Staff Profile

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Career Summary

Biography

I have published refereed articles and book chapters reporting the findings of my research that examines the role travel and tourism plays in the education and career development of youth.  My research on volunteer tourism considers the ambiguous parameters of this growing social phenomenon to identify how it is best regulated and managed in diverse contexts.

I have also undertaken research that examines the role tourism plays in regional development.  THis includes considering how knowledge systems that are regionally relevant best operate.  

My research informs my teaching in the areas of tourism planning, marketing and leisure and visitor behaviour. I was co-chair of CAUTHE (Council of Australian Universities Tourism and Hospitality Educators) special interest group on volunteering and tourism, am a founding member of the World Leisure Commission on youth and leisure and drafted this Commission’s strategic plan 2004-2008. I am actively engaged in tourism development at ar egional level and have conducted research projects for local government, tourism associatons and protected areas agencies. I have been a board member of the regional tourism association in the Hunter from 2008  to 2012 which included acting as Deputy Chair for two years. Recently, I have taken on key responsibilities for building the community engagement profile of the University of Newcastle and am conducting research in this area. As a result of this work, I have begun conducting research that considers the role universites play as catalysts and impediments to the development of engaged communities.

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Education, University of Georgia (USA)
  • Master of Arts, University of Georgia (USA)
  • Associate Diploma in Recreation, Kuring-Gai College of Advanced Education
  • Bachelor of Science (Human Services), Thomas Edison State College (USA)

Research

Research keywords

  • Educational travel
  • Regional destination planning
  • community engagement
  • volunteer management

Research expertise

Kevin has made nationally and internationally recognised contributions to research that examines the intersections between community volunteering, tourism and youth development. Recently, He edited a book on volunteer tourism. This book attests to his growing reputation as a scholar of notable international repute. He has contributed a chapter to a book published by Sage London that showcases expert viewpoints about the future of tourism business. He has also published his research on the ambiguities and overlaps between volunteer tourism, cultural exchange and independent travel of youth in leading leisure and tourism journals. He has presented several papers at a number of international and national tourism conferences and symposia on cultural exchange travel, volunteer tourism and youth development. In 2008 he was an invited speaker at a national symposium on volunteer tourism and was invited to co-chair a special interest session on international volunteer tourism and social development at the CAUTHE (Council of Australian Universities Tourism and Hospitality Educators) National Conference. he also co-convened the first international Symposium on Volunteering and Tourism in Singapore in 2009. He was guest editor of a special Issue of Annals of Leisure Research on Volunteering and Tourism.

In addition to his research on volunteering, cultural exchange youth development, Kevin has conducted research that considers community as it develops in and through diverse leisure and tourism settings. He has published several refereed journal articles and conference papers on community as it manifests in youth camps, among volunteers, and among older adult. His international reputation as leading research in the area of community and leisure was confirmed when he was invited to guest edit a special issue of 'World Leisure' journal on community leisure services in outdoor environments. His research on leisure and community also considers issues of gender and equity. He was invited to write a commentary on men, gender and leisure in the pre-eminent Leisure Sciences journal which was published in 2006. He has also authored a chapter for the 3rd edition of a major text on Leisure and Gender to be published by Venture publishing in 2011. His work on non-resident father's leisure with their children was published in the highly regarded Leisure Studies Journal. This research on fathers and leisure has attracted significant attention from national and local media and was the focus of a special session I co-chaired at the Australian and New Zealand Leisure Studies conference in January 2008. His research on fathers, men and gender issues in leisure research more broadly, is being used to inform the World Leisure Association's efforts to work with UNESCO on improving international policies on youth and children's access to leisure. This work has also informed the International Right to Play Association's 2006-2008 strategic plan. His work on time-pressure, gender and leisure in the Leisure Sciences journal provides a frequently cited model for assessing chronic time pressure - an important issue that impacts equitably distributed and accessible community leisure services.

Fields of Research

CodeDescriptionPercentage
150599Marketing Not Elsewhere Classified45
150699Tourism Not Elsewhere Classified30
150399Business And Management Not Elsewhere Classified25

Memberships

Editorial Board.

  • Associate Editor - Leisure Sciences Journal

Appointments

Founding Member
World Leisure Commission for Children and Leisure (United States)
01/01/2004 - 01/12/2006
Assistant Dean - Research
Faculty of Business and Law -University of Newcastle (Australia)
01/01/2009 - 01/07/2009
Treasurer
Australian and New Zealand Assocation for Leisure Studies (Australia)
01/01/2006

Awards

Recognition.

2006Vice-Chancellor's Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning
Univeristy of Newcastle (Australia)
Developed teaching intitiatives based on research-based scholarship

Invitations

Learning and Teaching Forum, Adelaide Australia
Teaching and Learning Initiatives Showcase IRU Australia, Australia (Conference Presentation - non published.)
2006

Teaching

Teaching keywords

  • Managing under uncertainty
  • Tourism management
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Publications

No publications.

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Grants and Funding

Summary

Number of grants15
Total funding$193,816

For project grants received where the lead institution is other than the University of Newcastle, details are shown in italics.

- Indicates that the researcher may be seeking students for this project.

Click on a grant title below to expand the full details for that specific grant.

2013 (1 grants)

Hunter Wine Tourism Monitor Program and Research Project 2013$38,000
Funding Body: Hunter Valley Wine & Tourism Association

Project Team
Associate Professor Kevin Lyons, Doctor Paul Stolk, Doctor Tamara Young
SchemeRole
Research ProjectChief Investigator
Total AmountFunding StartFunding Finish
$38,00020132013
GNo:G1301072

2012 (2 grants)

Evaluation of the Flagship Projects for the NSW volunteering Strategy$50,000
Funding Body: NSW Department of Education and Communities

Project Team
Professor Max Smith, Professor Allyson Holbrook, Associate Professor Kevin Lyons, Ms Penny Crofts, Doctor Erica Southgate, Doctor Johanna Macneil
SchemeRole
Research GrantInvestigator
Total AmountFunding StartFunding Finish
$50,00020122013
GNo:G1200610

Hunter Valley Tourism Monitor Program$34,000
Funding Body: Hunter Valley Wine & Tourism Association

Project Team
Associate Professor Kevin Lyons, Doctor Tamara Young
SchemeRole
Research ProjectChief Investigator
Total AmountFunding StartFunding Finish
$34,00020122013
GNo:G1200008

2011 (1 grants)

Identifying the training and research needs of tourism operators in the Hunter Region$6,500
Funding Body: Tourism Hunter

Project Team
Associate Professor Kevin Lyons, Doctor Tamara Young
SchemeRole
Research ProjectChief Investigator
Total AmountFunding StartFunding Finish
$6,50020112011
GNo:G1100835

2008 (1 grants)

Investigation of research into the benefits of green life for health, well-being and sustainability$15,111
Funding Body: Nursery & Garden Industry Australia

Project Team
Professor Allyson Holbrook, Associate Professor Kevin Lyons
SchemeRole
Project GrantInvestigator
Total AmountFunding StartFunding Finish
$15,11120082008
GNo:G0189198

2007 (2 grants)

Why don't Australian tourists visit Papua New Guinea? An analysis of destination image, tourist perceptions and product delivery.$15,572
Funding Body: University of Newcastle

Project Team
Associate Professor Kevin Markwell, Associate Professor Kevin Lyons
SchemeRole
Pilot GrantInvestigator
Total AmountFunding StartFunding Finish
$15,57220072007
GNo:G0187885

BEST Education Network Think Tank VII on Innovations for Sustainable Tourism, Northern Arizona USA, 21/6/2007 - 24/6/2007$1,700
Funding Body: University of Newcastle

Project Team
Associate Professor Kevin Lyons
SchemeRole
Travel GrantChief Investigator
Total AmountFunding StartFunding Finish
$1,70020072007
GNo:G0187739

2005 (2 grants)

The impact of working-holidays upon future careers: Examining the J-1 Camp Counsellor Program and its effect upon participant career anchors$6,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle

Project Team
Associate Professor Kevin Lyons, Associate Professor John Jenkins
SchemeRole
Project GrantChief Investigator
Total AmountFunding StartFunding Finish
$6,00020052005
GNo:G0184669

Thanks for the ball dad, come on let's play! An investigation of non-resident fathers' leisure with their children$5,500
Funding Body: University of Newcastle

Project Team
Associate Professor John Jenkins, Associate Professor Kevin Lyons
SchemeRole
Project GrantInvestigator
Total AmountFunding StartFunding Finish
$5,50020052005
GNo:G0184682

2004 (1 grants)

World Leisure Congress, 12-17 September 2004, Brisbane$1,610
Funding Body: University of Newcastle

Project Team
Associate Professor Kevin Lyons
SchemeRole
Travel GrantChief Investigator
Total AmountFunding StartFunding Finish
$1,61020042004
GNo:G0184453

2003 (1 grants)

Hawaii International Conference on Social Science, Honolulu, USA 12-15 June, 2003$2,355
Funding Body: University of Newcastle

Project Team
Associate Professor Kevin Lyons
SchemeRole
Travel GrantChief Investigator
Total AmountFunding StartFunding Finish
$2,35520032003
GNo:G0183076

2001 (2 grants)

Exchanging Cultures - Modelling Masculinities: An Examination of Australians Participating in an American Camp-Counselor Cultural Exchange Program$8,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle

Project Team
Associate Professor Kevin Lyons
SchemeRole
Early Career Researcher GrantChief Investigator
Total AmountFunding StartFunding Finish
$8,00020012001
GNo:G0180948

Australian and New Zealand Association for Leisure Studies and the Women and Leisure Conference, WA 1-6 July 2001$1,733
Funding Body: University of Newcastle

Project Team
Associate Professor Kevin Lyons
SchemeRole
Travel GrantChief Investigator
Total AmountFunding StartFunding Finish
$1,73320012001
GNo:G0180812

1999 (1 grants)

An exploratory examination of a of sense of community in NSW youth holiday camps.$7,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle

Project Team
Associate Professor Kevin Lyons
SchemeRole
New Staff GrantChief Investigator
Total AmountFunding StartFunding Finish
$7,00019991999
GNo:G0179016

1998 (1 grants)

2nd International Society for Quality of Life Studies Conference, USA 3 - 6 December 1998$735
Funding Body: University of Newcastle

Project Team
Associate Professor Kevin Lyons
SchemeRole
Travel GrantChief Investigator
Total AmountFunding StartFunding Finish
$73519981998
GNo:G0180282
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Research Supervision

Number of current supervisions5
Total current UoN PhD EFTSL2.05

For supervisions undertaken at an institution other that the University of Newcastle, details are shown in italics, and the institution name is listed below the program name.

Current Supervision

CommencedProposed
Completion
ProgramSupervisor TypeResearch Title
20132017PhD (Management)Co-SupervisorTo Be Finalised
20122021PhD (Leisure & Tourism)Principal SupervisorAdvancing the Scholarship of Engagement - An Institutional Perspective
20122020PhD (Leisure & Tourism)Principal SupervisorPlanning for Temporary Tourist Land Uses in NSW. Elton at Hope, Nostalgia and a Lovedale Long Lunch - Benefit or Burden
20102014PhD (Leisure & Tourism)Principal SupervisorExamining Thai Hotel Manager's Behavioural Intentions Toward Adopting Green Leaf Certification
20082012PhD (Leisure & Tourism)Principal SupervisorWhat Does Tourism Mean to Residents? An Investigation of Madura Island, Indonesia

Past Supervision

YearProgramSupervisor TypeResearch Title
2013PhD (Leisure & Tourism)Principal SupervisorFrom Carefree to Controlled: Influences on the Leisure of Australian Children since the 1950s
2013PhD (Leisure & Tourism)Principal SupervisorA Case Study Investigation of Adventure Tourism Operators in National Parks
2010PhD (Leisure & Tourism)Principal SupervisorIf We Sink It, Will They Come? The Development and Management of Australia's Artificial Reefs as Resources for Sustainable Recreational Scuba Diving
2005PhD (Leisure & Tourism)Principal SupervisorThe Significance of Staff Decision Making and Awareness in Acquired Brain Injury Outreach Contexts
2004PhD (Leisure & Tourism)Principal SupervisorCompeting for Life: Older People and Competitive Sport
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Associate Professor Kevin Lyons

Work Phone(02) 4921 8989
Fax(02) 4921 6911
Email
PositionAssociate Professor
Newcastle Business School
Faculty of Business and Law
The University of Newcastle, Australia
Focus AreaTourism
Office
UNH326,
University House,
Newcastle City Campus
URL:www.newcastle.edu.au/profile/kevin-lyons