We are the global leaders in agritourism.
From farmers, tourism professionals, university professors, and everyone in between, get to know the leaders driving the Global Agritourism Network forward with their expertise and commitment to agritourism.
Executive Committee
2024-2026
Carla Barbieri, PhD
President
Originally from Peru, Carla is a Professor at North Carolina State University (USA) where she leads research and outreach at the Agritourism & Societal Well-being Lab.
Lisa Chase, PhD
Past President
Lisa is a Professor at the University of Vermont Extension (USA) and focuses on the intersection of agritourism, food systems, and community development.
Valeria Klitsounova, PhD
Vice President
Valeria (Lera) has is an Associate Professor at Belarusian State University and founder of the Belarusian Association of Rural and Ecotourism.
Chadley Hollas
Secretary
Chadley is a consultant and researcher with Cultivating Tourism specializing in sustainable tourism and agritourism, based in Georgia, USA.
Regional Committee Chairs
2024-2026
Jerry Spooner
Pacific
Jerry is the founder of Regenerative Vanua, leading efforts to integrate cultural heritage and agritourism.
Tim Parsons
Australia and New Zealand (Co-Chair)
Tim Parsons is a 6th generation farmer and agritourism host in Tasmania’s Curringa Farm.
Allison Clark
Australia and New Zealand (Co-Chair)
Allison is an agritourism development consultant with Optimum Standard based in Tasmania.
Joselito Bernardo
Southeastern Asia
Joselito is an independent management consultant focused on the agriculture sector in the Asia Pacific Region.
Pandurang Taware
South and Western Asia
Pandurang is the Father of Agritourism in India and the founder of the Agri Tourism Development Corporation.
Kumar Bhatta, PhD
East Asia
Kumar is a researcher at Kyushu University, Japan, and North Carolina State University focusing on agritourism development.
Shpresim Domi, PhD
Eastern Europe
Shpresim is an Associate Professor at the Agricultural University of Tirana and is a founder of the Albania Agritourism Association.
Thomas Streifeneder, PhD
Western Europe
Thomas is the Head of the Institute for Regional Development at Eurac Research in Bolzano, Italy.
Jacqui Taylor
Southern Africa
Jacqui is the founder of Agritourism Africa and an advocate of agritourism to boost rural economies and preserve cultural heritage.
Maria Baryamujura
East Africa
Maria is the founder of the Community Based Tourism Initiative (COBATI) in Uganda, focusing on empowering rural communities.
Doolarie (Dee) Singh-Knights, PhD
Latin America and the Caribbean
Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, Dee is a Professor of Resource Economics and Management at West Virginia University.
Suzi Spahr
North America (Co-Chair)
Suzi is the Executive Director of NAFDMA International Agritourism Association where she leads efforts to advance farm direct marketing and agritourism.
Scottie Jones
North America (Co-Chair)
Scottie is the founder of Farm Stay, a US association of farm stay operators, and operates Leaping Lamb Farm in Oregon, USA.
Auxiliary Committee Chairs
2024-2026
R. David Lamie, PhD
Research (Co-Chair)
David is an Associate Professor at Clemson University specializing in agribusiness and rural development.
Corinne Stewart
Research (Co-Chair)
Corinne is the President of the ISLE Sustainability Network, an association dedicated to innovating, teaching, and promoting sustainable development.
Rose Wright
Policy and Advocacy (Co-Chair)
Rose is the founder and Managing Director of Regionality Pty Ltd, with a career spanning over three decades.
Marge Kilkelly
Policy and Advocacy (Co-Chair)
Marge is a farmer, rural policy expert, and advocate based in Maine, USA, where she runs Dragonfly Cove Farm and supports community-focused agricultural policy.
Caroline Millar
Events and Conferences
Caroline is the Sector Lead for Scottish Agritourism and operates The Hideaway Experience, a 5-star tourism business on her family farm in Angus.
Lindsey Pashow
Regenerative Agritourism (Co-Chair)
Lindsey Pashow is a statewide agriculture business development and marketing specialist with Harvest NY and Cornell Cooperative Extension.
Cherise Addinsall, PhD
Regenerative Agritourism (Co-Chair)
Dr Cherise Addinsall is a Senior Research Fellow with the Australian Centre for Pacific Islands Research, focusing on regenerative tourism policy and planning
Lisa Frank
Communications
Lisa is the Co-Founder of Cowbell, a travel brand elevating Agritourism in the U.S. through a collection of curated experiences.
Marijke Dunselman
Education (Co-Chair)
Marijke is the founder of Agritourism New Zealand, an organization dedicated to promoting and supporting agritourism operators.
Lisa Chase, PhD
Education (Co-Chair)
Lisa is a Professor at University of Vermont Extension, and focuses on the intersection of agritourism, food systems, and community development.
Pandurang Taware
World Agritourism Day
Pandurang is the Father of Agritourism in India and the founder of the Agri Tourism Development Corporation.
Join us in growing agritourism
Become a part of the Global Agritourism Network and help strengthen rural communities. Together, we support sustainable growth and empower those shaping the future of agritourism.