Dr Argyro Velonaki

Prior to beginning my current lecturing role at The Manchester Metropolitan University, I was employed as an associate tutor with teaching responsibilities for marketing and tourism-related units at Level 4 and Level 5, in addition to supervising undergraduate and postgraduate dissertations. On an ad-hoc basis, I also marked written assessments including, essays, reports, e-portfolios, and research proposals across different courses/levels within my subject specialism.

I am also a certified Carbon Literacy Trainer, an accreditation I obtained alongside my doctoral studies upon completing extracurricular training to successfully meet the requirements of the Carbon Literacy Trainer Standard as set by The Carbon Literacy Project. As part of my extracurricular involvement with Carbon Literacy at Manchester Met, I facilitated and co-led the delivery of in-person and online Carbon Literacy education both internally and externally to partners, community groups, and local authorities. Through Manchester Met’s ‘Trainer-the-Trainer’ programme I also assessed new student trainers during their observed deliveries, constructively providing them with feedforward suggestions for future development. Prior to my arrival at The Manchester Metropolitan University, I held various industry-related roles within the travel and transport sector, both in England and abroad (Greece).

In terms of education, I obtained the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil/PhD) in 2022 after completing a (part-time) self-funded research project titled ‘From Climate Change Knowledge to Climate Change Passivity: Airline Policies on Voluntary Carbon Offsets and the Carbon Literate Citizen’ at The Manchester Metropolitan University. I have also completed my MSc (with Merit) in International Tourism Management (2009) at Manchester Met – hence, I have first-hand experience of being both a student and a member of staff at the same institution. Prior to my education at The Manchester Metropolitan University, I successfully passed the IATA/UFTAA* examination and I was awarded a widely recognised industry-orientated Diploma in Travel and Tourism.

I am fluent in English and Greek.

I live an active lifestyle and I strive to keep a healthy work-life balance.

Inspirational Quotes:

‘’You must be the change you wish to see in the world.’’ – Mahatma Gandhi

‘’A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.’’ – Albert Einstein

‘’We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.’’ – Aristotle

*International Air Transport Association/Universal Federation of Travel Agents’ Associations

I am passionate about sustainability, my research interests and areas of expertise encompass responsible tourism, corporate responsibility and governance, consumer behaviour (particularly related to environmental and ethical concerns, overconsumption, social and cultural influences, cognitive and decision-making processes in the travel context and beyond), slow travel, implementation of circular economy principles in the tourism sector, and brand communications and green marketing.