Sue Badyari, CEO of World Expeditions, has set a goal to inspire hope and drive meaningful change in the travel industry. Her vision for a sustainable future has led her to bring together a group of esteemed experts for the Hope in Action symposium, to be held in 2025. In a world where the consequences of climate and biodiversity challenges are evident, this dynamic event seeks to promote a collective action plan for the future of responsible travel.
On 1st September 2024, Sue Badyari received the prestigious Sustainability Champion Award at the Australian Women in Travel Awards, a testament to her groundbreaking work in promoting sustainable travel practices.
The symposium, which is an invitation-only event, will feature a diverse range of speakers, including renowned Indigenous tourism advocate David King, ecotourism specialist Suzy Muir, and acclaimed environmental advocate Laura Wells.
The 7 panellists and the experts in the field will explore several topics that have a significant impact on the future of responsible travel. Some of the topics that will be discussed include how to reduce the negative impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss, how to promote First Nations tourism, and how to protect wildlife from human exploitation.
The symposium will not only bring together experts in the field but also invite industry stakeholders and media representatives to share their experiences and insights, and to collaborate on solutions that can be implemented in practice.
Throughout the event, attendees will have the opportunity to engage in an interactive Q&A session and a solution-driven discussion, where they can share their thoughts and ideas on how to shape the future of sustainable travel.
The goal of this event is to inspire practical steps that travellers, operators, and storytellers can take to safeguard our planet’s most awe-inspiring destinations and to drive meaningful change in the travel industry.
“This is a forum for optimism, a space to spotlight what’s possible and what’s essential if we want future generations to experience the natural wonders we cherish today,” said Sue Badyari. “The future of adventure travel relies on meaningful action. Through this forum we want to inspire travellers, our industry colleagues and storytellers to be part of a stronger legacy for people and planet.”
One of the unique aspects of the symposium is its focus on environmental stewardship. The event will feature respected experts across climate action, wildlife protection, Indigenous tourism, and science communication.
Some of the expert panellists include:
- Laura Wells, Environmental advocate and science communicator
- Suzy Muir, Ecotourism specialist and nature policy advisor
- David King, A proud Gundungurra Man and advocate for Indigenous culture, land management and community
- Ben Pearson, Country Director, World Animal Protection
- Stephanie Ho, Endurance athlete and sustainability advocate
- Jessica Thomas, Wilderness guide and community tourism expert
- Sue Badyari, CEO, World Expeditions
The symposium is designed to inspire practical solutions and provide a platform for meaningful discussions and collaborations that can lead to real change.
“We’ve intentionally reduced the carbon footprint of this event through a range of low-impact initiatives,” said World Expeditions Global Sustainability & Impact Manager, Donna Lawrence. “Catering is entirely vegetarian, and we’ve sourced wine from local producers to keep food miles minimal. Our only interstate panellist will travel to Sydney by overnight train and stay at one of the city’s most sustainability-led hotels, located within walking distance of our office.
e-collective, our carbon consultants, have estimated the event’s total footprint to be 407 kg CO₂e. This includes emissions from the venue, catering, waste, and all panellist and attendee travel.
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