Rod’s research interests stem from his varied tourism and management experiences in the private, public, not-for-profit, and education sectors spanning three decades of engagement with community networks, professional associations and industry clusters around regional, community and entrepreneurial development. His 1st Class Honours thesis, reporting on Supply-side evolution of caravanning in Australia, informs the working title of Rod’s PhD research: The politics of freedom camping policy in regional Australia: Policy-making, planning and management implications for regional communities. With a pragmatic outlook and a strong industry background he is keen to facilitate Mode-2 knowledge production in the pursuit of solving ‘wicked’ problems through phronetic planning research. Rod is a recipient of a number of awards including the 2011 Southern Cross University Medal and 2013 Judith McGilvray Award for individual contribution to regional tourism.