Jeff Wilks

Background

About Jeff Wilks

Jeff is a qualified lawyer and psychologist specializing in travel health, safety and security. He grew up in Papua New Guinea where his family ran a transport and tourism business. His early training was in cross-cultural psychology, which earned him a PhD from the University of Queensland, Australia and confirmed a love of travel. Jeff has led risk management programs in the Middle East, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as closer to home in Asia Pacific. An active marine safety practitioner, Jeff has worked as a scuba diving instructor on the Great Barrier Reef and in 2003 was awarded an International Life Saving Federation Citation of Merit for his contribution to risk management and beach safety. In 2017 he was awarded a Commonwealth Diploma by the Royal Life Saving Society (UK) for his significant and diverse contributions to water safety and drowning prevention. Jeff is lead author on seven tourism safety books and more than 250 refereed journal articles, book chapters and scholarly reports. He has been invited to speak at ministerial meetings and industry forums around the world, and acts as an expert witness in legal cases involving tourists.