding Achievement in Industry Engagement and Impact, 2024 Best Reviewer Award (Early Career Reviewer), Journal of Travel Research, 2023 Outstanding Achievement by an Early Career Researcher, 2021 Teaching Award, University of Hawaii, 2020 Accredited Sustainable Tourism Consultant and Auditor, 2011 WSET Level 2 Certification in Wine Laura has secured AU$9.8 million in industry-engaged research funding and leads a current project on co-designing sustainability toolkits for events. She has advised organizations including Royal Caribbean, Expedia, UN Environment Programme, and government councils. She has delivered keynotes and workshops globally, including at the U.S. Department of State and the United Nations. She also serves on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Travel Research . She teaches and coordinates courses in wine tourism, sustainability in tourism and events, and governance. Her industry experience in the wine sector and professional accreditations enrich her applied teaching approach. She is also an Adjunct Senior Lecturer at the Griffith Institute for Tourism.
Nicola CAMATTI is a Researcher at the Department of Economics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice. His work focuses on regional and urban development, sustainable tourism, food systems, and circular economy. He contributes to academic initiatives such as the Erasmus+ study program and coordinates international research projects like Cities2030 and SmartCulTour. CAMATTI holds an MSc, MIEF, and PhD in Economics. His research spans tourism sustainability, cultural heritage management, and economic impact analysis. He leads projects like Cities2030 (food systems resilience) and SmartCulTour (cultural tourism sustainability). CAMATTI teaches courses on tourism economics, innovation, and sustainable business ecosystems. Key projects include developing strategic indicators for tourism monitoring, analyzing Airbnb impacts, and assessing Olympic event impacts using Input-Output models. He collaborates with regional governments (Veneto, Puglia) on tourism observatories and policy strategies. His academic leadership includes roles in the CPDS committee, Erasmus+ coordination, and teaching committees. CAMATTI has supervised over 70 theses and published extensively in journals like Regional Studies and Sustainability.
Dr. Darko Dimitrovski serves as a Full Professor at the Faculty of Hotel Management and Tourism, University of Kragujevac, specializing in Tourism and Hotel Management. His academic journey spans over two decades with progressive appointments from assistant (2013) to associate professor (2019) and finally full professor (2023). His educational background includes: Bachelor's in Geography from University of Belgrade (2002) Master's in Tourism and Hotel Management from University of Novi Sad (2009) PhD in Geography from University of Belgrade (2013) Postdoctoral research at University of Tras-os-Montes, Portugal (2016-2017) Dimitrovski's research focuses on tourism management with specialized expertise in wine tourism, food markets, event tourism, and sustainable practices. His work examines tourist behavior in urban food markets (e.g., Barcelona's La Boqueria), wine tourism apps, crisis management in hospitality, and economic impacts of sporting events. Recent publications explore digital transformation in tourism through mobile apps and green leadership frameworks. His publication trends reveal deep engagement with: Wine and food tourism dynamics Digital platforms and mobile technology in tourism Sustainable destination management Methodological approaches in tourism economics Urban tourism experiences Professionally, Dimitrovski contributes as Associate Editor for Tourism Management Perspectives and serves on editorial boards of multiple tourism journals including European Journal of Tourism Research. His project portfolio includes European Union-funded initiatives like INNOVINE & WINE and COST Action OceanGov, focusing on wine tourism innovation and ocean governance. His teaching portfolio spans undergraduate to doctoral levels, covering Management of Travel Agencies, Business Tourism, Crisis Management, and Event Tourism. Early career included teaching positions at various Kragujevac technical schools (2002-2013) before joining the University of Kragujevac faculty in 2013.
Dr. Sotirios Varelas is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Tourism Studies of the University of Piraeus specializing in Hospitality Business and Tourism Organization Strategy. He holds a PhD from the Department of Organization and Business Administration of the School of Economics, Business and International Studies of the University of Piraeus, an MBA-TQM in Business Administration, and graduated from the Department of Statistics and Insurance Science. With over 12 years of professional experience as a scientific consultant in tourism organizations, Dr. Varelas has served at the Ministry of Tourism, the Hellenic Tourism Organization, and the Peloponnese Region. He has collaborated with numerous research centers including the Institute of Regional Development, ELKE of the University of Peloponnese, and the Research Center of the University of Piraeus. His research focuses on strategic management in tourism, digital tourism innovations, sustainable tourism practices, and big data applications in the tourism sector. He has published extensively in international journals on topics including blockchain technology in tourism, virtual immersive platforms, artificial intelligence applications, and strategic management during economic crises. Dr. Varelas teaches various courses including Introduction to Tourism, International Economics and Tourism Market, Tourism Development Strategies, Strategic Management of Tourism Businesses, and Contemporary Tourism Issues at the University of Piraeus. He also serves as the student internship coordinator and academic advisor coordinator for the Department of Tourism Studies. As an active leader in the tourism academic community, he is President of the Board of Directors of the Greek Branch of the World Organization for Technology in Tourism and Travel (IFITT) and has created and coordinated postgraduate programs in tourism business administration.
Dr. Shaobo (Kevin) Li is a Tenured Associate Professor at the School of Business, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), with secondary appointment in the Department of Information Systems & Management Engineering. He holds a PhD in Business Administration from Nanyang Technological University (2019), Master of Business Administration (University of Virginia, 2014), Master of Finance (West Virginia University, 2012), and Bachelor of Business Administration (Lanzhou University, 2011). National High-Level Youth Talent Program awardee Overseas High-Caliber Personnel in Shenzhen City Recipient of 2018 China Scholarship Council’s Excellent Self-Funded Student Scholarship His research focuses on the intersection of digital economy, social welfare, and technology-driven marketing, employing experimental methods, empirical models, and neuroscience. He serves as Associate Editor for the Journal of Business Research and has published in top UTD-24 journals including Journal of Consumer Research, Information Systems Research, and Production and Operations Management. His work examines platform economics, brand management during crises, and consumer behavior related to AI, sustainability, and health decisions. He has led 10+ research projects (National Natural Science Foundation, Ministry of Science and Technology 2030 Program) and received multiple research awards, including Academy of Marketing Science Best Doctoral Dissertation Proposal Award (2019) and Best Paper Awards at China Marketing Science (2020,2024), China Marketing International Conference (2023), and CMAU Annual Conference (2023,2024). Teaching accolades include SUSTech’s Premier Teaching Award, Top 10 Most Popular Professor among undergraduates, and Nanyang Business School’s Best Graduate Teaching Award (2017). Teaches Financial Marketing (undergraduate) Teaches Frontiers of Management & Research Methods (PhD) Actively recruiting research assistants, postdocs, and joint PhD candidates with Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Brian WEIR is an Assistant Professor in Business at the Canberra Business School, University of Canberra. His research focuses on sustainable development, particularly climate change adaptation in the tourism industry and regional development in the Canberra region. He holds a PhD in Policy responses to climate change in the Australian tourism industry (2019), a Master of Public Administration (1994), and prior degrees in Science and Legal Studies. His work bridges academic research with policy implementation, emphasizing climate resilience strategies for tourism businesses and regional planning. Education: PhD, Policy responses to climate change in the Australian tourism industry: The case of Canberra, ACT (2019) Master of Public Administration (1994) Graduate Diploma in Legal Studies (1986) Bachelor of Science (1977) Research Interests: Climate change adaptation in tourism and regional sectors Policy frameworks for sustainable development Interdisciplinary collaboration between academia and industry Educational pedagogy for tourism and HRM Notable Projects: "Tourism Industry Training and Information Analysis Needs Analysis" (2010–2011), exploring industry training gaps Contributions to the Climate Adaptation Sector Review (2014) and Coastal Urban Climate Futures (2013) reports Awards: No explicit scientific awards mentioned Advising & Grants: Supervised research projects on tourism governance and climate resilience strategies Collaborated with Canberra Urban and Regional Futures (CURF) on regional sustainability initiatives Labs/Teams: Active member of the Climate Change Adaptation Resilience and Recovery Network Contributor to CURF’s annual forums on sustainable urban development
Tijana Rakic is a Lecturer in Tourism and Events at the Brighton Business School, University of Brighton, where she serves as Course Leader for the MSc International Tourism Management and MSc International Event Management programs. She leads the Tourism, Hospitality and Events Research and Enterprise Group and chairs the Geographies of Tourism and Leisure Research Group of the Royal Geographical Society. Her interdisciplinary research focuses on visual cultures of tourism, heritage, national identity, and event studies. PhD in Tourism and National Identity (2009, Acropolis, Athens) Co-editor, Current Developments in the Geographies of Leisure and Tourism (Routledge) Editorial board member: Tourist Studies , Tourism Geographies , International Journal of Tourism Cities Her research centers on visual and creative methodologies in tourism, particularly how places and identities are represented in promotional materials and media. She explores intersections between tourism, art, heritage, and national identity, often using interdisciplinary and qualitative approaches. Her work emphasizes narrative interpretation and visual analysis to understand tourism experiences and cultural meanings. The 15 most recent publications reflect a strong focus on visual methods, identity construction in tourism, event studies, and the role of narratives. They span topics such as film-induced heritage tourism, post-conflict destination branding, gender in tourism, and future research agendas in urban tourism. Her methodological innovation is evident in her use of visual and narrative analysis across diverse geographical and cultural contexts. Shortlisted for Brighton Students’ Union Award – Course Leader of the Year (2022) Regular reviewer for leading journals in tourism and geography Member of editorial boards for multiple international journals Tijana supervises five PhD students on topics related to national identity, Olympic resistance, and visual methods in tourism. She emphasizes research-informed teaching and student engagement. She has also produced two academic documentaries: Visiting the Athenian Acropolis (2008) and Of Holidays and Olives (2006), which have been screened internationally. She leads a dynamic research group and collaborates widely across Europe.
Juyan Zhang is a Professor of Communication at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) and a Contributing Scholar for the USC Center on Public Diplomacy. His research focuses on strategic communication , public diplomacy , interfaith dialogue , religious tourism , and Buddhist studies . Ph.D. in Strategic Communication, University of Missouri-Columbia (2003) M.A. in International Relations, Peking University (1997) B.A. in International Studies, Renmin University of China (1994) Zhang’s work bridges theoretical and applied communication, examining how nations use symbolic interactions (e.g., metaphors, narratives) to manage reputations and foster cross-cultural understanding. His publications explore topics like Buddhist diplomacy , gastrodiplomacy , and the rhetoric of soft power . Recent research trends include analyzing interfaith dialogue mechanisms , strategic communication in Sino-Vatican relations , and religious tourism branding (e.g., Nepal, Pakistan). He also investigates digital diplomacy through social media platforms. Zhang has authored monographs on Buddhist diplomacy and contributed to journals like Journal of International Communication and Canadian Journal of Buddhist Studies . His teaching areas include Language and Communication Theory , Public Relations , and International Communication .
Vanda N. Veréb is a Research Fellow at CETRAD (Centre for Transdisciplinary Development Studies) within the University of Tras-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Portugal. She focuses on sustainable territory development, particularly through the Data4LowDensity project aimed at enhancing rural quality of life. Previously, she completed her PhD at the University of Minho and was a postdoctoral researcher at GOVCOPP (University of Aveiro), analyzing cosmopolitan consumer behavior. Her research interests span sustainability, tourism resilience, strategic entrepreneurship, cross-cultural studies, and communication strategies. She has advised local governments in the Middle East and Asia on strategic management and service quality during her 10-year consulting career. Her publications emphasize traveler resilience to crises like terrorism and pandemics, cosmopolitan tourism dynamics, and nascent entrepreneurship. She contributes to projects addressing socio-economic challenges in low-density regions and global knowledge spillover mechanisms. Key areas of engagement include the Territorial Transitions & Wellbeing (T2WELL) research group and international collaborations on tourism resilience and entrepreneurial ecosystems.
Eva Gustafsson is a Researcher at the Department of Business Administration and Textile Management within the Faculty of Textiles, Engineering and Business at University of Borås. She serves as main supervisor for doctoral students including Ida Hermansson and Josefine Nystrom, demonstrating her active role in academic mentoring and research supervision. Her research primarily focuses on sustainable fashion retail systems, textile management, and circular economy practices, with particular emphasis on reuse-based business models. Gustafsson's work examines the complexities of fashion waste management, institutional logics in sustainable retail, and consumer behavior related to clothing consumption and disposal. She frequently collaborates with researchers like Lars Hedegård on studies centered around the ReTuna recycling mall in Sweden, using frameworks like Actor-Network Theory to analyze sustainable fashion retail systems. Her publication portfolio reveals a consistent research trajectory examining sustainable fashion retail practices, with particular attention to the challenges and contradictions inherent in reuse-based business models. Her work spans from early research on gender representation in digital retail spaces to more recent investigations of textile waste management and sustainable fashion systems, showing an evolution toward environmental sustainability topics. Notable scientific contributions include her work on institutional logics in sustainable fashion retail, which analyzes how multiple competing logics affect management practices in reuse-based fashion retail environments. Her research demonstrates how sustainable fashion retail involves complex interplays between shopping mall logic, reuse logic, and work integration logic, creating managerial challenges that require balancing multiple perspectives. Supervised doctoral students: Ida Hermansson, Josefine Nystrom Gustafsson maintains an active research program with publications spanning from 2004 to 2020, demonstrating ongoing scholarly engagement in her field. Her work bridges theoretical frameworks with practical retail applications, contributing valuable insights to both academic literature and sustainable retail practices.
Dr. Anna Śleszyńska-Świderska serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Operational Management at the Institute of Management, University of Białystok. Her academic work focuses on consumer behavior, marketing, and management psychology, with particular emphasis on ethical consumption patterns, city branding, and economic impacts on consumer decisions. She actively participates in teaching marketing, market research, and trade promotion courses while serving as member and secretary of the Teaching Committee for the Management major. Scientific Internship at University of Wrocław Teaching Internship at ISCEM - School of Business Communication in Lisbon, Portugal Research Internship at Università degli Studi di Bari, Italy Site Visits to Speech Processing Solutions GmbH (formerly PHILIPS Speech Processing) Dr. Śleszyńska-Świderska's research centers on consumer behavior analysis, particularly examining how economic crises impact consumption patterns in EU households. Her work explores ethical consumption as an alternative to traditional consumerism, city branding strategies, and the relationship between happiness and economic prosperity. She investigates how external factors like pandemics (SARS-CoV-2) and labor market changes influence consumer decisions across different demographic groups in Poland and the broader EU context. Her publication record shows consistent research output with a strong focus on contemporary issues in consumer behavior. The trend in her work demonstrates increasing attention to crisis-related consumption patterns, ethical considerations in consumer decisions, and the interplay between economic indicators and household consumption. Recent publications address digital transformation in public services and the evolving nature of corporate communication in relationship building. Dr. Śleszyńska-Świderska actively participates in international and domestic conferences focused on consumption and consumer behavior, sharing insights on contemporary marketing challenges and consumer psychology. Her research methodology combines quantitative economic analysis with psychological perspectives on consumer decision-making processes.
Dr. hab. Lidiya Dubis serves as Professor in the Department of Landscape Shaping and Design at John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin (KUL), operating within the Institute of Mathematics, Informatics and Landscape Architecture under the Faculty of Natural and Technical Sciences. Her institutional address is Konstantynów 1 H, 20-708 Lublin, with active supervision of diploma theses and research projects focused on Eastern European spatial dynamics. Her research centers on landscape architecture and spatial development, investigating how terrain morphology and geodiversity shape urban-rural planning. She examines tourism potential in protected areas, particularly Ukraine-Poland border regions, with emphasis on geotourism infrastructure and sustainable development. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates geomorphological analysis with practical spatial planning applications across Carpathian and Polesie ecosystems. Publication analysis reveals consistent focus on transboundary geotourism development, with recurring themes of geological heritage conservation and climate-terrain interactions. Her work bridges academic research and policy through the Polish Academy of Sciences' Task Force for Rural Areas, demonstrating practical application of landscape architecture principles in regional development contexts. Professor Dubis has supervised over 40 diploma theses (2016-2021) on spatial development concepts for Polish communes, village planning, and water reservoir tourism. Her research collaborations span Ukraine and Belarus, notably in the planned international Polissia Geopark project. She actively participates in conferences like the International Scientific Conference 'Geography, Economics and Tourism' while contributing to national spatial planning frameworks. As member of the Polish Academy of Sciences' Task Force for Rural Areas, she influences national spatial development policies. Her current work emphasizes transboundary cooperation for geological heritage conservation, particularly through the Ukraine-Poland-Belarus Polissia Geopark initiative, while addressing climate change impacts on landscape evolution in Eastern European regions.
Professor Jean-Jack Cegarra is a University Professor of Marketing at iaelyon School of Management, Jean Moulin University Lyon 3. He previously served as Deputy Managing Director for Human Resources (2018–2023) and holds membership in CNU Section 06 (Management Sciences). His research focuses on Brand Management, International Marketing, and Innovation Management, with emphasis on synergistic effects between quality management systems and market strategies. He leads the Marketing Research Group and has authorization to direct research. Research interests include the interplay between quality standards (e.g., ISO 9001), marketing capabilities, and product innovation. Notable themes include co-branding dynamics, consumer risk perception in pharmaceutical markets, and regional brand development. His work bridges theoretical frameworks with practical applications, addressing contemporary challenges in global markets and organizational innovation. Publications span topics such as brand equity, innovation ecosystems, and strategic marketing alignment. His contributions highlight cross-functional collaboration effects, market responsiveness under uncertainty, and the role of brand capital in substitution behaviors.
Dr. Nika Balomenou is an Associate Professor in Tourism and Visual Sociology at Swansea University's School of Management. She holds leadership roles as co-chair of the Visual Methods in Tourism Research Special Interest Group (Association for Tourism and Leisure Education and Research) and as Programme Director of the MSc International Tourism Management. Previously, she spent 12 years at the University of Hertfordshire, leading the Enterprise and Value Research Group and acting as Research Tutor for the Hertfordshire Business School. Her research focuses on visual methodologies, particularly participant-generated imagery, to empower host communities in tourism contexts. Key areas include strategic tourism planning, national park management, and host-guest interactions. She contributes to prestigious journals like Tourism Management and serves on editorial boards for Destination and Marketing Management and Tourism Planning and Development . Recent work explores tourism's dual impacts through longitudinal studies (e.g., Kavos, Corfu) and innovative visual research methods such as volunteer-employed photography (VEP). Her publications bridge sociological insights with practical tourism planning strategies. Dr. Balomenou supervises PhD candidates in tourism-related topics and teaches modules on strategic tourism planning, experiential design, and research methods. She actively collaborates with industry and policy stakeholders to apply academic findings to real-world challenges.
