Kelly White
29 August 2023: Over 1,400 delegates from 100 countries are set to attend the 21st General Assembly and Scientific Symposium (GA2023) of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) — a ten-day event being hosted in Australia, for the first time ever.
The GA2023 brings together cultural heritage experts from around the world, to share knowledge, research and learning on important topics related to heritage conservation.
Australia ICOMOS President and Associate Dean of Research at the University of Canberra, Professor Tracy Ireland, says heritage issues and the future of heritage are more important than ever, and the GA2023 will encourage discussion and highlight Australian First Nations perspectives across a range of important topics.
“Cultural heritage has a pivotal role to play in adapting to, and mitigating impacts from, climate change. The GA2023 is an opportunity to bring experts together to discuss how communities and heritage practitioners can plan to alleviate climate impacts on cultural heritage,” Professor Ireland said.
The GA2023 will provide a platform for Traditional Owners from around Australia, and First Nations communities from across the globe. It will also foster understanding of how conservation of heritage places is part of building resilient communities and ensuring the sustainability of the world’s scarce resources.
Hosting the GA2023 will highlight Australia’s expert knowledge within Indigenous communities and other sectors.
“A cultural heritage expert can be many things- community members and Elders who have inherited and continue to practice expert knowledge, lore and culture; a professional who works with communities to help them tell their stories and protect what they value; or a scientist or technical expert skilled in the preservation of fragile objects, places or landscapes,” Professor Ireland said.
“In the past, Australia’s cultural heritage has been under-recognised and poorly understood — largely as a result of the Eurocentric concepts of heritage that dominate common representations in the media and popular culture.”
In addition to being a major sponsor of the event, the University of Canberra will be represented by many staff, students and alumni.
The Scientific Symposium will feature high-profile keynote speakers including Australian Indigenous Human Rights Commissioner June Oscar AO, and Her Royal Highness, Princess Dana Firas, who is a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and President of the Petra Trust in Jordan. The event will be co-chaired by UC Research Fellow Dr Steve Brown.
Leading heritage research projects and teaching programs will be on display at the Heritage Exposition, presented by Dr John Ting and Associate Professor Alison Wain, from the University’s Faculty of Arts and Design.
Three postgraduate students are set to attend the Youth Forum as part of a group of 120 young people selected from across the world.
Two of the University’s First Nations heritage staff, Dr Wendy Somerville and Ashley Harrison, will present a workshop to the Youth Forum participants, showcasing their innovative research and teaching of Indigenous heritage.
Professor Ireland hopes having the event on home soil will uplift the knowledge and voices of Australia’s heritage community and showcase the University of Canberra’s heritage and built environment research and teaching on the world stage.
“Heritage is a growing field in Australia - as more communities strive to see their heritage recognised and protected in the face of development and climate change, and as more governments and private sector companies work with communities to achieve these aspirations.”
More information on the GA2023 can be found here.
