2024 WHUK annual conference – day 1 speakers

Below are profiles for the speakers on Monday 7th October, at the 2024 WHUK annual conference.

Lazare Eloundou Assomo, Director of World Heritage, UNESCO – Originally from Cameroon, Mr Eloundou Assomo is a graduate in architecture (Grenoble School of Architecture, France) and in urban planning (DEA Grenoble 1). He began his career as an associate researcher at the Centre for Earthen Construction of the Grenoble School of Architecture in 1996. He was then in charge of implementing housing projects in Africa, and then of the pedagogical coordination of the Africa 2009 conservation programme set up by UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre and ICCROM. He joined UNESCO in 2003 in the Africa Unit of the World Heritage Centre, where he contributed to the creation of the African World Heritage Fund and the development of the World Heritage Earthen Architecture Programme (WHEAP). From 2008 to 2013, he was Head of the Africa Unit of the World Heritage Centre. During this period, he coordinated several restoration projects in Mozambique, Uganda and Mali, as well as capacity building initiatives in the region. He is the author of the book ‘African World Heritage: A Remarkable Diversity’, co-authored with Ishanlosen Odiaua and published in 2012 by UNESCO. In 2013, he joined the UNESCO office in Bamako and became UNESCO’s head representative in Mali in 2014. While the country was hit by a violent armed conflict, he was in charge of the protection of Mali’s cultural heritage. He successfully led the reconstruction of the Timbuktu mausoleums and the safeguarding of ancient manuscripts. He returned to UNESCO Headquarters in Paris in 2016, initially as Deputy Director of the Heritage Division and of the World Heritage Centre. In 2018, he became Director of the Culture and Emergencies entity, coordinating emergency conservation responses to heritage affected by conflicts and disasters and the restitution of cultural property under the 1970 Convention. He was appointed Director of World Heritage in December 2021.

Sir Chris Bryant, Heritage Minister, DCMS – Sir Chris Bryant was appointed Minister of State at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 8 July 2024. He was elected as the MP for Rhondda and Ogmore (previously Rhondda) on 7 June 2001. He studied English at Mansfield College, Oxford, and theology at (ISEDET) in Buenos Aires and at Ripon College, Cuddeson, Oxford.

Kate Kennally, Chief Executive, Cornwall Council – Kate is passionate about improving Cornish residents’ lives through inclusive good growth and empowering communities to get involved in the delivery of public services. She is determined that the South West should be a leading region for sustainable living, harnessing the natural resources which we have within the region to support growth. One of her key priorities is to address social inequalities, working with local partners, businesses and central government to reduce rural and coastal disparities and tackle complex issues such as childhood obesity and healthy ageing as well as creating the right conditions for social mobility.

Prof Mike Robinson, Professor Emeritus at the University of Birmingham – Mike Robinson is Professor of Cultural Heritage at Nottingham Trent University and Professor Emeritus at the University of Birmingham, where he was the Director of the Ironbridge International Institute for Cultural Heritage and Board member of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust. He is Non-Executive Director for Culture at the United Kingdom’s National Commission for UNESCO and was an advisor to the UNESCO World Heritage Programme in Sustainable Tourism and principal consultant to the UNESCO World Heritage European Journeys Project. He is also an author and editor with over 30 books covering various aspects of the relationships between heritage, culture and tourism, including 3 volumes dealing with World Heritage and communities. Mike was a UK Government appointed member of the UK’s Expert Panel to determine the UK’s Tentative List for World Heritage in 2010 and has worked with UNESCO offices in China, South East Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East and various parts of Europe. He also works closely as an expert with the Council of Europe’s Cultural Routes Programme and the European Heritage Days Programme. Mike has worked on heritage, museum and tourism related projects in over 40 countries with UNESCO, European Commission, Council of Europe and various State Agencies and NGOs.

Dr James Legard, Associate Director, Harlow Consulting – James is an associate director at Harlow Consulting, a full service market research consultancy with specialisms in the heritage and construction sectors. He is also an architectural historian and heritage consultant, and continues to provide technical consultancy for Purcell, where he was formerly north region heritage consultancy lead. He recently undertook a review of the governance and management of World Heritage in Scotland for Historic Environment Scotland and has been involved in conservation and development projects in the Edinburgh, Durham and Studley Royal World Heritage Sites. 

Jon Phipps, Director, Lathams – Jon is an Architect – Planner and the Director of Urban Design at Lathams, an architectural and urban design employee ownership trust based in Derby and Nottingham. Many of the projects which Jon has worked on involve the re-use of historic buildings and the revitalisation of historic places. Jon was the principal author of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site Economic Plan (2004) and was the joint author Engines of Prosperity – New Uses for Old Mills (Historic England 2017). He has worked on a number of, sometimes controversial, projects located within the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site. Jon is a member of the Arkwright Society Trust Board and is an occasional lecturer on; Urban Design, Conservation and Masterplanning at Nottingham Trent University. He also is a member of the RIBA visiting validation board and an occasional lead assessor for the Academy of Urbanism.

Dr Helen Woodhouse, Historic England – Helen is Historic England’s Senior International Adviser, working as part of the International Team.  She is responsible for providing strategic advice and support on behalf of Historic England on international heritage issues, including world heritage advice, and advising on conservation issues between Government and international bodies. Helen has worked for Historic England for 15 years, taking up her current role in December 2021.  She spent the previous 4 years as a Development Advice Team Leader in Historic England’s South West region.  Her responsibilities included managing the team providing advice in relation to the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape WHS. Prior to her career in Historic England Helen worked in archaeological research and consultancy, teaching archaeological excavation, topographic and geophysical survey on various academic research projects in England and Europe.  Helen is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries.

Ian Marsh, National Trust South West – Ian is an Assistant Director for the National Trust leading the properties and teams in Cornwall. He is responsible for historic houses, industrial heritage, formal gardens and other land and buildings, particularly the Cornish coast of which the Trust owns 155 miles. Prior to this role Ian spent 14 years as a General Manager for the Trust leading the West Cornwall portfolio. Previous roles have been with English Heritage, the museum sector and the Eden Project. He is passionate about the public benefit heritage and nature provides and believes everyone should be able to enjoy them. His upbringing and roots are in Cornwall and having worked in the North East and Bristol he is happy to be living and working where he feels is home.

Councillor Linda Taylor, Leader of Cornwall Council, Hembrenkyas an Konsel – Linda was first elected to Cornwall Council in 2017. She currently represents the St Ives East, Lelant and Carbis Bay electoral division. Linda was born in St Ives and grew up attending the local schools. She has also served on St Ives Town Council and was Mayor of St Ives for 3 consecutive years. Linda is from a private sector financial background, a Bank Manager for HSBC. Linda was elected Leader of Cornwall Council in May 2021 and is the first female Leader of Cornwall Council. She is also the Conservative Group Leader. Linda is the Chairman of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Leadership Board, Joint Health and Wellbeing Board for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Economic Prosperity Board and also the Chairman of the Cornish National Minority Working Group. Linda is the Vice Chairman of the LGA Local Infrastructure and Net Zero Board, and is a Vice Chairman of LGiU Executive Board. She is a member of the County Councils Network (Executive Unitary spokesperson), SW Councils (Resources and Management Committee), Great South West Partnership Board and is a substitute member of the Council of Europe.

The 2024 WHUK Annual Conference is supported by: