David Simmons

David Simmons is an Emeritus Professor at Lincoln University in New Zealand and has served as the Chair of the EarthCheck Research Institute since 2010. They have a strong background in sustainable tourism development, advocating for the protection of local cultures and environments. Previously, they held the position of Director of Research at Sustainable Tourism CRC in Australia and Executive Director at Sustainable Travel International. Simmons holds a PhD in Human Geography focused on tourism planning from the University of Waterloo, alongside a Master of Applied Science in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism from Lincoln University and a Bachelor of Science in Botany and Zoology from the University of Canterbury.