Dr. Lawal Marafa, is a professor at the Department of Geography and Resource Management, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. He is also the Director, Postgraduate programme in Sustainable Tourism. Dr. Marafa was awarded the “Exemplary Teacher Award” for in 2005 and received the Royal Belum Inaugural Ecotourism Award, Perak, Malaysia, 2007. He served as a facilitator at the Clinton Global Initiative meeting, in Hong Kong, 2008. Dr. Marafa served on the Board of Directors of the World Leisure Organization (2006-2013). In the 1980s and early 1990s, Dr. Marafa worked with various organizations in Nigeria including as a Principal Land Use Planning Officer at the World Bank assisted Sokoto Agriculture and Rural Development Authority; and as a Principal Forest Planning Officer, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Federal Department of Forestry, Abuja. Although residing in Hong Kong, Dr. Marafa acts as a bridge between Africa and Asia. He serves as the regional coordinator for the New Partnership for Africa’s Development, Business Group (NEPAD-BG), and also coordinates for the African Business Roundtable in Asia. He has attended the African Development Bank Board of Governors meeting in Shanghai, 2007; and also attended the African World Business Congress, Arusha – Tanzania in 2007. Dr. Marafa has served as a resource person and keynote/invited speaker at the TICAD-UNDP-World Bank Fifth Africa-Asia Business Forum for Sustainable Tourism (AABF V) hosted in Kampala, Uganda in 2009. Dr. Marafa’s teaching and research interests cover Tourism, Environment and Climate Change, Ecotourism, Leisure, Recreation Planning and Management, Agriculture and Natural Resource Management, Sustainable Development etc. Over the years, Dr. Marafa published over 70 articles in various outlets and presented at about 30 international conferences.

Dr. Marafa is fluent in Russian Language and speaks conversational French and basic Chinese Cantonese.

WL Committees involvement:

• Educational Services
• Financial and Fundraising
• Membership
• Communities of Excellence