Dr. Damian Fernando is an accomplished industry professional and academic with extensive expertise in travel and tourism. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Tourism from Victoria University, Melbourne, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from La Trobe University, and a Bachelor of Business degree from Victoria University. Currently, Dr. Fernando serves as the Academic Coordinator at the Melbourne campus of Southern Cross University. He has previously held academic appointments as a Subject Convener and Lecturer at Victoria University (sessional). In Sri Lanka, he served as the Head of Education at the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) and as a Senior Lecturer and Program Director at NSBM Green University.
In addition to his academic career, Dr. Damian Fernando has held several prominent positions within the tourism industry. He served as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of NKAR Travels & Tours , General Manager of DMS Universal in Melbourne, and Project Controller at SriLankan Airlines. His research and teaching expertise span hospitality, tourism, international business, economics, and marketing. His notable accomplishments include developing tourism curricula for major universities and serving as a tourism industry panelist and resource person at prominent industry events.