In 2008 Sue completed a Master of Business Science (Economics) from the University of Cape Town, South Africa, and received a PhD (Resource Economics) at the same university. Having completed coursework at the University of Goteborg in Sweden, the focus of her PhD research measured the socio-economic impact of high-end ecotourism in remote, rural communities adjacent to protected areas, based on over 1800 community surveys in seven southern African countries including Botswana, Malawi, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Her research and academic publications have helped prove beyond doubt that ecotourism, practised responsibly, has had a significant impact not only on the standard of living that rural people engaged in the industry now enjoy, but also on attitudes to conservation and education amongst other things.
Dr Sue Snyman joined Wilderness Safaris in 2008 bringing with her over a decade of experience in the ecotourism industry in southern Africa, including guiding, community development and liaison, camp management and environmental impact assessments as an independent consultant.
Sue is the Group Sustainability Manager for Wilderness Safaris as well Community and Culture Coordinator and a Board Member of Children in the Wilderness in Botswana and South Africa. Other current positions include Vice-Chair of the IUCN WCPA Tourism and Protected Areas Specialist Groups (TAPASG), Coordinator of the Communities & Heritage Working Group within TAPAS and Research Associate at the School of Tourism & Hospitality, College of Business and Economics at the University of Johannesburg. Sue is also the Convener of the SADC TFCA Tourism Community of Practice and a committee member (responsible for monitoring and evaluation) of the RETOSA Sustainable Tourism Steering Committee.
Sue possesses a rare blend of both academic and practical skills in the field of rural community development and policy influence garnered over a twenty year career of study, research, strategy development, project implementation and peer review publication focused on south central Africa. She has extensive field experience in Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa and more recently expanded her research interests to Rwanda. With a PhD in Economics from the University of Cape Town (2013), an extensive publication and conference presentation record and a proven track record of management and implementation experience in both the NGO and ‘for profit’ fields she brings a structured, thorough, professional and balanced approach to any project.
As vice-chair of the IUCN Tourism and Protected Area Specialist Group and Programme Director for the multi-national NGO Children in the Wilderness, she has demonstrated an ability to work simultaneously with and effectively manage multiple cultures in geographically dispersed teams, as well as an ability to communicate with and work at all levels, from government officials to rural community members. Through the afore-mentioned roles and as a research associate at the University of Cape Town’s Environmental Policy Research Unit she ensures that she brings her extensive experience and practical lessons to a broader audience through robust and credible peer-reviewed research published in a host of international journals. Sue firmly believes in the ability of the private sector, government and NGOs to make a difference in poverty alleviation and rural development.
Core competencies include:
Project management, statistical analysis, stakeholder engagement, building strategic partnerships, community tourism development, strategic planning and implementation, financial analysis, community development, community engagement, development reporting, sustainability reporting, monitoring and evaluation, environmental education programme development, regional coordination, innovation and marketing new approaches
Boards/Committees/Affiliations
2018-present: School of Tourism & Hospitality, College of Business and Economics, University of Johannesburg: Research Associate
2017-present: Editorial Board of Tourism Planning and Development: Africa Editor
2017-present: Regional Tourism Organisation of Southern Africa (RETOSA) Sustainable Tourism Forum Steering Committee: Member responsible for Monitoring and Evaluation
2016-present: Southern African Development Community (SADC) Transfrontier Conservation Areas Tourism Community of Parties: Convener
2015-present: IUCN CEESP Theme on Indigenous Peoples, Local Communities, Equity and Protected Areas (TILCEPA): Member
2015-present: 10YFP Sustainable Tourism Programme Multi-stakeholder Advisory Committee: Member on behalf of TAPA-SG
2014-present: UNISA Tourism Advisory Committee: Invited Member
2014-present: IUCN Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy (CEESP): Member
Some males face the lack of interest order viagra from india in their female partner, if women left them unsatisfied. This item is exceptionally intended to last more than three-times longer than contending weakness medicines. sildenafil side effects And want to know the best thing about this medicine is that it gives away the component which is brand levitra solely responsible for the best erections in the person. Number of people have achieved good results to cure the problem purchase generic cialis but also need to find out the real reason behind the erection dysfunction for men.
2014-present: IUCN Sustainable Use and Livelihoods Specialist Group: Member
2013-present: IUCN WCPA Tourism and Protected Areas Specialist Group (TAPA-SG): Vice-Chair
TAPA-SG Organising Committee for the IUCN World Parks Congress
IUCN WCPA TAPA-SG Community Working Group: Coordinator
2013-present: Children in the Wilderness (CITW): Director on the Board in Botswana
2012-present: The International Ecotourism Society: Professional Member
2011-present: Children in the Wilderness (CITW): Director on the Board in South Africa
2009-2017: School of Economics, Environmental Policy Research Unit (EPRU), University of Cape Town: Research Fellow
