Professor David Newsome is a dual British/Australian national and Emeritus Professor at Murdoch University, where he worked as an academic in Environmental Science from 1990 to 2021. He holds a PhD in Environmental Science from Murdoch University and has over three decades of experience in natural resource management, protected area planning, and sustainable tourism development. His teaching activity comprised research student supervision, undergraduate teaching and unit coordination across 12 different subject areas, specializing in Water and Earth Science, Land Management, Nature-based Tourism and Protected Area Management.
David is the lead author of the seminal textbook Natural Area Tourism: Ecology, Impacts and Management, which is held in over 1,000 libraries worldwide and is widely used in university courses globally. In 2024, he was recognized in the Scopus/Stanford ranking of the top 2% of scientists in his research fields for both single-year and career achievements.
His research has had a substantial impact on informing the management of National Parks in Western Australia. During his service on the Conservation Commission of Western Australia (2007-2016), where he chaired the Management Planning Committee, he contributed to the development of guidelines and policy documents that continue to guide protected area management today. His work has led to policy alterations and changed management practices following advice to ministers and government departments, both internationally and within Australia.
With over 200 publications in leading journals, David has been instrumental in defining the field of geotourism. He is the lead author of Wildlife Tourism and co-editor of the first suite of books describing geotourism as a specialist form of natural area tourism, including the Handbook of Geotourism, Geotourism: the tourism of geology and landscape, and Global Geotourism Perspectives. These works have helped define and inform the direction of geotourism in the global context.
He serves on the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas, contributing to the Tourism and Protected Areas Specialist Group and the Geoheritage Specialist Group. He has conducted World Heritage assessments, ecotourism and geotourism evaluations, and tour guide training across Australia, China, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Iceland, Indonesia, and beyond. He also serves on the editorial boards of the International Journal of Geoheritage and Parks and Journal of Ecotourism, and is a member of the Shark Bay World Heritage Advisory Committee.
David's work spans multiple continents, with fieldwork and research experience in over 20 countries including Australia, Christmas Island, the United Kingdom, Norway, Cameroon, Uganda, Madagascar, Mauritius, southern Africa, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, China and Malaysia. His research focuses on sustainable tourism in protected areas, wildlife tourism management, and enhancing the economic value of geodiversity and biodiversity. He has delivered keynote seminars on protected area assessments and continues to advise governments and communities on best ecotourism practices, particularly in Southeast Asia and Australia, working to ensure that tourism development supports both conservation goals and local communities.
Most recently, David collaborated with Dr. Ronda Green to develop a comprehensive Guide Training Module for Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. This innovative two-year project equips local guides and naturalists with in-depth knowledge of the region's environment, flora, and fauna, empowering them to deliver richer, more engaging interpretations that enhance visitor experiences while fostering appreciation for Borneo's remarkable biodiversity.
In recognition of David’s efforts towards environmental protection and conservation, Sukau Rainforest Lodge honours him as one of our Conservation Fellows.
Sukau Rainforest Lodge honours David's contribution by dedicating Deluxe Room No. 18 in his name.
