Supporting early-career heritage professionals
The Australia ICOMOS Mentoring Program pairs early-career practitioners and students with experienced cultural heritage professionals over six months. GML Principal Dr Nadia Iacono recently shared some of her experience.
The Australia ICOMOS Mentoring Program has been running since 2009. It is a six-month initiative connecting early career practitioners and students with experienced cultural heritage professionals and is enthusiastically supported by both mentors and mentees. Students from the University of Sydney, University of Melbourne, La Trobe University and Deakin University regularly apply. The applications far exceed the number of available mentors and the program relies on the generosity of experienced professionals willing to share their time and expertise.
Earlier this year, Principal and archaeologist Dr Nadia Iacono completed her role as a mentor, sharing her knowledge and expertise with a landscape architect and horticulturist working in the heritage team at NSW Public Works.
As part of the program, Nadia and her mentee joined an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the Sydney Opera House (SOH), led by heritage architect Alan Croker (Design 5 and author of the SOH Conservation Management Plan) and Laura Matarese (Heritage Manager, Sydney Opera House). The tour explored ongoing conservation and refurbishment works across the property offering insights into the management complexities at one of Australia’s most iconic heritage places.
The group visited the Concert Hall during Sydney Symphony Orchestra’s rehearsal for the sold-out event of Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert.
The tour also looked at Utzon Escalator Project at the Opera House where Nadia spoke about uncovering c1822 remains of Fort Macquarie, and outlined GML’s role in providing detailed archaeological heritage advice throughout the three year project. Together with Sydney Opera House, Arup and Built, GML helped ensure the escalator works could proceed while preserving the significant archaeological remains in situ.
Becoming an ICOMOS mentor is simple: mentors meet with their mentees at least three times between May and October, either in person or online, to discuss heritage practice, study pathways, and career interests.
If you are interested in becoming an Australia ICOMOS mentor, you can contact the Australia ICOMOS Secretariat at austicomos@deakin.edu.au.
As part of the program, Nadia and her mentee joined an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the Sydney Opera House led by Alan Croker of Design 5.
