RESHMA SUCHERAN

I am an Associate Professor and Research Chair in the Department of Hospitality and Tourism at Durban University of Technology (DUT), South Africa, with over 28 years of academic and professional experience. I hold a PhD in Geography and Environmental Management from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), and my work has led me to become a recognized authority in sustainable tourism development, climate change adaptation and mitigation, environmental management (waster, water and energy) and crises and disaster management.

At DUT, I lecture both undergraduate and postgraduate students in subjects such as Sustainable Tourism Development and Planning, Tourism and Environmental Management, Tourism Crisis Management and Research Methodology. I am actively involved in curriculum development and committed to advancing the department’s research profile. As the Departmental Research Chair, I oversee research ethics, supervise research proposals, and advise on funding opportunities to enhance research within our faculty. I have supervised numerous master’s and doctoral students.

Beyond my teaching responsibilities, I hold various institutional roles, including positions on the Faculty Research Committee, the Faculty Research Ethics Committee, and the Faculty Board. I coordinate internal program evaluations for Tourism Management and have contributed to program recirculation and quality assurance efforts in the department. Previously, I served as the Program Team Leader for Tourism Management and was an Executive Member of the Tourism Educators of South Africa (TESA). currently am a member and the Tourism Community of Practice leader for the BRICS Research Institute at DUT.

My research portfolio reflects my dedication to critical issues in sustainability and Sustainable Development Goals. I have published extensively in accredited journals, contributed book chapters, and led projects supported by prestigious grants, such as the Erasmus+ KA107 program scholarship and the Women in Research and Innovation Program Grant at DUT. I have been honored for my research contributions with awards, including the DUT Faculty of Management Sciences Researcher of the Year Award.

My international collaborations extend my research reach. I have presented guest lectures at institutions such as Chandigarh University in India and Munich University of Applied Sciences in Germany, and I am engaged in ongoing partnerships with researchers in Canada, Australia, and the BRICS+ network. Recently, I chaired the International Conference on Innovation and Regenerative Trends in Tourism and Hospitality Industry (IRTTHI-2024) and served as a session chair at the BRICS RI Research Conference in Beijing.

As an editorial board member for the International Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Management and a reviewer for multiple esteemed journals, I stay at the forefront of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) research. My work has influenced policy on sustainable tourism, especially in areas such as water and waste management, energy resilience, and crisis response. I remain committed to advancing sustainable development, environmental management, and adaptive strategies in response to climate change.