Deborah Benham (MSc,PhD)
Eco-tourism & Wildlife Tourism Research and Consultancy Interpretation Planning and Guide Training Workshop Facilitation, Ecotourism Lecturer and Speaker

Deborah has a strong background in ecotourism, wildlife tourism and interpretation from a range of different perspectives, these combine to provide a powerful base for her work as a consultant, researcher and trainer. She has been involved with eco-tourism, wildlife tourism and wellbeing tourism for the past 13 years, including working in: academia and research, conservation and policy making, project management, guide training, destination development and as an eco-tourism operator herself. This wide range of experiences has given her the unique position of understanding tourism from the angle of almost every stakeholder.

Deborah's academic studies include a PhD in Wildlife Tourism, MSc in Marine Conservation and BSc in Zoology. She has worked as the manager of a nature and wellbeing centre (current - www.newboldhouse.org), as project manager for an award winning wildlife tourism accreditation scheme (www.dolphinspace.org), as a guide and guide trainer for whale and dolphin watching holidays and visitor centres (www.wdcs.org) and has also set up and continues to run her own eco-tourism business, Wild at Heart.  

Deborah has been an invited speaker and/or workshop provider at the International Ecotourism Society Conference; Scottish Marine Bill Conference; International Conference on Marine Mammal Protected Areas; the Coastal & Marine Tourism Congress; The Society for Marine Mammalogy conference and the European Cetacean Society Conference.

Deborah runs regular courses on interpretation and guiding for the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, and on responsible boat handling for the Wildlife Safe scheme(www.wisescheme.org). She is a Certified Interpretive Trainer for the National Association of Interpretation (www.interpnet.com).

As a consultant, projects have included the Scottish Government 'Economic Value of Wildlife Tourism in Scotland' project; 'The Wild North ' partnership - developing sustainable wildlife tourism in the N. Atlantic (Iceland, Greenland, Norway, Faeroes); revision of the Wild Scotland best practice guidelines, and development of wildlife watching guidelines and interpretation strategy for kayakers for the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, California. Deborah is experienced in working with international, remote and rural communities and is particularly interested in innovative collaboration and stakeholder engagement as a route to sustainable tourism.

Key Points

Previously

• PhD in Wildlife/EcoTourism
• MSc & BSc: Marine Conservation, Zoology & Animal Behaviour
• 10 years experience in project management, wildlife tourism, marine conservation, guiding, tourism management, tourism research and environmental interpretation
• Director of Moray Tourism Development Ltd destination development organisation.

Currently

• Owner of Wild at Heart, providing eco-holidays, guide training and tourism consultancy services.
• Manager of the Newbold House Wwellbeing & Sustainable Living Centre
• Certified Interpretive Trainer for the National Association of Interpretation

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