Welcome!

Welcome! and thanks for your interest in my Master's research project.

I have been offered the opportunity to travel  with Steve Martin, former Deputy Director US National Park Service (NPS); Dr. Cyd Martin, former Director of Indian Affairs and American Culture for the Intermountain Region of NPS; Jim Sharp, Deputy Director General, Parks and Conservation, DEC; and Colin Ingram, Senior Planning Officer (Policy and Practice), Parks and Visitor Services Division, DEC; as they tour the coast of Western Australia for 1 month, on route to the August 28th – 30th 2012 Forum Advocating Culture and Eco-Tourism's Conference in Broome - “Opportunities  for Kimberley Tourism – People, Partnerships and Programs”, where Steve, Cyd and Jim are key note speakers, Colin is the conference convenor, and I am a conference organizing committee member.

This activity will see us leaving Perth on Saturday August 18th, and returning to Perth on Thursday September 13th. The itineraries include visits to Denham, Shark Bay, Ningaloo MP, Cape Range NP, Karijini NP,  Exmouth, Eighty Mile Beach (proposed MP), Broome, Winjana Gorge, Tunnel Creek, Geikie Gorge, Derby, Derby Islands, and Purnululu NP (aka Bungle Bungles). This opportunity provides me with access to experts in their fields who will be sharing their knowledge during general discussions; exposure to  WA parks which will help me to contextualise the value and role of parks in WA; introductions to WA's eco-tourism and marine tourism operators; exposure to WA’s Marine Protected Areas; opportunity to engage with park staff,  community members, and tourism operators; exposure to National parks and WA's coastal communities;  networking opportunities with industry professional; and opportunity for relationship building for my upcoming research activities. I am very excited and very appreciative to have this opportunity.

This is the Exploratory Phase of my research. We are only 12 days away from departure and it feels very exciting. We have been getting all our gear ready and will have a trial pack on Saturday.