ECU Professor Honoured in Order of Australia Awards
Thursday, 27 January 2011
Professor Ross Dowling was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia at the 2011 Australia Day Honours List
Congratulations to Foundation Professor of Tourism from the Faculty of Business and Law, Professor Ross Dowling, who was recognised on the 2011 Australia Day Honours List, receiving a Medal of the Order of Australia for his service to the hospitality and tourism industry, education and the development of ecotourism.
The awards, which were announced on Wednesday, 26 January as part of the Australia Day celebrations, are the highest honour an Australian can receive for outstanding achievement and service to their country.
Professor Dowling was thrilled to receive the award, which recognises over 20 years hard work in the industry.
“This is a great honour and I am both humbled and proud to receive the award, which also recognises the role of universities in ensuring students actively learn in both the classroom and within the industry,” said Professor Dowling.
An environmental scientist, Professor Dowling co-founded Ecotourism Australia, which is now widely regarded as the world’s leading ecotourism industry body, and he is also committed to the advancement of geotourism and cruise ship tourism.
He has convened many state, national and international conferences on ecotourism, written a number of books on the subject and is a Director of Ecotourism Australia as well as the chair of the Forum Advocating Cultural and Eco Tourism inWestern Australia.
“Ecotourism is the heart of Australia’s tourism as it centres around both environmentally and socially responsible tourism. My passion has been to champion ecotourism as an exemplar of sustainable tourism that leaves both the tourist and the host with positive experiences and outcomes,” said Professor Dowling.
Professor Dowling is also the chair of the Australian Geoparks Network, an advisor to UNESCO’s Global Network of Geoparks and has convened the world’s first two conferences on Geotourism, with the third planned later this year.
ECU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kerry Cox, congratulated Professor Dowling on the Medal.
“Professor Dowling is a great example to all of us of how the passion and commitment of one individual can result in outstanding outcomes for the community,” he said.
ECU alumnus Mr Ross Tomasini was also recognised at the awards, receiving an Australian Police Medal for his work on the WA Police Force.
For more information and to view the full list of winners, visit the Australian Government website.