New Focal point for the ICOMOS Working Group on Rights-Based Approaches

ICOMOS is pleased to announce that Laura Robinson has been selected as the new ICOMOS Focal Point to coordinate the Our Common Dignity – Rights Based Approaches Working Group for the period 2022-2024.

Having served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Cape Town Heritage Trust for the past 22 years, Laura Robinson now acts as a specialist consultant to both national and international clients and organizations.

Living in Cape Town, South Africa, Laura qualified as an architect at the University of Cape Town and now specialises in the field of heritage conservation, management and policy development as well as World Heritage. Having served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Cape Town Heritage Trust for the past 22 years, Laura now acts as a specialist consultant to both national and international clients and organizations.

Laura is a Past President of the Cape Institute for Architecture (of which she is an honorary lifetime member) and has convened both the local and national Heritage Committees of these professional bodies. She currently serves as a Board member of the Robben Island Museum and the KZN Museum as well as the National Heritage Council.

As a founder member of ICOMOS SA, as well as the immediate past Treasurer-General of ICOMOS International, Laura has been active in World Heritage both in South Africa and internationally, where she has undertaken missions and reviews for sites in Australia, as well as Kenya, Tanzania, and Ethiopia. Amongst other activities she has also served regularly on the ICOMOS World Heritage Advisory panel.

Particular interests include the built heritage of the 20^th century, cultural landscapes and sites of memory and conscience such as Robben Island (for which she developed the nomination dossier for World Heritage Site status), and intangible heritage as it impacts upon and adds meaning to sites and places. A long standing engagement with the Rights Based Approach to heritage has stimulated a particular interest in this important cross-cutting aspect of cultural heritage.

Proven skills and strengths relate to the development of fresh and innovative strategic thinking and planning, an exceptional ability to work with a diverse range of people and communities, and facilitation

Laura is currently part of the Steering Committee of the Modern Heritage of Africa (MoHoA) initiative working on developing a number of outcomes relating to cultural heritage on, and of the continent.