ICOMOS INTERNATIONAL
NEW Report on the ICOMOS Asia-Pacific Network – Meeting in Seoul, April 2024
To coincide with the International Day for Monuments and Sites on 18th April, ICOMOS Korea generously hosted the ICOMOS Asia-Pacific network for three days of meetings and presentations in Seoul. The Asia-Pacific Network is chaired by Susan McIntyre-Tamwoy, ICOMOS Vice-President (Asia-Pacific) and provides a forum for the ICOMOS national presidents in the region to get together on a regular basis to discuss and collaborate on issues of common interest. These meetings are usually held online, so this provided a rare opportunity to come together face to face. Susan and the national presidents were joined by ICOMOS President Teresa Patricio, Advisory Committee President Kerime Danis, members of ICOMOS Korea and some invited international speakers. Australia ICOMOS was represented by President Caitlin Allen and speakers Kristal Buckley, Jane Harrington and Sue Hodges.
Speakers from across the region covered the key themes of: world heritage impact assessment and interpretation; cultural tourism; climate change and disaster response; resilience and peacebuilding; and community-based approaches to heritage identification, management and interpretation. Australia ICOMOS is looking at ways to provide our members with access to some of these papers. Further information will be posted in the e-news in the coming weeks. ICOMOS Korea also organised some site visits to Changdeokgung Palace and Garden, which are on the World Heritage List, along with Seodaemun Prison History Hall (a former prison built during Japanese occupation in 1908), and the Naksan section of Seoul’s historic, fortified city wall.
Amongst the formal meetings and presentations, it was possible chat and form connections with colleagues across the region. In particular, Australia ICOMOS, ICOMOS Pasifika and ICOMOS Aotearoa NZ had a very productive conversation about ways that we can collaborate to support the development of a Pasifika Heritage Charter. This work was commenced in conjunction with the ICOMOS General Assembly in Sydney in 2023, so the Asia-Pacific gathering provided an important opportunity to continue dialogue on practical steps to bring the Charter process to completion.
Australia ICOMOS acknowledges and thanks ICOMOS Korea and their partners the Korean Heritage Service, the Korean Ministry for Culture, the UNESCO International Centre for the Interpretation and Presentation of World Heritage Sites, and the Seoul Metropolitan Government for supporting us to attend this very successful event.
The Australia ICOMOS team (left to right) – Kristal Buckley, Kerime Danis, Susan McIntyre-Tamwoy, Caitlin Allen, Jane Harrington, and Sue Hodges.
Asia-Pacific Network members and invited speakers, site visit to Changdeokgung Palace
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ICOMOS MEMBERS
NEW Executive Committee Meeting | NSW | 17-18 May 2025
The first in person meeting of the executive is taking place over the weekend of 17-18th May in Sydney.
Please forward any items you would like added to the agenda for discussion to the secretariat officer by Monday 12th May.
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NEW Members Event | The Big Dig Archaeology Education Centre | 6-8 PM 17 May 2025
What’s going on in ICOMOS at the international level and how are Australians contributing?
ICOMOS celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. Join us for drinks and a panel discussion with Australia ICOMOS members who are active on the ICOMOS Board, Advisory Committee, International Scientific Committees, Working Groups and in World Heritage matters. Hear about what they are doing and how you can get involved. If you are already contributing to ICOMOS internationally, we’d love you to come along to share your stories too.
The Big Dig Archaeology Education Centre, Sydney Harbour YHA
110 Cumberland Street, Sydney
Register here
We will have further information regarding filming of the event at a later date.
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NEW Kate Clark PhD update | The challenges of integrating heritage into wider public policy | Webinar 5.30pm 21 May 2025
Kate is currently undertaking an AICOMOS supported doctorate at the University of Canberra. This webinar is a briefing to update members about the outcomes to date.
Fail, fail again, fail better? The challenges of integrating heritage into wider public policy
Heritage practice is all around us. It is part of our everyday personal and shared lives, at the heart of arts and creativity, identity, attitudes to waste, in our working lives, social connections and above all storytelling.
Yet, over a long career in public policy, colleagues across economic, social, planning, environmental and even arts have dismissed cultural heritage as at best irrelevant, and at worst a source of harm. As a result, heritage is largely absent from key public policies where heritage practice could make a significant difference, such as arts, the circular economy or Net Zero.
In the early 1990s we tried to address this by embedding cultural heritage in sustainable development but largely failed. Now ‘Wellbeing’ is another opportunity that governments are using to embed more inclusive approaches to public value in policymaking, going beyond growth and GDP. Again, heritage scholars and practitioners are jumping aboard – hoping we might finally be able to tell that bigger story.
In order to understand the challenge, I have looked at how heritage is currently integrated into five aspects of public policy related to wellbeing – the environment, social policy, planning policy, creativity and economic policy.
A rapid review of policy documents and academic research shows that on paper and in theory there is a role for a broad, inclusive approach to heritage in each, and good evidence to support that.
In practice the picture is very different. Conversations with AICOMOS members reveal that although they are very aware of the relevance of heritage to other policy topics and often use creative strategies to make those links, they face significant barriers. Whilst resources are a problem, the underlying barrier is political attitudes to heritage – reflected in current events in the US.
Ultimately, it will not be enough to assert the relevance of heritage to wellbeing – even with good evidence. Nor is talking to ourselves. Like sustainability before it, linking heritage to wellbeing will fail unless scholars and practitioners join hands to show how a broad, inclusive approach to heritage can be a policy opportunity and not a policy problem, adding value to other policy outcomes and delivering wider public benefit.
Free Webinar – 21 May 2025 5.30 pm AEST
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us
We look forward to seeing you there!
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NEW AICOMOS ACT & Everyday Heritage (UC) Present: An Occasional Talk Ieuan Rees | GML Heritage Red Hill ACT | 21 May 2025
Civic participation in the planning process has gained increasing saliency in Scotland. However, debate has centred primarily on the extent to which participatory planning is genuinely empowering, especially when related to belonging and place-based identity. This applies particularly to the heritage, where notions of state designation and regulation continue to dominate. Methods that bridge heritage and planning have not been fully integrated in theory or in practice.
This paper is based on ongoing research from Ieuan’s collaborative PhD with Planning Aid Scotland, titled ‘Heritage, Planning and Place: New Futures for Participatory, Creative Place-Making’, undertaken at the University of Stirling.
Further information can be found here.
Please RSVP to Richard Morrsion by 16 May 2025
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NEW Call for events: National Reconciliation Week, 27 May – 3 June
Australia ICOMOS is committed to reconciliation, and we encourage our members to get involved in National Reconciliation Week by hosting and attending events.
National Reconciliation Week (NRW), held from 27 May to 3 June, is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. The National Reconciliation Week 2025 theme, Bridging Now to Next, reflects the ongoing connection between past, present and future.
> Register and find events on the Reconciliation Week calendar
> Need some inspiration for your NRW event? Read Reconciliation Australia’s handy guide to NRW events.
> You can find resources on Reconciliation Australia’s website, including posters to print out and share in your workplace.
> Let us know about your event by emailing austicomos@deakin.edu.au so we can promote it to our members.
> Find out more about Australia ICOMOS’s commitment to Reconciliation, and our Reconciliation Action Plan.
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CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS / GRANTS / NOMINATIONS
NEW Call for abstracts ICOMOS GA2025 | Submissions due 26 May 2025
Abstracts can be submitted for a paper or poster under
All papers and posters will be in English or French. Please use the following abstract template ( download)
The abstracts must be submitted latest by 26 May 2025 [extended] to the following email address: icomos.aga2025@gmail.com
Further information can be found here.
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NEW Call for Papers for a new book “Traditions and Sustainable Development: The Role of Cultures, Traditions, and Indigenous and Local Knowledge in Building a Sustainable World”
Contributions are invited for an upcoming book titled “Traditions and Sustainable Development: The Role of Cultures, Traditions, and Indigenous and Local Knowledge in Building a Sustainable World” to be published by Springer Nature, as part of the World Sustainability Series https://www.springer.com/series/13384-which is Scopus indexed-, the leading peer-reviewed book series on matters related to sustainable development. This volume will explore how cultural practices, traditional knowledge, and local insights contribute to sustainable development initiatives around the globe. Editors: Walter Leal Filho, Alexandra Vieira, Johannes Lütz, Tony Bradley, Alex Hope
The editors welcome papers that address, but are not limited to, the following topics:
* The impact of indigenous and local knowledge on environmental sustainability.
* Case studies showcasing successful integration of cultural practices in sustainable development.
* The role of traditions in biodiversity conservation.
* Challenges and opportunities in preserving traditional knowledge in the context of modernization.
* Comparative studies on cultural practices and their contributions to sustainable development across different regions.
Submission Guidelines
Abstracts (300 words) should be submitted by 15th May (extended deadline).
Full papers (between 6,000 and 7,000 words) will be due by 30th August 2025
All submissions should adhere to the APA referencing style.
Papers will undergo a peer review process prior to publication. The peer-reviewed nature of the publication means that it has, over the years, officially counted for tenure and promotions purposes. Also, hundreds of doctoral students have successfully used their publications in the series, as part of their PhD Outputs.
Submission Process
Please submit your abstracts and inquiries to Alexandra Vieira at: alexandramfvieira@gmail.com.
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WORKSHOPS / COURSES / EVENTS / EXHIBITIONS
NEW 10th World Archaeology Congress | Darwin | 22-28 June 2025
For the first time, the World Archaeological Congress will be held in Australia. WAC-10 will be held in Darwin, Northern Territory, from 22-28 June 2025. Scientific tours will run from 17-22 June and from 28 June – 5 July. It will be hosted by Flinders University in partnership with the Northern Institute at Charles Darwin University. WAC-10 is an opportunity to collaborate with diverse colleagues and friends from around the globe and contribute to global policy making. Anyone who is interested in the past can participate. People from more than 70 countries participate in WAC Congresses.
A cultural program will run parallel to the academic program to showcase the diversity and richness of Indigenous Australian cultures, providing an opportunity to learn directly from Aboriginal teachers. We also encourage you to visit the amazing landscapes of Australia’s Northern Territory.
For further information please follow this link.
Any members that are planning on attending, could you please let Sue McIntyre-Tamwoy susan.mcintyre-tamwoy@icomos.org know as she is organising an AICOMOS event at WAC.
Australia ICOMOS members have access to a partner offer discount on registration. If you would like to take up this offer but have not received the code, please contact the secretariat office austicomos@deakin.edu.au
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NEW Can you dig it? Unearthing the Past and Preserving the Future at Port Arthur | Port Arthur Historic Site TAS | 7 May 2025
In this talk, Sylvana Szydzik will explore the evolution of archaeological research at Port Arthur, from early investigations to modern, multidisciplinary approaches. She will highlight key discoveries, excavation techniques, and technological advancements to demonstrate their role in uncovering the lives of those who lived and worked here. The talk will also discuss challenges such as climate change, visitor impact, and ethical considerations in heritage management. Archaeology at Port Arthur is not just about unearthing history, it actively shapes how the site is preserved, interpreted, and experienced today and into the future.
About the speaker: Sylvana Szydzik is an archaeologist working in the conservation team at Port Arthur Historic Site. With over 15 years of experience in heritage management, she has played a key role in a range of excavation, survey, and research initiatives across the site.
When: Wednesday 7 May, 2.30-3.30pm
Where: Port Arthur Asylum/Town Hall, Port Arthur Historic Site
Cost: Free with site entry
Registration: https://forms.office.com/r/gpq5vD1LgP
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NEW Un Earthed Webinar series | Archaeology contributions at Australian Convict Sites | 14, 21, 29 May
A series of programs recognising the contributions of archaeology to our knowledge and understanding of Australian convict heritage.
Clear as mud: Archaeology and interpretation at Port Arthur Historic Site
How do we turn artefacts, section drawings, and context numbers into something that can be shared and understood by different audiences? Using case studies from Port Arthur, Nicky shows the different ways archaeology and interpretation have intertwined.
Presented by Nicky Corbett WEDNESDAY 14 MAY | 12.30-1.30PM | REGISTER HERE
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Caring about research outcomes: Archaeology, legacy, and the future of Port Arthur’s past
Drawing on more than a decade of research across Australian convict sites, including at Point Puer and the First Prisoner Barracks at Port Arthur, Caiti explores a researcher’s perspective of what happens to archaeological evidence after it is uncovered.
Presented By Caitlin D’Gluyas WEDNESDAY 21 MAY | 12.30-1.30PM | REGISTER HERE
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Are we bored of convicts yet? No.
In this talk, Richard argues that convict studies are alive and kicking. By showcasing both the progress and pitfalls of recent research that employs modern methods of inquiry, he demonstrates that there is still much to be discovered about Australia’s convict past.
Presented by Richard Tuffin THURSDAY 29 MAY | 12.30-1.30PM | REGISTER HERE
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NEW Joint thematic Workshop on Serial World Heritage Properties in Asia-Pacific Region | Quanzhou, China | 10-17 August 2025
In September 2023, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee published the Third Cycle Periodic Reporting and Regional Framework Action Plan for Asia and the Pacific Region at its 45th session in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The action plan underscored the importance of serial properties in Asia and the Pacific Region, especially for transnational/transboundary properties, which strongly echoed UNESCO’s mission regrading international cooperation, peace building, and promoting the highest international standards for conservation and interpretation of heritage.
Having acknowledged the urgent need for action, in order to echo the spirit of the Action Plan, UNESCO World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for the Asia and the Pacific Region – Beijing (WHITRAP Beijing), ICOMOS China, School of Archaeology and Museology of Peking University and Fujian Provincial Bureau of Cultural Heritage will organize a joint thematic Workshop on Serial World Heritage Properties in Asia-Pacific Region from 10-17 August, 2025 in Quanzhou, China.
Through lectures, field studies and group projects, participants will gain and share insights and deeper understanding on the core concepts, characteristics, requirements for serial World Heritage properties, and will explore the ways and best practices of management and value enhancement amongst the professional networks.
The workshop will recruit 20 participants who are professionals, managers and practitioners actively engaged in the management and nomination of serial heritage sites in Asia-Pacific region.
Please click here for further information.
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NEW Australian Heritage Festival’s 2025 ‘Unearthed’ program – AICCM Victorian Branch presents a special evening of short talks
The Australian Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Material (AICCM) Victorian Branch presents a special evening of short talks revealing the fascinating, varied, and often hidden work that conservators are undertaking in Victoria. This event is being hosted as part of the Australian Heritage Festival’s 2025 ‘Unearthed’ program.
Speakers will present inspiring stories about conservation research and projects they have recently been involved in ‘behind the scenes’ at some of Victoria’s public institutions and in private practice.
Date and time:
Thursday 15 May 2025
6:00-7:30 PM
Location:
Public Record Office Victoria (PROV) Conference Room, 99 Shiel St, North Melbourne
See the venue website for further information about directions: https://prov.vic.gov.au/public-transport-directions and accessibility: https://prov.vic.gov.au/node/2517
All tickets are $10. Ticket purchasing and speaker information is available here https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1381156
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SHAP 25 ‘The future of investigating the past – archaeology as a diminishing resource’ | Presented by BIOSIS | 18-24 May
Biosis is excited to host the 2025 edition of the Sydney Historical Archaeology Practitioners Workshop (SHAP). The event will be held on Friday 23 May at the The National Centre of Indigenous Excellence. This year’s theme is ‘The future of investigating the past – archaeology as a diminishing resource’.
Historical archaeology professionals, academics and students are invited to attend SHAP’25 to share and learn from best practice, innovations and technology, and recent projects in NSW.
Ticket prices include attendance at all sessions, all day tea and coffee, morning and afternoon tea, lunch, SHAP’25 goodie bag, and a complimentary drink at Mountain Culture after the event.
Numbers are strictly limited to 100, to secure your spot head to the SHAP’25 page on Humanitix by clicking the button below:
Sydney Historical Archaeology Practitioners Workshop – SHAP’25
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WA Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage’s State Heritage Conference
The WA Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage’s State Heritage Conference will be held on 12-13 May at the Esplanade Hotel in Fremantle.
Registrations are now open via this link https://events.humanitix.com/state-heritage-conference. The program will follow shortly and be available on the conference webpage 2025 State Heritage Conference
SITUATIONS VACANT
NEW SITUATION VACANT | ICOMOS | Director General | Paris France | Applications due 15 June 2025
ICOMOS is seeking a new Director General. The DG reports to the President of the Board and heads the international Headquarters, located in Paris, France. He/she implements the decisions taken by the Board, within the framework of the Triennial Programme voted by the General Assembly of members.
Further information and the position description is available here.
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SITUATION VACANT | EMM Consulting | Senior Archaeologist | Sydney or Brisbane | Applications due 5 May 2025
EMM Consulting are seeking a Senior Archaeologist to join the Historical Heritage team. We are a collaborative team, from early career archaeologists to highly experienced industry leaders with a diverse blend of backgrounds including academia, public sector, and consulting. We are always challenging ourselves to bring practical, innovative approaches that make a difference to truly diverse projects, from small-scale residential developments to some of the largest development projects in Australia. If you’re based in Sydney or Brisbane and keen to explore opportunities, follow the link.
https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/4199108556
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