photo: Clara Arokiasamy OBE and IHBC Chair David McDonald OBE
The IHBC has noted plans by ICOMOS-UK President Clara Arokiasamy OBE to stand down as President, after 6 busy successful years in post, with her successor confirmed at their AGM in November.
IHBC Chair David McDonald OBE said: ‘It has been great to be able to work with Clara over the last few years, and I have been very impressed with what she has achieved with ICOMOS during your term as President.’
‘It was a special pleasure to have been able to sign our joint MoU, and we will look forward to continue working with ICOMOS in the future.’
Clara has kindly updated IHBC members and NewsBlog readers on her plans as follows: ‘It has been a privilege to lead ICOMOS-UK for the past six years, a period that has witnessed significant changes in the way we work with fellow heritage agencies across the UK.’
‘Our Memorandum of Understanding with the IHBC, signed in 2024, exemplifies the value of partnership. It has facilitated significant mutual benefits in sharing ICOMOS’s international standards for conservation with the IHBC while fostering the exploration of critical approaches to the management of both tangible and intangible heritage.’
‘ICOMOS-UK is committed to strengthening this partnership further in the future.’
IHBC Director Seán O’Reilly said: ‘Not only did we enjoy the privilege of work with Clara on our joint Memorandum of Understanding with ICOMOS-UK, but we were even more delighted when she agreed to serve as judge on our Gus Astley Student Awards and, in June 2022, to attend our Annual School in Swansea to present the awards in person’.
Clara has to ICOMOS-UK members as follows:
I hope the first half of 2026 has gone well for you.
I wish to share with you that this will be my last year as President of ICOMOS UK.
Over the last six years, it has been a privilege to lead an organisation whose members lend it such credibility and authority, and who share their knowledge and expertise so generously. I have worked tirelessly to ensure that this is more widely understood and valued, and that our independence and support for cultural-internationalism are protected.
This journey has been both exciting and challenging. It has involved a programme of modernisation and change management to ensure that we remain relevant and responsive to the needs of our members and to wider stakeholders. We have streamlined systems and processes, and sought to strengthen our national and international contribution to debate, standards development, and heritage practice.
We have reviewed and revitalised our Committees, and encouraged greater collaboration between them and with other cultural agencies here and abroad. We have continued to advise on World Heritage in the UK, supporting WH Sites nationally and providing guidance to ICOMOS internationally. We played a significant role in shaping the Government’s approach to the recognition of Intangible Cultural Heritage, the ratification of UNESCO’s 2003 Convention, and the creation of the first UK inventory, which will take place this summer.
Now seems a good time to handover to a new President to lead the next stage in the development of ICOMOS UK as a resilient, purposeful organisation, whose advice and perspectives are increasingly sought and valued.
I have been ably supported over the last six years by Rob Early in his role as Vice President. He too will be standing down, but he has kindly agreed to oversee this transitionary phase, and recruitment to the VP role will take place in the spring. The other ex-officio post-holder, Andrew Webster, will remain as Treasurer. I would like to thank them both for their unfailing support, advice and wisdom. The ex-officio officers, together with our General Secretary, will help us to maintain continuity and facilitate change.
I should also like to thank our other past and current Trustees, some long-standing, some new, and the Chairs of our Committees and Working Groups. I recognise how much time they give to these roles and how little we could do without them. And my thanks go to you, ICOMOS Members, for your loyalty. You have travelled with us over many years through good and lean times, and your support makes our work possible.
Details of the process for recruiting my successor will follow in the next few days. I encourage Members who feel that they might take this on to consider applying. We will also be looking outside ICOMOS UK, so do bring this to the attention of your colleagues and within your professional networks. The new President will be confirmed at the AGM in November 2026.
I will continue to be involved with ICOMOS UK through specific projects, and look forward to the friendship, intellectual challenge, and rigorous debate that this will bring.
With thanks and best wishes…
See more on the IHBC ICOMOS-UK MOU at here and here and more on IHBC MOUs at the IHBC website.
See the welcome for the Gus Astley Student Award here.
See the Award update for 2025/26 here: IHBC’s 2026 Gus Astley Student Award for heritage work on UK courses: Open to 31/08 – Win £500 + free place at #IHBCBristolBath2027, on ‘Climate Change & Significance’
See more on the Gus Astley Student Award
See more background to the previous Awards
See more on submitting online
For more on the IHBC’s Annual Schools HERE
See more on ICOMOS-UK
