Where Tourism Meets Values

Panelists:

Siska Mandalia

Lecturer at Universitas Islam Negeri Mahmud Yunus Batusangkar

Siska Mandalia is an Indonesian academic and researcher specialising in sustainable, inclusive, and Muslim-friendly tourism. She is currently pursuing her doctoral degree at the University of Dundee, United Kingdom. Alongside her doctoral studies, she serves as a lecturer at Universitas Islam Negeri Mahmud Yunus Batusangkar, Indonesia. Bridging global perspectives through education and research, she actively contributes to promoting inclusive and responsible tourism practices. Beyond academia, Siska Mandalia is recognised for communicating research to the public through digital media. Through her Instagram platform, @tourism_lecturer, she shares insights on tourism ethics, sustainability, and research communication, making academic knowledge more accessible to students, professionals, and policymakers worldwide. 

Safina Naz.  Safina is a final-year PhD researcher at the University of Surrey with expertise in sustainable behaviour and decision-making. She uses neuromarketing methods including eye tracking, GSR and facial-emotion analysis to understand how emotions shape pro-environmental choices. Safina has worked with Accor on sustainability communication, co-authored a Bookingdotcom white paper that reached 29 million listings, and delivered sustainability insight work for Surrey County Council. She also contributes to the NEUROFEAST Project, where AI is combined with neuromarketing to push the field forward and advance research on sustainable behaviour change.

Cherry Austin Navira. Navira is a Muslim woman traveler who began exploring the world at a young age. Started with her family and Her journey evolved into independent travel, including volunteering in China and working in Australia, shaping her perspective on faith, adaptability, and confidence while living as a Muslim woman in diverse cultures. 

Associate Professor Hera Oktadiana, Ph.D, CHE is an internationally recognized tourism scholar and researcher who brings extensive academic expertise to her role as co-founder of the HaSIM Forum. Hera is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the Griffith Institute for Tourism, Griffith University, and at James Cook University, Australia. She also serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Brawijaya, Indonesia, and as an Associate Professor in the postgraduate and doctoral programs at the Trisakti Institute of Tourism, Indonesia. Hera holds a Ph.D. from the School of Hotel and Tourism Management, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and is a Certified Hospitality Educator (CHE), accredited by the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute, USA.

Hera has served as the Head of the Hotel Management and Hospitality and Tourism departments at BINUS University, BINUS International, and Bunda Mulia University. Additionally, she has held the position of Deputy Manager for International Hotel and Tourism at Trisakti School of Tourism.

Her research areas include tourist behaviour, Muslim/Halal tourism, tourism sustainability, and tourism education. She has published her scholarly works in various reputable international tourism journals indexed by SCOPUS, as well as in book chapters and an edited book titled “Delivering Tourism Intelligence: From Analysis to Action.” Several of her academic works and publications have received awards, including from the Ministry of Research and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, the Council for Australasian Tourism and Hospitality Education (CAUTHE), and Wiley Publication.

Hera is also a frequent speaker at numerous international conferences and events. She is actively involved as a member of the Editorial Board in renowned international tourism journals, serving as a guest editor, review editor, editorial advisory board member, regional editor, and associate editor. She is also the founder of Muslim Women in Tourism & Hospitality (M.WiTH).

Elyn Hastriana, BBA, M. Par  is a distinguished tourism professional with over three decades of multifaceted experience spanning academia, corporate leadership, and diplomatic service. Currently serving as Director of RAMA Group, she brings a unique combination of 19 years as Director in tourism corporations.

Together, let's create tourism that respects faith, protects the planet, and includes everyone.