ICOMOS MEMBERS

NEW ICOMOS Responsible Practice Toolkit

The Advisory Committee Officers (ACOs) are delighted to present the Responsible Practice Toolkit, prepared by The Advisory Committee’s Sustainability and Communications Task Force, and approved by the ICOMOS Board at its meeting in January 2025.  

The Toolkit comprises

• the Carbon Reduction Strategy,
• the Responsible Meetings & Events Checklists for online, hybrid and in-person meetings, and
• the Carbon Calculator & Meeting Registration Template

It is expected that the toolkit will expand over time as additional tools are developed.

The Carbon Reduction Strategy includes a range of actions for each level of ICOMOS, from the Headquarters, through the Board, National and International Scientific Committees, Working Groups and including individual members.

The ICOMOS Responsible Meetings & Events Checklists have been developed through consultation with ICOMOS membership and several public guidance documents. The checklists aim to improve the planning and organisation of ICOMOS events and meetings.

The Meeting Registration Template will capture the delegates individual meeting carbon footprint through the use of the Carbon Calculator. This information will be recorded by the organisers of the meeting and submitted to ICOMOS Headquarters & Advisory Committee as part of the Annual Reporting Process required for National Committees, International Scientific Committees and Working Groups.

We encourage all members to consider how to use the strategy to shape their own personal commitments to climate action, and we invite you to share this post widely through various media and communication channels.

Access the document here

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NEW Heritage Impact Assessment Seminar Series | ICOMOS Malaysia

The ICOMOS Asia Pacific Regional Network Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) Webinar Series is a forum to discuss regional issues and challenges in the effort to raise the appreciation towards the importance of HIA and how to put into practice one of the most important tools to safeguard heritage sites. The purpose of this initiative is to influence government policy and share best practice to help the implementation of HIA. The first in a series of 5 webinars, focuses on the experiences from Southeast Asia, covering issues related to practices/implementation, policy, theoretical, and training aspects. This HIA Webinar series is organised by ICOMOS Asia Pacific Regional Network and hosted by ICOMOS Malaysia.

Webinar numbers 1 & 2 are now available to view. Please follow this link to You tube.

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Refresh of AICOMOS Reference Groups

The membership of the Australia ICOMOS Indigenous Heritage Reference Group (IHRG) was last refreshed in mid-2021. In accordance with the Australia ICOMOS policy for all groups for a number of years, it is now time to refresh the membership,

The purpose of the IHRG is to advise Australia ICOMOS on matters pertaining to Indigenous heritage conservation principles, policies and practice. (It should be noted that while Australia ICOMOS recognises that Indigenous cultural heritage encompasses a broad range of values including, but not limited to, sites and places of historical or contemporary importance and the land itself, the consideration of Indigenous heritage by Australia ICOMOS does not include general land management and conservation, which is outside the focus of Australia ICOMOS). The IHRG provides advice as needed to the President and the Executive Committee on any issues that arise in relation to the conservation of Indigenous cultural heritage. Issues may relate to specific sites as in the case of Indigenous issues in World Heritage Monitoring Missions, or ‘framework’ issues as in the case of preparing submissions on legislation reform. This reference group (initially a Working Group) has existed since 1998. The Group does not hold regular meetings, but acts as issues arise, with email as the main form of communication.

Members of the IHRG will be selected based on demonstrated expertise and experience in the area of Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage conservation. Members must have a high level of expertise in Australian Indigenous heritage management. In selecting members, regard will also be given to ensuring the IHRG has broad geographic representation across Australia and that the membership represents a broad range of expertise in the area of Indigenous heritage conservation. Membership is open to Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australia ICOMOS members. Indigenous members are strongly encouraged to apply. Current IHRG members need to reapply if they wish to continue. Young and/or Emerging Professional members, or others, with a specialist skill or interest in Australian Indigenous heritage management, but who don’t have sufficient expertise to become a member, may apply to be an Adjunct member (this is initially a one-year appointment, which is reviewed at the end of the year).

More information can be found on the Indigenous Heritage Reference Group webpage and in the EOI document.  Please note that all individuals who express an interest in any Australia ICOMOS Working or Reference Group agree to be bound by the documents that can be found here.

Members of Australia ICOMOS are invited to express an interest in becoming a member of this Reference Group by sending a completed IHRG EOI form to the Australia ICOMOS Secretariat by email – austicomos@deakin.edu.au by COB 4^th April 2025.

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In accordance with the Australia ICOMOS policy for Reference Groups, it is now time to refresh the membership Australia ICOMOS World Heritage Reference Group (WHRG)

In summary, the purpose of the WHRG is to advise Australia ICOMOS on matters pertaining to World Heritage matters, primarily those places within Australia that are already inscribed on the World Heritage List or may be under consideration for inscription. The WHRG does not hold regular meetings, but responds as issues arise, with email as the main form of communication.

Members of the WHRG will be selected based on demonstrated expertise and experience in the World Heritage area, although expressions of interest are invited from those who have a particular interest in World Heritage but may not have had extensive experience in the area.  Current WHRG members can nominate to renew their membership.  The final selection will be determined by the Australia ICOMOS Executive Committee based on a recommendation from a subcommittee established for the purpose.

The WHRG Terms of Reference and the EOI form are attached.  More information about the WHRG can be found on the Australia ICOMOS webpage at https://australia.icomos.org/get-involved/working-reference-groups/world-heritage-reference-group/.  Please note that all individuals who express an interest in any Australia ICOMOS Working or Reference Groups agree to be bound by the Australia ICOMOS documents that can be found here.

Members of Australia ICOMOS are invited to express an interest in becoming a member of WHRG by sending a completed EOI form to the Australia ICOMOS Secretariat by email – austicomos@deakin.edu.au by COB 4^th April 2025.

Peter Romey, WHRG Convenor

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AICOMOS 2025 National Conference Our Shared Heritage | Victorian Goldfields Ballarat | 17-19 November 2025

The Australia ICOMOS 2025 National Conference Our Shared Heritage will be held in the Victorian Goldfields, Ballarat, from 17-19 November 2025.Conference themes will include locating diversity, equity and inclusion in Heritage Conservation, Sustainable Development and Cultural Tourism. 

The conference will highlight Victoria’s Treaty process in a keynote address, as well as the Australia ICOMOS Strategic Plan 2025-2029. 

A Call for Sponsors is now open – if you are interested in supporting this event, please contact Susan Fayad on susanfayad@ballarat.vic.gov.au

Further information about the conference will be made available in the new year.

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CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS / GRANTS / NOMINATIONS

NEW EOI Heritage Advisory Committee | City of Maribyrnong Vic | Submissions due 30 April 2025

Do you live, work, or have a connection to the City of Maribyrnong in Melbourne’s Inner West?

The City of Maribyrnong is now calling for Expressions of Interest from the community to join the new Heritage Advisory Committee for the next two years. This includes nominations for three community members to sit on the Advisory Committee alongside seven professional members representing local heritage organisations.

You can find out more details and complete the Expression of Interest form at the link below:

Looking after our unique heritage | Your City Your Voice

Expressions of Interest closes midnight Wednesday 30 April 2025.

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CeROArt journal | Call for papers | Conservation and Social Utility | Open Issue

The concept of social or societal utility, borrowed from the jurist and philosopher Jeremy Bentham (1748–1832) and further developed by John Stuart Mill (1806–1873), is based on the principle of “the greatest happiness for the greatest number.” In the field of conservation, this notion intersects with and expands the concept of “social sustainability.” While this issue has been explored in relation to the preservation of monuments and sites, its connection to the conservation of movable heritage remains underexamined.

Statements of interest and abstracts (max. 500 words) should be sent to: editeur@ceroart.org.
This special issue is an open issue: publications will be released progressively, starting in June, following the peer review process. The issue will be closed on December 15. The publication timeline does not exceed six weeks after the final version of the article has been approved.

For any inquiries, please contact the editorial team at contact@ceroart.org

Further information can be found here.

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WORKSHOPS / COURSES / EVENTS / EXHIBITIONS

NEW National Trust Heritage Festival | Various locations Nationally | April & May 2025

For more than 40 years the National Trust has connected the nation through the Australian Heritage Festival celebrations.

Spanning cities and regions across Australia, the Festival offers unique opportunities for the community to engage with the country’s rich and diverse heritage. Look forward to exhibitions, tours, talks, workshops, food fairs, ceremonies, demonstrations, dinners, and much more.

In April and May 2025, the festival will return with the theme Unearthed – revealing the past, bringing to light lesser-known histories and stories, and unearthing knowledge to empower younger generations as custodians of culture and tradition.

Further information can be found here.

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NEW The future of cultural informatics | Dr. Angeliki Antoniou | University of West Attica (Greece) | 28 March 2025, 13.00-14.00 GMT

Coordinated by The TETRARCH’s project this presentation will provide a critical interrogation of the evolving landscape of Digital Humanities, from its transition to Cultural Informatics to its changing approaches to interdisciplinarity and scientific/artistic practice. The presentation will delve into ‘phygitality’—the seamless integration of physical and digital experiences—alongside artificial intelligence, and the development of climate heritage networks, demonstrating the field’s responsiveness to contemporary challenges. The presentation will also address the future trajectory of Cultural Informatics and critically consider the imperative of ethical frameworks in navigating the complex intersections of technology and culture.

Further information can be found at TETRARCHs website. The zoom link is here. (Please note this will be midnight AEDT) 

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NEW CIPA 2025 SEOUL International Symposium 

ICOMOS CIPA are pleased to announce the CIPA 2025 SEOUL International Symposium, jointly organized and hosted by the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and the National Museum of Korea, with support from ICOMOS CIPA, ISPRS, and ICOMOS International.

The symposium will take place from Monday, August 25 to Friday, August 29, 2025, at the National Museum of Korea in Seoul, South Korea. The theme for this event is:

Heritage Conservation from Bits – From Digital Documentation to Data-driven Heritage Conservation

The symposium will cover a variety of subtopics, including:

• 3D documentation and modelling of heritage
• Application of digital technologies for heritage interpretation and presentation
• Policies and ethical issues related to heritage conservation, management, and utilization
• Innovative digital technologies in museum exhibitions
• Integration of digital technologies in the preservation of intangible heritage
• AI-driven initiatives for heritage protection and conservation

(Additional topics are available on our official website.)

In addition, pre-symposium workshops will be held on Saturday, August 23, and Sunday, August 24, 2025, featuring diverse and engaging programs.

For more details, please visit the CIPA 2025 website:

https://cipa2025seoul.org/

The organisers warmly invite and encourage the active participation of the ICOMOS communities.

For inquiries, please contact the CIPA 2025 Symposium Co-Directors, Dr. Jaehong AHN and Dr. Hyeseung SHIM, via our contact page 

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Webinar presented by EIANZ & Victoria Pearce | Practical Archaeological conservation: making finds stable for research and display | 1-2 pm 7 May 2025

All work involving community artefacts involves work with a diverse variety of materials and with a range of cultural values. Many items used by community to tell stories are extremely fragile and some understanding of materials science is required to increase their longevity and capacity for continued use. Overseas institutions hold many excavated artefacts that are stable and being interpreted for display.

In most instances, offshore archaeological digs are only approved if they have a conservator on site and a conservation plan in place dictating how finds will be treated upon excavation. Unfortunately, in Australia no such requirements exist, and a mindset prevails that “nothing can be done”. We often see items placed on display that are actively deteriorating now that they are removed from the ground and exposed to new environmental conditions.

This webinar will cover an introduction to Archaeological conservation and the issues for improving the research value and display and interpretation value of finds and will question if we as professionals are doing enough, and how we can do more in the current budget?

This event will run off Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) and will run for 1 hour. The webinar will be recorded and a link to the webinar will be sent to all registered attendees in the days after the webinar.

The presenter Victoria Pearce is a senior conservator who operates a conservation laboratory in NSW and Canberra, providing back-end support for the heritage sector to get artefacts stabilised for research and display. An Internationally recognised leader in Disaster response planning and remediation, and researcher in mold prevention and response, Victoria brings extensive practical implementation experience to the heritage sector.

For registration details please follow this link.

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SURVEYS

 ICOMOS Sustainable Development Goals Working Group Survey

As is well known, culture (including cultural and archaeological heritage) is not comprehensively addressed in the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Since 2013, the interorganizational campaign ‘Culture2030Goal’ (of which ICOMOS is a part) has been advocating for the inclusion of culture as a distinct goal within the global development framework (see more here: https://www.ifla.org/news/a-goal-for-culture-culture2030goal-campaign-launches-process-to-develop-new-version/). The campaign is currently conducting a survey on the potential culture goal.

Following the recommendation of ICOMOS Sustainable Development Goals Working Group we invite you to participate in this important survey: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8150238/Culture2030Goal-Towards-a-Revised-Draft 

Participating in the survey offers a valuable opportunity to hear the perspectives of archaeologists and other heritage professionals on cultural heritage management and protection. 

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Heritage NSW Standard Exemptions

Under the standard exemptions, certain activities or works may be exempt from a Heritage Act permit if it complies with the relevant standards. The standard exemptions currently include a range of activities or work that have little to no impact on the item’s heritage significance and support its ongoing management such as maintenance, painting or installing a fire alarm.

Heritage NSW wants to know if the current standard exemptions and the associated standards are working well and are helping you to manage your item.

Please follow this link if you would like to complete the survey.

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State Planning Office TAS | Draft LUPA Amendment Bill 2025 | Have your Say

A revised draft Land Use Planning and Approvals Amendment (Development Assessment Panel) Bill 2025 (the draft DAP Bill 2025) has been prepared for public consultation before reintroduction into Parliament during 2025.

The history of this Bill is in the Background section below. Documents relating to how it has evolved are in Lifecycle version 1 (2024). The current documents for this consultation are in Lifecycle version 2 (2025).

The State Planning Office, on behalf of the Minister, prepared the various supporting documents, and worked with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel to prepare the draft DAP Bills. The State Planning Office reviews submissions received during consultation and advises the Minister. Any final draft Bill requires Cabinet approval prior to being tabled and debated in Parliament.

For further information and to access the survey, follow this link.

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SITUATIONS VACANT 

NEW SITUATION VACANT | Artefact Heritage and Environment | Heritage Consultant & Two Senior Heritage Consultants | NSW | Applications reviewed on submission

Artefact is a leading heritage consultancy firm in NSW, providing archaeological, cultural heritage management and environmental assessment services. We work from regional offices in Bathurst and Hunter and a head office on a heritage wharf overlooking Sydney Harbour.  We are looking for skilled professionals in various heritage roles across our Pyrmont and Newcastle locations including:

• Heritage Consultant – Archaeology
• Senior Heritage Consultant – Archaeology
• Senior Heritage Consultant – Anthropology 

Candidates should have demonstrated experience in completing heritage assessments and fieldworks, have a knowledge of relevant legislation, demonstrate effective time management skills, written and analytical skills, and have experience in working with Aboriginal stakeholder groups. If you would like to be a part of our friendly multidisciplinary team that offers the most innovative heritage solutions across Australia, and believe you have the qualifications and skills to successfully perform in the role, we would like to hear from you.

For more information, please contact our HR team via email at hr@artefact.net.au or https://www.artefact.net.au/join-the-team

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NEW SITUATION VACANT NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service | Senior Policy Officer (Historic & World Heritage) | Applications close 2 April 2025

Join a small team, making a big difference in the conservation of the Historic and World Heritage of the National Parks throughout NSW.

 The small team of heritage professionals is within the Historic & World Heritage Unit of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), delivering the agency’s obligations in relation to historic and World Heritage in NSW parks.

As the Senior Policy Officer, you will work with the NPWS operations branches and the Australian Government, supporting governance arrangements and the delivery of NPWS projects, programs and reporting arising out of World Heritage obligations in relation to the Greater Blue Mountains Area and Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage properties.

You will also provide high level advice and support teams to provide advice and services to the NPWS operations branches relating to the assessment, conservation, adaptive reuse and maintenance of historic heritage assets and collections to identify, conserve and protect their values in NPWS parks and reserves. 

Closing Date for Applications Wednesday 2 April 2025.  For more details please see:

https://iworkfor.nsw.gov.au/job/senior-policy-officer-historic-world-heritage-511734

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NEW Proposals Sought | Heritage Strategy for SA Project | Submissions due 31 March 2025

Heritage Strategy for SA Project

The SA Heritage Council is seeking fee proposals from heritage professionals who have experience in strategic heritage policy and can prepare a Heritage Strategy for SA.

The project brief is here

Fee proposals are to be submitted to beverley.voigt@sa.gov.au by 9.00am 31 March 2025.

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