Meet our 2026 TMI Student Ambassadors!
We are delighted to introduce you to our TMI Student Ambassadors.
They have been nominated by their University to champion TMI within their student community, having demonstrated their passion and enthusiasm for the tourism industry and destination management during their studies.
The aim of our Ambassador network is to stimulate debate and foster connections both with each other and with TMI. We meet twice each academic term. In 2025 several of our Ambassadors volunteered to undertake a sustainable tourism case study project which delivered benefits for our wider TMI membership as well as for their own professional development.
At TMI we value our student voice and are delighted that our Ambassador network strengthens our destination management community.
Cardiff Metropolitan University - Michelle Cleaver
BA (Hons) International Tourism Management
Special interests:
- Tourism that unites people and promotes wellness for both tourists and local communities to enjoy as one.
- Planning and managing of events and experiences.
- Developing and managing partnerships in urban and surrounding rural areas. Aiming to balance the economic, sustainable and environmental factors.
De Montfort University -
Joss Easey
BA (Hons) International Tourism & Hospitality Management (Level 6 Top-Up)
Special interests:
- How social media has affected the way tourists decide on destinations and attractions to visit; Food tourism and the strive in hospitality businesses for an 'Instagram aesthetic'.
Falmouth University –
Kate Seymour Dierikx
BA (Hons) Sustainable Tourism Management
Special interests:
- How customer behaviour & motivations change depending on the market segment
- How destinations are managing over-tourism eg challenge for the National Trust to manage both the influx of tourists and the damage to headlands through footfall erosion all around the Cornish coastline.
- The changing popularity in destinations around the UK and the world. What shifts them to become popular destinations to travel to and why? How it changes over time.
Glasgow Caledonian University -
Niamh Kellachan
Special interests:
-
Sustainability & making the world a better place; festival & events tourism
Plymouth University -
Jack Carpenter
Special interests:
- Cruise Tourism & Port Destination Development: Understanding how destinations plan fo/rmanage cruise arrivals, balancing visitor impact with sustainability & community benefit.
- Shore Excursion Design and Local Partnerships – exploring how authentic, locally led shore excursions can support regional economies and enhance guest experiences.
- Destination Marketing & Cruise Itinerary Integration: Examining how destination branding influences cruise itinerary planning and port selection.
Scotland's Rural University College-
Eilidh French
Special interests:
-
How tourism supports the economic growth of rural areas; learn more about sustainable tourism practices & how they can create excellent visitor experiences while protecting local environments; how social media can help tourist destinations connect with visitors.
University of Chester -
Summer Ainscough
BA (Hons) International Tourism Management & Marketing Management
Special interests
- Film and TV Location tourism; heritage tourism
University of Derby -
Ana-Maria Stancu
Special interests:
- Social Media Influence on travel decision; destination branding & marketing; sustainable tourism development
