Destination management and sustainable development specialist with 25 years of leadership experience in government, business, and civil society
Brian T. Mullis is a destination management, development, and marketing specialist. He is currently the Tourism & Conservation Technical Advisor for the Rwanda Development Board and Executive Advisor for Planeterra. From April 2018-2020, he was the Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), in which time tourism become the second-largest export sector and the country became globally recognized as a leading sustainable destination.
Prior to assuming the role of Director of the GTA, Brian founded and led Sustainable Travel International for 14 years, an NGO that is known for helping to mainstream sustainability in tourism. Under Brian's leadership, Sustainable Travel International assisted hundreds of multinationals, destination managers, and tourism operators in adopting practices and programs that continue to create economic opportunities and social and environmental well-being.
Brian has developed progressive policy and flagship programs in destination stewardship, low carbon tourism development, market access, capacity building and sustainable tourism standards. His work has taken him to 70 countries across five continents. Brian has also shared his learnings and experience through a three-year adjunct professorship at the LEEDS School of Business, University of Colorado–Boulder.
Brian began his career working in national parks in the United States and went on to own and operate an international adventure and eco-travel company for nine years. Brian is proud to sever in a voluntary leadership capacity, serving as a member of the World Economic Forum Travel & Tourism Expert Group and Transformational Travel Council Board of Directors. He formerly served on the United Nations' 10YFP Multi-stakeholder Advisory Committee and US Travel and Tourism Advisory Board among others.
The father of two beautiful and energetic children from Ethiopia, Brian enjoys spending time with his son, daughter and wife exploring Latin America and the Caribbean by boat, bike, and on foot.
