UNESCO - UK NATIONAL COMMISSION - A TO Z

 

  UNITED KINGDOM UNESCO MISSIONS - WHITEHALL COURT LONDON SW1A 2EL - NATIONAL COMMISSIONERS 2024 TO 2025 A TO Z OF MISSIONS

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The UK's National Commission for UNESCO (UKNC) was established in 1946. it is held to be a vital part of UNESCO’s unique global network of 190+ national cooperating bodies known as National Commissions.

 

 

 

 

 

The UK's National Commission for UNESCO (UKNC) was established in 1946. it is held to be a vital part of UNESCO’s unique global network of 190+ national cooperating bodies known as National Commissions.

The British National Commission is a constitutional part of the UK’s membership of UNESCO. They are a semi-independent, not-for-profit organisation, supported by grant funding from the UK government.

Their work is embedded in UNESCO’s global goal of building lasting peace through the ‘intellectual and moral solidarity of humankind’, relying on the common goods of education, science, culture, and communication & information, free from discrimination. This is enshrined within UNESCO's founding Constitution of 1945.

 

According to their website, the UK's National Commission for UNESCO is governed by a Board of Non-Executive Directors, led by their Chair. Each Non-Executive Director is formally appointed by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and is a specialist in one of UNESCO’s core programme areas. The day-to-day operations of the Commission are undertaken by a Secretariat, led by their Chief Executive and Secretary-General.

The National Commission works in collaboration with the UK Permanent Delegation to UNESCO, including the UK Ambassador.

 

 

 

 

 

 

How might a unique find in need of some serious restoration, work up to tentative listing at local level, and then go on to become a World Heritage Site. We are following a live case study to try and understand what is involved, and if the present system is fit for purpose. The site in question is thought to be the only one of its kind in existence. It is an electricity generating station C. 1896, that had a substantial battery storage capacity, by way of load levelling. Allowing the power station to supply electricity overnight to the village of Herstmonceux, without the need to run generators. Thus, it was the forerunner of the modern battery stations being installed today, to level out the supplies of solar and wind powered electricity.

 

 

 

 

 

UK PERMANENT DELEGATION TO UNESCO

 

 

 

 

UK AMBASSADOR - ANNA NSUBUGA - PERMANENT DELEGATE TO UNESCO

 

 

 

 

Anna Nsubuga - UK Ambassador and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO

Anna Nsubuga is the UK’s Ambassador and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO. Appointed to the role in 2023, Anna is an experienced public and social policy professional having worked at community, national, regional and international levels across a range of policy areas. Anna’s areas of expertise include further education and adult learning, girls and women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights, European affairs, and stakeholder engagement.

 

 

 

Max is the Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Kingdom’s Mission to UNESCO.

 

 

UK REPRESENTATIVE MAXIM POLYA-VITRY - DEPUTY PERMANENT DELEGATE TO UNESCO

 

 


Maxim Polya-Vitry - Deputy Permanent Delegate to UNESCO

Max is the Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Kingdom’s Mission to UNESCO.

 

 

 

UK NATIONAL COMMISSION BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

 

Professor Anne Anderson, OBE FRSE and Vice Principal Emerita of the University of Glasgow, holds a research background in psychology exploring how people communicate in text, dialogue and via technologies.

 

 

CHAIR: PROFESSOR ANNE ANDERSON - NON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION

 

 

 

Professor Anne Anderson - Chair, Non-Executive Director for Education

Professor Anne Anderson, OBE FRSE and Vice Principal Emerita of the University of Glasgow, holds a research background in psychology exploring how people communicate in text, dialogue and via technologies.

 

 

 

 

Professor David Drewry is a world leading expert on the environment and study of the polar region. His experience includes Director of both the British Antarctic Survey and the Scott Polar Research Institute at Cambridge University.

 

 

VICE CHAIR: PROFESSOR DAVID DREWERY - NON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF NATURAL SCIENCES

 

 

 

Professor David Drewery - Vice Chair, Non Executive Director for Natural Sciences

Professor David Drewry is a world leading expert on the environment and study of the polar region. His experience includes Director of both the British Antarctic Survey and the Scott Polar Research Institute at Cambridge University.

 

 

 

 

Dan O’Connor is Head of Research Environment at Wellcome Trust. Dan has a PhD in the History of Medicine (University of Warwick) and a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Bioethics and the History of Medicine (Johns Hopkins University), as well as considerable experience in the commercial sector.

 

 

VICE CHAIR: DAVID O'CONNOR - NON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SCIENCE

 

 

 

Dr Dan O'Connor - Vice-Chair, Non-Executive Director for Science

Dan O’Connor is Head of Research Environment at Wellcome Trust. Dan has a PhD in the History of Medicine (University of Warwick) and a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Bioethics and the History of Medicine (Johns Hopkins University), as well as considerable experience in the commercial sector.

 

 

Charlotte Joy is a social anthropologist who specializes in contested heritage and heritage protection. She is a lecturer in Cultural Heritage Management in the Department of Archaeology, University of Southampton. She is the author of two books 'The Politics of Heritage Management in Mali' (Routledge 2012) and 'Heritage Justice' (CUP 2020). She chairs UK Blue Shield's Working Group on the protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage and is a member of UNESCO's Network of Facilitators of the 2003 Convention.

 

 

DR CHARLOTTE JOY - NON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CULTURE

 

 


Dr Charlotte joy - Non-Executive director for Culture

Charlotte Joy is a social anthropologist who specializes in contested heritage and heritage protection. She is a lecturer in Cultural Heritage Management in the Department of Archaeology, University of Southampton. She is the author of two books 'The Politics of Heritage Management in Mali' (Routledge 2012) and 'Heritage Justice' (CUP 2020). She chairs UK Blue Shield's Working Group on the protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage and is a member of UNESCO's Network of Facilitators of the 2003 Convention.

 


Joseph Nhan-O’Reilly is an expert in education, contributing to the progress of UNESCO’s fight for education to be recognised as a human right through his role as Board Member for the UK National Commission. He works to improve child literacy, access to books, education in emergencies and the quality of refugee education.

 

 

DR JOSEPH NHAN-O'REILLY - NON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CULTURE

 

 


Dr Joseph Nhan-O'Reilly - Non-Executive Director for Education

Joseph Nhan-O’Reilly is an expert in education, contributing to the progress of UNESCO’s fight for education to be recognised as a human right through his role as Board Member for the UK National Commission. He works to improve child literacy, access to books, education in emergencies and the quality of refugee education.

 

 

 

Mike is a specialist in cultural heritage and sustainable tourism, with over 30 years experience working with heritage and tourism projects in more than 40 countries. As Professor of Cultural Heritage at Nottingham Trent University, Mike is working to develop the University’s international, cross-disciplinary research portfolio in the heritage field. He remains as Emeritus Professor at the University of Birmingham, where he was Director of the Ironbridge International Institute for Cultural Heritage.

 

 

PROF. MIKE ROBINSON - NON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CULTURE

 



Professor Mike Robinson - Non-Executive Director for Culture

Mike is a specialist in cultural heritage and sustainable tourism, with over 30 years experience working with heritage and tourism projects in more than 40 countries. As Professor of Cultural Heritage at Nottingham Trent University, Mike is working to develop the University’s international, cross-disciplinary research portfolio in the heritage field. He remains as Emeritus Professor at the University of Birmingham, where he was Director of the Ironbridge International Institute for Cultural Heritage.

 


UK NATIONAL COMMISSION SECRETARIAT

 

 

James Omer Bridge is the Secretary-General and Chief Executive of the UK National Commission for UNESCO. He overseas the work of the Commission's Secretariat and is an Alternate Member of the Executive Board of UNESCO.

 

 

JAMES BRIDGE - CHIEF EXECUTIVE & SECRETARY GENERAL

 

 


James Bridge - Chief Executive and Secretary General

James Omer Bridge is the Secretary-General and Chief Executive of the UK National Commission for UNESCO. He overseas the work of the Commission's Secretariat and is an Alternate Member of the Executive Board of UNESCO. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesbridge/


 

 

Matt leads the UKNC's policy, communications, and research. He manages the organisation's Theory of Change and Delivery Framework with the UK Government. he leads the organization's fundraising, research and business development with the Secretary-General, and Climate Change and UNESCO Heritage Project and the Local to Global Programme.

 

 

MATTHEW RABAGLIATI - HEAD POLICY OF RESEARCH AND COMMUNICATIONS

 

 


Matthew Rabagliati - Head of Policy, Research and Communications

Matt leads the UKNC's policy, communications, and research. He manages the organisation's Theory of Change and Delivery Framework with the UK Government. he leads the organization's fundraising, research and business development with the Secretary-General, and Climate Change and UNESCO Heritage Project and the Local to Global Programme. https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattrabagliati/

 


Andrea has responsibility for the financial management of the organisation, as well as managing office administration and HR.

 

 

ANDREA BLICK - HEAD OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND ACCREDITATION

 

 


Andrea Blick - Head of Finance and Accreditation

Andrea has responsibility for the financial management of the organisation, as well as managing office administration and HR.

 

 

 

Charlie is the lead contact for UK organisations and individuals to access UNESCO's programmes and activities and manages the UK's UNESCO accreditation processes. He also works with the UK Government and existing UNESCO designations to manage elements of the UNESCO's policy areas.

 

 

CHARLIE KENNEDY - ACCREDITATION OPERATIONS MANAGER



Charlie Kennedy - Accreditation and Operations Manager

Charlie is the lead contact for UK organisations and individuals to access UNESCO's programmes and activities and manages the UK's UNESCO accreditation processes. He also works with the UK Government and existing UNESCO designations to manage elements of the UNESCO's policy areas. https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlie-kennedy-1b207a28a/


 

 

Liam is responsible for leading the fundraising, research, development, and delivery of UKNC's strategic investment programme, Local to Global. Local to Global aims to build more resilient and adaptive network of UNESCO designated sites and ensure that the UK society continues to feel the benefits of UNESCO membership.

 

 

LIAM SMYTH - LOCAL TO GLOBAL FUNDING INVESTMENT LEAD

 

 


Liam Smyth - Programme Lead, Local to Global

Liam is responsible for leading the fundraising, research, development, and delivery of UKNC's strategic investment programme, Local to Global. Local to Global aims to build more resilient and adaptive network of UNESCO designated sites and ensure that the UK society continues to feel the benefits of UNESCO membership. https://www.linkedin.com/in/liam-smyth-311b853a/

 

 

 

 

Nushin supports the delivery of approved purposes of the grant agreement with the National Lottery Heritage Fund by coordinating Local to Global 2.0 events and communications across the national network of natural, cultural and built heritage sites.

 

 

NUSHIN HUSSAIN - LOCAL TO GLOBAL PROJECT COORDINATOR, NATIONAL LOTTERY HERITAGE FUND



Nushin Hussain - Project Coordinator, Local to Global

Nushin supports the delivery of approved purposes of the grant agreement with the National Lottery Heritage Fund by coordinating Local to Global 2.0 events and communications across the national network of natural, cultural and built heritage sites. 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/n-h-096bb9346/


 

 

 

Alison Smedley supports the Commission's policy and parliamentary work, including coordinating involvement at UNESCO General Conferences and Executive Board meetings, liaising with UNESCO experts, strategic mapping of UNESCO programmes with government policy priorities and other research.

 

 

ALISON SMEDLEY - PARLIAMENTARY POLICY AND CONFERENCES COORDINATOR

 

 


Alison Smedley - Policy Coordinator

Alison supports the Commission's policy and parliamentary work, including coordinating involvement at UNESCO General Conferences and Executive Board meetings, liaising with UNESCO experts, strategic mapping of UNESCO programmes with government policy priorities and other research. https://www.linkedin.com/in/alison-mary-smedley/


 

 

 

Dave Chapman leads the Climate Change & UNESCO Heritage project and works with colleagues at national pilot site levels to rest emerging practice relating to climate change impact on cultural & natural heritage, and to deliver shareable, reusable project inputs.

 

 

DAVE CHAPMAN - CLIMATE CHANGE HERITAGE PROJECT LEAD

 

 


Dave Chapman - Project Lead, Climate Change & UNESCO Heritage Project

Dave leads the Climate Change & UNESCO Heritage project and works with colleagues at national pilot site levels to rest emerging practice relating to climate change impact on cultural & natural heritage, and to deliver shareable, reusable project inputs.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-chapman-8ab29597/

 

 

Aisling Parrish's work supports the overall project management function of Climate Change & UNESCO Heritage, Aisling works with colleagues across the project's governance groups, consultancy teams, and their three UNESCO pilot sites to provide a coordinated approach to delivery.

 

 

AISLING PARRISH - CLIMATE CHANGE HERITAGE PROJECT ADMINISTRATION

 

 


Aisling Parrish - Project Administrator, Climate Change & UNECO Heritage Project

Aislings work supports the overall project management function of Climate Change & UNESCO Heritage, Aisling works with colleagues across the project's governance groups, consultancy teams, and their three UNESCO pilot sites to provide a coordinated approach to delivery. https://www.linkedin.com/in/aislingparrish/

 

 

 

 

 

John oversees the marketing and communications outputs of the UKNC. He manages the website, newsletters, and social media output leads on report and documentation design, media relations, and is the Commission's brand guardian. John also supports their internal project teams and the UK UNESCO site network in relation to communications.

 

 

JOHN CARMICHAEL - MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS AND BRANDING MANAGER

 



John Carmichael - Communications and Marketing Manager

John oversees the marketing and communications outputs of the UKNC. He manages the website, newsletters, and social media output leads on report and documentation design, media relations, and is the Commission's brand guardian. John also supports their internal project teams and the UK UNESCO site network in relation to communications. https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-carmichael-98aa6aa/

 

 

 

 

 

Andrew looks after the IT infrastructure and procedures for the organisation, ensuring that their digital systems and outputs and secure and stable.

 

 

ANDREW MAILING - IT DIGITAL SYSTEMS MANAGER

 



Andrew Mailing - IT Manager

Andrew looks after the IT infrastructure and procedures for the organisation, ensuring that their digital systems and outputs and secure and stable. https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewmailing/



 

 

 

A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, scientific or other form of significance. The sites are judged to contain "cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity".

 

 

 

There are 33 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the United Kingdom and the British Overseas Territories. The UNESCO list contains one designated site in both England and Scotland (the Frontiers of the Roman Empire) plus eighteen exclusively in England, five in Scotland, four in Wales, one in Northern Ireland, and one in each of the overseas territories of Bermuda, Gibraltar, the Pitcairn Islands, and Saint Helena. There is an additional site partly in the UK territory of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, but is regarded to be part of Cyprus's list. The first sites in the UK to be inscribed on the World Heritage List were Giant's Causeway and Causeway Coast; Durham Castle and Cathedral; Ironbridge Gorge; Studley Royal Park including the Ruins of Fountains Abbey; Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites; and the Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd in 1986. The latest sites to be inscribed were The Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales and Bath Spa (as a component of the Great Spas of Europe) in July 2021.


 

 

SITES IN OR ASSOCIATED WITH THE UNITED KINGDOM

 

There are 33 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the United Kingdom and the British Overseas Territories. The UNESCO list contains one designated site in both England and Scotland (the Frontiers of the Roman Empire) plus eighteen exclusively in England, five in Scotland, four in Wales, one in Northern Ireland, and one in each of the overseas territories of Bermuda, Gibraltar, the Pitcairn Islands, and Saint Helena. There is an additional site partly in the UK territory of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, but is regarded to be part of Cyprus's list. The first sites in the UK to be inscribed on the World Heritage List were Giant's Causeway and Causeway Coast; Durham Castle and Cathedral; Ironbridge Gorge; Studley Royal Park including the Ruins of Fountains Abbey; Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites; and the Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd in 1986. The latest sites to be inscribed were The Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales and Bath Spa (as a component of the Great Spas of Europe) in July 2021.

The constitution of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (commonly referred to as UNESCO) was ratified in 1946 by 26 countries, including the UK. Its purpose was to provide for the "conservation and protection of the world’s inheritance of books, works of art and monuments of history and science". The UK contributes £130,000 annually to the World Heritage Fund which finances the preservation of sites in developing countries. Some designated properties contain multiple sites that share a common geographical location or cultural heritage.

The United Kingdom National Commission for UNESCO advises the British government, which is responsible for maintaining its World Heritage Sites, on policies regarding UNESCO. The UK National Commission for UNESCO conducted research in 2014–15 on the Wider Value of UNESCO to the UK, and found that the UK's World Heritage Sites generated an estimated £85 million from April 2014 to March 2015 through their association with the global network.

World Heritage Site selection criteria i–vi are culturally related, and selection criteria vii–x are the natural criteria. Twenty-three properties are designated as "cultural", four as "natural", and one as "mixed". The breakdown of sites by type was similar to the overall proportions; of the 1,121 sites on the World Heritage List, 77.5% are cultural, 19% are natural, and 3.5% are mixed. St Kilda is the only mixed World Heritage Site in the UK. Originally preserved for its natural habitats alone, the site was expanded in 2005 to include the crofting community that once inhabited the archipelago; the site became one of only 25 mixed sites worldwide. The natural sites are the Dorset and East Devon Coast; Giant's Causeway and Causeway Coast; Gough and Inaccessible Islands; and Henderson Island. The rest are cultural.

 

 

 

 

1946 signing of the World Heritage Convention, under King George VI, secretary of state for foreign affairs

 

 

 

TENTATIVE LISTINGS UK 2023

 

- Birkenhead the People’s Park [Cultural]
- East Atlantic Flyway – England East Coast Wetlands [Natural]
- The Flow Country [Natural]
- Gracehill Moravian Church Settlements [Cultural, Transnational]
- Little Cayman Marine Parks and Protected Areas [Natural]
- York [Cultural]
- The Zenith of Iron Age Shetland [Cultural]

 

 

ACCREDITED LISTINGS UK

 

STONEHENGE - PREHISTORIC, NEOLITHIC STONE CIRCLES, SALISBURY PLAIN, WILTSHIRE

WESTMINSTER ABBEY - HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT, LONDON, ENGLAND

 

 

INTERNATIONAL ACCREDITED LISTINGS

 

ACROPOLIS - ATHENS, ANCIENT GREEKS, PARTHENON, TEMPLE ATHENA NIKE

ANGKOR WAT - HINDU BUDDHIST TEMPLE RELIGIOUS COMPLEX, CAMBODIA

CHICHEN ITZA - ANCIENT MAYAN CITY, YUCATAN PENINSULA, MEXICO

COLOSSEUM - ROMAN HISTORIC CITY CENTRE, ROME, PANTHEON, ITALY

EASTER ISLAND - RAPA NUI, POLYNESIAN HEAD STATUES, PACIFIC OCEAN

GREAT WALL OF CHINA - 3RD CENTURY BC EMPEROR QIN SHI HUANG & MING DYNASTY

MACHU PICCHU - PYRAMID, PERU, INCAN LOST CITY, ANDES

PETRA - TREASURY, AL-KHAZNEH, SIQ GORGE, NABATAEANS, SOUTHERN JORDAN

PYRAMIDS - GREAT SPHINX, MEMPHIS NECROPOLIS, GIZA, EGYPT

TAJ MAHAL - MAUSOLEUM BUILT BY SHAH JAHAN, AGRA, INDIA

VATICAN CITY - THE WORLD'S SMALLEST, HOLIEST CHRISTIAN STATE

 

TENTATIVE LISTINGS

 

PORT ROYAL - JAMAICAN SUNKEN CITY 1692, PIRATES HISTORY

 

 

 

 

 

 

GREENWICH OBSERVATORY IN THE GROUNDS OF HERSTMONCEUX CASTLE - IS NOT A WORLD HERITAGE SITE AT TIME OF WRITING

 

 

 

CONTACTS


98, 3 Whitehall Ct, London
SW1A 2EL, UK
+44 (0) 203 4567 6789
info@unesco.org.uk

 

 

 

LINKS & REFERENCE

 

https://unesco.org.uk/

https://unesco.org.uk/

 

 

 

Anna Nsubuga, Maxim Polya-Vitry Professor Anne Anderson, David Drewry, Dan O’Connor, Charlotte Joy, Joseph Nhan-O’Reilly

 

 

 

 

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