Dr Anna Spenceley is a tourism expert with over 20 years international experience and an extensive publication record, rich diversity of project experience, an  international network of associates with whom she collaborates.

She is the founder STAND Ltd, a boutique consultancy company specialising in meeting the development needs of international organisations addressing sustainability agendas.

Thematic areas: Dr Spenceley is a leading authority in sustainable and responsible tourism with a focus on biodiversity conservation, protected areas and transfrontier conservation areas, certification, indicators, concessions and public-private partnerships, triple bottom line assessments (i.e. economic, social and environmental), value and supply chains, small enterprise development and poverty reduction.

Impact: Dr Spenceley’s work is applied through policy and strategy development, planning, project development, research, training, curriculum development, conferences and workshops, capacity building, education and monitoring. She focuses on analytical approaches, participatory processes, practical and appropriate solutions, with clear reporting and measurable results. Her applied research has influenced policy making and practice in countries including Mozambique, South Africa, Seychelles, and Rwanda. She has made a considerable contribution to the global debate on sustainable tourism, notably through her international networks, including her Chairmanship of the IUCN’s World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) Tourism and Protected Areas Specialist Group (TAPAS Group), her membership of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council’s (GSTC) board in its founding years. Anna is a member of the Independent Advisory Panel of Travalyst, and is a Senior Research Fellow at the School of Tourism and Hospitality at the University of Johannesburg, and an Honorary Fellow at the University of Brighton. She sits on the Editorial board of the Journal for Sustainable Tourism, the Journal of Ecotourism, and the journal of South African National Parks: Koedoe.

Publications: Anna has co-written or edited 6 books, more than 20 peer-reviewed journal articles, 3 special editions of peer-reviewed journals, 24 book chapters and hundreds of technical reports, manuals and training courses. Notably, she is editor of the ‘Handbook for Sustainable Tourism Practitioners‘, co-author of the book “Private Sector Tourism in Conservation Areas in Africa“, editor of the book “Responsible Tourism: Critical issues for Conservation and Development” and also co-editor of “Tourism and Poverty Reduction” and “Evolution and Innovation in  Wildlife Conservation“.

International experience: Dr Spenceley has lived and worked in English, French and Portuguese speaking developing countries for over 20 years. She has worked in more than 30 countries, including Angola, Bhutan, Botswana, Cape Verde, China (Tibet), Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, France, The Gambia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Oman, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Thailand, Uganda, UK, United Arab Emirates, USA, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

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