Keynote Speakers
Paul F. J. Eagles
Professor Emeritus, University of Waterloo, Canada & Distinguished Visiting Scholar, Murdoch University, Australia
Preliminary presentation theme: Developing a national policy on training, education and research in visitor monitoring and management: lessons from Canada
Dr. Eagles has worked on park tourism planning and management in over 25 countries. Recent work has involved understanding visitor travel motives related to human health, and understanding stakeholder views on various park governance models. Paul Eagles was chair of the Tourism Task Force for the World Commission on Protected Areas (IUCN- WCPA) for 15 years, and remains active in the group. Dr. Eagles has 386 publications, of which 135 were refereed.
Raoul Beunen
Environmental Governance at the Department of Management, Science & Technology at the Open University and Research, the Netherlands
Preliminary presentation theme: Innovation in protected area governance: competing models and their impact in different places
Dr. Raoul Beunen is assistant professor Environmental Governance at the Department of Management, Science & Technology at the Open University and research , the Netherlands. His research focuses on evolution and innovation in governance. It explores the potentials and limitations of environmental policy and planning in the perspective of adaptive governance and sustainability. Empirical studies are combined with the design and further development of Evolutionary Governance Theory, a novel framework for analysing and explaining the various ways in which actors, institutions and discourses co-evolve and in their interplay constitute particular governance paths. His publications cover a variety of topics that include visitor management, the implementation of Natura 2000, participatory approaches, and the changing roles of spatial planning and place branding strategies in environmental governance.
Duška Dimović
WWF Adria Country Manager for Serbia
Preliminary presentation theme: Values and Benefits of Protected Areas as potential for sustainable development
Duška Dimović is working for WWF as Serbia country manager with a growing activity portfolio that has a major focus on international cooperation. She has 20 years of experience in nature protection, biodiversity conservation, protected areas management and sustainable development. She is an active member of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA), a leading global expert network on protected areas, as well as member of the Commission of the Republic of Serbia for UNESCO.
Boris Erg
IUCN ECARO
Preliminary presentation theme: Protected Areas – Delivering on Global Goals and Targets
Boris Erg is Director of IUCN Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (IUCN ECARO). His track record entails more than 15 years in nature conservation, including working for international organizations, state agencies, civil society, and a year-long field work experience. Boris Erg is a member of the Executive Committee of IUCN WCPA Transboundary Conservation Specialist Group and the co-author of several publications on transboundary conservation. He is actively involved in World Heritage, European Green Belt and Dinaric Arc Initiative. Boris Erg’s career is dedicated to the long-term conservation of biodiversity through dialogue and effective management of natural resources.
Maša Ljuština
Croatian Agency for the Environment and Nature, Department for Protected Areas
Preliminary presentation theme: Visitor management and monitoring in Croatian protected areas
Mr.sc. Maša Ljuština currently works at the Croatian Agency for the Environment and Nature, Department for Protected Areas, Croatia. Responsible for capacity development of PA staff as well as development of specific segments of PA management related to communication, interpretation and education and all aspects of visitor management. She is also engaged in monitoring and development of planning and reporting documents of Croatian PAs within these fields.
Marko Slapnik
Co-founder of GREAT DAY, Institute for Pure Experiences, Slovenia
Preliminary presentation theme: Visitor Management in Protected Areas in Slovenia: Interpretation as a soft approaches to visitor management
Marko Slapnik is a former Director of Centre Rinka Institute for tourism and sustainable development of Solčavsko Region, project manager for tourism in protected areas in Logarska dolina nature park, local guide and experienced nature interpreter.
