IHBC’s learning-led Council offers unique access to IHBC-certified skills and insights for Conservation Professionals – accredited, aspiring and otherwise – and our first blended Council offered a flurry of business catch-ups, with special insights and answers from IHBC’s Aimée Felton on challenges and plans for London’s Charterhouse.
IHBC thanks the Charterhouse; Peter Aiers CE, OBE IHBC, &
Aimée Felton IHBC, Charterhouse Director of Estates and Conservation
Blended Council sponsored by VELUX
NOTE: IHBC MEMBERS WILL BE NOTIFIED WHEN
COUNCIL MINUTES ARE AVAILABLE IN DRAFT
David McDonald, IHBC Chair said: ‘We had a very full and wonderful day at the Charterhouse this week, welcoming Rebecca Thompson as she steps into her new role as IHBC President, and Torsten Haak as our new Vice President – potentially one of up to four under evolving plans.’
‘We also thanked Mike Brown formally for his tireless and dedicated period as IHBC President – and over many years before – as he moves to a new with us as Immediate Past President.’
Mike Brown said: ‘It’s been a huge privilege and source of immense pride to serve as your President and I wish Rebecca every good fortune as she takes up the role. I look forward to my new role as ‘Immediate Past President’ and whatever new tasks the IHBC asks me to do as we move forward towards becoming a chartered institution.’
In his new role as IHBC Immediate Past President, Mike Brown may be reached at ippresident@ihbc.org.uk
IHBC Director Seán O’Reilly said: ‘We’re hugely grateful to our hosts at the Charterhouse, to our officers and speakers, including Aimee on the conservation work at this hugely significant site, and sponsors Velux, who helped make this innovative Council format possible.’
‘Importantly, this Council also served as the perfect setting for the launch of our new ‘Wellbeing at Work’ survey, for members and the wider sector, itself a hugely significant statement on Council’s focus on addressing issues raised by members.’
Angharad Hart said, of the launch ‘I was delighted to be able to introduce the Wellbeing at Work survey at the IHBC Council meeting on Monday. This confidential and quick survey is an important opportunity to better understand and support the wellbeing of those working and volunteering in the heritage sector.’
‘We’d encourage as many people as possible to take part and share their experiences—your insights will help shape future discussions and initiatives.’
Following her election as President, Rebecca Thompson addressed attending members on her vision for her role for the year:
Thank you all for your support. Thank you Seán, David and all at IHBC. This is a truly great honour to be the President of the IHBC.
As President we are an ambassador with duties to enhance Continual Professional Development, hopefully increase membership and to bring existing members together in our joint mission which is to promote the conservation, preservation and management of historic buildings and their environs through education, advocacy and professional standards. We really are the mark of the conservation professional. I am pleased to say that we have nominations for Vice President, and we are looking at further succession planning, so if this appeals to you, please have a conversation, and today is the perfect opportunity to understand what this means.
For my year I would like to focus on people, development and the Petition for Charter.
In terms of the people working in the heritage sector. I would like to use this post to be an advocate for heritage craft skills and apprenticeships through all aspects of a heritage careers.
I joined St Paul’s in August 2023 and quickly realised that there was no succession planning. There is very little diversity within the team and the workshops are not fit for purpose. So I wrote a proposal for succession planning, apprenticeships, more accessible and sustainable workshops and the Wren International Centre of Excellence was born! We are just about to start RIBA 3 and I am hoping that we start building next year. The intention is to provide succession planning for St Paul’s and to use this platform to encourage others to take on apprentices of all ages and backgrounds and in all roles within heritage conservation.
My career started in commercial construction. I did A Levels and had a place at university but didn’t feel that was for me. I was approached by Shepherd Construction Director Paul Shepherd who offered me a surveying apprenticeship. I went to York College and got my HNC in Building Studies. A few years later I managed a team of archaeologists on a project in London, I felt inspired to follow my passion for historic buildings and started a degree with the Open University, this included archaeology, cultural heritage and Religion in History. I got my professional membership with CIOB and I think this helped me get the role of Superintendent of Works at York Minster. I joined IHBC whilst at York Minster and was inspired further in this role and did my Masters in Archaeology of Buildings at the University of York. I left York Minster and became a Heritage Consultant and also joined the IHBC Yorkshire Committee. I went from consulting to Senior Estate Manager at English Heritage which I thoroughly enjoyed and gave me an opportunity to learn more about the significance of setting and landscape in addition to the significance of the cultural and built environment. and then I saw the Director of Property role for St Paul’s Cathedral, and a bit like the York Minster role – I never thought I would actually get it, but here I am. ‘The harder you work, the luckier you are’ as my dad says!
That is a short potted history of my career, there is much more to say, but the key message is continued investment in yourself and your own career leads to the jobs that really make your heart sing, and I want to reinforce how essential it has been in my career to have and be actively involved in the professional membership bodies that I belong to.
I would like to use the role of President of IHBC to help encourage people into this sector as we are entering a phase of potential crisis with fewer people joining – for every 7 who retire, we have 1 joining us. With the palace of Westminster project on the horizon and the impact of the climate on our historic building stock, we need more crafts people and conservation professionals at every level to care for our built heritage. This is a viable career path for our school leavers or people looking for a second or third career choice. I do think it could and should be given higher value and higher salaries and I would be interested to hear how we can enhance the professionalism over vocationalism. Everyone I meet who works in this sector has the passion, but we all have mortgages to pay too!
I would also like to see us progress to Royal Charter in the next 12 months, although this may take longer. I believe that Chartership enhances our professional platform and will have a positive impact on membership and messaging within the sector.
I would like to meet more of you in person if possible this year. Professional membership is all about people and relationships and I know the branches all do excellent work in their areas, the summer school is a fantastic opportunity to learn, network and dedicate some time to yourself and your career.
IHBC is made up of an amazing group of conservation professionals, and we are supported by the IHBC team and a board of trustees who really have the institute at heart. They need our support in attending meetings, events, and CPD, sharing our stories and encouraging membership. I challenge you all to recommend membership to one person in your network this year, let’s share the joy!
So to end my Presidential address, I am thoroughly looking forward to the next 12 months. I hope you will see me and hear about my passion and objectives for the coming year. I would love to meet you and hear your stories.
Thank you once again to the IHBC team, trustees and members.
In her new role as IHBC President, Rebecca Thompson may be reached at president@ihbc.org.uk.
Torsten Haak’s Statement for his successful nomination as Vice President is published HERE
In his new role as IHBC Vice President, Torsten Haak may be reached at vpresidentth@ihbc.org.uk
See more details on IHBC’s Council, as well as past papers, HERE
